Travel Insurance

Hot air balloon over Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Hot air balloon over Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Hot Air Balloon Over Yarra Valley, Melbourne. Image: Visit Melbourne

Travel Insurance Basics

Travel insurance helps protect the money you’ve invested into your trip.  Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, a delay, or an unexpected disruption, coverage helps recover non-refundable costs. It also provides essential support if you become ill or injured while away from home.

Ready to purchase insurance?

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What It Covers

  • Trip Cancellation: Reimburses you for non-refundable trip costs if you need to cancel for a covered reason (like illness, family emergencies, or natural disasters).
  • Medical Coverage: Pays for emergency medical care if you get sick or injured during your trip.
  • Emergency Evacuation: Covers the cost to transport you to the nearest qualified hospital. Some countries require this for entry.
  • Flight Delays or Cancellations: Can reimburse for additional costs such as meals, lodging, or flight change fees.
  • Lost or Stolen Belongings: Helps pay to replace missing luggage or personal items.
  • Weather Disruptions: Covers cancellations or delays due to storms or other natural disasters.
  • Pet Coverage: Some plans reimburse you if you cancel due to a pet’s illness or death.
  • Telehealth Access: 24/7 virtual medical consultations while traveling.

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR)

This optional benefit lets you cancel your trip for any reason and still get partial reimbursement. It’s not available in all states— please check your quote for eligibility.

When Coverage Starts

  • With IMG, coverage begins at 12:01 a.m. the day after you buy the policy.
  • Most other coverages begin when you depart on the first travel arrangement for your trip.

Why It Matters

Ask yourself:

  • Could you afford to lose your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs?
  • Could you cover medical bills if you got sick or injured abroad?
  • Are you visiting a country that requires proof of insurance?
  • Would you be able to replace lost luggage or personal items?
  • Could you cover added costs from delays or cancellations?

If the answer to any of these is no, travel insurance is worth considering.

Important Notes

  • To get your final travel documents, you must either purchase insurance or sign a waiver confirming you’ve declined our offered coverage after receiving a quote. For travel to Africa, you must purchase a minimum of medical coverage or provide proof of purchase from another provider.
  • As trip costs increase, you can update and increase your insurance coverage accordingly.
  • IMG offers U.S.-based support with a dedicated representative to help you with claims—no overseas call centers.

Coverage Limits (Varies by Plan)

  • Trips up to $150,000 per person
  • $500,000–$1 million in emergency evacuation
  • $250,000–$500,000 in medical coverage
  • CFAR available as an optional add-on
  • Pre-existing conditions may be covered with early purchase (60-day lookback period)

Pre Existing Condition Examples: What Is and Isn’t Covered

Covered Examples:

  • Bill has diabetes and wants to take a trip. The diabetes is currently stable, and Bill is otherwise fit to travel. He purchases his travel insurance the same day he books the trip, 30 days before departure. Unfortunately, for Bill, he is suddenly hospitalized 3 days before the trip and his treating medical provider recommends Bill cancel his trip. Bill is eligible for trip cancellation benefits and can be reimbursed for the non-refundable portion of the trip. Bill would also have benefits if he was hospitalized during his trip for his medical expenses, the unused portion of his trip and the additional transportation expense to return home. 
  • Ted has cancer, but his condition has been stable for several months and he feels great. He wants to book a cruise with his wife. He gets the okay from his doctor and puts down his deposit for the trip. Two days before his final payment is due for the cruise, he purchases an LX policy. 3 days into the trip, Ted suffers a seizure and is hospitalized. Further testing reveals that his cancer has progressed, and he needs to return home immediately for further care. He does not need any special medical accommodation and can return home via commercial airline. Ted’s medical expenses are covered and he would also be eligible for trip interruption benefit to cover the additional transportation expense to return home along with the prepaid unused portion of the trip.

Not Covered Examples:

  • Thelma has diabetes and wants to take a trip. The diabetes is currently stable with medication, and she is fit to travel. She books her trip and purchases her insurance policy on the same day. The day before the trip Thelma becomes concerned that because all the good food that will be available on the trip might be too tempting and cause complications with the diabetes. Thelma decides to cancel. This would NOT be covered, because there is not an event that occurs after the effective date to cause cancellation. Even though Thelma met the purchase requirement for the pre-existing condition waiver, there still must be an event associated with the pre-existing condition that occurs after the effective date for it to be covered. In addition, the policy does require that medical treatment take place prior to the cancellation. The policy will not cover a cancellation or interruption without treatment prior to cancellation or trip interruption
  • Louise has kidney failure, but it is currently stable. She decides to book a trip for a departure in October. In September, she has a follow up with her nephrologist and the scans show concerning results, necessitating additional visits and a change in her medication. Louise also decides to purchase a travel insurance policy. She departs on the trip in October as planned. 3 days into the trip she is admitted to the hospital in rural with kidney failure and needs medical evacuation to a facility that can provide adequate care. As the condition was not stable in the 2 months prior to purchase AND she did not meet the time sensitive purchase requirements, Thelma does not qualify for medical benefits .However, because the exclusion does NOT apply to medical evacuation or repatriation, so this would be covered.

Need Help or Have Questions?

Contact IMG directly:

  • Phone: (317) 655-9796
  • Email: itravelpolicies@imglobal.com