Hazardous Sports and Common General Exclusions to Know in Bao Viet Flexi

Rock climbing, scuba diving, or an underlying condition treated last year can all lead to a rejected claim. Understanding Flexi travel insurance exclusions helps you disclose proactively and reduce risks before your trip.

🏔️ Hazardous activities

Under the policy rules, hazardous activities include (without limitation): any form of martial arts competition (boxing, wrestling, karate, taekwondo and other martial arts), skydiving, bungee jumping, diving, surfing and other adventure sports; rock climbing, skiing, ice or snow mountaineering, climbing with or without equipment; and expeditions.

For climbing along routes without a grading system or that are not permitted or booked by the organising body, the insured must notify the insurer and obtain the company’s approval. If this step is not completed, any resulting risk may fall outside the scope of cover.

Benefits such as medical expenses or emergency transport may also be affected if the event occurs during an unapproved hazardous activity. Review the terms in the Insurance Certificate or Insurance Contract before taking part in any high-risk activity.

🤿 Diving deeper than 40 metres and high-risk sports

The Flexi rules clearly list activities excluded under the general exclusions, including:

• Any sailing race.
• Underwater diving using equipment to a depth below 40m.
• Taking part in sports or any activity that may cause the insured to be injured, win prizes, perform or compete.
• Acrobatic flight, except as a passenger on an airline holding a business licence.

If your trip includes scuba diving, confirm the depth and conditions with the insurer before entering the water, as benefits may not apply to dives deeper than the specified limit.

🩺 Pre-existing conditions and specified diseases

Pre-existing conditions are illnesses or disabilities present before the insurance start date, including cases diagnosed or treated by a doctor before the insurance effective date, or signs or symptoms that appeared within 36 months before the effective date and that the insured knew or should have known. Determination is based on medical records, information declared in the Insurance Request Form, or claim history.

Specified diseases excluded include: cancer and tumours of any kind; diseases related to the heart, spinal cord or pulmonary failure; hepatitis (A, B, C), end-stage liver failure, acute viral hepatitis; diseases related to the blood system (bone marrow failure, acute leukaemia, chronic leukaemia, aplastic anaemia, coagulation disorders); growth hormone deficiency; thyroid disease; Parkinson’s disease; skull-brain surgery due to brain disease, stroke, encephalitis/meningitis, brain tumour, Apallic syndrome; polio; and lupus erythematosus.

The rules also exclude pre-existing illness/disability, dental care and maternity from the definition of insured illness/disease. Therefore, health declaration when buying Flexi travel insurance must be truthful; otherwise, the insurer may reduce the claim payment or cancel insurance liability as set out in the honest declaration clause.

🍷 Alcohol, drugs and stimulants

The rules exclude risks arising when the insured is addicted to alcohol/beer, drugs or stimulants; or uses, abuses or is addicted to any alcoholic, stimulant or narcotic substance. Suicide or intentional self-injury is also excluded (except when rescuing another person).

In addition, medical costs related to alcohol/beer, drug or stimulant addiction, or AIDS and AIDS-related conditions are not covered. This is a general principle; specific limits must be checked against your contract.

🚫 Other general exclusions to remember

Beyond hazardous sports and underlying conditions, the general exclusions in the Flexi rules also include:

• War, political unrest, terrorism, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities, revolution, riot.
• Chemical, biological or nuclear terrorism.
• Epidemics or emergency medical conditions officially announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) or local authorities at the destination.
• Natural disasters (including earthquakes, tsunamis), unless the contract states otherwise.
• The insured is not fit to travel or travels against the advice of a licensed physician.
• Anyone aged 14 or over violating the law, local government regulations, international organisation regulations, labour law or road traffic law.
• Medical check-ups, routine examinations, cancer screening, vaccinations; cosmetic treatment, plastic surgery.
• Risks arising from travelling to or transiting through countries on the embargo list (the list may change and be updated on the Certificate).
• Death caused by the intentional fault of the policyholder or beneficiary; total permanent disability caused by the intentional fault of the insured themselves.

For full participation conditions, refer to Flexi travel insurance eligibility conditions.

✅ Checklist to avoid claim rejection

• ☐ Declare your health status, underlying conditions and treatment history in the last 36 months truthfully.
• ☐ Notify the insurer in advance if you plan to take part in hazardous activities, especially climbing without a grading system, and wait for approval.
• ☐ Do not dive deeper than 40m without confirmation from the insurer.
• ☐ Check the embargo country list on the Certificate before booking your itinerary.
• ☐ Keep original receipts, medical documents and travel-related papers for any claim.

Each contract may have its own terms, so before your trip, read the Policy Rules, Benefits Schedule and Certificate carefully, or contact the insurer/adviser for answers specific to your itinerary.