Travel Insurance Jargon Buster

Your travel insurance certificate is essentially a legal document and contains all the policy terms, conditions and exclusions. Whilst the general layout of most travel insurance policies is normally quite similar, the cover will vary from policy to policy and insurer to insurer. So for example, luggage may be covered up to different amounts on each travel insurance policy and the definitions of what is deemed to be a valuable item will be different depending on which travel insurance policy you buy.

The travel insurance guide has listed all the main terms used in travel insurance policies as a guide only. You should of course make sure you read your travel insurance carefully and if you have any questions about specific sections of your travel insurance cover, the benefits payable or want to know whether the travel insurance will cover you for certain hazardous activities then you should always telephone your holiday and travel insurance company for advice.

World First (part of Rothwell & Towler holiday insurance) who maintain the travel insurance guide operate a freephone number for all policyholders. We are however happy to try and help answer any travel insurance questions whether or not you actually buy your travel insurance from us. It’s all good customer service to us and as a family business with over 30 years travel insurance experience we know quite a lot about holiday and travel insurance so should be able to help you get the most from your travel insurance policy.

Accident

Means a sudden, unexpected, unusual, specific, violent, external event which occurs at a single identifiable time and place and independently of all other causes results directly, immediately and solely in physical bodily injury which results in a loss. Under most travel insurance policies contracting of any disease and/or illness (including but not limited to heart attack, stroke or cancer) nor the injection or ingestion of any substance will be considered an Accident. An event that directly or indirectly exacerbates a previously existing physical bodily injury will not normally be considered an Accident either.

Adult

A person who is aged 18 or over. Some policies will increase the age classification of an adult to 19 or 21, but may state that in order to qualify they must be in permanent education and/or living at home.

Advance Booking

Any booking made at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of the scheduled time shown on your ticket.

Annual Multi-Trip

Means the cover shall extend to each and every period of Insurance as defined in your travel insurance certificate. For example, up to either 31 or 62 days any one journey and a maximum number of days Winter Sports cover (often 17) for a period of one year from the issue date of the Certificate and not the date of the first holiday/trip. British Isles trips are sometimes covered if travel arrangements are pre-booked and include accommodation for at least one or two nights. If any new medical conditions occur during the period of your travel insurance you will be required to contact the insurance company for confirmation that your travel insurance cover can continue.

Assistance Services

The services offered by the Medical Assistance Company, who are appointed by the travel insurance company, including making suitable medical arrangements, assistance for children at Home, advance for Bail Bonds, transmission of emergency messages.

Benefits

The amount payable in respect of a covered claim. The Certificate of Insurance/Policy will normally contain a summary of the policy benefits applicable to the travel insurance that you purchase.

Cancellation

Cancellation of the holiday or trip resulting from an unforeseen occurrence such as death, injury or illness.

Certificate

You should read the document carefully before you go on holiday or make a business trip abroad. It gives you full details of what is and is not covered and the conditions of the travel insurance cover. Make sure you carry it with you on holiday too as it will contain all the emergency assistance telephone numbers that you will need in the event of a problem whilst you are away.

Child

A person aged 18 or under, and in some cases under 19 or 21, but check with your travel insurance company first as there may be a requirement of the policy that children aged under 21 must be in permanent education and/or be living at home.

Claims Handler/Loss Adjuster

The loss adjusters named on the Certificate of Insurance or travel insurance policy documentation who are appointed by the Insurance Company to handle all claims arising under the terms of the travel insurance which you purchase.

Close Business Associate

Normally means a person working for the same company and in the same office as you and nominated in order to continue the proper functioning of your business trip.

Complaints

Your Insurance Certificate will have in it a complaints procedure, which tells you what steps you can take if you wish to make a complaint and who to contact should you not be satisfied with your travel insurance.

Common Law Partner

Any couple (including same sex) in a common law relationship or who cohabit at the same address.

Conditions, Exclusions and Warranties

Specific conditions, exclusions and warranties will apply to individual sections of your travel insurance certificate while general exclusions, conditions and warranties will apply to the whole of your insurance certificate.

Cooling Off Period

All travel insurance policies will offer a cooling off period during which you can return your policy within 14 days of issue in order to receive a full refund of premium provided no claim has occurred and travel has not taken place.

Couple

Different travel insurance companies will have different definitions of a couple. Generally it is a legally married couple both aged under 65; a common law husband and wife both aged under 65; an adult couple both aged under 65 who have been cohabiting for at least one year.

Curtailment

Means abandonment of the journey by return to your home in the British Isles or to attend a hospital abroad as an in-patient. Travel insurance cover normally provides only a pro-rata reimbursement of the unused portion of the journey/holiday cost.

Date of Issue

Date shown on the Certificate of Insurance, Schedule of Insurance or other policy documentation as to when the premium was paid and the insurance was issued.

Definitions

Your Certificate of Insurance will contain a list of defined words, which will carry the meaning shown whenever they appear in the travel insurance certificate.

Excess

Claims under certain sections of most travel insurance policies will be subject to excess. Where there is an excess, you will be responsible for paying the first part of a claim.

Family

Travel insurance companies all have slightly different definitions of a family. Normally it would be a legally married couple both aged under 65; a common law husband and wife both aged under 65; a single parent; an adult couple both aged under 65 who have been cohabiting for at least one year, with up to three or four children aged 18 years under (sometimes 21 in full time education if they also live at home). Some travel insurance companies will not limit how many children can be insured under a family policy.

General Exclusion

Every travel insurance policy has general exclusions. These are things that are not covered by the insurance and relate to every section of the Policy. Usually found listed at the beginning or end of your policy documentation. Read them carefully!!

Geographical Limits

Geographical areas or countries shown on the Certificate of Insurance and/or policy documentation. Note that most travel insurance policies do not cover claims arising from travel to countries that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against visiting.

Hazardous Activities or Pastimes

If you are going to take part in a dangerous activity or pastime where there is a high risk of injury, check that your insurance covers you. Certain sections of the policy will have specific exclusions in this regard. For example, Jet Skiing will not normally be covered under the personal liability section of your travel insurance policy nor will anything requiring the use of ropes or guides, such as mountaineering, be covered under any section.

Health

Your travel insurance will contain restrictions regarding pre-existing medical problems concerning the health of the people travelling and of other people upon whose health the trip may depend. You are advised to read the document carefully and declare all pre-existing medical conditions and problems before applying for travel insurance cover. World First travel insurance is able to arrange holiday insurance for medical problems and pre-existing medical conditions.

Hijack

The Insured being detained against their will by Hijack on an aircraft or sea vessel.

HIV/AIDS

The majority of travel insurance policies exclude claims arising directly or indirectly from HIV/AIDS. If you are positive, then make sure you declare your status. You may be asked about CD4’s and Viral loads. World First arrange travel insurance for HIV positive travellers.

Home

The Insured's place of residence in the British Isles.

Hospital Sundries

The amount payable for each 24-hour period the Insured is a hospital in-patient.

Insured

Persons shown on the quote or Certificate of Insurance or Policy Schedule.

Legal Expenses

Costs incurred by the Insured in pursuit of legal proceedings against third parties.

Limits/Level of Cover

Most sections of your travel insurance will have limits on the amount the Insurer will pay under that section. Some sections also include other specific limits, for example: for any one item or valuables in total. You are advised to check your travel insurance if you intend taking expensive items with you.

Loss of Passport

Costs for temporary travel documents and reasonable travel and accommodation expenses necessarily incurred to replace the Insured's lost or stolen passport.

Medical Assistance Company

The Medical Assistance Company, who are appointed by the travel insurance company. They can make suitable medical arrangements, arrange assistance for children at Home, advance for Bail Bonds and handle the transmission of emergency messages.

Missed Departure

Arriving at the British Isles or International departure point too late to commence the trip as booked.

Money and Documents

Travellers cheques (unless the issuer provides a replacement service), coins, prepaid travel and admission tickets, accommodation and meal vouchers, driving licences, phone cards and cash up to a specified amount.

Musical Instruments

Portable Instruments that are designed to produce a musical sound.

Non-Disclosure

Non-disclosure or misrepresentation of a material fact may entitle the travel Insurers to void the travel insurance. A material fact is a fact that is likely to influence insurers in the acceptance or assessment of the risks attaching to the travel insurance, (for example, an insured person's state of health or that of a relative or friend on whom a planned holiday or trip may depend).

Period of Insurance

The time and date in which the travel insurance is effective. Usually shown as a start and end date on your travel insurance policy documentation.

Permanent Disability

Means disability caused by or resulting directly from an accident which, from the moment of such Accident, entirely prevented you from attending to any business or occupation in any capacity for 24 consecutive months and, in the opinion of the medical and vocational advisors appointed by the insurers, it is reasonable that it should continue beyond such time so as to prevent you from being able to attend to any business or occupation of any or every kind in any capacity.

Personal Accident

Death or permanent disability.

Baggage and Property

Personal property taken or purchased on the holiday or trip by the insured.

Personal Liability

Legal liability for accidental injury to a third party and/or accidental damage to their property.

Piste Closure

Where skiing or snowboarding is prohibited for a period in excess of 12 hours.

Property Claims

These claims are often paid based on the indemnity value of the goods at the time you lose them and not on a "new for old" or replacement cost basis. If you have expensive property that you wish to protect whilst you are away from home you should look into taking an “all-risks” extension on your household insurance policy.

Reasonable Care

You need to take all reasonable care to protect yourself and your property in the same way that you would when on holiday or travelling abroad if you were not covered by a travel insurance policy.

Reciprocal Health Agreement

If you intend travelling to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland you should either obtain from your local Post Office a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) application pack or apply on line at www.dh.gov.uk/travellers which when completed will entitle you to certain free health arrangements in EEA countries and Switzerland. You should take the EHIC with you and make sure that any medical treatment is provided at hospitals or by doctors working within the terms of the Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement unless the Medical Assistance Company agrees otherwise. If you are admitted to a private clinic you will be transferred to a public hospital as soon as the transfer can be arranged safely.

Relative(s)

Spouse, common law partner, parent, parent-in-law, son, son-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, fiancé(e), grandchild, legally adopted child or step-child who are domiciled in the British Isles.

Repatriation

Returning Home as a result of accidental injury or illness. This would usually be agreed in advance and arranged by the Medical Assistance Company who are appointed by the travel insurance company and operate on a 24-hours a day/365 days a year basis.

Ski Equipment

Skis, ski sticks, ski bindings, ski boots, snowboards.

Ski Hire

Ski equipment hired due to loss, damage or delay in transit of the Insured's ski equipment.

Ski Pack

Unused ski pass, ski hire or tuition fees resulting from accidental injury, sickness or loss/theft of ski pass.

Specific Exclusions

Something, which is not covered by the travel insurance and relates only to a particular section of the Policy. Also see General Exclusions for what is not covered by the entire travel insurance policy.

Territorial Limits

Geographical areas or countries shown on the Certificate of Travel Insurance and/or policy documentation. Note that most travel insurance policies do not cover claims arising from travel to countries that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against visiting.

Travel Delay

The delay of a flight, English Channel crossing or other pre-booked transportation.

Travelling Companion

The person whom the insured has arranged or booked to travel with.

Unforeseen Occurrences

Unexpected happenings listed in the travel insurance policy terms and conditions that lead to the cancellation or curtailment of a holiday or trip.

Valuables

Jewellery, watches, gold or silver articles, binoculars, portable televisions, radios, cassette tapes, cassette recorders, video recorders, video games and player, camcorders, compact disc players, compact discs, DVD players and DVD's, mini disc players and mini discs, mp3 players, photographic equipment, furs or animal skins. Note that the definition of valuables can vary quite dramatically in all travel insurance policies and from policy to policy and insurer to insurer.