What You Need To Know About
Making A Travel Insurance Claim
Before jetting off on your holiday, the last thing you want to be thinking about is reading your travel insurance policy.
Going through your travel insurance policy is about as exciting as pulling teeth. But not knowing your coverage, could cause problems if you were to ever make a claim.
This guide will explain how to handle a claim. It will also provide guidance on what to do if the insurer takes too long or rejects the claim.
Why Get Travel Insurance In The First Place?
If misfortune strikes while on holiday, it would be an idea to have backup. Which is why we recommend that anyone travelling abroad has some form of travel insurance. Holiday insurance policies are inexpensive, but definitely worthwhile investing in. There’s a few things you ought to check before taking out any form of travel insurance.
Declare Any Pre-existing Medical Conditions: Not declaring any existing medical issues means you could be without any cover. So don’t cut corners just to make your policy cheaper because it could cost you in the long run.
Do Your Research: Always check what type of insurance you need. Certain insurers may not cover you in particular countries.
Risky Activities: Doing anything crazy like skydiving or bungee jumping? Then make sure you have read the small print on your policy.
Reasons Why Insurers Won't Pay Out!
The last thing when dealing with the aftermath of an accident or illness on holiday is dealing with an insurance dispute. So it’s important that you know your rights and where you stand with an insurance company.
Insurance companies have been known to reject claims because the claimant didn’t make it within the set time limit. So make sure you or someone else contacts the insurer.
To avoid a travel insurance dispute it’s always good practice to read their fine print. For example; A lot of travel insurance policies have exclusions for incidents occurring while under the influence of alcohol.
f you sustained an injury that required medical attention, then you could be liable to pay for medical expenses. So be cautious, some policies may not cover medical treatments if insurance companies don’t approve or consider them necessary. For example, insurers may not, consider cosmetic surgery or a knee replacement necessary.
What You Can Do To Cover Yourself?
When getting travel insurance, even from a different website, make sure you know and understand all the terms and conditions.
We recommend doing your research to find the a well trusted insurance provider, instead of using a 3rd party site like Ryan Air or Booking.com. Travel insurance from a trusted and reputable company will provide the appropriate coverage for your needs. But that’s not all, it also allows you to select various levels of coverage that meets your needs and wants.
We recommend always having some form of ID that shows contact details of your next of kin or your travel insurance provider. This is very important, especially if you have experienced a personal injury.
6 Things You Need To Do When Making Your Travel Insurance Claim
- Prompt Reporting: It’s vital you notify your insurance provider as soon as possible. Some insurers have specific deadlines on when you need to start a claim.
- Seek Legal Advice: No matter how severe the incident or injuries, we advise seeking legal advice in the case your claim being rejected by the insurer
- Thorough Documentation: The foundation of a successful claim lies in comprehensive documentation. Ensure you have all necessary documents such as medical bills, police reports, and any correspondence related to the incident. Take photos if applicable, as visual evidence can be compelling.
- Understanding Your Policy: It’s essential you understand the terms and conditions of your policy to avoid any nasty surprises.
- Online Submission: Many insurance providers now offer online claims forms, making the process less cumbersome. Gather all your documents, fill out the necessary forms online, and keep digital copies for your records.
- Seek Assistance: If you find the claims process overwhelming, don’t hesitate to contact your insurer for guidance. Many companies provide helplines or chat support to assist you through the process.
Next Steps On Your Travel Insurance Claim
After submitting your claim, keep a close eye on its progress. Engage with your insurance provider, ask for updates, and provide any additional information if requested. It’s important to understand that these types of claims do take time and they have their fair share of legal issues.
If you struggle to reach an agreement, then there’s an alternative way to resolve disputes and that’s contacting a solicitor. A solicitor will review your case and ensure there is a proper complaint process that’s legally binding.
We recommend using a solicitor who specialises in dispute resolution, they know and understand the insurance complaints process around insurance products. We hope you found this article insightful and helpful.
Find Out More
Should you have queries concerning dispute resolution in areas other than travel insurance, we also specialise in the following areas:
Insurance Disputes
Professional Negligence
Debt Recovery
Breach of Directors’ Duties
Landlord and Tenant Litigation
Disputes with Organisations
Property Disputes
Contractual Disputes
Partnership Disputes
Shareholder Disputes
Flight Delay Claims
Or to find out more about our dispute resolution services click here: https://edwardamaury.co.uk/services/dispute-resolution/