Making a Travel Insurance Claim - Questions to Ask Yourself

Many single trip travel insurance providers walk the extra mile just to give their clients a hassle-free experience as far as making a claim is concerned - in fact, most claims are dealt with quickly and efficiently. However, as the client, you also have certain responsibilities to make sure you do have the right to make a claim and your situation is actually included in the terms and conditions stated in your policy. The following are just some of the important questions you should be asking yourself.

Define 'Close Relative'

It is common in many single trip travel insurance policies to provide cover in case you have to cancel your trip or you have to cut it short because a close relative has taken ill or has died. But there's the rub: 'close relative' may not include that beloved aunt or uncle simply because they are removed from you by a few degrees, regardless of how emotionally close you feel you are to them. That's why you should carefully check the terms of the insurer concerning what it considers among your 'close relatives'. Moreover, you may also have to declare any pre-existing medical condition that any of your close relatives have.

Define 'Proof'

In making a single trip travel insurance claim you need proof, which means basically anything and everything you do before you hop into a plane. Of course, before you get receipts or written statements on everything, you should first check out what your policy actually covers (what items or situations) then from there decide how you'll go about the task of ensuring you have proof of everything. For example, if you're bringing items that are included in the policy's list of 'valuables' (such as a laptop, digital cameras or other pricey gadgets), then you should have proof of purchase of these items with your name on it. It is also important to note that in the case of theft, you must report it to the local police as soon as possible (within 24 hours is best); the police report will then be used as a basis when you finally file a claim.

Define 'Valuables'

That hip 'friendship bracelet' may be valuable to you, but it may not be considered so by your single trip travel insurance provider. Also, no matter how pricey your pair of Ray-ban or Oakley sunglasses may be, they are not actually included in what many insurers consider as 'valuables'. Indeed, the definition of what 'valuables' are depends on the insurer, and it's in your best interests to exhaustively check out the terms of your policy regarding this. Moreover, coverage of your valuables may also be strictly dependent on location or where you keep them. To illustrate, your insurer's coverage of your possessions ceases or is no longer in effect once such possessions are stored in a place that is outside your control - specifically in locations that obviously put them at risk for damage or theft.