It’s no secret that insurance plans can include a lot of jargon that you might not be familiar with. That’s why we’ve created this digestible glossary for you so you can understand your travel insurance plan to the fullest prior to hittin’ the road.
Common insurance terminology explained
Adventure & extreme sports: An optional add-on that provides coverage for medical and transportation expenses if you’re injured while participating in high-risk activities like skydiving, bungee jumping, motocross, or free diving. Always check your policy to see which sports are included.
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): A flexible add-on that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason—not just the ones typically covered—up to 48 hours before departure. Whether it’s a last-minute change of heart or an unexpected conflict, CFAR gives you more control over your plans.
Claim: The process of submitting proof of a covered event (like a medical emergency or trip delay) to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Approval and payment depend on your specific policy’s coverage. If you are traveling with Faye, here’s how to file a claim in a few simple steps.
Emergency care coverage: Medical care that requires immediate assistance while traveling and is covered by your plan. This can include hospital visits, urgent care, or doctor consultations.
Emergency evacuation: Transportation to the nearest medical facility capable of treating your condition in case of a serious injury or illness.
Emergency medical expenses: Coverage for unexpected medical costs while traveling, including doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications.
Excess vs. Primary coverage:
- Excess (Secondary) coverage: Kicks in only after any other applicable insurance (such as your health or homeowners’ insurance) has paid out.
- Primary coverage: Pays first, meaning you don’t need to file a claim with another provider before your travel insurance covers costs.
Exclusions: Situations,events or activities not covered by your travel insurance plan.
Lookback period: The window of time an insurance provider reviews your medical history to determine if a condition qualifies as pre-existing. This period typically ranges from 60 to 180 days before purchasing your policy.
Pet care: The coverage of pet health-related expenses if your furry friend gets sick while traveling with you, if your pet has to be quarantined due to sickness, or if you don’t arrive home on time resulting in additional kenneling expenses. Quarantined means your travel companion is forced to strict medical isolation by a recognized government authority or medical examiners if they have – or are suspected of having – a contagious disease, infection or contamination.
Pre-existing medical conditions: Any diagnosed condition you had before purchasing travel insurance. To be covered for cancellations or interruptions due to a pre-existing condition, you typically need to:
- Buy your policy within 14 days of your first trip deposit
- Be medically fit to travel when you purchase your plan
Primary: This refers to the priority of payment when you file a claim. For example, if you purchase a travel insurance plan with primary emergency medical benefits, that means the travel insurance company is the first to pay or reimburse for those benefits.
Rental car care: A benefit you can add on to your travel insurance policy for coverage of car rental-related accident and theft expenses, such as coverage for collision, loss and damage.
Repatriation: If you fall ill or get injured while traveling, your insurer will arrange for you to get home for treatment. In addition, repatriation coverage includes handling the necessary transportation home if the insured passes away from illness or injury during the trip.
Telemedicine: A virtual healthcare service that lets you consult with licensed doctors 24/7. Some providers may also offer prescription services when legally permitted. Faye policyholders on international trips from over 75 countries have access to a telemedicine offering through Air Doctor.
Trip cancellation: Coverage for non-refundable travel expenses if you need to cancel your trip due to a covered reason, such as:
- Serious illness or injury
- Death of a covered person
- Unexpected natural disasters or airline strikes
Trip delay: When a traveler has to cut their trip short or miss part of it due to uncontrollable reasons, including a flight delay or theft of passport. This coverage can help reimburse them for lost prepaid expenses and unexpected travel costs to get home.
Trip inconveniences & snafus: When a traveler is inconvenienced during their trip due to flight delays, cancellations, security delays or arriving late to their hotel.
Trip interruption: When a traveler must unexpectedly cut their trip short or extend their trip, due to unforeseen circumstances, such as an emergency at home or illness while abroad, changing their planned return date home.
Urgent care: Medical care that shouldn’t be postponed but doesn’t pose a life-threatening situation.
Vacation rental damage protection: An add-on to your trip that gives you coverage for any unintentional damage to a vacation rental (like an Airbnb or Vrbo) during your stay, such as broken furniture or stained carpets.
Whole-trip travel insurance: Comprehensive coverage that goes the distance to protect your entire trip, from the moment you leave home until the moment you return. Faye’s entire trip protection covers your trip, your health and your stuff. You can see everything Faye covers, as well as what you can add on to your plan, here.
Still have questions about Faye’s coverage?
Our customer experience team is available 24/7, 365 days a year—even on weekends and holidays. You can chat with us via the Faye app on iOS or Android or reach us at support@withfaye.com.
Looking for more travel tips?
Check out our blog for expert insights on travel insurance, trip planning, and staying safe abroad. Read more here.
