Travel insurance pays for specific things that go wrong on a trip, under conditions written in the policy. Here is what each kind of cover usually does, what it usually does not, and what you will need if you claim.
InfiniaTrips does not issue insurance. Your contract, and every claim decision, sits with the insurer named on the policy.
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Read the policy wording
The wording, not a summary or an advert, defines what is covered, the limits and how to claim. This page is general guidance only.
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Exclusions apply
Every policy lists situations it will not pay for. Knowing them before you travel avoids the most disappointing surprises.
The cover, explained
Five kinds of cover, in plain language.
Most travel policies are built from the same five parts. Names and limits vary between insurers, but the ideas are consistent.
Travel insurance cover types: what each is for, what it usually covers and what is often excluded
Cover
What it is for
Usually covers
Often excluded or limited
Medical emergencies
Sudden illness or injury while you are away.
Hospital treatment, emergency surgery, doctor visits and prescribed medicines; emergency evacuation or repatriation when medically necessary, often under a separate limit.
Undeclared pre-existing conditions, planned or non-urgent treatment, travelling against medical advice, and injuries linked to alcohol or excluded activities.
Trip cancellation & curtailment
Cancelling before you go, or cutting the trip short, for a reason the policy lists.
Non-refundable prepaid costs such as flights, stays and tours, when the reason is listed, typically serious illness, injury or death of you, a travelling companion or a close relative.
Change of mind, events already known when you bought the policy, and reasons not named in the wording. Visa refusal is covered only where the policy says so.
Baggage
Checked bags that are delayed, damaged, lost or stolen.
Essentials bought while a bag is delayed beyond a set number of hours; loss or damage of belongings up to per-item and total limits.
Unattended items, cash, valuables or electronics packed in checked bags, normal wear and tear, and items without proof of value.
Delays & missed connections
Long delays to public transport and the knock-on costs.
A fixed benefit or reasonable extra expenses once a delay passes the policy’s minimum; missed-connection costs where that cover is included.
Disruption already announced when you bought cover, short delays below the threshold, and missing a flight by checking in late.
Personal liability
Accidentally injuring someone or damaging their property.
Your legal liability to third parties and related legal costs, up to the policy limit.
Damage involving vehicles, deliberate acts, business activities and, in some policies, property you are renting.
General description only. Cover, limits and exclusions vary by insurer and plan, and the policy wording is the contract.
What would I claim for?
Pick what happened. See where it usually fits.
Choose a situation to see which cover usually applies, what to do first and the documents insurers commonly ask for. Your own policy wording always decides.
Scenario
“I fall ill or get injured abroad.”
Usually falls under
Emergency medical expenses, and evacuation or repatriation if medically necessary
Insurers usually ask for
Medical reports and the treating doctor’s notes
Itemised hospital bills and receipts, including for medicines
Prescriptions
Passport pages showing your travel dates
Your policy number and any reference from the assistance team
Do this first
Call the insurer’s emergency assistance number before admission, or as soon as you can afterwards. Many insurers can arrange direct payment to the hospital if contacted first.
Watch for
Pre-existing conditions not declared at purchase, treatment that could wait until you return, and injuries linked to alcohol or excluded activities.
Scenario
“A close relative falls seriously ill and I must cancel.”
Usually falls under
Trip cancellation
Insurers usually ask for
A medical certificate for your relative, with the illness and date
Proof of relationship, if requested
Booking invoices for flights, stays and tours
Written cancellation charges or refund statements from each supplier
Do this first
Cancel with suppliers as soon as you know, to keep non-refundable losses as low as possible, and notify the insurer.
Watch for
Reasons not listed in the policy, conditions already known when you bought cover, and costs a supplier would have refunded anyway.
Scenario
“I have to cut the trip short and fly home.”
Usually falls under
Trip curtailment, sometimes called trip interruption
Insurers usually ask for
Evidence of the reason, such as a medical certificate
Your original itinerary and bookings
Receipts for the new journey home
Statements showing the unused, non-refundable parts of the trip
Do this first
Speak to the insurer’s assistance team before rebooking where you can. Some policies require approval before you buy a new ticket.
Watch for
Returning for a reason the policy does not list, and choosing an expensive option without approval.
Scenario
“My checked bag arrives days late.”
Usually falls under
Baggage delay
Insurers usually ask for
The Property Irregularity Report (PIR) from the airline’s baggage desk
Your boarding pass and bag tag
Receipts for essentials bought while you waited
The airline’s confirmation of when the bag was delivered
Do this first
Report it at the airline’s baggage desk before leaving arrivals, and keep the PIR reference number.
Watch for
Delays shorter than the policy’s minimum hours, and purchases that go beyond essentials.
Scenario
“My checked bag never arrives.”
Usually falls under
Loss of checked baggage
Insurers usually ask for
The PIR and the airline’s written confirmation that the bag is lost
A list of items with their value, with receipts where you have them
Details of any compensation the airline has paid
Do this first
Claim from the airline first. Insurers usually take airline compensation into account when they settle.
Watch for
Per-item limits, valuables or electronics packed in checked bags, and reductions for the age of items.
Scenario
“My flight is delayed by many hours.”
Usually falls under
Travel delay
Insurers usually ask for
The airline’s written confirmation of the delay and its reason
Your ticket and boarding pass
Receipts for meals or accommodation, if the policy reimburses expenses
Do this first
Ask the airline for written confirmation of the delay, and what it will provide, such as meals or rebooking.
Watch for
Delays below the policy’s threshold, and strikes or disruption announced before you bought cover.
Scenario
“I miss a connection because my first flight was late.”
Usually falls under
Missed connection or missed departure, where included
Insurers usually ask for
The airline’s delay confirmation for the first flight
Both tickets or the full itinerary
Receipts for any extra transport or accommodation
Do this first
On a single ticket the airline usually rebooks you. On separate tickets, keep every receipt and tell the insurer early.
Watch for
Connections shorter than the minimum the policy sets, and late check-in.
Scenario
“I accidentally damage property or injure someone.”
Usually falls under
Personal liability
Insurers usually ask for
A written account of what happened, with the date, place and any witnesses
A police or incident report, where one was made
Any letter or claim from the other party
Do this first
Do not admit liability, offer payment or settle without the insurer’s agreement. Notify them promptly.
Watch for
Damage involving vehicles, property you are renting in some policies, and deliberate or business-related acts.
Scenario
“My passport is lost or stolen.”
Usually falls under
Loss of passport, where included
Insurers usually ask for
A police report made where the loss happened
Receipts for the emergency travel document and any travel to the embassy or consulate
Copies of the lost passport, if you have them
Do this first
Report it to the local police, then contact your embassy or consulate about an emergency travel document.
Watch for
Passports left unattended, and costs without receipts.
General guidance based on how travel policies are commonly structured. It is not advice on any specific policy or a promise that a claim will be paid.
Before you buy
Six questions worth asking any policy.
01
Is the medical cover realistic for the destination?
Hospital treatment in some countries, the United States among them, costs far more than at home. The sum insured should reflect where you are going.
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Have you declared every pre-existing condition?
Ask the insurer to confirm in writing what is accepted. An undeclared condition can void a related claim.
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Are your activities on the list?
Trekking above a set altitude, diving below a set depth, skiing and riding motorbikes often need an add-on.
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What is the deductible on each claim?
A lower premium can hide a higher deductible. Compare the two together.
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How does cashless treatment work abroad?
Find out whether the insurer can pay hospitals directly and what you must do first to arrange it.
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Do the dates and places match the trip?
Cover should run from departure to return and include every country you pass through, stopovers too.
Travelling with access needs or for treatment? Read about accessible travel and medical travel, where insurance questions often need extra care; our preparation guide lists what to ask your insurer before treatment abroad.
Insurance FAQ
Insurance questions, answered without small print.
Does InfiniaTrips issue travel insurance policies?
No. Policies are issued by licensed insurers, and the contract is between you and the insurer. We explain cover in plain language and can point you to options that suit your trip, but claims are decided by the insurer according to the policy wording.
Are pre-existing medical conditions covered by travel insurance?
Often only if you declare them and the insurer accepts them. Some policies exclude pre-existing conditions entirely, some cover sudden emergencies arising from them, and some offer cover for an extra premium. Declare everything honestly when you buy, because an undeclared condition can invalidate a related claim.
What is a deductible or excess on a travel policy?
It is the part of each claim you pay yourself. If a policy has a fixed deductible per claim, the insurer pays the eligible amount above it. Lower premiums often come with higher deductibles, so compare the two together.
Do I need travel insurance for a Schengen visa?
Yes. Under current Schengen rules, short-stay visa applicants need travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area for the whole stay, with at least €30,000 of cover for emergency medical treatment and repatriation. Check the consulate’s current requirements, and use our visa checklist for the rest of the file.
Are trekking, skiing or scuba diving covered?
Not always. Many standard policies exclude or limit hazardous activities, or cover them only up to a set altitude or depth, and some require an add-on. If you plan high-altitude treks in Ladakh, skiing in Switzerland or diving in the Maldives, check the activity list and limits before you buy.
How soon do I need to report a travel insurance claim?
As soon as you reasonably can. Policies set notification deadlines, and some require you to contact the assistance team before treatment or rebooking. Keep original receipts and reports, photograph damaged items and note every reference number you are given.
Before you travel
Choose cover with your eyes open.
Tell us where and how you travel. We point out which kinds of cover matter for that trip, and you read the wording before you decide.
