Whether you are an avid vacationer, a casual wayfarer, or someone who takes a lot of business trips, travel insurance is always a good thing to have. It protects you from delayed flights, cancelled airline tickets, loss of money or credit cards, and can even cover medical related expenses. Some travel insurance policies will even cover funeral expenses or transport of one’s body if they pass away while out of town. No matter what the need is for this kind of insurance, it is important to know how to file a claim in the event that something needs to be covered. Before going on any kind of vacation both foreign and domestic, it is essential to remember to keep and save all receipts. Most travel insurance companies require you to provide receipts in order to file a claim. These receipts can cover medical bills, rental car payments, credit card information, airline ticket receipts, and many more. Know what is covered under your policy in advance. This way, if a file needs to be claimed, you will know what is covered and what is not.
In the event that you will need to file a claim, do not panic. Think about everything that has happened, and perform an “inventory” of everything that was lost. Make sure you have all of this information written down before you file the claim so you do not miss anything. Call the insurance company and let them know you need to file a claim. Be sure you have your policy number handy for a faster filing process. Find out what kind of receipts and other documents they will need in order to make the process go smoothly. Very similar to an automobile insurance claim, an adjuster will actually take an inventory of the losses, damages, or medical issues that have been incurred. Remember that travel medical insurance is usually separate from most standard policies and typically costs extra. Understand that some travel insurance agencies will not cover lost baggage if it was simply as a result of leaving it somewhere unattended. The policy may refer to this as a lack of “reasonable care” on your part and will not cover this.
Once the insurance claim has been filed, you should receive a claim number. Most companies will also give an email confirmation as well as a confirmation via regular postal mail. Keep this information handy and with your receipts. It is also a good idea to get the name of the representative you have been speaking with, as well as their extension, in case you need to call back. Some travel related insurance companies will allow you to view your claim online. This way, you can track the status whenever you need to. If it has been a few weeks and you have not received an update, it’s a good idea to call the company back and ask about the status. Once the file is claimed and things start moving, you should receive your reimbursement check in the mail.