Types of travel insurance coverage

A travel policy is a bundle of separate benefits, each with its own rules and limits. These explainers cover how each one works, what it usually pays and where it falls short.

Coverage explainers

Trip cancellation insurance: what it pays and when it won't Trip cancellation insurance refunds prepaid, non-refundable costs when a covered reason stops you traveling. See how it works, the reasons and how much you need. 4 min read → Trip interruption and travel delay insurance explained How trip interruption and travel delay insurance work, what they pay for, the waiting periods to check and how to claim when your plans go wrong midway. 3 min read → Travel medical insurance: how to protect yourself abroad How travel medical insurance works, how much cover to look for, primary vs. secondary benefits, paying hospital bills abroad and what is commonly excluded. 4 min read → Medical evacuation insurance: costs, limits and how it works A medical evacuation can cost over $100,000. Learn what evacuation insurance covers, how much you need, who decides on transport and what to check first. 4 min read → Baggage insurance: lost, delayed and stolen luggage explained How baggage insurance pays for lost, delayed or stolen luggage, why per-item limits matter, how depreciation works and how to protect costly gear. 3 min read → Cancel for any reason (CFAR) travel insurance explained CFAR lets you cancel for any reason and recover part of your costs, often up to 75%. See the deadlines, conditions and how to judge if it's worth paying for. 4 min read → Travel insurance with pre-existing conditions How travel insurance treats pre-existing medical conditions, how look-back periods and waivers work and how to declare conditions so that claims hold up. 4 min read →

Which coverage matters most for you?

No single ranking suits every trip, but here's a sensible way to think about it. Medical and evacuation protect you from costs that can be financially devastating, so they usually come first on any international trip. Cancellation and interruption protect money you have already spent, so they scale with how much of your trip is prepaid and non-refundable. Baggage and delay are handy, but they cover smaller losses, so they shouldn't drive your decision.

How the limits fit together

Every benefit has its own limit, and many have smaller sub-limits inside them. A high headline figure can hide a low cap on the thing you actually need. When comparing plans, check the specific benefit and sub-limit rather than the number on the front page. Our glossary explains the terms you'll meet along the way.