For a charter trip, check four things before you buy any policy: what the charter provider already covers, whether trip cancellation matches your non-refundable deposits, whether your health cover works abroad (most domestic plans do not), and what the exclusions section says. This is general information, not advice — the policy wording is the only thing that counts.
A charter trip concentrates a lot of non-refundable money into a few days: deposits, balances, flights to the marina or airport. Insurance does not make that money safe — it moves specific, listed risks to an insurer. This guide walks through what to check before buying a policy for a yacht or private jet trip. It is general information, not advice and not a recommendation of any product. The only document that decides what you are covered for is the policy wording itself.
We are not insurance advisers and this is not a recommendation to buy or skip any policy. If the wording is unclear, ask the insurer directly and get the answer in writing before you rely on it.
Before shopping for a policy, ask the charter provider what is already covered — you may be paying to duplicate it.
Ask the provider for these answers in writing before you pay any deposit; verbal reassurance is not cover.
Trip cancellation insurance reimburses prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason. The U.S. State Department describes it plainly: it helps you get your money back if you need to cancel or change plans, but it usually does not pay for medical costs abroad — that is a separate benefit.
What to check:
This is the section the U.S. State Department emphasises most. Its guidance makes three points worth quoting in spirit: it recommends buying travel health insurance before the trip; it notes that U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for medical care outside the United States, so travellers should check whether their own health plan covers them abroad; and it strongly recommends medical evacuation insurance, which can be bought separately or as a policy add-on.
What to check:
Bareboat charters hold a refundable security deposit against damage — often several thousand euros. Some travel policies offer cover that can reduce your exposure to that deposit; others exclude it entirely.
Do not guess from the marketing summary. Ask the insurer two specific questions: does the policy cover a bareboat charter security deposit, and if so, is it reimbursement after the charter company deducts, or something else? Get the answer with reference to the policy section number. If the insurer cannot point to the section, treat the answer as no.
Every travel insurance policy has an exclusions section — in sample policy documents it is typically a standalone section near the end, which tells you how seriously insurers take it. Read it before you buy. The usual suspects:
The pattern is consistent: the policy covers the unexpected, not the known. If you already know about the risk when you buy, assume it is excluded until the wording says otherwise.
Ask these before paying for the policy, and keep the answers:
| Check | Done? |
|---|---|
| Asked the charter provider what their own cover includes, in writing | ☐ |
| Totalled all non-refundable deposits and balances | ☐ |
| Confirmed whether my health plan covers me abroad | ☐ |
| Compared the policy’s cancellation limit against my non-refundable total | ☐ |
| Read the covered-reasons list for cancellation | ☐ |
| Confirmed medical evacuation is a stated benefit with its own limit | ☐ |
| Checked water sports and activities against the hazardous-activities exclusion | ☐ |
| Asked about bareboat security deposit cover, with a policy section reference | ☐ |
| Read the full exclusions section before buying | ☐ |
| Saved the insurer’s emergency contact and policy number where the group can find them | ☐ |
Buy the cover when the money becomes non-refundable, keep the policy number with your travel documents, and remember the only promise that matters is the one printed in the wording.
It is worth checking, because charter deposits are large and usually non-refundable. The U.S. State Department recommends travel health insurance for trips abroad and strongly recommends medical evacuation cover, noting that programs like Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for care outside the United States.
It can reimburse prepaid, non-refundable costs if you cancel for a covered reason — but only for the reasons listed in the policy. Read the covered-reasons list before assuming your situation qualifies.
The U.S. State Department strongly recommends it for travel to areas with higher risk or limited medical care. Evacuation by air ambulance is famously expensive, which is exactly why it is sold as a separate benefit.
Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions (unless a waiver applies), extreme sports, travel against official advice, and foreseeable events. Every policy has an exclusions section — read it before you buy, not after you claim.
We compared published rates and guides from the sources below. Figures are indicative ranges, not quotes, and were collected on the dates shown with each source.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. Prices are indicative and change with season, route and availability. Spotted a mistake? Our contact email is coming soon.
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