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What is the excess on trip cancellation insurance?

In short

The excess (Selbstbehalt) is the part of the cancellation costs you pay yourself despite being insured. In Germany 20 percent of the reimbursable loss is usual, at least EUR 25 per person. In many tariffs it falls away if you need inpatient hospital treatment. A tariff without excess costs more, but for expensive trips it is often still worth it.

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What is the excess on trip cancellation insurance?

What it costs

Published premiums and excess rules, as of September 2026.

Example	Typical range
Excess in standard tariffs	20 percent, at least EUR 25 per person
Annual policy, one person under 66, no excess, up to EUR 2,000 per trip	about EUR 74 a year
Annual policy, one person under 66, no excess, up to EUR 3,000 per trip	about EUR 96 a year
Annual policy, one person under 66, no excess, up to EUR 5,000 per trip	about EUR 140 a year
Annual policy, family, no excess, up to EUR 3,000 per trip	about EUR 106 a year
Most basic annual policy, one person, up to EUR 1,000 per trip	from about EUR 32 a year

Guide values as of September 2026 from publicly quoted tariff examples. The saving of 15 to 25 percent through an excess, the threshold of about EUR 2,000 per person and the cancellation rates in the worked example are guide values from our quoting practice. We obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Couple, package holiday for EUR 2,400, cancelled three weeks before departure

She falls seriously ill, and the operator's cancellation scale charges 40 percent of the trip price. Both cancel on the same day.

Cancellation costs, 40 percent of EUR 2,400	EUR 960
Excess 20 percent, outpatient treatment	EUR 192
Refund with excess	EUR 768
Refund with inpatient treatment or in a tariff without excess	EUR 960

Here the excess costs the couple EUR 192. The extra premium for a tariff without excess is about EUR 15 to 25 a year, so a single cancellation of this size makes up for several years of surcharge. Worked example with guide values.

How the excess is calculated

First it is established what cancellation costs the tour operator charges. That depends on its cancellation scale (Stornostaffel): the closer to departure, the higher the share of the trip price. From this amount the insurer deducts the excess, usually 20 percent.

If the calculated amount is below the minimum, the minimum applies. With EUR 80 cancellation costs, 20 percent would only be EUR 16, but EUR 25 is deducted. For small losses the minimum therefore eats up a large part of the refund.

Cancellation costs per person	20 percent	Actual deduction	Refund
EUR 80	EUR 16	EUR 25, minimum amount	EUR 55
EUR 300	EUR 60	EUR 60	EUR 240
EUR 1,000	EUR 200	EUR 200	EUR 800
EUR 2,500	EUR 500	EUR 500	EUR 2,000
EUR 2,500 with inpatient treatment	falls away in many tariffs	EUR 0	EUR 2,500

When the excess falls away

Many policy terms waive the excess if the illness requires full inpatient treatment in hospital, meaning you are formally admitted. Outpatient treatment is not enough, nor is a night in A&E without admission.

Which other cases are settled without excess differs by tariff. Some also name accidents or death, others do not. This is in the section on the deductible (Selbstbeteiligung) in the terms and should be read before you sign up.

Does a tariff without excess pay off?

A tariff without excess costs about 15 to 25 percent more. For an annual policy covering trips up to EUR 3,000 with a premium of about EUR 96, that is around EUR 15 to 25 a year. A single cancellation of EUR 1,000, on the other hand, costs you EUR 200 with the excess.

If you rarely cancel and can absorb small amounts, the excess makes it cheaper. If you book expensive trips, travel with children or older relatives, or are counting on the refund, you are better off without it. The calculation usually tips at trip prices above about EUR 2,000 per person.

When you do not need to worry about the excess

For cheap trips with low cancellation fees the question hardly matters, because there the policy itself is often not worth it. The same goes for bookings you can cancel free of charge until shortly before arrival.

For travel health insurance an excess rarely makes sense anyway: the premiums are so low that it saves almost nothing.

Step by step

Look at your trip's cancellation scale and work out what a cancellation four and two weeks before departure would cost.
Note 20 percent of that as your possible share, for small amounts the minimum of EUR 25 per person.
Compare the premium with and without excess and work out the difference per year.
Read in the terms when the excess falls away.
Choose no excess if a cancellation would hurt you financially.

Checklist

Excess percentage known
Minimum amount per person known
Cases without excess read in the terms
Whether the excess also applies to trip curtailment
Premium difference with and without excess calculated
Trip price of all fellow travellers stated correctly

Common mistakes

Overlooking the minimum per person and getting hardly anything back for small cancellations
Choosing the excess only by the premium without calculating a possible cancellation
Assuming the excess falls away for any illness although the tariff requires inpatient admission
Cancelling too late and paying the higher cancellation scale on top of the excess

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

How high is the excess usually?

20 percent of the reimbursable loss, at least EUR 25 per person. Some tariffs use other values; your terms are what count.

Does the excess apply per person or per booking?

The minimum usually applies per insured person. If a family of four cancels, at least EUR 100 is deducted when cancellation costs are low.

Does the excess fall away if I have to go to hospital?

In many tariffs yes, if the illness requires full inpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment is not enough.

How much does a tariff with excess save?

About 15 to 25 percent of the premium. For an annual policy of around EUR 100 that is roughly EUR 15 to 25 a year.

Can I drop the excess later?

With an annual policy usually at the next renewal. With a single trip policy, what was agreed at signing applies.

Does the excess also apply to trip curtailment?

Often yes, at the same rates. Check the section on the deductible in your terms.

Sources

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