I’m a huge advocate for purchasing Travelers Insurance. It’s a great thing to have, and hopefully, you won’t have to use it, but if you do, it’s important to make sure your claim is not denied.
When an incident occurs, be present of mind and keep a record of your experiences and transactions. That includes names of people you spoke to, dates and times of the occurrence and keeping receipts. It’s best to pay for as much as you can by credit card which is automatic record keeping. If you can’t pay by credit card, get a receipt! You can also use your phone to take photos of the receipts, send a text message or email to yourself of essential details and take photos of your surroundings.
Call the insurance company for guidance and procedure. Some insurance companies have assistance numbers for domestic and abroad and may be able to make arrangements for you.
Depending on the incident, you may also need to file a police report or make other official statements with companies involved. If you’re in a foreign country, there may be a language barrier so having a translation app will help with keywords and phrases.
Before you file your claim gather all your receipts and records of the incident to submit. It’s also a good idea to call the insurance company to make sure you’re filing the proper paperwork and what they may specifically need from you. It’s important to do this right away because there are deadlines for submitting a claim with the insurance company for reimbursement.
The required documents will vary by the incident so visit the travel insurance company’s website or contact them for the documents as are necessary for your incident. Here is a list of some of the types of coverage:
Trip Cancellation – When you need to cancel your trip in advance of the departure date.
Trip Interruption – When you are on your trip, and it is interrupted, and you must cut it short.
Trip Delay – When your trip is delayed more than 24 hours, and you incur expenses because of it.
Baggage Lost for lost, stolen or damaged luggage.
Baggage Delay for when your bag is delayed for more than 24 hours, and you incur expenses.
Emergency Medical Expense / Emergency Evacuation – Provides reimbursement for medically necessary medical services and emergency transportation expenses during the trip.
I must add, when purchasing an insurance policy, choose wisely. Look for Travelers Insurance that covers medical but not one that does not cover for pre-existing conditions, one that includes medical coverage in addition to the standard cancellation, interruption, and delay. Beware of Travel Waivers that are provided by companies for trip cancellation only and offer a credit towards another trip through that company.
The Traveling Culturati,
Ja’Vonne Harley