Policy words
Ten words that decide a claim
Most claims that fail, fail on a few words. Here they are, each with what it means, a sample of how it reads in a policy, and what to check.
Sample wordingFor each claim, you pay the excess shown in your schedule and we pay the rest, up to the limit.
ExcessThe excess is the part of each claim you pay yourself before the insurer pays the rest.Pre-existing conditionA medical condition you had, or had symptoms or treatment for, before buying the policy.Medical evacuationMedical evacuation moves you, when medically necessary, from where you fall ill or are injured to the nearest hospital able to treat you.RepatriationMedical repatriation brings you home when it is medically necessary and you can travel, often with medical escort.Trip interruptionTrip interruption pays when you have to cut a trip short for a reason the policy lists, such as illness, injury or a death in the family: usually the unused part of the trip and the extra cost of coming home.Cancel for any reasonAn optional upgrade, mostly sold on US plans, that refunds part of your prepaid trip costs (not all of them) if you cancel for a reason the standard cancellation section doesn’t list.Sub-limitA smaller limit inside a bigger one: for example a per-item limit inside the baggage limit, or a dental limit inside the medical limit.Policy wordingThe full contract: what is covered, the limits, the excess, the exclusions, the definitions and how to claim.Schedule of coverThe page that is personal to your policy: who is covered, the dates, the destination, and the limits and excess that apply to you.Travel delay benefitA payment, or a refund of reasonable costs such as meals and a hotel, when your departure is delayed longer than the threshold in the policy, for a reason it lists.
These are explanations, not advice. The policy wording decides.