Travel Insurance: What It Really Covers (and What It Doesn’t)
Travelling in 2025 without good travel insurance can expose you to avoidable risks. Between cancelled flights, lost luggage, medical emergencies, and delays, the right insurance policy can save you time, money, and stress.
But how does travel insurance actually work? And what’s really included—or excluded?
Here’s a clear guide to help you understand what protects you, what doesn’t, and how to choose wisely.
What a Standard Travel Policy Covers
Most travel insurance plans include coverage for the following situations:
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Trip cancellation: refund if you must cancel for valid, documented reasons (illness, injury, bereavement).
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Flight delays and cancellations: reimbursement for extra expenses (meals, hotels) or fixed compensation after a set delay.
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Medical assistance abroad: covers medical expenses, emergency transport, hospitalization, and doctor visits — essential outside the EU.
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Lost or damaged luggage: compensation for loss, damage, or essential purchases if your bag is delayed.
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Personal liability: coverage for accidental damage to people or property during the trip.
What’s Often Not Included
Many travelers discover too late that some situations aren’t covered:
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Pre-existing medical conditions: excluded unless specifically declared.
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Risky sports activities (skiing, diving, trekking at altitude): require special policies.
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Epidemics, pandemics, and wars: excluded from most basic plans.
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Delays under 3–4 hours: usually don’t qualify for any reimbursement.
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Unattended luggage: theft in such cases may void compensation.
Always read the fine print — that “tiny asterisk” can make all the difference.
What Happens in Case of a Cancelled or Delayed Flight
Many insurance plans don’t fully cover flight disruptions, only the consequential costs such as meals, transport, or hotel stays.
To claim up to €600 in compensation, as established by EU Regulation 261/2004, you must assert your passenger rights.
In these cases, you can rely on DelayFlight24, which offers:
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Free eligibility check
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No upfront fees
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Full legal assistance against airlines
How to Choose the Right Policy
Every traveler’s needs are different. Before buying a policy:
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Consider your destination: coverage levels vary between domestic, EU, and worldwide trips.
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Evaluate your trip type and duration: long or activity-heavy trips require broader coverage.
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Choose transparent companies with 24/7 support and claims handling in your language.
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Make sure medical, luggage, and trip cancellation coverage are included at minimum.
For example, AllClear Travel offers tailored travel insurance solutions, from medical-only plans to complete packages with trip cancellation.
Flexible, customizable, and ideal even for short getaways — a smart choice for peace of mind.
Conclusion: Make Sure You’re Properly Insured
Travel insurance isn’t just a formality — it’s a real safeguard against the unexpected. But buying one blindly isn’t enough: you need to understand what’s included, what’s not, and how to use it when needed.
And when insurance doesn’t cover everything — for example, if your flight is cancelled or delayed without extraordinary cause — you can still rely on DelayFlight24.
It’s the simplest, safest, and most effective way to claim what you’re entitled to, with no upfront cost. Check if you are entitled to compensation
