What does travel insurance typically not cover?

Policies vary considerably, so the only authoritative source is the specific policy wording, and the exclusions section is the part worth reading before buying. That said, several exclusions recur across most policies and account for the majority of declined claims.

Undeclared pre-existing conditions are the most common. Most policies require declaring existing medical conditions, and failing to do so can invalidate not just related claims but the entire policy. This applies to conditions you consider resolved or minor.

Incidents involving alcohol or drugs are frequently excluded, and this is applied more broadly than people expect, including injuries where intoxication was a contributing factor.

High-risk activities usually require specific cover. Skiing, diving, climbing, motorcycling and many adventure sports are excluded from standard policies or need an add-on. Riding a moped abroad without the correct licence is a common gap.

Travelling against official advice, such as to a region your government advises against visiting, typically voids cover.

Unattended belongings are excluded in most policies, and the definition of unattended is stricter than intuition suggests. Valuables also usually carry per-item limits well below the cost of a laptop or camera.

Known events are excluded: booking travel after a strike, storm or outbreak has been announced generally means no cover for it.

Cancellation for a change of mind is never covered unless a specific and more expensive cancel-for-any-reason option was purchased.

The practical advice is to buy at the time of booking rather than before departure, since cancellation cover applies from purchase, and to declare everything even when it feels excessive.