10 Things Travel Insurance Won’t Cover

I’m a bit of a spaz when it comes to travel insurance. Which means, basically, that I’m always covered. Though I don’t do crazy things like bungee jump or swim in the ocean further than my feet can touch, I’m always worried that this is going to be the trip where I randomly fall out of a cab onto a busy street and wind up with a broken clavicle and it’s all down to a suspiciously missing metal piece in the door the size of a hairpin. Call it my mother’s influence. Call it getting older. Call it what it is: Paranoia. But whatever you call it, I aim to be covered, one way or another.

There are lots of people out there, like me, who depend on travel insurance for peace of mind. And it’s great to have that sense of assurance, but don’t be fooled into thinking that travel insurance covers every mishap you might have. Here’s a list of the top 10 things it doesn’t cover:

  1. Your tour cancels on you: Sure, you’re covered in case you have to cancel, but what if they cancel and leave you high and dry? Sorry — you might be out of luck
  2. Acts of War or Protests: A good reason to stick to a destination that’s not too tumultuous.
  3. Pre-existing medical conditions: If you had a medical condition before you left, whether you knew about it or not, and it acts up on the trip, you might not be covered. Get checked out and be upfront about your illnesses.
  4. Baggage Delays of less than 24 hours: Bring your toiletries and a change of clothes in your carry-on because you’ll only get money if your bag’s missing for more than 24 hours.
  5. Death of Pet: You can cancel your trip if Granny dies, but you’re outta luck if Rover heads to doggy heaven
  6. Loss/Damage to keys, documents, etc: Read the fine print to find out what is NOT included in the baggage or personal property claims
  7. Sports Injuries: If you break your leg mountain climbing, you might be footing the bill yourself
  8. Pregnancy and Childbirth: Check the fine print — some aspects of childbearing complications might not be covered.
  9. Psychological Illness: Paying out of your pocket for your trip after you have to cancel because of a nervous breakdown will only make things worse. If you have a history of mental illness, get the facts before you book.
  10. Divorce: If you divorce or separate before your trip, you might end up travelling together anyway — most insurance companies won’t let you cancel without a penalty.

Via Airfare Watchdog