Travel insurance myths vs facts

You may have already booked your flights and packed your bags for the trip of a lifetime—but have you thought about travel insurance myths and facts? Confusion and common misconceptions often cloud this step for many travelers. In this article, we’ll break down the myths and reveal the facts you need to know to protect your plans and make your dream vacation truly worry-free.

Index

Myths of travel insurance

People often misunderstand travel insurance because of common assumptions. Below are some of the most frequent myths—and the facts that debunk them:

Myth 1: Travel insurance is only necessary for international trips.
- Fact: Even domestic travelers can benefit from travel insurance when plans go unexpectedly wrong. Reliable protection is valuable regardless of destination.
Myth 2: My credit card already covers me.
- Fact: While some premium credit cards offer basic protection, their coverage is usually limited.
  - They often don’t include complex situations like full medical evacuation.
  - They typically exclude trip interruptions caused by personal emergencies.
  - Relying solely on credit card coverage may leave you vulnerable.
Myth 3: My regular health insurance covers me abroad.
- Fact: Health plans from your home country may only cover basic expenses overseas.
  - They rarely cover emergency medical costs in full.
  - Services like air ambulance repatriation are often not included.
Myth 4: Travel insurance covers everything automatically.
- Fact: Coverage varies significantly between providers.
  - Not all policies include cancellations, lost luggage, or medical bills in a single package.
  - It’s essential to review the provider’s policy details carefully.
  - Most information is available on insurance websites and official documents.

Do I need travel insurance?

It’s a fair question—especially if you’ve never had issues while traveling. But if you value financial protection, medical coverage abroad, and support during unexpected events, the answer is yes.

Travel is unpredictable. Canceled flights, missed connections, lost luggage, or sudden injuries can throw off even the best-laid plans. Travel insurance acts as a safety net—not something you hope to use, but something you’ll be glad you have when things go wrong.

It’s especially important when visiting countries where your regular health insurance doesn’t apply. Without coverage, you could face steep medical bills or treatment delays.

And with travel today more complex than ever—due to weather disruptions, airline strikes, political unrest, or pandemics—insurance helps protect non-refundable expenses like flights, hotels, and tours.

Ultimately, travel insurance gives you financial protection and peace of mind, so you can focus on enjoying your trip.

Still unsure how it all works? Check out our full guide to travel insurance explained for everything you need to know.

Buy your travel insurance now

What does travel insurance actually cover?

Every insurance company offers different terms and coverage options, so it’s important to choose a policy that best matches your specific needs and the type of trip you’re planning.

In general, travel insurance provides broad protection against a variety of unexpected situations that can arise before or during your travels. Here are some of the most common areas that travel insurance typically covers:

Medical assistance abroad

Medical expenses incurred due to sudden illness or accidents during your trip. This includes:

Emergency medical and surgical treatment
Hospitalization costs
Emergency dental treatment
Medical transportation and repatriation

Note: Pre-existing conditions are generally excluded unless specified otherwise.

Heymondo includes comprehensive medical assistance abroad in its policies, covering these key services and ensuring you’re protected in emergencies.

Trip cancellation and interruption

Most travel insurance policies reimburse you for prepaid, non-refundable expenses if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip due to:

Serious illness or injury (yours or a close relative’s)
Death of a family member
Major damage to your home or place of residence

Heymondo can reimburse non-refundable travel costs in these situations, helping ease the financial impact of sudden changes.

Baggage and personal belongings

Typical coverage includes compensation for:

Loss, theft, or damage to checked luggage
Delayed baggage delivery
Essential items purchased due to baggage delay

Note: There are limits per item and overall, so it’s advisable to check the specific amounts in your policy.

Heymondo provides coverage in these scenarios, helping you recover losses or deal with travel inconveniences smoothly.

Travel delays and missed connections

Generally, travel insurance may offer compensation for extra costs due to:

Flight delays
Missed connections
Extended stays caused by covered reasons

This ensures you’re not out-of-pocket for unforeseen delays.

Heymondo can cover additional expenses incurred from such delays, so you aren’t left covering them yourself.

Personal liability

Standard policies often include liability coverage in case you:

Cause accidental injury to someone
Damage another person’s property

Note: This coverage typically includes legal defense and compensation claims.

Heymondo includes personal liability protection, subject to the terms and exclusions outlined.

Adventure sports (optional add-on)

Most insurers exclude high-risk or adventure activities by default but may offer optional coverage for sports such as:

Skiing
Scuba diving
Surfing

Note: This coverage usually requires a policy upgrade or specific add-on.

Heymondo offers an adventure sports add-on that covers a range of popular activities—ideal for thrill-seekers looking for extra protection.

When you understand exactly what your policy covers, you can avoid costly assumptions and travel with greater confidence. Always review the full terms and conditions to ensure you know what is—and isn’t—included.

Read this article to understand more some of the most common areas that travel insurance typically covers.

What illnesses are not covered by travel insurance?

Most reputable travel insurance providers include essential medical coverage during a trip—but they don’t cover every illness. Understanding the exclusions can help you avoid surprises during a claim. To get accurate details, it’s important to review the conditions of your specific policy, but some of the most common not-covered illnesses are;

Pre-existing medical conditions: Any illness or condition that existed prior to the start of the insurance coverage is typically excluded. This includes chronic illnesses, ongoing treatments, or conditions that were diagnosed before the policy’s effective date.
Mental Health disorders: Treatments related to mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders, are generally not covered.
Substance abuse-related conditions: Illnesses or injuries resulting from the consumption of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances are not covered.
Preventive and routine check-ups: Routine medical examinations, preventive treatments, and vaccinations are not included in the coverage.
Cosmetic and elective procedures: Any medical procedures that are elective or cosmetic in nature, not deemed medically necessary, are excluded.
Participation in high-risk activities: Illnesses or injuries resulting from engaging in high-risk activities or adventure that are not explicitly covered.

While travel insurance offers peace of mind, it’s essential for travelers to stay informed about the specific risks and conditions that may or may not be covered.

What are the two biggest disadvantages of travel insurance?

The two biggest disadvantages of travel insurance typically are:

Exclusions and limitations

Travel insurance policies often come with numerous fine print exclusions and coverage limitations that can lead to denied claims. Common issues include:

Most insurers do not cover pre-existing conditions.
Insurers may exclude high-risk activities—like scuba diving, skiing, or adventure sports—or require extra coverage for them.
Insurers also usually exclude claims related to political unrest, pandemics, or civil disturbances.
Certain delays, baggage issues, or cancellations might not meet the policy’s minimum criteria for reimbursement.

Why this matters: Even though you paid for insurance, you might not receive reimbursement for the exact reason you needed it — which can feel misleading or frustrating.

✅ That said, many travel insurance companies offer optional add-ons or more specialized plans that address some of these limitations. With the right research, you can often tailor a policy to better match your needs and activities.

Cost vs. actual benefit

Travel insurance can sometimes be expensive relative to the benefit you get, especially for:

Short trips or low-cost travel, where the potential losses are minimal.
Travelers who already have overlapping coverage (through credit cards, employer benefits, or other insurance policies).

Why this matters: If you never make a claim or only need minimal support (like for a delayed bag), the cost of the insurance might not seem worthwhile in hindsight.

✅ Still, travel insurance can offer significant value and peace of mind in unexpected situations—especially for medical emergencies or major trip disruptions that could otherwise be very costly.

When should travel insurance be taken out?

To maximize your coverage, it’s advisable to purchase your policy on the same day you book your trip or within seven days following the booking confirmation. This timing is crucial for the trip cancellation guarantee to apply.

Buying your policy promptly ensures protection against unforeseen events that might occur before your departure, such as sudden illness, injury, or other emergencies that could force you to cancel your trip.

For travelers already abroad, Heymondo offers the option to buy a policy with a 72-hour waiting period before coverage becomes active.

In summary, to ensure comprehensive protection, it’s best to secure your travel insurance as soon as you finalize your travel arrangements.

How do I know if my credit card has travel insurance?

Credit card companies may include travel insurance benefits, which surprises many travelers—especially when they assume they’re covered without checking. Not all credit cards offer travel protection, and those that do often provide limited coverage.

To find out if your card includes travel insurance:

Check the product guide that came with the card.
Visit your online banking portal and look for insurance benefits.
Search for terms like:
- Travel accident insurance
- Trip cancellation
- Lost luggage reimbursement
Alternatively, you can call the customer service number on the back of your card. Be specific when asking about:
- Medical coverage
- Trip delays
- Emergency medical bills
- Whether coverage applies to international travel or domestic trips only

Even if your card offers some travel protection, it’s important to understand the common myths associated with it. Many people mistakenly believe that their trip is automatically covered just because they own the card. In reality, you usually need to charge the full cost of the trip to that card for the coverage to apply.

It’s also worth noting that credit card insurance generally has lower limits and more exclusions than a full travel insurance policy. Most card benefits do not cover:

Medical evacuation
High-risk activities
Long-distance or extended travel

You can view credit card coverage as a supplement, not a substitute, for comprehensive travel insurance, since it offers only limited support..

Why choose Heymondo Travel Insurance?

When you’re investing in your dream trip, protecting it should be just as important as planning it. Heymondo travel insurance gives you that peace of mind with comprehensive, easy-to-manage coverage tailored to modern travelers.

Key benefits include: