Travel insurance is often bought in a hurry - the evening before the flight, comparing only the price and never opening the terms. The policy formally exists, but when something happens abroad, it turns out it does not cover the very thing you need most. In this article we look at the five most common mistakes travellers make when choosing travel insurance and explain how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: saving on the medical expenses limit

The medical expenses limit is the most important part of the policy, yet it is exactly where travellers tend to economise. Treatment abroad can be very expensive: a hospital stay, surgery, medical transportation or repatriation to Latvia can exhaust a modest limit within days. The further the destination and the more expensive its healthcare, for example the USA, Japan or Switzerland, the higher the limit you need. Choose it based on the destination and the length of the trip, not on the principle of "as long as there is something".

A common argument is: "But I have an EHIC card." However, the EHIC card only gives you access to state-guaranteed healthcare in the EU, EEA countries and Switzerland on the same terms as local residents. It does not cover private clinics, patient co-payments or repatriation. The same applies to insurance included with a premium bank card: check its limits and exclusions just as carefully as a separate policy.

Mistake 2: not declaring sports and active leisure

A standard policy usually covers only everyday activities. If you plan to ski, dive, surf, ride a quad bike or hike in the mountains, this must be declared separately in the policy as sports or active leisure cover. If an injury happens during an activity that was not declared, the insurer may reduce the payout or refuse it altogether.

Before buying, honestly assess what you will actually do on the trip. Even a one-off ride on a jet ski or a rented bicycle on mountain trails may count as active leisure. It is safer to declare an activity that may never happen than to be left without cover at the moment it does.

Mistake 3: ignoring the deductible

The deductible is the part of the loss you pay yourself when a claim occurs. Two policies with the same limit can differ significantly precisely in the deductible: under one the insurer covers all expenses, under the other the first part always stays with you. Before buying, check which risks the deductible applies to and how large it is: it can differ for medical expenses, baggage and trip cancellation. A low policy price is often explained precisely by a high deductible.

Mistake 4: buying the policy at the last minute

Medical cover usually starts working quickly, so a policy bought on the day of departure will still help if you fall ill or get injured during the trip. Trip cancellation cover is a different story: it protects the money spent on tickets and hotels if the trip has to be cancelled, for example due to illness, but it usually comes into force only after a certain period from the purchase of the policy and works properly only when the policy is bought soon after booking. If the tickets were booked a month ago and the policy was bought a day before departure, the costs of a cancelled trip will most likely not be reimbursed.

So if you want cancellation cover, buy the policy immediately after booking your tickets and hotel - then the whole period up to departure is protected.

Mistake 5: not reading the exclusions

Every policy has a list of exclusions - situations in which no compensation is paid. Typical examples:

  • events related to the use of alcohol or other intoxicating substances;
  • flare-ups of chronic illnesses if the policy has no corresponding cover;
  • baggage and valuables left unattended;
  • activities not declared in the policy, including extreme sports;
  • trips to regions under an official travel warning.

The exclusions are described in the policy terms, and they are worth reading before the purchase, not after the incident. If a clause is unclear, ask your broker - explaining the terms is our job.

How to choose a policy without mistakes

The right sequence is simple: first assess the destination and the planned activities, then choose a sufficient medical limit, add sports cover, check the deductible and read the exclusions. And do it in good time, ideally right after booking the trip. If in doubt, Agento specialists will help you compare offers from several insurers and find cover that truly matches your specific trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the EHIC card replace travel insurance? No. The EHIC card gives access to state-guaranteed healthcare in the EU, EEA countries and Switzerland on the same terms as local residents, but it does not cover private clinics, patient co-payments or repatriation to Latvia. Travel insurance covers these expenses as well, so the EHIC and a policy complement each other rather than replace one another.
When is the best time to buy travel insurance? If you also want trip cancellation cover, buy the policy immediately after booking your tickets and hotel: cancellation protection usually comes into force only after a certain period from the purchase of the policy. Medical cover can be arranged later, but in any case before you leave Latvia.
Does a standard policy cover skiing or diving? Usually not. Skiing, diving, surfing and other sports or active leisure activities must be declared separately in the policy with the appropriate cover. If an injury happens during an undeclared activity, the insurer may reduce the payout or refuse the claim.
What is a deductible in travel insurance? The deductible is the part of the loss you pay yourself when a claim occurs. It can differ between risks, for example medical expenses, baggage or trip cancellation. Before buying a policy, check which risks the deductible applies to and how large it is.