What Some Travel Insurance Policies Do Not Cover

Updated: November 10, 2023

Exclusions and Conditions Could Result in Travel Insurance Benefits Not Being Paid Out

Travel insurance is a must for any vacation or business traveler. However, many consumers don’t realize that their coverage can sometimes come with a long list of exceptions and details that could result in their benefits not being paid in the event of an injury, or worse, death. Much of these exceptions are overlooked, as consumers fail to read through all the fine print of their coverage or misunderstand what their coverage entails.

Many travel insurance plans offer thousands of dollars of coverage and have proven to be beneficial for numerous travelers. However, when a traveler learns that their emergency can’t be resolved with their insurance, their vacation or business trip could become a nightmare.

Consider Your Pre-Existing Health Conditions When Purchasing Travel Insurance

A traveler's pre-existing health conditions can exclude the payment of benefits in travel insurance plans. Those traveling with pre-existing heart conditions, lung or respiratory conditions, aneurysms, or cancer prior to their travel date may be surprised to learn that these conditions could void their coverage. Depending on the insurance plan, costs incurred due to these pre-existing conditions would not be covered.

Alcohol Use Can Complicate Travel Insurance

Some plans include fine print outlining that benefits are not payable for loss, injury, or death if the traveler was under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or any other intoxicant. This can also occur if the traveler misused a medication or failed to comply with their prescribed treatment or therapy.

Adventure travelers may also be surprised to learn that their benefits are not payable if the injury is a result of extreme sports, including motorized contests, high-risk activities, stunts, professional sports, mountain climbing, and in some instances, rock climbing.

Benefits could also not be payable when a traveler’s home country issues a travel warning for a specific country and the injury or sickness is a result of the reasons outlined in the travel warning. This could cover a wide range of instances when travel insurance coverage is voided, including war, kidnapping, nuclear incidents, and acts of terrorism.

Find Resolutions to Your Travel Needs with CAP

CAP Tripside Assistance, powered by FocusPoint International, is an affordable travel assistance plan with a comprehensive benefit structure that includes a wide assortment of industry-leading emergency medical travel assistance benefits. We are proud to offer best-in-class crisis response, evacuation, and travel security assistance service, all available for one inexpensive plan fee.

CAP is offered by some of the world’s leading airline operators and travel agencies. It is available for purchase online for individuals and families looking to fill the frequently overlooked gaps in their travel insurance policies. Travel mishaps like natural disasters, terrorism, and sometimes, criminal violence are not covered by traditional travel insurance. Visit us on our website to get a complimentary quote and learn more about what CAP can do for you.