What Does Travel Insurance Not Cover?
Key Takeaways:
- Travel insurance is not all-encompassing, and every policy has limits on the scenarios and expenses that are eligible for coverage
- Exclusions vary from one plan to the next, so it’s important to carefully review policy documentation before departing for your trip
- A full list of exclusions can be found in a policy’s Certificate of Insurance, which is provided with each travel insurance plan and can be reviewed at any time before or after purchase.
- Consider adding Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage to your policy for added peace of mind and financial protection
- Contact your travel insurance provider or Squaremouth customer support if you have questions about specific travel insurance exclusions.
As the cost of travel continues to rise, even the smallest inconvenience you experience while away from home can result in thousands of dollars in unexpected expenses. Purchasing travel insurance is the best way to protect yourself financially if your trip takes a sudden, unexpected turn for the worse.
From lengthy delays to severe medical emergencies, travel insurance covers a wide range of common disruptions you may encounter along the way. However, there are certain situations in which travel insurance does not apply. Understanding these limitations, known as travel insurance exclusions, can help you find the right plan for your trip and avoid costly surprises down the road.
Common Travel Insurance Exclusions
While travel insurance exclusions can vary from one policy to the next, some of the most common scenarios not covered by travel insurance include:
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Expected events
- Named storms
- High-risk activities
- War or civil unrest
- Medical tourism
- Unlawful acts
- Alcohol & substance abuse
- Pregnancy check-ups complications
- Routine medical procedures
Follow along as we dive into each of these exclusions one by one.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Getting travel insurance coverage for an existing health issue can be challenging. In most cases, your policy will not reimburse you for medical expenses if you experience a flare-up of a pre-existing medical condition during your trip.
Common examples of pre-existing conditions not covered by standard travel insurance include:
- Diabetes
- Joint issues like arthritis & herniated disks
- Breathing issues like asthma & COPD
- Heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, or strokes
- Recent injuries
If this applies to you, it’s important to look for a policy that offers a pre-existing condition waiver. This waiver, assuming you meet specific eligibility requirements, essentially removes the pre-existing condition exclusion and applies coverage if a flare-up disrupts your trip.
Expected Events
In short, travel insurance is designed to financially protect you against unavoidable disruptions that are beyond your control, such as a sudden illness or a natural disaster. Situations that occur outside of this description are generally not covered by your policy.
Common foreseeable events not covered by travel insurance include:
- Fear of flying or general travel anxiety
- Changing your plans or travel destination
- Deciding the trip is no longer worth taking
- Events that were known before you purchased your policy
Named Storms
One of the biggest causes of trip delays and flight cancellations is severe weather. Oftentimes, disruptions caused by inclement weather are covered by travel insurance. However, if a storm, natural disaster, or other severe weather event is considered foreseeable at the time you purchase your policy, coverage will not apply.
Providers will look at when a weather event becomes officially recognized to determine coverage eligibility. This usually occurs when a meteorological authority names a storm, a government agency issues a formal travel advisory, or the event is otherwise publicly announced.
If you purchase your coverage after a storm has been named, any subsequent delays, cancellations, or interruptions will likely be excluded from coverage.
High-Risk Activities
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, you should be aware that the majority of travel insurance plans will not reimburse you for medical expenses if you get in an accident while participating in high-risk activities. This can include adventure sports like skiing, rock climbing, scuba diving, and mountain biking.
Fortunately for thrill-seekers, some providers offer adventure travel insurance policies that cover unexpected injuries, evacuations from remote areas, lost or delayed sports equipment, and more. To help you find policies that offer this type of protection, we created a list of the best adventure travel insurance plans.
War or Civil Unrest
While acts of terrorism are typically covered by comprehensive travel insurance, acts of war, civil disturbance, or insurrection are usually excluded, meaning claims for cancellations or interruptions due to conflict are typically denied. This is due in large part to the extreme scale and unpredictable nature of such events, making it difficult for insurers to price into a policy.
If a war or civil unrest is declared at your destination after purchasing your policy, we recommend contacting your travel insurance provider to discuss what options are available to you. While rare, some insurers may offer coverage if your destination is issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory during your coverage period.
Medical Tourism
If you’re traveling for the purpose of receiving medical treatment or getting a medical procedure done, your policy will not cover any health-related expenses. Since travel insurance is designed to cover unexpected medical costs, any planned or elective procedures abroad are excluded from coverage.
It’s important to understand the inherent risks associated with medical tourism. If you plan to receive medical treatment in a foreign country, it’s important to find an insurance provider that specializes in medical tourism coverage.
Illegal Activities
Breaking the law is never covered by travel insurance. Whether it happens before or during your trip, disruptions resulting from criminal activity are commonly excluded from travel insurance protection.
In other words, if you get in trouble with the law, coverage for any resulting injuries, damages, or legal expenses is typically voided.
Alcohol & Substance Abuse
Consuming drugs or alcohol or recreational drugs typically voids any travel medical coverage you may have. For example, treatment for alcohol poisoning or overdose is generally not covered by your travel insurance policy.
Note that this clause does not typically apply to prescription drugs taken in accordance with treatment prescribed by your physician. For further details, contact your travel insurance provider directly.
Pregnancy Checkups or Childbirth
Traveling while pregnant often comes with its own unique risks. Normal pregnancy activity, such as routine checkups or childbirth, is typically excluded from coverage, so it’s important to plan your trip at a time when it is safe to travel and doesn’t conflict with any ongoing appointments.
Having said that, pregnancy complications are usually covered by travel insurance. This includes emergency treatment, evacuation services, or cancellations if your doctor believes it is no longer safe to travel.
Routine Medical Procedures
As stated earlier, travel insurance is intended to protect you from unexpected expenses. Routine medical care is not considered an unforeseen event, so it is not covered by travel insurance.
Examples of routine medical care excluded from coverage include:
- Routine doctor visits
- Preventive care, including vaccinations
- Prescription refills
- Annual physicals or wellness exams
How to Review Travel Insurance Exclusions
The list above is a general overview of common travel insurance exclusions you’ll likely encounter when comparing policies. To find the exact coverage exclusions of a policy you’re considering, you can review its Certificate of Insurance at any time.
This official policy document comes with every policy on Squaremouth and details the plan’s unique benefits, coverage limits, and exclusions. We highly recommend reviewing this document in greater detail, since the wording can be very specific when discussing what is and is not covered.
A policy’s certificate can be overwhelming and full of technical language. If you ever have any questions about travel insurance exclusions, you can contact the provider for clarification or call Squaremouth’s customer service department for additional support.
Improving Your Coverage With Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR)
One way to minimize the impact exclusions have on your ability to be reimbursed for a disruption is to enhance your coverage with the CFAR add-on. This optional benefit allows you to cancel your travel plans for any reason whatsoever and receive partial reimbursement for your insured trip costs.
For example, with CFAR in place, you can be reimbursed for cancellations relating to:
- A change of plans
- A foreseeable weather event
- Acts of war or civil unrest
- Pre-existing medical condition flare-up
- Passport delays
- Any other reason that would cause you to cancel your trip
Some CFAR plans also come with Interruption For Any Reason (IFAR) coverage, which offers partial reimbursement of your unused travel expenses if you decide to cut your trip short for a reason not already covered by your plan.
Adding this benefit does increase your travel insurance premium, often by 40% – 50%. To qualify for CFAR coverage, you will need to meet certain eligibility requirements.
The Importance of Understanding Travel Insurance Coverage
Travel insurance can provide valuable financial protection, but coverage is never unlimited. Every policy includes exclusions that define when benefits apply and when claims may be denied. By understanding common travel insurance exclusions and where to find them, you can more easily find a plan that fits your trip’s coverage demands.
For example, if you plan on white water rafting during your trip abroad, you can narrow your search to exclude policies that have strict coverage restrictions for high-risk activities.
While reading through a plan’s Certificate of Insurance may not be the most exciting part of your trip planning process, it can save you thousands in the event your trip doesn’t go according to plan and help you avoid filing claims that will result in a denial.