Although we go on holiday to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s a simple fact that the unexpected can happen anywhere, at any time. That’s why it’s important to make sure you arrange suitable travel insurance when you go on holiday. However, there can be a lot of confusion about what some words actually mean when it comes to travel insurance.
If you’re unsure exactly what all the travel terminology means, here are some explanations of the most common travel insurance jargon you might come across.
Explore our travel insurance jargon buster to find out if your insurance covers what you need it to.
Travel insurance glossary
Annual multi trip cover
This is a type of travel insurance that will cover you for one year (365 days) from the policy start date, allowing you to take multiple holidays all covered under one insurance policy. These policies usually have a limit as to how long you can be out of the country for, and they usually have to start and end in the UK. If a medical condition arises during the lifecycle of the policy, it’s important to let your insurer know.
Baggage and belongings
This will cover you if your belongings are lost, damaged or stolen, either during transit or whilst you’re on holiday. There is usually a limit as to how much is covered, so check your policy documents. If you’re taking any expensive items with you (such as a camera) you might also want to check the single article limit in the policy documents.
Cancellation and curtailment
Two important travel insurance terms to remember! These will cover the cost of your holiday should you need to cancel, or cut your holiday short. This could be for a number of reasons – maybe you can no longer afford the holiday, or a family member falls ill. It’s worth checking your policy documents to see which scenarios will be covered.
Delay
If your flight is delayed longer than 12 hours, you might be eligible for compensation. Make sure to keep any spending receipts during the delay, and take confirmation of the length of the delay from the airline.
Geographical limit
These are the areas of the world that your insurance policy will cover you to travel to. For example, if the geographical limit is the United States of America, this is the only country in which you are covered.
Hazardous activities
This includes any activity where there is an increased risk of injury, both to yourself and to others. Before booking any potentially hazardous activities, check with your insurer that it’s covered under your policy. It’s worth bearing in mind that you can take out specific winter sport travel insurance to protect against the increased risks that come hand in hand with winter sports.
Personal liability cover
This is common jargon across a variety of insurance products. Most people associate this travel terminology with legal matters, and can overthink its complexity. But, it’s actually quite simple! If you injure someone else whilst on holiday, personal liability cover will cover the damages should they make a claim against you.
Pre-existing medical condition
This is any medical condition that existed before you took out your travel insurance policy. It’s important to declare any pre-existing medical condition to your insurer, and they will also ask you about your medical history when taking out a policy.
Repatriation
This may occur if you fall ill or are injured on holiday, and your insurer needs to arrange for you to be returned home for treatment.
Undiagnosed condition
This is any pre-existing medical condition that is currently under investigation or has not yet been diagnosed. Most travel insurers will be unable to offer cover for an undiagnosed condition.
It is important to know exactly what you’re covered for before heading off on holiday. If something unfortunate happens while you’re away, the last thing you’ll want is to realise that its not covered by your travel insurance policy. But if you know exactly what to expect, and with our list of travel insurance terms to help, you can sit back and enjoy a relaxing holiday.
If you’re planning a trip abroad, discover the travel insurance options available.