In many cases, making a claim against your travel insurance is relatively straightforward. You should contact your insurer by telephone as soon as you need to make a claim; a claims helpline number is given in your policy document, which is given to you when you take out the insurance. Calling your insurer gives you the opportunity to discuss your claim with an advisor, who can answer any questions you may have.
You will be required to give certain information over the telephone to confirm your claim, such as your policy number, the country you visited, the value of the claim and details of circumstances surrounding the claim incident. A claim form will be provided which you must post back to your insurer; ensure that you include any relevant documents which they request, such as receipts.
In most cases you have up to thirty days of the incident within which you can make your claim. Make copies of any correspondence you have with your insurer regarding the claim. Also note down the names of the advisers to whom you spoke, as well as the dates and times of the conversations; these details may prove useful if your insurance provider refutes your claim or says that you failed to claim within the time limit.
Bear in mind that many things covered by your travel insurance will require you to pay the initial costs and reclaim these from your insurance provider at a later date: it is essential that you keep receipts and any other documentation that would help your claim. If any personal belongings are stolen, ensure that you report the crime to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible. Any documents that the authorities give you can then be used to support an insurance claim.
Special Conditions to Consider
You should read the special conditions that relate to the claim you wish to make. Special conditions are things that your insurer expects from you, before they can accept your claim. For instance, if you wish to claim the costs of a hospital visit, where you had to stay overnight (or longer) as a result of illness or injury, you must inform your insurer as soon as you are aware that you will require hospitalisation. If you wish to make a claim for compensation as a result of a long delay to your flight, the airline must provide you with supporting documentation which details the number of hours that you were delayed. Your policy documentation will list exactly what your insurer expects of you: failing to comply could result in the delay of a pay-out or the rejection of your claim.
