We all know by now that travelling without travel insurance is never a good idea. However, if an incident causes you to use your insurance, it may sometimes feel daunting and confusing how to start the process.
There are many common myths around claims, most of which are far-fetched. Your first priority is always getting the medical treatment you need to recover but having the awareness of what to do after and what’s not accurate in the claims process will always be helpful.
So, we thought it great to debunk some of these inaccuracies and share a few tips on how to process your claim as quickly as possible.
Myth #1: Your travel insurance provider is the only party involved in your claim.
In a claim situation, TuGo, or your travel insurance provider, might not be the only party involved. Depending on the emergency, your provider will coordinate between various parties, including provincial healthcare plans, doctors, hospitals, clinics, other insurance providers, etc.
Myth #2: You can use credit card statements, non-itemized bills, or medical receipts to submit your claims.
To process a claim as quickly and accurately as possible, itemized bills and claim forms are required. Even your provincial healthcare plans require itemized bills, so always keep originals and mail all completed forms and itemized bills back to your insurance provider as soon as possible. Non-itemized bills like till receipts, credit card receipts or statements are not sufficient.
Providing the correct bills, forms and receipts at the beginning of your claim submission will streamline the process, and help to ensure your claim is processed in a timely manner.
Myth #3: If you do experience a medical emergency abroad, hospital billing practices are the same everywhere you go. If you have travel insurance, your insurance provider will pay for your whole medical bill directly.
Although most US hospitals will bill the insurer directly for inpatient or outpatient services, it’s not a given. Hospitals across the US and internationally may request a deposit or even expect full payment upfront. It’s always a good idea to keep that in mind, so you can be prepared to provide a deposit if you have an emergency.
That said, the best way to mitigate some hassle is to contact your travel insurance provider as soon as possible. They will help coordinate care and treatment, as well as payment if it’s possible at the time. If not, again, be sure to keep all your itemized bills and receipts. You’ll want to make a photocopy when you submit your claim for reimbursement.
It’s important to understand that travel insurance is not a one-size-fits-all product, and there are many misconceptions about what it covers and how it works. Be sure to read your policy thoroughly and check with your insurance provider or professional if you have any questions. This way, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase travel insurance and be prepared for any unexpected events that may occur during your trip.
Still have claim-related questions? Check out our Claim FAQs: https://www.tugo.com/en/claims/faq/.
Safe travels,
Monique
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June 2019 and has been updated for freshness and/or accuracy.
