Why Insurance Claims Are Frustrating: Most Common Claim Mistakes

When it comes to travel insurance, the claims process can be frustrating without proper preparation and understanding of the claims process. However, in order to be reimbursed or have eligible bills paid by your travel insurance company, claims must be filed.

To help you make sure your claim is processed correctly, we’ve compiled a list of the most common claim mistakes travelers make and a few strategies for avoiding them.

Travel Insurance Claim Tips: Avoid These Common Mistakes

The following travel insurance claim tips will help you avoid common mistakes that can cause frustration during the claims process.

Purchasing a Policy That Doesn't Cover Your Travel Dates

When you’re in the midst of planning your travel dates, it’s easy to overlook how long your travel insurance policy should last. Most people will purchase travel insurance that begins on the first day that they arrive at their destination. The problem, however, is that something might happen to you while you’re on the way to the country.

When you purchase travel medical insurance, you’ll want to account for the days it takes to get to your destination. This is especially true if you’re traveling halfway across the world and will be spending a long period of time in airports or in the air. Make sure that your policy begins on the day that you start your travels.

Taking Too Long to File Your Claim

While we’re on the subject of bad timing, another common mistake is waiting too long to fill out the required paperwork for your claim. Generally, insurance companies will give you 90 days from the incident to submit your claim. If you let the deadline pass, it’s likely that the insurance company will automatically deny your claim.

Not Submitting All Supporting Documentation

Submitting inadequate documentation is another common mistake. In order to obtain coverage and reimbursement, you’ll need to be thorough with the paperwork.

In case of medical insurance, this will generally involve any appropriate documentation, bills, receipts, etc. In case of trip insurance, it’ll involve your trip costs, confirmations of any additional receipts, any proof of cancellations or refunds, etc.

Each case is different. But generally, you’ll need to provide:

• Itemized receipts and bills related to any expense
• Documentation of any refunds you’ve received from accommodation providers, flights, car rentals, tour operators, etc.
• Any documentation that explains the cause of any trip cancellations or interruptions
• Any medical bills received during your trip

Not Reading Your Policy's Fine Print

Before you make any decisions that might result in an insurance claim, it’s important that you read the fine print of your policy so that you know exactly what you’re covered for.

One of the most common mistakes, for example, is overlooking how exactly you’re covered in the event of trip cancellation. Just because you’re covered if your trip’s canceled doesn’t mean that you’re able to cancel the trip for any reason.

Generally, a CFAR (Cancel for Any Reason) add-on is the only way you’d be able to receive reimbursements if you need to cancel the trip for any reason. Otherwise, there are generally only a number of covered reasons that you’re able to cancel and still receive money back.

On the flip side, if you don’t thoroughly read through your policy and understand your specific coverage details, you might not realize that you were covered for an event that happened in the midst of your travels.

Reporting Incorrect or Inflated Losses

If something went wrong on your trip, you might exaggerate the losses that you experienced. However, this is never a good idea. In fact, altering or exaggerating the extent of your losses is considered travel insurance fraud. For every loss, you will need to submit a number of supporting documents.

If there is a suspicion that your claim was exaggerated, the insurance company will often send an investigating officer to examine the details and documentation surrounding your case. If it’s discovered that you exaggerated or fabricated details of your claim, in the very least, your claim would be denied immediately. This, in turn, would mean that you wouldn’t receive any form of reimbursement.

Simplify Your Claims With VisitorsCoverage

Now that you know some of the major mistakes people can make when filing travel insurance claims, you’re well on your way to ensuring your claim is accepted and that you receive remuneration. However, choosing the right provider is a big piece of the puzzle too.

With VisitorsCoverage, the claims process is simple and quick. Even better, if you need help at any step of the way, check out our claims assistance hub.

Frequently Asked Questions