10 Surprising Things Your Travel Insurance Might Already Cover

Travel insurance covers trip cancellations and medical emergencies, but did you know it can also cover lost pets, rental cars, and cancellations due to terrorist attacks? While policy details vary, many insurance plans cover more than you realize. A timely insurance claim could potentially help you save thousands.

Let’s uncover 10 surprising perks your travel insurance might include so you can file a claim and save that money.

The 10 Surprising Coverages

1. Trip Cancellation for Work Reasons

It’s hard to get vacation time at work, and frustrating when you have to cancel your vacation for work. Fortunately, travel insurance can cover job loss, mandatory work obligations, or last-minute meeting demands.

If you’re a professional in an unpredictable field or a freelancer, travel insurance can provide great peace of mind.

Here are work-related reasons that can be covered by travel insurance:

• Laid off
• Work obligations
• Jury duty

2. Emergency Dental Treatment

It’s a real pain in the tooth to get a dental injury while traveling. Did you know that travel insurance can cover dental issues on top of major medical bills? Many travel insurance policies include basic dental so you don’t need to worry about dental accidents while on your trip.

Examples when travel dental insurance is useful:

• Dental injury, like a broken or knocked out tooth
• Unexpected tooth infection/abscess
• A lost crown
• Non-cosmetic, urgent repairs

Note that travel insurance does not cover everything dental. Here are things that will likely not be covered.

• Cosmetic repairs (e.g. chipped tooth that isn’t serious)
• Costs that exceed the maximum limit for qualifying dental expenses
• Injuries that occur outside of the trip (e.g. a few days before or after the trip)
• Dentures damage
• High-risk activity tooth damage (e.g. bungee jumping)

3. Lost or Stolen Personal Electronics

Electronics are one of the most expensive items you can travel with. Who hasn’t lost something in a hotel or tourist destination? If you lose personal electronics and gadgets while on your trip, you can likely get them reimbursed by travel insurance. Policies may cover:

• Laptops
• Phones
• Tablets

You have to file the claim correctly to be approved, and your claim needs to qualify for coverage. For example, if you drop your phone and shatter it, that sadly won’t be covered by your travel insurance policy. But if your laptop is damaged or lost while under the care of your common carrier (e.g. tour operator or airline), travel insurance should cover a significant amount. Theft and violence during transit can also lead to a reimbursement for stolen personal items.

To improve your chances of a successful gadget coverage claim, keep the following tips in mind:

• Note down what valuable personal assets you’re keeping on you while traveling
• Save all receipts for important purchases
• File police reports and insurance claims promptly

4. Travel Delays Due to Civil Unrest or Strikes

Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for nonrefundable, prepaid costs (e.g. flight tickets, prearranged accommodations, event tickets, hotels, etc.).

A lot of places in the world are experiencing unrest, protests, and violence. With the non-stop stream of bad news we get from the internet, it’s increasingly common to be apprehensive about terrorist attacks at your destination. Geopolitical tensions mean it’s advisable to check travel advisories before heading anywhere. Avoiding high-risk areas can improve your safety. Airlines and cruises also naturally route away from known conflict areas.

So, does travel insurance cover terrorism? Depends on the timing. If you purchased travel insurance before any known threat was made, trip cancellation insurance will usually cover it. However, if you purchase insurance after a terrorist attack or threat was already made, insurance will not cover a cancelled trip due to the known threat.

Some travel insurance companies consider both international and domestic terrorism to be covered travel cancellation reasons.

You will need to check your travel insurance policy to see what types of civil unrest are covered.

Common, real-world examples of what types of unrest count for trip cancellation insurance:

• Airline worker strikes
• Terrorism attack at your destination location
• Bombings, explosions, etc. that happen after policy purchase

5. Lost or Delayed Luggage Essentials

If luggage is lost due to a delay, you can usually obtain a reimbursement for essentials. This is also known as baggage delay or loss insurance, and it may cover anything from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars in loss.

Baggage insurance typically has a:

• Per item limit
• High-end/luxury item limit, such as for jewelry and cameras
• Per-person overall limit

More expensive policies or insurance add-ons will cover greater amounts of lost value.

Commonly covered travel essentials include:

• Clothes
• Toiletries
• Chargers

If you don’t have baggage insurance, your airline may still have ways to reimburse you for lost or delayed bags. They may not cover all of your lost essentials though.

Time limits: Usually, travel luggage insurance kicks in after 12–24 hours.

6. Accommodation in Case of Trip Interruption

Trips get interrupted for a myriad of reasons. Weather events, plane concerns, and missed layovers are just three of the many reasons for trip interruption. Then you might need to call an Uber and book a hotel room last minute—not a fun process.

Travel insurance policies may include trip interruption insurance, which reimburses unused hotel nights and alternate lodging. Qualifying situations may include:

• Emergency evacuations
• Terrorism incidents
• Mandatory quarantines
• Severe illness and injury
• Unexpected natural disaster

Note that trip interruption insurance is different from trip delay insurance. Trips that are interrupted are unexpectedly cut short, whereas delayed trips continue with inconveniences.

Bonus: Trip interruption insurance may also cover meals or transportation as well.

7. Rental Car Damage

Renting a car is a great way to get around drivable areas. You can sightsee and attend events more easily. Unfortunately, rental car companies aren’t usually known for their excellent insurance. If you want to be safer in case of a car accident, consider rental car coverage through a travel insurance company instead.

Rental travel insurance isn’t for everyone. Travel insurance for rental cars might not cover all the liability and medical expenses, making it worse than personal auto insurance. If you already have a credit card that covers rental cars, a rental car add-on might also be unnecessary.

Media sensationalism and genuine aircraft worries have increased over the past few years, especially with the recent Air India crash. Many travelers have been wondering: Does travel insurance cover plane crashes? In general, travel insurance requires a flight accident insurance policy for in-flight incidents to receive coverage. This type of policy covers incidents that occur in a serious plane incident, such as death, dismemberment, blindness, and other injuries.

Both car damage and flight accident insurance have notable coverage limitations. Be sure to consider alternatives, like life insurance and travel credit card benefits, to see what’s the best for your case.

Important caveat: Rental car damage and theft are often excluded if you accept coverage from the rental company.

8. Pet Illness or Emergency Boarding

Trips aren’t only for people—travelers can bring their furry friends along as well. But what if something happens to you or your pet during the trip? Your dog, cat, or other pet will need special boarding and attention.

Emergency pet boarding can cost over $100 per night, especially if your pet requires specialized care such as medication. Emergency vet boarding will be even more expensive at $150+ per night because the veterinarian will need to perform diagnostics and emergency assistance.

If you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy, it may cover pet emergencies while traveling and/or boarding costs if you're hospitalized. Pet travel insurance is best for pet owners traveling solo.

9. Passport Replacement Assistance

The idea of losing your passport is scary and frustrating. Getting it back involves a lot of paperwork and patience… it can also be costly. But it’s often dangerous to travel without a passport, especially if you’re somewhere unfamiliar.

Comprehensive travel insurance may offer benefits, such as passport replacement assistance. You would be able to call your insurance company’s hotline for quick help, such as how to get to the nearest consulate.

Passport replacement coverage is best for international travelers, who may need to pay for expedited passport replacements and transportation fees after losing their passport. Even if your policy doesn’t cover the passport replacement fee, it will likely count a lost passport as a qualifying reason for a trip delay.

Add-on benefits: Good travel insurance companies often also offer translation services and connect you to the most relevant legal resources. This help can be immensely useful in a pinch, particularly for international travel.

10. Adventure or Sports Injuries

Vacation time is exciting. Adventurous travelers love trying out new activities that make their blood rush, like bungee jumping and extreme sports. But if you get injured because of a high-risk activity, travel health insurance will not cover it.

If you know adventure is in your heart, you might want to purchase coverage for “hazardous activities” like scuba diving or ziplining. It is either included in the comprehensive travel plan or with an adventure sports rider or endorsement, which functions as an insurance add-on. Covered activities typically include:

• Scuba diving, kayaking, and rafting
• Skiing and snowboarding
• Ziplines, hot air balloons, and hang gliding
• Hikes and treks
• Archery, hunting, basketball, and the Ironman

If you plan on going on an adventure or partaking in a sport while traveling, a travel insurance add-on can help you cover injuries. Insurance coverage may be able to pay for:

• Extreme sport injuries
• Accidental death or dismemberment (AD&D)
• Repatriation costs

Important: Check if your chosen high-adrenaline activity is covered by your insurance before partaking in it. A lot of sports you think is “normal” may be excluded unless you have the right policy add-on.

Tips to Make Sure You’re Covered

With any insurance, it’s important to always read the fine print. Policy exclusions can catch travelers off guard.

You can also ask your insurer about optional add-ons that may be bundled in. For example, if you are carrying expensive electronics or instruments, you should consider a baggage coverage upgrade. A regular $500 baggage limit might not suffice.

Many insurance policies have a time limit on claims. If you take too long (such as over 3 months), you might miss the claim window. After a travel incident happens, make sure to file a claim promptly, with the necessary supporting documentation.

How long does a travel insurance claim take? Well, it can take a few weeks or a few months. If the travel insurer requires extra info, there may be a back-and-forth of messages through your online client portal.

To make it easier to file a claim, make sure you keep all relevant documentation, such as:

• Receipts
• Police reports
• Boarding passes

Careful: Avoid exaggerating or fabricating details while filing an insurance claim. If you get caught for it, your claim may be completely denied.

Conclusion

Travel insurance is a powerful tool, one that is stronger than you think. If any incident happens during your trip, make sure to double-check your coverage details and see if you can get financial compensation.

Review your current or upcoming travel insurance policy to see what surprising things travel insurance covers. Still shopping for coverage? We’ve curated the best travel insurance companies for your convenience.