Guides
Travel Insurance Glossary

By: Sally - Travel Writer

At Fast Cover, we've made our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) as simple as possible to read whilst still keeping the required legal language. We do understand that it isn't exactly the most exciting or easy reading material and trying to comprehend insurance terms can be confusing and frustrating for many travellers. Sometimes you just want a simple answer but end up with more questions!

We're on a mission to make buying travel insurance fast and simple, and that includes simplifying the language so you can understand exactly what you are and aren't covered for.

We've created this glossary which contains definitions and explanations of the most commonly used words and phrases you may come across when comparing travel insurance policies for your trip.

We hope that our travel insurance glossary will assist you in understanding some key travel insurance terms so that you're able to confidently choose a travel insurance policy that suits your travel needs.

To help you, we have also created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page that answers your most commonly asked questions regarding our policies, what you can be covered for and what to do if you need to make a claim.

Please note
1) This is not an official travel insurance dictionary. The phrases, definitions and explanations in this glossary are for explanatory purposes only and do not necessarily indicate the actual wording used in Fast Cover insurance products. It also does not replace the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), but is intended to be used in conjunction with it.

2) Definitions vary between insurers. Always refer to the travel insurer's individual Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before deciding if the product is right for you.

Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Accident	An unexpected injury or incident on your trip.
Accidental death	Where the cause of death is an accident and not due to something that you were aware of. For example, if you die due to a pre-existing medical condition, this would not be considered an accidental death.
Accidental death cover	This benefit is paid to a beneficiary upon the accidental death of the person who is covered by the travel insurance policy.
Accommodation	Any type of place to stay overnight, where you have paid money to do so.
Accompanying	A person who is travelling with you for 100% of the trip.
Add On	For an additional premium, you can add on extra cover for activities or items that aren't already covered by your travel insurance policy. This may include reducing your excess, covering yourself for adventurous activities and covering the excess on your Rental Vehicle Insurance.
Additional Options	See Add on.
Additional premium	An extra payment made to cover the cost of a benefit (for example, an Add On) which is not already covered by your travel insurance policy, or an upgrade or extension to your travel insurance policy.
Adventure Pack	Extra cover for an additional premium for activities that are considered higher risk and which your travel insurance policy may not cover you for.
Adventure sports cover	See Adventure Pack
Age	Your current age: the age you are at the time you buy or extend your policy.
Age limit	Cover for some activities and policy types is only available for travellers up to a certain age.
Already overseas	You are considered 'Already overseas' if you have already left Australia.
Amateur	This refers to you participating in sports and activities where you are not racing or playing professionally.
Annual multi-trip plan	See Multi-trip.
Annual Policy	See Multi-trip.
Appropriate Supervision	For some activities, you need to be under the direction of a qualified and licensed person appropriate for the activity you are participating in. If you are not under appropriate supervision for your activity, your claim may not be paid.
Area of travel	See Region.
Arise	An event or condition which occurs and which is in any way connected to another event or condition. For example: a claim for medical expenses due to a complication from a pre-existing medical condition.
Ash cloud	See Natural disaster.
Assistance	See Emergency Assistance Team.
Australian citizen	See Resident of Australia.
Australian waters	A cruise that sails around the Australian continent. This is considered international travel as cruising in Australian waters is outside the scope of Medicare.

B

Backcountry	Areas outside the boundaries of the ski resort.
Bad weather	Severe weather conditions like floods or tornadoes that cause injury to you or your travel to be delayed, scheduled or cancelled.
Baggage and personal effects	See Luggage and personal effects.
Baggage delay	See Delay of luggage and personal effects.
Beneficiary	The person who receives a defined amount of money from your travel insurance policy in the event of your accidental death.
Benefit	What you would be covered for and how much you would be able to claim, as stated in the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy.
Benefit limit	This is the maximum amount that your travel insurer will pay you for any benefit.
Benefit Summary	An overview of what the travel insurer's policies can cover you for.
Bicycle	A vehicle with two wheels in tandem, with handlebars for steering, a saddle seat and pedals to propel the vehicle. This includes road bikes, mountain bikes, track bikes, BMX, recumbent bicycles and electric ‘pedal assist’ bicycles not exceeding 300 watts.
Bicycle accessories	Your bicycle helmet, shoes, clothing, protective equipment, water bottles and hydration systems, computer, pump, spare components and travelling case.
Bicycle Pack	The bike pack is usually purchased as an Add On which provides cover for your bike/s if they are lost, stolen or accidentally damaged.
Bicycling	Riding a bike on your trip. Bicycling does not usually include racing, BMX or downhill mountain riding.
Bodily injury	See Injury.

C

Cancellation	If you are no longer able to travel due to an unexpected event and you need to cancel or withdraw bookings that you have already made.See also Trip Cancellation Expenses.
Carrier	Any land, sea or air transport (not including taxis) which is operating under a valid license for the transportation of passengers.
Cash	See Theft of cash.
Certificate of Insurance	The document which outlines the details of the travel insurance policy that you have chosen to purchase for your trip.
Children	See Dependant.
Chronic	This is a persistent and ongoing medical condition, where there may be relapses and remissions.
Claim	An application by you to your travel insurer for payment or compensation due to a single or series of events like illness, injury or stolen belongings which has resulted in a loss on your part, and is covered under your travel insurance policy.
Claim amount	The amount that you are requesting the travel insurer compensate you for, due to situations like illness, injury or stolen belongings which has resulted in a loss on your part, and is covered under your policy.See also Claim.
Close relative	This is the group of family members as defined by the travel insurer, who may or may not be travelling with you, for which you may be able to claim for cancellation or disruption to your trip should they become seriously sick or injured and you're not able to travel.
Complications (in relation to pregnancy)	Anything you have been diagnosed with or treated for in the past.
Cooling off period	This is a specified period of time (usually 14 days) after you purchase your travel insurance policy in which you can cancel your policy for any reason and get a full refund of the premium paid. However, if you plan to, or have made a claim, or if your departure date is within the cooling off period, then your cooling off period ends on your departure date.
Cover	See Benefit.
Cover type	The different kinds of travel insurance policies that you can take out depending on who you are travelling with. Eg: a Single trip policy if you are travelling alone or a Family policy if you are travelling with your spouse and dependants.
Cruise	When you travel on a cruise ship travelling on the sea or ocean where you will sleeping overnight on the ship.
Cruise ship	A passenger ship used commercially for the transportation of passengers on the sea or ocean with on-board accommodation and trained medical staff. For example, P & O cruises and Princess Cruises.

D

Damage	Physical injury or harm to a person or property.
Date of policy Issue	The date that you purchased your policy and shown on your Certificate of Insurance.
Delay	See Travel delay and Delay of luggage and personal effects.
Delay of luggage and personal effects	When your luggage is misdirected, misplaced or arrives late to your destination due to the fault of a carrier.
Dental cover	This provides cover for unexpected emergency dental treatment usually only for the relief of sudden and severe pain to your sound and natural teeth.
Departure Date	The date that you leave your home for your trip.
Dependant	Your own children or grandchildren who are under a specified age and not in full-time employment, who will be travelling with you 100% of the time.
Depreciation	The decrease in the value of an item over time, usually due to wear and tear.
Destination	Your intended place of travel which is more than a defined distance from your home or primary residence as specified in the Product Disclosure Statement.
Disability	A continuing physical or mental impairment that limits your ability to perform everyday activities.
Dispute resolution process	The steps that you can take if you have a complaint about your service or claim outcome.
Diving underwater	Diving which involves using artificial breathing equipment up to a defined depth as specified in the PDS.
Documentation	Any proof of payment or report to support a claim that you have made. Documentation can include police reports, boarding passes, receipts and credit card statements.
Domestic	Travel to destinations which are more than a specified distance from your home and which is within Australia and can include Thursday Island, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island & Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Domestic and Pacific Cruise	This is a cruise taken in Australian waters, New Zealand and around the Pacific Islands.
Domestic cruise	See Domestic and Pacific Cruise.
Downhill mountain biking	Riding a bike at high speed down steep rough terrain.
Drone	An unmanned aircraft or ship that is guided remotely.
Duo policy	A policy where 2 people are listed on the one certificate of insurance. Each person can make their own separate claims and do not need to be related.
Duration of trip	This is the length of time from when you leave your home (Departure Date) to when you return home from your trip (Return Date). See also Travel Dates.

E

Emergency	An unexpected, serious and often dangerous situation that needs an immediate response.
Emergency Assistance Team	Professional personnel you can call in an emergency and is included as a part of your travel insurance policy. They are able to help you with the provision of translation services, replacing stolen credit cards, advice on medical facilities nearby and contacting your family if you are hospitalised while overseas.
Emergency dental	See Dental Cover.
Emergency evacuation	If you are injured in a remote location, or if the Emergency Assistance team deem the medical facilities at your location as inadequate, they will organise for you to be transported (including being air-lifted) to another location where there is an appropriate medical facility or back to Australia.
Emergency medical expenses	Unexpected medical, hospital or ambulance costs as a result of a medical emergency.
Emergency Medical Transportation	See Emergency evacuation.
Epidemic	A sudden outbreak and rapid spread of a contagious disease in a region within a short period of time.
Evacuation	See Emergency evacuation.
Excess	This is the initial amount you must pay when you make a claim, unless you choose to remove your excess at the time that you buy your travel insurance policy for an additional premium.
Excess Reduction	Where you reduce the excess that is payable on any claims you make on your policy by paying an additional premium at the time you buy your travel insurance policy.See also Excess.
Excess Removal	Where you remove the excess that is payable on any claims you make on your policy by paying an additional premium at the time you buy your policy.See also Excess.
Exclusions	See General Exclusions.
Existing medical condition	See Pre-existing medical condition.
Extending a policy	See Policy extension.
Extension of cover	See Policy extension.
Extra cover	Where you pay an additional premium to cover your trip for benefits that are not covered under your policy.

F

Family	You, your spouse (or someone who is legally recognised in Australia as your de facto partner) and your dependants (they can be your own children or grandchildren).
Family policy	A travel insurance policy that covers you, your spouse and your own dependants or grandchildren who are under the specified age limit, not in full-time employment and travelling with you 100% of the time.
Financial Claims Scheme	The Financial Claims Scheme is a government scheme which protects policy holders who have valid claims if the travel insurer has a financial collapse.
Financial collapse	Where a tour operator, airline, cruise line or accommodation provider goes out of business.
Financial Services Guide	A guide that provides you with information about how the insurance product is offered. It will explain the service offered, how the travel insurer is paid for their services, how the travel insurer deals with complaints and how they can be contacted.
Fraudulent	When you provide the travel insurer with information that is not true, incorrect, didn't happen, is misleading or exaggerated.
FSG	See Financial Services Guide.

G

General Exclusions	Specific conditions, circumstances or situations which are listed in the Product Disclosure Statement as not being covered under any benefits of your travel insurance policy.
Geographical Region	The area under which your travel falls into. For example, if you will be travelling to the UK and France, these countries will fall under the Europe region.
Golf equipment	Golf clubs, golf bag, golf trolley and golf shoes.
Group quote	Quotes which indicate how much it would cost to cover a group of people who are travelling together and who may or may not be related.
Group travel insurance	See Group quote.

H

Heli-skiing	Heli-skiing is where skiers are transported via helicopter to remote inaccessible slopes outside resort boundaries. The skiers ski down the slope and are collected at the bottom by the helicopter. Generally, a guide comes along and points out the safe places to ski. Heli-skiing takes places outside resort boundaries on unmarked and unpatrolled slopes.
Home	Your usual place of residence in Australia.
Hospital	A medical facility where the sick or injured are looked after by doctors and nurses.
Hospital benefit	See Overseas hospital cash allowance.
Hospital cash payment	See Overseas hospital cash allowance.

I

Illness	Sickness or disease.
Injury	Bodily injury caused directly by an external force such as from an accident, a fall or being hit and not as a result of illness, sickness, disease or self-harm.
Injury date	When you submit a claim for expenses related to an injury, the travel insurer will require the date that you were injured. This is determined by a number of factors which will be specified by the travel insurer in their Product Disclosure Statement.
Insurance code of practice	The Insurance code of practice outlines the standard of service you should expect from an insurance company which has adopted the code regarding enquiries about, buying and renewing insurance.
Insurance policy	The contract between the travel Insurer and you.
Insured	The person or people who are covered by the travel insurance policy.
Insurer	An insurer is the company who issues the travel insurance and takes on the risk of compensating you for unexpected expenses if you need to make a claim.
International	See Overseas.

J

Joint cover	See DUO policy.
Journey	See Trip.

K

Known event

An event that has happened or is predicted to happen which may affect your travel and the cover on your policy. For example: a natural disaster, war has been declared or an airline strike. So if the known event occurred before you bought your policy, you may not have cover for any claims related to the event.

L

Level of cover	This refers to the type of travel insurance policy you have chosen to buy, which will determine the benefits you will receive and the maximum amount you would be able to claim for.
Limitation of cover	See Benefit Limit.
Locked Storage Compartment	An enclosed and secured area in which your belongings inside are not visible.
Loss	Injury or damage you suffer or expenses you have incurred due to an event or incident.
Loss of income	If you become disabled for a specified period of time, and are not able to return to your usual work as a result of an injury during your trip.
Loss of income benefit	A benefit which you can be paid if you become disabled for a specified period of time and are not able to return to your usual work as a result of an injury during your trip.
Luggage	See Luggage and Personal Effects.
Luggage and Personal Effects	Your personal items which you take on your trip which may include clothing, jewellery, mobile phones, laptops and the suitcases and bags you use to carry them.
Luggage Delay	See Delay of Luggage and personal effects.

M

Maximum limit	See Benefit limit.
Medical care	Treatment by trained and licensed medical practitioner for illness or injury.
Medical Condition	See Pre-existing medical condition.
Medical evacuation	See Emergency Evacuation.
Medical excess	An excess that only applies when you need to put in a claim where the claim is due to an injury or sickness.See also Excess.
Medical Expenses	Reasonable and necessary medical costs incurred by you for unexpected medical treatment during the policy period, on the advice of a doctor due to an illness or accident.
Medical practitioner	A qualified doctor or dentist.
Medically necessary	Unexpected medical treatment which is reasonable and appropriate and meets accepted medical standards.
Mental illness	Conditions as listed in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and may include depression, anxiety, stress, mental or nervous conditions.
Missed connection	See Special event transport expenses.
Money	This includes coins, bank notes, currency notes, traveller's cheques, money or postal orders and cash.
Moped	Any two-wheeled or three-wheeled motor vehicle with an engine capacity of not greater than 50cc.
Motorcycle	Any two-wheeled or three-wheeled motor vehicle with an engine capacity greater than 50cc.
Motorcycle Pack	Extra cover for an additional premium to cover you for riding a moped, scooter or motorcycle, which your travel insurance policy may not automatically cover you for.
Multi-trip	This type of travel insurance policy allows unlimited travel in a 12 month period for the selected region and trip duration.

N

Natural disaster	An extreme weather or environmental event such as an earthquake, storm, fire, flood, cyclone, tornado, hurricane or volcanic eruption.
Nil excess	If you make a claim, you do not have to pay any excess. You usually need to pay an additional premium at the time of policy purchase to remove the excess on your travel insurance policy.See also Excess and Excess Removal.
Non disclosure	Where you do not advise the travel insurer of information you are aware of, which may affect the cover on the travel insurance policy you have or any claims which you make.

O

Off piste	Participation in snow sports which are not on prepared or groomed ski runs.
One-way travel insurance	A travel insurance policy which covers you to travel overseas, where you do not plan on returning to Australia. For example if you are emigrating overseas.
Optional Cover	See Add 0n.
Outpatient	When you receive medical or dental treatment and do not have to stay overnight in a hospital.
Overseas	This refers to international travel outside of Australia.
Overseas Emergency Dental	See Dental cover.
Overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses	Additional expenses including hospital, surgical, nursing, ambulance and emergency dental expenses which you incur because you are admitted to hospital while you are overseas due to an unexpected injury or sickness.
Overseas emergency medical assistance	See Emergency Assistance Team.
Overseas hospital cash payment	If you are unexpectedly hospitalised overseas, you can claim up to a defined amount as specified in the travel insurer's Product Disclosure Statement, to cover your personal out-of pocket non medical expenses (for example: phone calls home, magazines or newspapers and taxis).
Overseas hospitalisation	Where you are admitted to hospital while you are overseas due to an injury or sickness.
Overseas medical expenses	See Overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses.

P

Pair or set	A related set of items which are considered one item. For example: a camera and its lenses, a pair of earrings or a set of hearing aids.
Pandemic	An outbreak of a disease that affects a wide geographic area and a large portion of the population.
PDS	See Product Disclosure Statement.
Period of cover	See Period of insurance.
Period of insurance	The length of time during which your travel insurance policy provides you with cover. Depending on the type of travel insurance policy you have purchased, it may be from the time you buy your travel insurance policy or from when you leave for your trip.
Permanent disability benefit	This benefit provides cover if you are permanently disabled due to an accident during your trip overseas.
Permanently disabled	Where you are disabled due to an injury overseas and it is determined that this disablement will continue indefinitely.
Personal liability	The costs you incur due to damage to property or to someone (including accidental bodily injury) who is not a family member or travelling companion, for which you are legally liable.
Policy	See Insurance Policy.
Policy certificate	See Certificate of Insurance.
Policy cover	See Level of Cover.
Policy document	See Certificate of insurance.
Policy excess	See Excess.
Policy extension	When you change your return date to a date that is later than what you had originally planned. You may need to pay an additional premium to do so.
Policy holder	See Insured.
Policy period	See Period of insurance.
Pre-existing medical condition	Any medical condition for which you are taking medication for, been hospitalised for, had surgery for, or is under investigation by a medical professional. This would apply to you, your travelling companions or a close relative.
Pregnancy	Pregnancy is considered a pre-existing medical condition for the purposes of travel insurance and you may be covered up to a certain number of weeks of pregnancy.
Premium	The amount you need to pay to purchase a travel insurance policy.
Prescription	An instruction written by a doctor which authorises the patient to be issued with medication or treatment.
Prescription medication	Medication which requires a prescription to be issued by a doctor.
Privacy policy	How the travel insurer protects the personal information that you provide them when you buy your travel insurance policy.
Product Disclosure Statement	A document that contains information about the travel insurance policies offered, including what is covered, how much you are covered up to, what isn't covered and details on the travel insurer providing the policies.
Professional	Work or activity that requires special training or education.
Public place	Any area that the public has access to.

Q

Quote

The price you would need to pay for a travel insurance policy and the level of cover you would get for that price.

R

Reasonable	For medical, hospital or dental expenses: The standard level of care that you would expect to receive in the country that you are in. For additional travel and accommodation expenses: The type of travel and accommodation expenses should be at a level comparable to what you have already booked for your trip.
Receipts	See Documentation.
Reciprocal health care agreement	Australia has an agreement with some countries where the cost of some medically necessary health care is provided without charge when Australians visit those countries.
Recover	See Refund.
Refund	When you make a claim for out of pocket expenses and that money is paid back by the insurer in cash or credit according to the terms of your policy.
Region	See Geographical Region.
Relative	See Close relative.
Removal of Standard Excess	See Excess Removal.
Rental car excess	See Rental vehicle excess.
Rental vehicle	A car (sedan, hatchback, station wagon, four wheel drive or mini bus) or campervan/motorhome that you have hired from a licensed motor vehicle rental company.
Rental vehicle excess	The excess that is payable to the rental vehicle insurance company when you claim for damages to or theft to your rental vehicle.
Rental vehicle insurance excess cover	This benefit covers the rental vehicle insurance excess that you need to pay on your rental car insurance (which you need to take out with your rental car company) when you claim for damages to or for theft of your rental vehicle.
Repatriation	See Emergency evacuation.
Repatriation of remains	Transporting your body to your home if you pass away during your trip.
Resident	See Resident of Australia.
Resident of Australia	Someone who lives in Australia and has an Australian Medicare card.
Resumption of journey	See Trip Resumption Expenses.
Return date	The date as specified on your Certificate of Insurance, when you will return to your home from your trip.
River cruise	A cruise on a river and not on the sea or ocean.

S

Scooter	See Moped.
Sickness	A medical condition diagnosed by a medical practitioner and includes Mental Illness.
Single Trip Policy	A policy that provides travel insurance cover for one trip.
Smart traveller website	See Smartraveller.
Smartraveller	Government website which provides valuable information regarding potential threats to your travel for all destinations around the world. The website issues advisories regarding security, safety, health, local laws or natural disasters. These travel advisories may impact the cover you have on your policy with your travel insurer.
Snow cover	Travel insurers may not automatically cover you for snow sports. You may need to take out specific snow cover.
Snow sport activities	Activities conducted in the snow during the snow season which may only be covered by an appropriate snow policy.
Snow sport equipment	Skis, poles, boots, bindings, snowboards or ice skates.
Special Event Transport Expenses	This is an additional cost you incur because you need to book another means of transport to get to your special event ,if your original planned transport is cancelled, delayed, shortened or diverted due to circumstances out of your control.
Specified High Value Items	For items which you pay an additional premium to 'lock' in the value of. If you damage or lose the item, you can claim up to the amount you have covered the item for. Depreciation does not apply to these items.
Specified items	See Specified High Value Items.
Sports and leisure activities	Activities which you may be covered for under the terms of your travel insurance policy. You may need to pay an additional premium to be covered for some sports and leisure activities.
Spouse	Someone legally recognised in Australia who is living with you in a genuine domestic basis.
Standard Excess	See Excess.
Sub-limit	This is a limit within the benefit limit on your travel insurance cover. This will be specified in the travel insurer's Product Disclosure Statement.
Subrogation	Any action an insurer takes to collect money they have refunded to you, from other parties such as other insurance companies or travel suppliers (airlines, hotels, cruise companies etc) after they pay a claim to you.
Surface water activities	Body boarding, body surfing, paddle boarding, surfing, skim boarding and windsurfing which is conducted a certain distance from land as specified by the travel insurer in the Product Disclosure Statement.

T

Temporary resident	A person who is not a permanent resident or citizen of Australia. E.g. a person who holds a 457 visa.
Theft of cash	When your cash, bank notes, currency notes, postal orders or money orders are stolen from your person while you are on your trip.
Theft of cash benefit	This benefit covers you when your cash, bank notes, currency notes, postal orders or money orders are stolen from your person while you are on your trip.
Travel advice	See Travel warning.
Travel dates	The dates that you will be travelling as specified on your Certificate of Insurance.
Travel delay	When transport that you have booked is delayed due to circumstances which are outside of your control.
Travel delay expenses	Additional costs like food expenses which you incur when the transport you have booked is delayed by more than a specified amount of time due to circumstances which are outside of your control.
Travel documents	This includes passports, credit or debit cards or travellers cheques.
Travel insurance	Insurance for your trip to cover unexpected expenses that may arise and assistance that you may need.
Travel warning	A travel advisory issued by the government or reported in the mass media regarding travel to destinations around the world.See also Smartraveller.
Travelling companion	The person you plan on travelling with on your trip, where you will be travelling together for a period of time as specified by the travel insurer.
Trip	This refers to your journey, and starts when you leave your home and ends when you return home, or as specified by the travel insurer.
Trip Cancellation Expenses	These are expenses you incur when you have to rearrange or cancel your trip due to unexpected and unforeseen circumstances outside of your control like sickness or accidents to yourself or a close relative.
Trip Cancellation Expenses Benefit	When you can claim for expenses you incur when you have to rearrange or cancel your trip due to unexpected and unforeseen circumstances outside of your control like sickness or accidents to yourself or a close relative.
Trip Disruption Expenses	These are expenses you incur after you have left for your trip. The expenses may include extra accommodation and transport expenses during your trip if it is interrupted or shortened due to unexpected or unforeseen circumstances. This can include sickness or injury to yourself or a close relative.
Trip Disruption Expenses Benefit	When you can claim for expenses you incur after you have left for your trip. The expenses may include extra accommodation and transport expenses during your trip if it is interrupted or shortened due to unexpected or unforeseen circumstances. This can include sickness or injury to yourself or a close relative.
Trip Resumption Expenses	These are expenses you incur when you resume your trip if you had to cut short your trip to return to Australia because of an unexpected event outside of your control such as sickness or injury to yourself or a close relative of yours.
Trip Resumption Expenses Benefit	When you can claim for expenses you incur when you resume your trip if you had to cut short your trip to return to Australia because of an unexpected event outside of your control such as sickness or injury to yourself or a close relative of yours.

U

Underwriter	See Insurer.
Unexpected event	See Unforeseen Event.
Unforeseen event	An event that happens unexpectedly which is out of your control or you were not aware of at the time that you purchased your travel insurance policy.
Unlimited	There is no restriction on the amount of cover for the benefit, however, an age limit may still apply.
Unspecified items	Your luggage and personal belongings which you do not pay an additional premium to declare them and cover them for a specified amount of money. These undeclared items would be covered as standard under your travel insurance policy and would be subject to depreciation.See also Specified High Value Items.
Unsupervised	Where you leave your luggage and personal belongings at a distance where you are not reasonably able to prevent them from being taken or stolen, or with a person not named on your Certificate of Insurance, or is not your travelling companion, or someone you did not know prior to your trip.

V

Visa	An authorisation from a country which allows you to enter, remain and leave the country.
Volunteer work	Work that you choose to perform on your trip where you will not be paid.

W

We will not pay	The conditions under which the travel insurer would not pay out a claim.
We will pay	The conditions under which the travel insurer would pay out a claim.
Winter sports cover	See Snow Cover.
Words with special meanings	Some words have a meaning which is specific to the travel insurer's Product Disclosure Statement and which may not apply elsewhere.
Working holiday	Where you travel for both leisure and work.

Y

Yearly travel insurance	See Multi-trip.
You and your	The people who are named on the Certificate of Insurance.
Your Duty	You have a duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation.

Share now!

About the author

Sally is a travel insurance specialist and content writer at Fast Cover who enjoys researching new destinations for the monthly newsletters and Spotlight posts. A dumpling connoisseur and food blogger at heart, she has outlasted everyone at the stand-up desk and is the only reason the office plants are still alive.

Travel Alert: Vanuatu - Earthquake

What to do

Are you overseas and need emergency medical help?

Travel Insurance Glossary

Glossary

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Share now!

About the author

Need affordable travel insurance?

Recommended

Travel Alert: Vanuatu - Earthquake

What to do

Are you overseas and need emergency medical help?

Glossary

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Share now!

About the author

Need affordable travel insurance?

Recommended

All Aboard