Travel insurance can usually be arranged at the time of the booking of a trip to cover exactly the duration of that trip, or a "multi-trip" policy can cover an unlimited number of trips within a set time frame. Some policies offer lower and higher medical-expense options; the higher ones are chiefly for countries that have extremely high medical costs.
The most common risks that are covered by travel insurance plans are:
- Medical emergency
- Cancellation, curtailment and trip interruption
- This section covers any unused travel and or accommodation costs, pre-paid charges (including any additional travel expenses incurred, provided they are deemed reasonable and necessary) if a trip is canceled or cut short under a variety of circumstances, which may include any of the following, depending on the policy:
- Death, bodily injury, illness, disease, or pregnancy complications
- Compulsory quarantine
- Jury service
- Being called as a witness
- Termination of employment (provided you did not know about it before you booked the holiday)
- Being called up if you are a member of the armed forces or other public defense or safety organization
- Prohibition of travel by the government to the intended destination
- Officially recommended evacuation from the intended destination
- Official advisory against going to or remaining at the intended destination
- Repatriation of remains
- Return of a minor
- Trip cancellation
- Trip interruption
- Visitor health insurance
- Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit
- Overseas funeral expenses
- Lost, stolen or damaged baggage, personal effects or travel documents
- Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items)
- Flight connection was missed due to airline schedule Travel delays due to weather Hijacking
- Medical expense coverage can be per-occurrence or maximum-limit.