What travel insurance covers
Travel insurance is built to cover medical expenses, losses from a travel supplier's financial default, and other costs that can arise while traveling, whether domestically or abroad. You can typically arrange short-term coverage for the exact length of a single trip, or buy more continuous coverage from a travel insurer, travel agent, or directly from a supplier such as a cruise line or tour operator — though coverage bought directly from a supplier tends to be narrower than a dedicated insurance policy.
Policies are generally available for a range of trip types, including student travel, business travel, leisure travel, adventure travel, cruises, and international travel.
Coverage types
The most commonly covered risks include:
Medical and dental expenses
Emergency evacuation or repatriation of remains
Return of a minor child
Trip cancellation or interruption
Accidental death, injury, or disablement benefits
Overseas funeral expenses
Trip curtailment (cutting a trip short)
Delayed departure or missed connections
Lost, stolen, or damaged baggage, personal effects, or travel documents
Delayed baggage, including emergency replacement of essential items
Legal assistance while traveling
Trip cancellation
Missed flight connections caused by an airline's schedule
Weather-related travel delays
Medical emergencies and hospital care, for accident or sickness
Optional coverage
Some policies offer additional protection beyond the core list above, though exactly what's available — and at what cost — varies widely between providers.
Separate, add-on coverage can often be purchased for things such as:
Car rental collision coverage
Pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma or diabetes)
Sports that carry an element of risk (such as skiing or scuba diving)
Travel to higher-risk destinations (for example, due to war, natural disasters, or terrorism)
Additional accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
Kidnap and ransom insurance
Third-party supplier insolvency — for instance, if a hotel or airline you prepaid goes out of business
Common exclusions
Pre-existing medical conditions
War or terrorism — though some plans do cover acts of terrorism, so it's worth checking a specific policy
Injury or illness connected to alcohol or drug use
Pregnancy-related expenses are typically covered if travel takes place in the first trimester; coverage after that point varies from insurer to insurer.
Many travel policies also include round-the-clock support services, such as concierge assistance and emergency travel help.