Most people may think that once they buy travel insurance, they’re set for any issue that comes their way. Turns out, your typical vacation activity, like a morning hike, may not even be covered.
“One of the biggest misconceptions among travelers is that once you buy a policy, you’re protected from everything that can happen,” Chrissy Valdez, senior director of operations at Squaremouth, told USA TODAY.
While your run-of-the-mill policy protects against circumstances such as weather-related travel delays, getting sick before you depart, or airlines losing your bag, it doesn’t automatically include everything planned for your trip.
Some of the most common activities people enjoy doing on vacation are considered “higher risk,” as Valdez put it – and not just the most adventurous of pursuits. Even an activity seen as leisurely, like hiking, could result in a sprained ankle, causing out-of-pocket medical expenses.
“These activities can lead to injuries, but mostly they can require costly medical evacuations or typically happen in remote areas,” she said.
When shopping for a policy, Valdez recommends travelers read insurance policies closely, double-checking to see what’s actually covered and any restrictions, like pre-existing conditions or age. Upgrading your policy to one that includes your activity won’t cost an arm and a leg, but it is usually affordable. For a week-long scuba-diving trip to Mexico, the standard policy costs around $160, with the adventure add-on coverage being approximately $52 extra, she added.
Here are some common vacation activities not covered by travel insurance and why, according to Squaremouth.
- Safaris – Travelers risk close encounters with animals or disease transmissions, and many safaris also take place in remote regions that would require emergency medical care.
- Hiking – Hiking trail levels run the gamut, but can include dangerous terrain, altitude sickness and potentially getting injured in the remote wilderness.
- Horseback riding – There’s the potential for broken bones, concussions, or spinal injuries, plus this usually takes place in more rural areas.
- Snow sports – Skiing or snowboarding accidents sometimes require emergency mountain evacuations, and the right insurance plan would reimburse expenses like lift tickets or ski rentals.
- Scuba diving – Potential drowning, decompression sickness or malfunctioning equipment can make scuba diving a risky activity.
- Hot air balloon rides – While these sorts of accidents are rare, most policies exclude this type of activity.
- Ziplining – Poorly maintained equipment or injuries like friction burns or whiplash mean ziplining often isn’t covered.
- Quad biking and ATVs – All-terrain vehicles pose risks of accidents like collisions, and usually take place in off-the-grid regions that would require emergency medical evacuation.
- Bungee jumping – People risk severe whiplash or even fractures to body parts, and need a policy that includes air activities.
- Kayaking – While kayaking can be a leisurely activity, strong currents or capsizing can require emergency services, especially in more remote locations like sea caves.