At first glance, a travel insurance policy wording looks like a long, strict document – in reality it's a logical map: what the insurer pays for, up to how much (the limit), on what conditions, and what it doesn't pay for (exclusions). Once you've grasped this map, comparing offers gets easier, and nothing catches you by surprise when trouble strikes.
- The core typically covers: emergency medical care, accident elements, baggage – plus the assistance service.
- The add-ons depend on your situation: storno, sport, delay, liability, legal protection – these aren't in the package by default.
- Exclusions aren't small-print tricks, they're the boundaries of the product: knowing them means knowing what to expect – and not expect – from your insurance.
The core layer: accident, illness, baggage + assistance
The core of every package is emergency medical care (doctor, medication, hospital, and, where justified, medical repatriation), the accident elements (compensation for accidental death or permanent disability) and baggage cover. Behind all three sits assistance: the hotline that organises help and acts on the insurer's behalf – the real engine of travel insurance.
The add-on layer: what you need to ask for
Trip cancellation (storno) cover is an element you need to request separately, and it's typically worth taking out as early as when you book. The sport and extreme-sport add-ons switch on cover for everything from skiing to diving – without them, damage sustained while doing sport is typically excluded. This layer also includes delay cover, the liability element (if you cause damage to someone else) and legal protection.
The boundaries: typical exclusions
Typically excluded or restricted: damage caused or suffered while under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating substance, intent and gross negligence (for these, the legal form is typically grounds for exemption, with the burden of proof on the insurer), undeclared competitive or extreme sport, the plannable treatment of a condition that already existed at home, and risk taken on in a war zone or in regions not recommended for travel. The exclusions map gives the full picture – honestly, without scaremongering.
How to read your own package
With three questions: what does it pay for (events), up to how much (limits and sub-limits), and what doesn't it pay for (exclusions, excesses)? The policy-reading article gives you a crash course for this. And if you're weighing up offers, our comparison checklist helps you compare content, not just price.
Frequently asked questions on this topic
Is damage to my glasses or dentures covered too?
Typically only when linked to an accident, and subject to a sub-limit – the policy wording sets this out precisely. Simply losing or misplacing them is typically not an insured event.
Is replacing my medication abroad covered?
Medication needed in a genuine emergency is typically reimbursable under the policy terms. Replacing regular medication you simply forgot at home, however, isn't a claim – for that, a document checklist (an active-ingredient list) is the solution.
What about my mobile phone?
A phone falls under the sub-limited category of baggage cover: if it's stolen – provided you followed the duty-of-care rules and have an official report – it's reimbursable up to the sub-limit; dropping it or cracking the screen is typically not covered. For a high-value device, dedicated gadget insurance is the right tool.
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