Unlike in Canada where we have provincial health care, medical billing works differently abroad, and can add up easily. Travel medical insurance can help ensure travellers are protected from out-of-pocket expenses in case of a medical emergency. In the unfortunate case that you or your loved one suffers a medical emergency abroad, you’ll need to file an insurance claim.
But filing for an insurance claim can be a stressful process, especially if you’re under medical duress already. From understanding what’s considered an out-of-pocket medical expense to paperwork, phone calls, and language barriers, there are quite a few moving parts that can add stress to an already difficult situation. That’s why we’ve put this blog together to help you avoid making certain mistakes when filing an insurance claim.
Mistakes to avoid while filing an insurance claim
1) Waiting to call your insurance company
By not calling the insurance company as soon as something happens, these two things could happen:
- You could end up undergoing tests and procedures that may not be medically necessary, and as a result, may not be covered by your policy.
- If you go to a hospital and don’t notify your insurance company, you could miss out on the direct reimbursement feature most insurers provide.
2) Skimming through your policy
Insurance policies vary in the services and benefits they offer; you might miss out on valuable assistance (financial or otherwise). It’s very important to thoroughly read your policy wording so you know what’s covered and what’s not. Understanding your policy can lead to less delays and misunderstandings come claim time.
3) Forgetting to make copies of receipts and itemized bills
You must submit itemized bills and receipts with your claim for reimbursement. If you don’t keep copies, then you won’t remember what you’re owed, nor will you be able to prove it if it isn’t processed properly (or if the originals are lost in transit).
4) Avoiding review of your reimbursements
If you found yourself in a medical emergency abroad, the currency will likely be different. Be sure to check that you’ve filed for reimbursements in the correct amount in the correct currency. Notify your insurance provider immediately if you’ve made a mistake when filing.
Thanks to TuGo’s travel insurance coverage, Taylor was covered for over $40,000 in medical bills after an accident in the US. Read Taylor’s story.
Buying the right travel insurance coverage
Remember to shop around and choose the right coverage when purchasing a travel insurance policy. Consider the reputability of the company, customer service availability, as well as non-medical insurance coverages.
Before you purchase coverage, identify the types of insurance you need, and compare the coverage to your credit card or group coverage insurance. Not all travel insurance policies are made equal. Policies can be tailored to a person’s needs, health, age, and preferred activities. Additionally, coverage varies throughout travel insurance companies. That’s why when you make a purchase, it’s critical to consider both the cost and the plan’s level of protection in the event of a medical emergency.
We hope these tips help you in avoiding mistakes when you file a travel insurance claim. If you’re interested in more tips, we recommend reading Tips for Submitting a Claim: Debunking 3 Common Claim Myths as well as 7 Ways to Avoid a Denied Travel Insurance Claim.
Safe travels,
Suki
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in July 2013 and has been updated for freshness and/or accuracy.
Great tips you got here. It’s a good thing you came up with things to avoid or what not to do when making an insurance claim. Some of us just don’t know how to do it right and most insurance companies can be difficult to deal with. I completely agree with choosing one that is reputable, easy to communicate with and has great coverage and benefits.
Thanks for your comment, Tabatha! I’m glad you found the article helpful. We agree that insurance companies could do a better job in communicating with their travellers. Insurance companies tend to speak in legalese, which isn’t without cause, but we do agree there is a lot of room for improvement. Take care!
Hi Tabatha,
I think if you’re aware of the pitfalls, your chances of a smooth claim are much better. Glad you enjoyed the article!
Excellent summation of how to handle a travel insurance claim. I had to do the same thing with a claim being made from France last year when I was suddenly hospitalized for over a week and then had rather a lot of follow-up medical care. I made photocopy after photocopy of each and every thing and they proved to be quite valuable for not only making the claim, but also for keeping track of the various medical stages along the way as I saw specialists down the track. And you are also quite correct about another thing — the insurance companies are frequently perilously SLOW to pay out. That can be a real issue if you are in a country like France where they expect full payment in a very short time period or the police will be at your door with a summons — seriously! Very good article, Nora.
Hi Deborah,
We think Nora did a great job writing this, too! It’s very honest, and exactly what we need to open the conversation between travellers and insurance companies. It just makes it a more transparent relationship—our travellers know why claims can sometimes take a while, and we know what our travellers think we should improve upon.
Great points, Jamie!
And Deborah – indeed, I had a claim once that wasn’t paid off until well after I had left the country; bills continued to arrive to my home address in Canada. I but I didn’t get a summons….I assume everything worked out okay?
These are great tips. This is actually a good list as some people might not be aware of what do avoid in order to make successful insurance claim. We all want to make a successful claim, insurance claims can help us a lot therefore it is important that we do things right, keep things in mind.
Call your insurance company before you file a claim. Ask what it needs from you, and if there are any restrictions in your policy that might make a claim unsuccessful (for example, some policies that cover medical problems require that you seek treatment within 24 hours of an incident). Read your policy. You should have done this before buying the insurance. Now you have to read the fine print with an eye toward answering this question: Will my claim be honored? Keep all receipts. In fact, you’ll want to retain every scrap of paperwork that could even remotely relate to a claim. Don’t throw anything away. Ask for everything in writing – bills, invoices, receipts, hotel folios. You can never have enough documentation. Get more info at : http://www.thedailytravelblog.com/how-to-make-successful-travel-insurance-claim/