Travel Insurance Checklist: 7 Things to Check Before You Book

Most people buy travel insurance in the last few days before departure, comparing plans mostly on price. That's usually fine for a routine trip with no incidents — but it's exactly the wrong moment to discover a gap, which is only ever discovered when something actually goes wrong. Here's what we check with clients before they book.

1. Does It Meet Your Destination's Minimum Requirement?

Schengen-area countries specifically require a minimum of €30,000 in medical cover as part of the visa application — not a suggestion, a requirement. If you're traveling to a Schengen country, confirm your specific plan meets this exact figure before applying for your visa, not after.

2. Are Pre-Existing Conditions Actually Covered?

Standard travel plans typically exclude pre-existing conditions unless a specific add-on is purchased and the condition is disclosed and accepted. If you or a family member on the trip has a known condition, check this specifically — it's one of the most common gaps, especially for senior citizen travelers.

3. What's the Trip Cancellation Policy — Really?

Trip cancellation cover only applies to specifically listed covered reasons (sudden illness, death in the family, visa denial, and similar) — not voluntary cancellation for any other reason. If flexibility to cancel for any reason matters to you, check whether that specific add-on is available, since it's not standard.

4. Are You Doing Anything the Policy Excludes?

Skiing, scuba diving, and other adventure activities are commonly excluded from standard plans unless a specific adventure sports add-on is purchased. If your trip includes any activity beyond standard sightseeing, check this explicitly rather than assuming general coverage extends to it.

5. Single-Trip or Annual Multi-Trip?

If you travel internationally more than twice a year, an annual multi-trip policy is often more cost-efficient than buying single-trip cover each time — though check the maximum duration allowed per individual trip under the annual plan, since these often cap at 30-45 days per trip even under an annual policy.

6. What Documentation Will You Need If Something Happens?

Know this before you travel, not after: medical receipts, police reports for theft or loss, and airline documentation for baggage or delay claims are all required for a smooth claim. Keep digital copies of your policy and emergency contact numbers accessible while traveling, not just saved in an email you can't access without wifi.

7. When Does Cover Actually Start?

Travel insurance needs to be purchased before departure — some benefits, particularly trip cancellation, require purchase within a specific window of your original trip booking, not just before departure. Buying it as an afterthought a day or two before you leave can mean missing this window for cancellation cover specifically.

The One-Line Summary

Price matters, but the policy that's marginally cheaper and doesn't match your destination, health profile, and trip activities isn't actually the better deal. Run through this checklist before comparing prices, not after.