Travel insurance: what to check
How to check a policy before you fly: cover and excess, exclusions and activities, the claim procedure, offline copies and the documents a claim needs.

[ ] Read the policy wording, not just the sales page
    Everything that matters — cover, exclusions, claim procedure — is in the wording rather than in the marketing page.
[ ] Check the cover amount for your destination
    Medical costs differ enormously between countries. A visa minimum is not the same as an adequate amount.
[ ] Match the dates and territory with your route
    Transit, neighbouring countries, departure and return days. The one day outside the period is the day something happens.
[ ] Find out the excess
    How much you pay per claim. A cheap policy with a large excess often covers nothing that actually happens.
[ ] Read the exclusions carefully
    Alcohol, pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, injuries through your own recklessness. The most informative section of any policy.
[ ] Check cover by the name of the activity
    Skiing, diving, motorbikes, high-altitude trekking, cycling. Almost always a separate option rather than part of the base cover.
[ ] Learn the claim procedure
    Call the assistance line before treatment, or pay and reclaim later. Breaking the order is a common reason for refusal.
[ ] Save the policy and assistance number offline
    A screenshot on the phone, a copy in the cloud, a paper copy in the bag. At the crucial moment there is usually no internet.
[ ] Share a copy with travel companions and family
    If you cannot speak for yourself, someone else will call. They will need the policy and assistance numbers.
[ ] Check what else the policy covers
    Flight delays, lost baggage, trip cancellation, third-party liability. Each has its own conditions.
[ ] Understand the cancellation cover
    Which reasons are covered and what documents are needed. People check this after cancelling, which is too late.
[ ] Check the terms for children and older travellers
    Age limits and loadings are common. Make sure every traveller is actually covered.
[ ] Know in advance which documents to collect
    Contracts, receipts, prescriptions, reports, boarding passes, baggage damage forms. Claims come down to paperwork.
[ ] Check whether your conditions are covered
    Chronic conditions and ongoing treatment are often excluded or need a separate option. Ask before, not after.
[ ] Set a reminder for the policy's end date
    Especially on long trips and extensions. A policy that expired the day before you fly home is a classic.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/travel-insurance