Insurance Guide

Travel insurance - Common exclusions

When choosing a travel insurance policy, you need to know what is covered and what isn’t. Here’s a guide to some of the most common exclusions...

The most important aspect of the travel insurance policy that you choose is not the price, it’s the features. It’s crucial to make sure that your travel insurance policy suits your individual needs.

In this guide we look at some of the activities and items that are commonly excluded from standard travel insurance policies.

If any of the things on this list are really important to you, or you feel that you will need cover for unusual activities, then shop around. Talk to different insurers and get a variety of quotes for policies that meet your specific requirements then choose the best.

Most (but not all) insurers will not pay out for the following:

Dangerous places

If the Foreign Office advises against travel to a particular area or country, your insurance policy won’t cover you here.

Delayed baggage

Most travel insurance companies do compensate for delayed baggage but they tend only to pay out for baggage that is delayed on the way to your destination, not if it gets lost on the way home.

Drunken debauchery

Most insurers will not meet any claim that is alcohol or drug related. This means if you have an accident after a few too many pina coladas on the beach your insurer may not pay up for any injuries.

Long holidays

Some annual policies will impose limits on how long each trip can last, so make sure you check your policy before you book that round the world cruise. You can often pay extra to extend the limit.

Exotic diseases

Many insurers will not cover costs that result from contracting a tropical disease if you have not had the recommended vaccination or taken the recommended medication.

Hazardous sports

Unless you these are specified in your policy and you have paid extra to cover them, insurers will not pay out for injuries gained from sporting activities which can be deemed “potentially hazardous” such as windsurfing, mountain climbing and scuba diving below certain depths.

Negligence

If you leave your bag unattended while you pop for a swim or leave your keys in the ignition of your car then your insurers can claim you didn’t take “reasonable care” and reject your claim.

Pregnancy

Most insurers stipulate that they will provide cover for pregnant women as long as they have at least eight weeks to go until their due date (this means around 32 weeks pregnant), but some insurers have thresholds as low as 27 weeks. After this some insurers will provide you with a policy that will pay out on all other claims except those related to your pregnancy, for example if you had to give birth abroad or cancel your holiday for reasons connected with your pregnancy.

Replacement cost of documents

Most insurers will not cover the cost of replacing documents of any kind, including passports, tickets and driving licences. Most will however cover the costs incurred to obtain a replacement passport abroad, for example additional travel and accommodation expenses.

Terror attacks

Some policies exclude anything terrorism-related, so if you get caught up in a terrorist attack abroad or even stranded at the airport due to a “threat of terrorism” you may find you are on your own. Other policies will cover medical and repatriation costs but not personal belongings and baggage.

Winter sports

Most insurers will charge more for winter sports holidays but if you are hitting the ski slopes this winter, be aware that common exclusions on winter sports policies include tobogganing, off-piste skiing and snowboarding and ski-jumping so if you plan to take part in these you will have to pay for extra cover.

Random items

Some insurers have exclusions on specific items, for example dentures, stamps, musical instruments, china, antiques, pictures and hearing aids.

See our guide to choosing the right travel insurance for more help and useful tips on how to get the most suitable policy for you at the best price.

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