Common Travel Insurance Exclusions Explained

Travel insurance exclusions are situations, activities or circumstances your policy does not cover, such as certain undeclared medical conditions, excluded sports or claims linked to reckless behaviour. Always check your policy wording, exclusions and cover limits before you travel.

Travel insurance can provide valuable protection when something unexpected affects your holiday. However, no travel insurance policy covers every possible situation.

Every policy has terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that determine when you can make a claim and how much your insurer may pay. Understanding these before you travel is particularly important if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are planning activities that may need additional cover.

At Medical Travel Compared, we specialise in helping people with medical conditions compare travel insurance. In this guide, we'll explain some of the most common travel insurance exclusions and restrictions to look out for when comparing policies.

What Is a Travel Insurance Exclusion?

A travel insurance exclusion is something your insurance policy specifically does not cover. For example, a policy may exclude claims resulting from certain activities or circumstances. Other policies may provide cover only if you have told the insurer about something beforehand or bought additional protection.

It's also important to understand the difference between an exclusion and a policy limit.

An exclusion means your policy doesn't provide cover for a particular situation. A policy limit is the maximum amount your insurer will pay for something that is covered. Because exclusions and limits vary between insurers, always read the policy wording before buying your travel insurance.

What Are Common Travel Insurance Exclusions?

Common exclusions and restrictions can include:

• Pre-existing medical conditions that have not been disclosed as required by your insurer.
• Medical conditions or symptoms that are still being investigated.
• Certain sports and activities.
• Claims connected with excessive alcohol consumption or illegal or reckless behaviour.
• Winter sports or cruise-related events where appropriate cover is not included.
• Certain high-value belongings or gadgets.
• Events or circumstances you already knew about before buying your policy.

Exactly what is excluded depends on the policy, so never assume that something is or isn't covered without checking your policy documents.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, your insurer may need to know about it before you travel.

When applying for travel insurance, you'll usually be asked a series of questions about your medical history. Your answers help insurers understand your circumstances and determine the cover they can offer. It's important to answer these questions fully and accurately.

If relevant medical information isn't provided, it could affect a future claim. What happens will depend on the circumstances, the information you were asked for and the terms of your policy.

At Medical Travel Compared, we'll take you through medical screening as part of your quote and show you policies based on the conditions you've told us about.

READ MORE: Which Medical Conditions Do I Need to Declare?

What If My Health Changes After Buying Travel Insurance?

Don't forget about your insurance after you've bought it. If your health changes between buying your policy and travelling, check your policy wording or contact your insurer.

For example, you may need to tell them if you're diagnosed with a new condition, your existing condition changes or your medication or treatment changes. Your insurer can then explain whether the change affects your cover.

READ MORE: How Can I Update My Travel Insurance Policy?

Undiagnosed Medical Conditions and Ongoing Investigations

Waiting for test results or a diagnosis can make arranging medical travel insurance more complicated.

Insurers need enough information to understand the medical risk they're being asked to cover. If you're experiencing symptoms or undergoing investigations without a confirmed diagnosis, they may not be able to provide cover for that medical issue.

Medical Travel Compared is currently unable to provide quotes for medical conditions that are still being investigated and haven't yet been diagnosed.

Once you have a diagnosis, you can complete the medical screening process and compare the travel insurance options available for your circumstances.

Travelling Companions on Separate Policies

If you're travelling with someone else, think carefully about whether you want separate travel insurance policies.

For example, if you become unwell because of a pre-existing medical condition and have to cancel or cut short your holiday, someone travelling on a completely separate policy may not necessarily be covered for their resulting costs.

The same could apply to you if something happens to them. Cover varies between insurers, so check how the policy treats travelling companions before you buy.

READ MORE: Travel Insurance for Groups

Medical Conditions of Non-Travelling Relatives

Your own medical history isn't the only one that could potentially affect a cancellation claim. Some travel insurance policies provide cancellation or curtailment cover if a close relative who isn't travelling with you unexpectedly becomes seriously ill or dies.

However, restrictions may apply where their illness relates to a medical condition or circumstances that were already known when you bought the policy or booked the holiday.

Check how your insurer defines a close relative and what exclusions apply to their existing medical conditions.

Alcohol and Travel Insurance

Having an alcoholic drink on holiday doesn't automatically mean your travel insurance becomes invalid.

However, policies can contain exclusions for claims resulting from alcohol or drug use. If alcohol contributed directly to an accident, illness or other incident, this could affect whether your insurer pays the claim.

The circumstances and evidence matter, so check the wording of your particular policy rather than assuming that any alcohol consumption automatically means you aren't covered.

Illegal or Reckless Behaviour

Travel insurance isn't designed to protect you from every consequence of deliberately dangerous or illegal behaviour.

Policies commonly contain exclusions relating to criminal acts, illegal drug use, deliberate actions and reckless behaviour. The exact wording differs between policies, so check the general exclusions section of your policy documents.

Sports and Adventure Activities

Planning to scuba dive, hike, ride a jet ski or try another activity while you're away? Don't assume it's automatically covered.

Travel insurers often provide cover for a list of activities, but conditions may apply. For example, there could be restrictions on diving depth, hiking altitude or whether you need to use particular safety equipment. Other activities may require additional cover or may be excluded altogether.

Before travelling:

1. Check the sports and activities section of your policy.
2. Look for any restrictions or special conditions.
3. Contact your insurer if your planned activity is not listed.
4. Arrange additional cover where necessary and available.

Checking before you take part could prevent an unpleasant surprise if you later need to make a claim.

Cruises

Cruise holidays can have insurance requirements that don't apply to other trips.

Depending on the insurer and policy, cruise-specific protection may not be included automatically and you may need to add cruise cover. This can be particularly important because becoming ill at sea can involve circumstances such as onboard medical treatment or evacuation.

Cruise policies or add-ons may also provide additional benefits designed specifically for cruise holidays. If you're going on a cruise, tell your insurer and check that the policy covers your itinerary and the cruise-related protection you need.

READ MORE: Cruise Travel Insurance

Winter Sports

Skiing and snowboarding aren't necessarily included as standard on every travel insurance policy.

If you're planning a winter sports holiday, check whether your policy includes appropriate winter sports cover or whether you need to add it.

You should also look at the activities covered and any conditions that apply. Off-piste skiing, for example, may have different terms from skiing on recognised pistes. Never assume that buying travel insurance automatically means you're insured for every winter sport you plan to try.

READ MORE: Winter Sports Cover

Travel Delays and Abandonment

Travel delay cover usually comes with specific conditions. For example, your policy may require your flight or other transport to be delayed for a minimum period before you can claim. Different conditions may apply if you decide to abandon your holiday entirely.

You may also need evidence from the airline or transport provider confirming the delay. Where your airline or another travel provider is responsible for refunding or compensating you, your insurer may expect you to approach them first.

Check the delay, missed departure and abandonment sections of your policy so you know what applies before changing your travel plans.

Valuables and Single-Item Limits

Your policy may provide baggage or personal belongings cover without covering the full value of every item you take away. This is where single-item limits are important.

For example, your policy could provide up to £1,500 of baggage cover overall but have a much lower limit for each individual item.

So if an expensive watch, piece of jewellery or another valuable item is worth more than the single-item limit, you may not be able to claim its full value.

Before travelling, check:

• Your total baggage limit.
• Your single-item limit.
• Any valuables limit.
• The policy excess.
• Whether particular items are excluded.

READ MORE: Personal Belongings Cover

Gadgets

Phones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices may have separate limits or conditions. Some policies include gadget protection, while others offer it as an optional extra or provide only limited cover through the baggage section.

Check exactly what your policy covers, particularly if you're travelling with expensive electronics. You may also want to check whether your gadgets are already protected through another insurance policy, such as your home insurance.

READ MORE: Gadget Travel Insurance

Policy Limits and Underinsurance

Not every problem comes from an exclusion. Sometimes the issue is simply that the policy doesn't provide enough cover. Cancellation cover is a good example.

If your holiday costs £3,000 but your policy only provides £1,500 of cancellation cover, you shouldn't assume the full cost of your trip will be protected.

Policies can also contain different limits and sub-limits for baggage, valuables, medical expenses and other benefits.

Medical Travel Compared Tip: Don't choose travel insurance based on price alone. Compare the benefits, exclusions, excesses and cover limits to make sure the policy meets your needs.

READ MORE: How Much Travel Insurance Do I Actually Need?

How Can I Check Travel Insurance Exclusions Before Buying?

Before buying travel insurance, take a few minutes to check the policy wording and make sure the cover is suitable for you and your holiday. Here are some of the key things to look for and how to check them:

Medical conditions: Have you answered all medical screening questions accurately?
Read each medical screening question carefully and answer based on your current health and medical history. If you're unsure whether a condition, treatment or medication needs to be included, check with the insurer before buying your policy.

Cancellation: Is the limit enough to cover the cost of your holiday?
Check the cancellation limit shown in the policy benefits and compare it with the total amount you could lose if you had to cancel your trip. For example, calculate how much your holiday has cost per person and make sure the cancellation limit is enough to cover this amount. Remember, the cancellation limits shown on Medical Travel Compared are per person.

Medical expenses: Does the policy provide the level of protection you need?
Look for the emergency medical expenses and repatriation section of the policy wording. Check the overall cover limit, along with any exclusions, excesses or restrictions that could apply.

Activities: Are your planned sports and activities included?
Find the sports and activities section of the policy wording and check each activity you plan to take part in. Pay attention to conditions such as altitude or depth limits, safety equipment and whether additional cover is required.

Cruises or winter sports: Do you need additional cover?
Don't assume these are included automatically. Check the policy benefits and optional cover sections to see whether cruise or winter sports cover is included, needs to be added, or isn't available.

Baggage: Are the overall and single-item limits suitable?
Check both the total baggage limit and the maximum amount you can claim for an individual item. If you're taking jewellery, watches or other valuables, look for a separate valuables limit too.

Gadgets: Are your electronic devices included?
Check whether phones, tablets, laptops and other gadgets are covered under the standard baggage section or need separate gadget cover. Look at individual item limits to make sure they're suitable for the devices you're taking.

Excesses: How much would you need to contribute towards a claim?
Look at the excess for each section of cover, rather than assuming there is one excess for the whole policy. This tells you how much you may need to pay towards a successful claim.

General exclusions: Are there circumstances where your policy won't provide cover?
Read the general exclusions section of the policy wording as well as the exclusions listed under individual benefits. These sections explain circumstances where cover may not apply, so they're worth checking before you buy.

Medical Travel Compared Tip: If you're unsure about anything in the policy wording, don't make assumptions. Ask the insurer to explain it before you buy. That way, you can choose your policy knowing what is - and isn't - covered.

Finding Travel Insurance That Meets Your Needs

Travel insurance exclusions aren't there to catch you out, but you do need to understand them. Every policy has its own terms, exclusions, limits and conditions. That's why comparing more than the headline benefits can make such a difference.

Medical Travel Compared specialises in helping travellers with pre-existing medical conditions compare travel insurance from specialist providers. Tell us about your trip and relevant medical history once, and you can compare available policies and their cover in one place.