10 Travel Insurance Exemptions to Look for When Buying a Travel Insurance Policy

Travel insurance offers coverage against several risks during the journey. It extends its coverage to any disruptions in travel, such as loss of passport, flight delays or cancellations, personal injuries, etc. Without the financial protection of travel insurance, such unforeseen losses can be a drain on your pocket.

There is no restriction in travel insurance on the type of transport or the destination you choose, as long as you provide all the correct details while purchasing a travel insurance policy. Although travel insurance is more preferred for international travels, you may opt for it for international as well as domestic travels. It is advisable to buy travel insurance cover from the day your journey begins till the day you return home.

As many insurers offer travel insurance plans, it could be challenging to choose the right policy. While buying a travel insurance policy, you should not just focus on getting maximum coverage at a reasonable premium, but you should look for the plan as per your specific requirements. For example, if you are a frequent flyer, it would help if you could get a multi-trip travel insurance policy that can be used for all the travel insurance needs during a policy year. Similarly, if you are a senior citizen, you should opt for a senior citizen travel insurance policy to get benefited from the additional benefits that the plan offers to the senior citizens. If you want to apply for a Schengen VISA, Schengen Travel Insurance is a mandatory requirement. Not all countries have made travel insurance mandatory, but due to COVID-19, more and more countries are now making travel medical insurance a prerequisite.

Apart from this, you should know that each insurance company has its list of inclusions (the situations that are covered under the policy) and exclusions (the situations that are not covered under the policy). Ensure the situations you think you might have to face are included in the list of inclusions. If you file a claim for a particular uncertainty that is mentioned in the list of exclusions, your claim will get rejected.

While most of us pay attention to the cover that is offered and the premium that we pay, it would help if you invest some of your precious time in reading the list of exemptions in the plan prospectus or from the company website, which can help you choose the right policy.

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The exemptions may vary depending on the insurance company or the plan you choose, but here are a few common exemptions that are present in most travel insurance plans:

1. Violation of the terms and conditions:

If the policyholder has violated the terms and conditions of the policy by any means, like intentionally giving false information, hiding specific medical conditions, etc. Similarly, if the policyholder's participation in the war has caused any injury or illness to them, the claim is not reimbursed by the insurer.

2. Participation in any illegal activity:

The Insurer will reject your claim even if the situation is covered under your plan but if a policyholder has participated in any illegal activity, such as production and distribution of illegal and counterfeit goods, production of illegal services, theft and resale of goods, bribery, extortion, money laundering, etc.

3. Pre-existing diseases:

Travel medical insurance does not cover any pre-existing diseases unless it is specifically mentioned in the policy document. Generally, pre-existing diseases are covered only under senior citizen travel insurance plans, which are offered to elderly people above 71 years of age.

4. Travel for medical treatment:

The insurer will not cover your medical expenses if the purpose of your travel is getting medical treatment.

5. Consumption of intoxicants:

Any health issues caused by the consumption of alcohol or drugs or any other kind of intoxicant are not covered under the insurance policy. For example, if you meet with an accident due to drink and driving, the personal accident claim will not be reimbursed by the insurer.

​6. Self-harm:

Attempted suicide or any kind of self-harm done while travelling during the policy period is generally not covered under the policy.

7. Adventurous activities:

Your policy will not cover any kind of injury due to adventurous sports activities, such as scuba diving, rock climbing, skiing, bungee jumping, etc. Some insurance companies offer this cover as an add-on, which you need to buy separately by paying an extra premium. A very few companies in India offer adventurous activities cover in the base plan.

8. Cosmetic treatment:

Any kind of cosmetic treatment, such as a nose job, hair transplant, body contouring, facial contouring, facial rejuvenation, scar revision surgery, etc. done during your policy period is not covered in the travel medical insurance policy, since it is not considered as an emergency treatment.

9. Dental treatment:

No dental treatment is covered under travel insurance. Some senior citizen travel insurance plans offer this cover only if it is an emergency treatment.

10. Visit to accident-prone areas:

Travel insurance generally covers losses due to natural calamities. However, if you voluntarily visit the areas known to be vulnerable to natural disasters or after the concerned authority has issued a pre-warning about the occurrence of a calamity, any loss that has occurred to you will not be reimbursed by the insurance company.

To Conclude:

The motive for spending extra money on travel insurance is to secure yourself from medical emergencies and uncertainties. Thus, it is paramount to look for every single detail of the policy and get the plan as per your requirement, instead of just buying a policy available at the lowest premium.

It is advisable to check the list of exemptions with your insurer before buying an insurance policy, as the above-given list of exclusions is a general list and it may vary from insurer to insurer.

Warm Regards,
Ketki Jadhav
Content Writer