What happens after you purchase travel insurance?
You have seen how to pick the right plan based on your needs, and discovered the common ‘loopholes’ of travel insurance and how to avoid them.
This is a continuation on that theme…making sure you have the coverage you need for your trip.
Here’s what to do after you purchase a plan:
1. Print your confirmation email
You will receive an email confirmation after your purchase your travel insurance plan.
This is your confirmation of coverage, and will include general information about your plan including the policy number and effective dates.
Most importantly, it includes emergency contact numbers so you can call the insurance company with any issues during your trip.
Print it out and carry it with you, and it is a good idea to carry an extra copy in a different bag.
Keep another copy in the ‘cloud’ on your email server or Google Docs so you can access it from anywhere in the world.
2. Review your policy certificate to verify the coverage
All travel insurance companies provides a Free Look period, which is a set number of days after purchase where you can review your plan and return it for a full refund if you are not satisfied.
Take advantage of this time to read the policy certificate and make sure you fully understand the coverage in the plan.
3. Read the Exclusions section
This is another part of using your Free Look period wisely. The policy certificate will have a section of Exclusions that lists cases in which coverage is not provided.
Read this section and make sure you understand the coverage fully.
4. Contact your insurance company immediately with any claims questions
This is very important.
If you have any situations where you think you will have a claim, contact the insurance company immediately.
Think you need to cancel? Call the company. Hurricane heading for your resort? Call the company. Get sick abroad and need a doctor? Call the company.
The insurer will be able to advise on your situation, answer coverage questions, and arrange support if necessary.
24/7 phone support is one of the best coverages provided with travel insurance…you should use it.
Follow these steps to be confident on your coverage
Next in the series:
Finally we’ll see How to Get Quotes and Compare Plans, where you’ll see how a comparison website will help you select the best plan for your trip.
Go back to the Travel Insurance 101 series
