Mishaps and accidents can happen anytime during your trip. A travel insurance plan keeps you financially secure so that you do not end up losing money on medical expenses while traveling abroad. When you buy a travel insurance plan, you need to know about the claims and how it works. When you file an insurance claim, you make a formal request to your insurance company to reimburse you for the costs that you have spent. However, these costs must be covered by your chosen plan.
When to file a claim?
You can file a claim for every incident that has occurred during your trip. However, your insurance plan has a set of benefits; beyond that, you will not receive coverage from your plan. Here are some examples:
- Your plan does not support mental or nervous disorders. You face a panic attack and are taken to a psychiatrist. If you do not qualify for psychological disorders, you cannot file a claim with your insurance company.
- If you fall sick or get an injury and rush to an urgent clinic, your plan can cover the medical expenditure for the eligible claims. In case you pay upfront, you can show the original bills to your insurance provider and claim the money.
- If you qualify for a travel delay claim, your travel insurance policy can cover extra expenses, such as food or an overnight hotel stay. If you provide proof for those covered expenses, you may be reimbursed up to the capped amount for that benefit.
- If your trip needs to be canceled and you file a trip cancellation insurance claim, you must show documentation of your out-of-pocket expenses. Travel insurance will reimburse you only for the pre-paid and non-refundable money that you have spent.
You can file a claim for all the eligible travel and medical expenses that your plan covers. As every situation is different, it is wise to contact your insurance representative to know for which incidents you can file a claim.
What documentation do you need to submit?
It is important to keep all receipts so that you can make a successful claim. These could include receipts, medical bills, airline documents, and police reports. The specific documentation needed depends on the type of travel insurance claim you are filing. Here are some examples:
- Trip cancellation claim documentation must show the reason you canceled the trip. The reason must fall under the covered reason of the policy. In most cases, it is the injury or illness of the insured individual or the traveling companion. So, this will require medical records from your doctor recommending that you not travel. If you lose your job, you will need a letter from your earlier company.
- Trip interruption claim documentation requires you to show documents, paperwork, medical records, and others that can prove why you need to go home before your trip ends.
- If your airline, train, or other transportation company loses your luggage, passport, travel documents, or personal belongings, you will need to document it by filing a report with the company. Without that report, your claim is unlikely to be approved.
- When filing a medical expense claim, you need to include all medical documentation issued while under the care of the hospital. Save receipts for medicine, diagnostics, doctor’s visit, follow-ups, nursing, or other medical supplies. You will have to send all these documents when filing a claim. The insurance company needs the medical reports as well as notes from the treating physician.
How does travel insurance claim work?
Travel insurance claims are submitted to the claim department. Individuals submit documentation to their insurance provider for reimbursement of a covered expense. This reimbursement is not guaranteed because it can be approved or denied by the insurance company depending on the plan an insured bought, and the proof of documentation given to support the claims.
Typically, the claims department will verify the situation before proceeding with the reimbursements because each plan has a different level of coverage. Insurance companies have extensive requirements for a claim to be approved and reimbursed. Plus, they make sure it is an eligible claim covered under the policy.
While some policies can cover only medical-related benefits, others cover trip cancellation and interruption benefits. Although policies are tedious to read, make sure that you understand the coverage and exclusions on your plan when you travel.
Once the claim department receives all the documents, they start working on the claim. After you file a claim, be sure to check your email, as there could be follow-up requests from your travel insurance company. You may be asked for additional documentation or clarification about your claim. Once a decision has been made about your claim, you will receive an email letting you know if your claim has been paid or denied. Most insurance companies update the claims status on the online portal where you can track the claims.
If your claim is denied, review the details, especially the exclusions, of your travel insurance policy. Travel insurance claims can be denied for several reasons, including not submitting your claim within the time limit, not giving enough evidence, or because the loss was not due to a covered reason. So, when it comes to submitting your claims, you need to be sure not to miss any deadline.
Time limits on insurance claim filings will vary according to the company, underwriter, and your policy. For instance, trip cancellation policies require you to submit the claims documents as soon as possible. While for most medical travel policies, you need to submit the claims within 90 days of seeing the provider. Regardless of the time frame, it is better to act sooner rather than later to ensure you submit all the necessary documents for your travel insurance claim reimbursement.
Are you ready to file a claim?
Travel insurance offers valuable protection in case something goes wrong with your travel plans. Your policy benefits will vary based on the level of coverage bought and which company offers the protection. When buying a travel medical insurance plan, learn about the claim process.
If you are ready to submit your claim now, reach out to your insurance provider. Or you can also visit the claims section on the site, fill in the claim form and file a claim.
