A
Adventure sports rider
An optional add-on to a travel insurance plan that extends coverage to activities standard plans typically exclude (scuba diving past certain depths, backcountry skiing, rock climbing, whitewater above Class III, motorbike use, etc.). Availability, price, and covered activities vary by carrier. See our Adventure Travel Insurance guide.
Aggregate limit
The maximum total amount a policy will pay across all claims combined for one insured trip. Distinct from per-benefit limits (each of which has its own cap).
B
Baggage & personal effects
Coverage for loss, theft, or damage to checked or carried luggage during a trip. Typically has per-item caps (often $250–$500) and category exclusions (jewelry, electronics, cash, tickets).
Baggage delay
A separate benefit that reimburses reasonable emergency purchases (toiletries, one change of clothes) when your bag is delayed by an airline for a defined minimum period, typically 12–24 hours.
C
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR)
An optional upgrade allowing you to cancel your trip for any reason not listed in the standard covered-reasons list, with partial reimbursement (typically 50–75% of prepaid non-refundable trip cost). Generally requires purchase within a specified window of the initial trip deposit and insuring 100% of trip cost. Not available in all states. See our CFAR guide.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
The document issued by the underwriting carrier confirming the coverage in force under a specific policy. The COI (and the Description of Coverage) governs your actual coverage — not any website summary.
Covered reason
A defined event that triggers a benefit payout under a standard travel insurance policy (illness, injury, death of traveler or family member, jury duty, employer termination, severe weather, terrorism at destination, etc.). Reasons vary carrier to carrier. Everything not listed is excluded — hence CFAR as an add-on.
Cruise line embedded plan
A travel-protection plan offered at the point of cruise booking, often administered by a major travel insurance carrier (frequently Generali). Convenient, but not always the highest-coverage option available; comparison-shop.
D
Deductible
The amount you pay out of pocket on a claim before the insurance benefit kicks in. Common on medical benefits; often $0–$250. Not every travel insurance benefit has a deductible.
Description of Coverage (DOC)
The document that describes the benefits, conditions, limits, and exclusions of a specific plan. Along with the Certificate of Insurance and policy schedule, this is the governing document for your coverage.
E
Emergency evacuation
Transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility when local care is inadequate. Air ambulance costs can reach tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, so this benefit is a common review point on international trips.
Emergency medical & dental
Coverage for necessary medical or dental care while on the trip. US health insurance and Medicare generally do not cover care outside the US, so this benefit is often the main reason to buy a plan for international travel.
EOB (Explanation of Benefits)
A statement from your primary health insurer showing what it paid on a claim and what it did not. When a travel insurance plan is secondary, it typically needs the EOB from your primary insurer before it will process a claim.
Excluded reasons
Reasons for cancellation, interruption, or claim that are specifically not covered. Common examples: pre-existing conditions without a waiver, self-inflicted injuries, injuries under the influence, war, and disinclination to travel.
ETIAS
The European Travel Information and Authorization System, a pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers to the Schengen Area. Launch timelines have shifted; verify current status with the US State Department. Not the same as a Schengen visa and separate from insurance requirements.
I
IFAR (Interruption for Any Reason)
An optional rider allowing trip interruption reimbursement for reasons outside the standard covered-reasons list. Less common than CFAR — Travel Insured International offers it on select plans.
Insured trip cost
The prepaid non-refundable dollar amount you declare when buying the plan. This drives your trip cancellation and interruption benefit caps, and CFAR eligibility requires insuring 100% of it.
M
Medical repatriation
The transport of an injured or ill traveler back to their home country for continued care. Often bundled with emergency evacuation but not always — check the plan.
Missed connection
Reimbursement for reasonable additional expenses (transport, meals, lodging) when a covered event (weather delay, mechanical failure, traffic accident, etc.) causes you to miss a scheduled connection. Definitions and thresholds vary by plan.
P
Policy schedule
The page of the policy documents showing your specific coverage amounts, dates, and named insureds. This is where your actual benefit limits live — not the marketing brochure.
Pre-existing condition
A medical condition that existed before the policy effective date within a defined look-back window (typically 60, 90, or 180 days). Without a waiver, related claims are typically excluded. See our Pre-Existing Conditions guide.
Pre-existing condition waiver
A provision that removes the pre-existing condition exclusion when specific conditions are met — generally purchase within a defined window (varies by carrier: 24 hours before final payment for Generali; 14–21 days from initial trip deposit for most others), and often insuring 100% of trip cost. Availability varies by plan and state.
Primary coverage
Coverage that pays first, before any other insurance you carry. Dedicated travel medical plans are typically primary. Faster and simpler claim processing than secondary coverage.
Purchase window
A time frame from your initial trip deposit (or, for Generali, from your final trip payment) during which you must buy a plan to be eligible for certain add-ons: CFAR, pre-existing condition waiver, and sometimes financial default coverage.
R
Reimbursement basis
Most travel insurance benefits pay after you file a claim with receipts — not upfront at point of service. Exceptions exist (e.g. some carriers arrange direct payment for large medical events), but reimbursement is the default.
Rider
An optional add-on to a base plan that extends or modifies coverage. Common riders: CFAR, IFAR, adventure sports, rental car damage, higher medical limits, accidental death & dismemberment.
S
Schengen minimum
The €30,000 (approximately $32,000 USD) minimum emergency medical and repatriation coverage required for Schengen visa holders. Most US citizens do not need a Schengen visa for stays under 90 days, but if you do, insurance meeting this minimum is required. See our Schengen guide.
Secondary coverage
Coverage that pays after your other applicable insurance (health, homeowners, credit card benefit) has paid or been exhausted. Many credit card travel protections are secondary; most dedicated travel insurance plans are primary.
Subrogation
The right of the insurance carrier to recover payment from a third party responsible for the loss. Most travel insurance policies include a subrogation clause.
T
Trip cancellation
Reimbursement of prepaid non-refundable trip costs when you cancel before departure for a covered reason. Typical maximum: 100% of insured trip cost. See our Trip Cancellation guide.
Trip delay
Reimbursement for reasonable expenses (hotel, meals, transport) when your trip is delayed by a covered reason for at least a defined period, typically 6–12 hours. Often capped at a per-day and per-trip amount.
Trip interruption
Reimbursement for unused prepaid trip cost plus reasonable additional transportation home when you cut your trip short after departure for a covered reason. Often capped higher than 100% of trip cost (125–175%). See our Trip Interruption guide.
W
Waiver window
The number of days from your initial trip deposit (or, for Generali, from your final trip payment) during which you can purchase a plan and still qualify for the pre-existing condition waiver. Varies by carrier and plan.
See it on a real quote
The best way to see how these terms play out is on a live quote: