Travel Insurance Guide

What does travel insurance cover?

Written by Chloe Adams Managing Editor Reviewed by Nomsa Dlamini RE5 qualified · 12 years in short-term insurance Updated 26 July 2026 Our editorial standards →

What does travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance covers the financial risks of travelling: emergency medical treatment and evacuation abroad, trip cancellation or curtailment, lost, stolen or delayed baggage, travel delays, and personal liability. Cover levels and limits vary by policy, and some risks - like adventure sports or pre-existing medical conditions - need to be declared or added. It is separate from your medical aid.

Key takeaways

Core cover: emergency medical, cancellation, baggage, delays and liability.
Emergency medical and evacuation is the most important benefit abroad.
Cancellation cover reimburses non-refundable costs for covered reasons.
Adventure sports and pre-existing conditions may need to be declared.
Travel insurance is trip-based and separate from any medical aid you hold.

Emergency medical cover

The core reason to insure a trip is emergency medical cover - treatment, hospitalisation and medical evacuation if you're injured or fall ill abroad, where costs can be enormous. This is trip-based emergency cover for while you travel, and is not a substitute for ongoing medical aid at home.

Cancellation, baggage and delays

Travel policies also cover cancellation or curtailment (recovering non-refundable flights and accommodation if you have to cancel for a covered reason), baggage that is lost, stolen or delayed, travel delays, and personal liability if you injure someone or damage property while travelling.

What to declare

Declare pre-existing medical conditions and any adventure activities (skiing, diving, quad-biking) so they're covered. Standard exclusions include travelling against medical advice, incidents involving alcohol or drugs, and claims without proof such as a police report for stolen items.

Frequently asked questions

Does travel insurance replace my medical aid?

No. Travel insurance provides emergency medical cover while you're travelling, particularly abroad. It is not ongoing healthcare cover and does not replace a medical aid at home.

Does travel insurance cover cancelled trips?

Yes, cancellation cover reimburses non-refundable costs if you cancel or cut short a trip for a covered reason, such as illness or certain emergencies. Check the list of covered reasons and the limit.

Are adventure activities covered?

Only if declared or added. Activities like skiing, scuba diving or quad-biking often need a sports add-on, otherwise related claims can be excluded.

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