Travel Insurance Glossary
If you are about to get travel insurance, it is important to understand the commonly used terms and their significance. This glossary is designed to help. Definitions may differ per policy, so always read the Description of Coverage/Certificate for each policy you are considering.
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment
- Any accident that results in the loss of life, limbs or sight while on a trip.
- Adventure Sports Coverage
- Coverage more specific than the overall travel policy. It focuses on activities that are considered to be especially high risk. Skydivers, snowboarders and other people who practice extreme sports are very familiar with the term adventure sports coverage and its meaning.
- Baggage Delay
- A problem that many travelers experience focuses on the loss of baggage or its redirection to another destination.
- Baggage and Personal Effects Loss
- This is one of the most commonly used terms in the travel insurance glossary. This is something that many people on a trip experience. The term refers to the loss of luggage, personal belonging, documents or any other items that the traveler has been carrying along.
- Car Rental Collision Coverage
- An optional upgrade that can cover your rental car damage expenses in case of an accident.
- Children at No Additional Cost
- Any children related to the insured and under a certain age (varies by provider) are covered under the policy at no additional cost.
- Claim
- Any request for reimbursement on a covered loss.
- Concierge Services
- A plan’s services that include recommendations for restaurants as well as making reservations, purchasing event tickets, booking transportation, and more.
- Coverage Period
- The length of time that a travel insurance plan will cover you for the duration of a trip.
- Covered Service
- These are complimentary services that customers obtaining a travel insurance plan can take advantage of.
- Effective Date
- The coverage for Trip Cancellation will be effective for an Insured at 12:01 a.m. on the day after the date your plan payment and enrollment form is received. All other coverages will begin on the later of: (a) 12:01 a.m. Standard Time on the scheduled Departure Date shown on the travel documents or (b) the date and time the Insured starts his/her Trip, provided any required plan cost has been paid (the effective date varies based on the plan and the provider, not all are effective the same day as purchase).
- Emergency Dental Coverage
- Coverage for any unexpected dental emergency that may require hospitalization or dentist visit while traveling.
- Emergency Medical Transportation
- Refers to the need for emergency transportation to a medical facility.
- Financial Default
- An airline, cruise, or tour operator that goes out of business with or without filing for bankruptcy.
- Flight Accident Coverage
- This is coverage for any accidental loss occurring during air travel.
- Inclement Weather
- Coverage for a cancellation or delays for flights or trips due to poor weather.
- Missed Connection
- Missed connection coverage can give you peace of mind should something happen that causes you to miss a connecting flight while you are traveling.
- Pre-Existing Condition
- Any illness or injury the insured has sought medical treatment for within a specified time frame (varies by provider) before the effective date of the travel insurance policy.
- Primary Residence
- This is the place where the traveler mainly lives full time (primary city and location of their residence).
- Renters Collision
- This is coverage for a rental car that damaged because of vandalism or collision.
- Terrorism
- This includes any act of violence that results in major damage or loss of life from an individual attempting to gain control of a government or overthrow it.
- Trip Cancellation
- This provides reimbursement for non-refundable trip payments if you have to cancel a trip due to injury, illness or death or other unexpected circumstances. Make sure to read the Description of Coverage/Policy for full details of coverage.
- Trip Cost
- This is the total non-refundable and pre-paid trip expenses no matter who booked the arrangements. This does not include anticipated or estimated costs that remain unpaid.
- Trip Deposit Date
- The date upon which any money was paid for any covered travel arrangements. Arrangements purchased directly by the traveler and any monies paid to a tour operator or travel agent are included.
- Trip Delay
- Covers expenses for food, lodging, and, in some cases, transportation if travel is delayed beyond a certain number of hours.
- Trip Interruption
- Injury, illness, strikes, weather or death that interrupts travel.
- Trip Interruption / Return Air Only
- Any additional airline expenses the traveler incurs trying to return home is covered under this policy. These are some of the most common travel insurance terms that need to be included in the glossary of a person who is about to take a trip. Knowing these terms is essential.
