Claims Advice for Travel Insurance
No one wants to have their long awaited vacation disrupted by illness, accident or emergency. Unfortunately, misadventure happens, luggage is lost or stolen or you suddenly become ill and cannot continue the trip.
It is a wise investment to purchase travel insurance to offer peace of mind in the event of a trip disruption. A bit of preparation prior to your trip will ease the process should you be required to file a claim.
Documentation
Make a copy of all purchase receipts for phone, cameras, electronic equipment, computers, luggage, camping gear, clothing and other miscellaneous equipment and supplies you purchase for your trip.
Record serial and model numbers and carry the list with you on your trip or store scanned copies of the receipts online at a site that you will be able to access while traveling.
Wise Precautions
When packing for an extended trip, make a list of all the contents of your luggage. Store the list online. Should your luggage be lost or stolen, you will immediately know what you need to replace. Making a list is also an ideal way to make sure you are not forgetting to pack anything important to your journey.
Make copies of your travel itinerary and all copies of tickets and reservations. Include a copy of your itinerary with contact information inside each piece of luggage. Take a photo of your luggage and store the image online. These precautions will aid in reuniting you with your lost valuables should they be misdirected in transit.
Should your luggage be lost in transit, immediately file a report with the airline or transportation provider. If items are lost or stolen after you reach your destination, file a report will the local police department. Obtain and keep a copy of the report to file with your insurance claim.
Report All Incidents & Losses
Many unexpected events can occur while traveling. Missed flights, lost luggage, medical emergencies and misadventure. If you are involved in a traffic accident, take notes of the date, place, time and names and contact information of all witnesses or participants. If possible, take a photo of any damage. Request a copy of any citations issued.
Contact your insurance provider to report the claim. Some policies require pre-authorization from the insurance company prior to hospital admission. Carefully study the fine print of your policy and be familiar with its rules and restrictions prior to traveling.
Extent of Coverage
Read the fine print in your policy. Many insurance policies have disclaimers on certain types of misfortunes. Some policies will cover cancellation of a trip if caused by a treat or act of terrorism. Other policies exclude acts of terrorism.
Time Restrictions
Review your policy. Many policies require that an incident must be reported within 21 to 30 days of the event.Waiting to file a claim may invalidate your coverage. All insurance claims should be mailed return-receipt-requested to provide documentation that the claim was submitted in a timely manner.
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