Question 1

What does an excess mean on travel insurance?

Accepted Answer

It’s the amount you pay out-of-pocket on a claim. In other words, the insurer will subtract the “excess” from any payout they make to you.

For example, if you have a £100 excess and you make a claim for £500, you’ll be responsible for £100 and the insurer pays £400.

Think of it as the portion of the loss deducted from the insurance settlement (hence why it’s called a deductible in some countries).

An excess applies per the terms of your policy, usually for each claim/incident, unless stated otherwise. It’s there to prevent lots of tiny claims and to keep premiums affordable.

Question 2

What is the maximum excess I’d have to pay under one policy?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the policy. Many travel insurance policies do not cap the total excess, meaning if you have multiple claims, you’ll pay the excess each time.

However, some insurers set a maximum aggregate excess for the policy term.

For instance, they might cap your total excess payments at, say, £200, even if you make several claims. After you’ve paid £200 worth of excess, any further claims wouldn’t require another payment.

This isn’t very common, so assume you’ll pay your policy’s standard excess for each separate claim unless the policy specifically mentions a cap.

Always check your policy’s wording or ask the insurer.

Question 3

Can I get travel insurance with no excess (excess waiver)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some insurers offer a no-excess policy or an “excess waiver” add-on.

This means if you make a claim, you won’t have to pay an excess at all. The insurer covers the claim from the first pound.

You either purchase a plan that has £0 excess standard, or pay extra on a policy to waive the excess. The advantage is you get full payouts on claims; the trade-off is a higher premium upfront.

For example, you might pay a bit more for the policy so that you don’t lose £100 on every claim.

Whether it’s worth it comes down to personal preference and the cost difference. If a no-excess policy only costs slightly more, it can be great for peace of mind.

Just remember to read the fine print: an excess waiver might not eliminate all types of excess. Certain claims (like some high-risk sections or medical equipment) could still have a compulsory excess even on “no excess” policies.

The waiver usually applies to the standard excess, but check for any exceptions. Always confirm with the insurer what “no excess” truly covers.

Question 4

Is an “excess” the same as a “deductible”?

Accepted Answer

Yes. These two words mean the same thing in the context of insurance.

“Excess” is commonly used in the UK and many other countries, whereas “deductible” is used in the US and Canada.

In travel insurance, if an American friend tells you they have a $200 deductible on their policy, it’s equivalent to you having a £150-£200 excess on yours.

Both terms indicate the amount the insured must pay before the insurance benefits kick in.

So, don’t let the different terminology confuse you when comparing policies internationally; just align the numbers and coverage.

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