What to do if you must file a travel insurance claim?

Like other insurances, travel insurance is one of those things that you hope you will never need to call on. In fact, only about seven percent of all travel insurance policies result in a claim. Therefore, for most people the dreaded moment where a claim is necessary is a one-off experience.

The vast majority of claims on travel insurance policies consist of claims for lost or damaged luggage and belonging which, although irritating, is unlikely to be life threatening. With these sorts of claims, the most common areas of dispute include whether or not the luggage was kept in a sufficiently secure environment and whether the bag actually existed in the first place. When it comes to the former, it is absolutely vital that you have a clear and definite account of what happened and where your bags were at the exact time that they became missing or damaged. Any sense of ambiguity may cause the insurance company to query your claim.

Similarly, the insurance company may argue that the items never existed in the first instance. Although this may be very difficult to prove or disprove, it is worth taking pictures of any valuable items and if you are particularly cautious, photos of the luggage itself can be taken before leaving the house.

With medical claims the process can be even more complex. If you find yourself in the position whereby you need to make a medical claim, the first thing that should be considered, if possible, is contacting the insurance company and getting them to agree to the immediate costs.

Medical assistance can be extremely expensive and it is likely that there will be considerable upfront costs. For example, in France an emergency hospital bed costs in the region of 1,500 Euros per night. Large bills are easy to clock up even with a relatively minor medical problem. If these costs are not approved by the insurance company at the earliest available opportunity, then you may find that you have to pay the costs out of pocket and then reclaim it from the insurance company. In the event that this does happen, always ensure that there is an accurate paper trail following the exact costs incurred.

Travel insurance can be difficult to navigate because the different providers offer a range of different products. Some will offer greater coverage for certain events such as medical care or evacuation costs; others will have specialist options such as dangerous sports coverage or cancellation cover. Make sure that you compare travel insurance policies and ensure that you categorise any claim you make accurately so that the matter can be dealt with quickly.

You should also travel with a copy of your policy terms so that while you are still in the foreign country you can obtain any additional evidence needed such as police reports for theft claims.

Overall, when it comes to travel insurance claims, the most important thing is to act quickly and to familiarise yourself with the process.