International Travel Insurance: What It Covers, and What It Doesn't

Written and maintained by Ali, founder of WingReserve Last reviewed: 26 August 2026

🛡️ What a Policy Actually Pays For

International travel insurance is one of the few things you buy hoping never to use, which is why most people read the price and skip the terms. Five things carry almost all of the value, and the medical line carries most of that.

Limits vary widely between policies and destinations. Medical cover in particular ranges from a modest fixed sum to unlimited, and that single number is what separates a cheap policy from an adequate one. Check the schedule of benefits on the certificate itself rather than the summary on any comparison page, including this one.

🚫 What It Will Not Pay For

Every competitor lists what is covered. Almost none list what is not, and that is where claims actually fail. None of the following is unusual or hidden — all of it is in the wording, and all of it is worth reading before you buy rather than after something happens.

• Conditions you did not declareA medical history you were asked about and did not disclose can void the medical section entirely — not just claims related to that condition.
• Activities outside the listed coverMotorcycling, diving, skiing off-piste and most adventure sports need a specific add-on. Doing them without one usually means no cover for anything that happens during them.
• Anything involving alcohol or drugsA very common exclusion, and one that quietly removes cover for a large share of holiday accidents.
• Cancelling for a reason not in the wordingChanging your mind, a visa refusal or a work commitment are usually not covered unless you specifically bought a policy that lists them.
• Travel against official adviceIf your government advises against travel to that country, cover there is commonly suspended for the duration of the advice.
• Belongings left unattendedA bag out of your sight, even briefly, is one of the most frequently rejected baggage claims.

📅 The Two Dates That Decide a Claim

Almost every argument about travel insurance comes down to two dates, and they are not the same date.

• The day you bought itCancellation cover only protects money you have already committed, and only against events that happen after the policy starts. Buying in the week of departure means you paid for a benefit you can no longer use.
• The day cover beginsMedical cover normally runs from your departure date, not from purchase. The gap between the two is when cancellation protection lives — which is exactly why buying early is worth something.

So the honest advice is not "buy before prices rise" — premiums are rated on your age, your destination and the length of the trip, and they do not move week to week. It is buy when you book, because that is when the cancellation cover starts earning its keep.

🛂 If Your Visa Requires Proof of Cover

Some visas will not be issued without an insurance certificate that meets a stated minimum. This is not the insurer's rule — it is the immigration authority's, and the policy simply has to satisfy it.

• Schengen visasApplications require medical cover of at least €30,000, valid across all Schengen states and including repatriation. Confirm the current figure on the consulate page for the country you are applying to — that is the number your file will be checked against.
• Umrah and Hajj visasSaudi Arabia attaches an insurance requirement to pilgrimage visas, and the terms are set centrally rather than by the insurer. Check the current rule on the official portal before buying, since these requirements are revised from time to time.

In both cases what matters is that the certificate states the cover clearly and in a form the authority accepts. A policy that covers you perfectly well but does not print the right wording will still be refused at the counter.

🧾 What to Check Before You Buy

Five lines on the certificate that decide whether the policy is right for your trip.

• The medical limitThe single most important number. Compare policies on this before you compare them on price.
• The excessWhat you pay yourself on each claim. A cheaper premium with a high excess can cost more on a small claim than a dearer policy with none.
• How pre-existing conditions are handledDeclared and accepted, declared and excluded, or not asked about at all — three very different situations. Never leave a medical question blank.
• Whether your activities are listedIf the trip involves anything more energetic than sightseeing, find it in the wording before you buy, not after.
• Repatriation and the emergency numberConfirm repatriation is included, and save the 24-hour assistance number somewhere you can reach it without data.
• The claims processMost policies require you to call the assistance line before treatment where it is possible. Paying first and asking later is a common reason a valid claim is reduced.

🔍 How This Page Works

We link to one insurer, EKTA, rather than running a comparison. Saying we compare policies when we link to a single provider would not be true, so we do not say it. What this page offers is an explanation of how cover works, so you can read any certificate — theirs or anyone else's — and know what you are looking at.

• We are not brokers or advisers, and nothing here is a personal recommendation
• Prices and terms are set by the insurer — we cannot change either
• Your policy, payment and any claim sit with the insurer, not with WingReserve
• We earn a commission if you buy through our link, at no extra cost to you