Glossary
Travel health, defined.
Plain-English definitions for medical and travel health terms — so you're never lost in translation.
A
A&E / Emergency Department
An emergency department is the hospital unit that treats urgent, unplanned medical problems — the first place you go in a crisis abroad.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is a group of symptoms caused by reduced oxygen at high elevations, typically above 2,500m.
Annual Multi-trip Policy
An annual multi-trip policy covers unlimited trips within a year, with a per-trip day limit.
C
D
Deductible
A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering costs.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
DVT is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg, that can develop during long-haul flights or extended immobility.
Dengue Fever
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing high fever and joint pain, common in tropical destinations.
Direct Billing
Direct billing means the hospital bills your insurer directly, so you pay nothing (or only a copay) at the point of care.
E
EHIC / GHIC
The EHIC/GHIC gives EU and UK citizens access to state healthcare in EU countries at local rates.
Elective Procedure
An elective procedure is planned, non-emergency surgery or treatment that you schedule in advance.
Emergency Assistance Hotline
An emergency assistance hotline is your insurer’s 24/7 phone line for medical emergencies, evacuations, and urgent help abroad.
Excess (Insurance)
An excess is the fixed amount you pay towards each insurance claim before your insurer covers the rest.
Exclusion
An exclusion is a specific situation, activity, or condition that your insurance policy will not cover.
I
M
Malaria Prophylaxis
Malaria prophylaxis is preventive medication taken before, during, and after travel to malaria-risk areas.
Medical Evacuation
Medical evacuation is the emergency transport of a patient to a facility with better care, often by air ambulance across borders.
Medical Repatriation
Medical repatriation is transporting a patient back to their home country for ongoing treatment or recovery.
Medical Tourism
Medical tourism is travelling abroad specifically to receive planned medical treatment at lower cost or shorter wait.
Medical Underwriting
Medical underwriting is the insurer’s process of assessing your health conditions to decide coverage terms and pricing.
O
P
Patient Rights
Patient rights are the legal protections you have when receiving medical care, including abroad.
Pre-authorisation
Pre-authorisation is your insurer’s advance approval for a specific treatment, required before the hospital proceeds.
Pre-existing Condition
A pre-existing condition is any health issue you had before your insurance policy or trip began.
Primary Care
Primary care is the first level of healthcare you access for general health problems, usually through a GP.
Prophylaxis
Prophylaxis is any preventive treatment taken to stop a disease before it starts, from vaccines to daily medication.
R
Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
Rabies PEP is a series of urgent vaccinations given after a potential rabies exposure, such as an animal bite abroad.
Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement
A reciprocal healthcare agreement is a treaty between countries giving each other’s citizens access to public healthcare.
Referral System
A referral system requires you to see a GP first before accessing a specialist or hospital department.
Reimbursement
Reimbursement is your insurer paying you back after you have paid for medical treatment out of your own pocket.
S
T
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is a remote medical consultation via video call, phone, or chat with a licensed doctor.
Travel Clinic
A travel clinic is a specialist healthcare service that provides pre-trip vaccinations, advice, and prescriptions for travellers.
Travel Health Advisory
A travel health advisory is an official government notice about disease outbreaks or health risks in a specific destination.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance covers unexpected medical costs, trip cancellation, and emergencies while you are abroad.
Traveller’s Diarrhoea
Traveller’s diarrhoea is a digestive infection from contaminated food or water, affecting up to 50% of visitors to high-risk regions.
Triage
Triage is the process hospitals use to prioritise patients by urgency — it determines how long you wait.
W
Waiting Period
A waiting period is the time after buying insurance before certain benefits become active.
Walk-in Clinic
A walk-in clinic sees patients without an appointment, handling non-emergency issues same-day.
Water Purification
Water purification is any method of making local water safe to drink, from tablets to UV treatment to boiling.