The purpose of travel insurance is to ensure that you get something from the unfortunate events or emergencies that have happened before or during your trip. If something has gone wrong during vacation, and you want to acquire travel insurance claims, it is ideal to have a smooth and straightforward process. You want to avoid the unnecessary hassle and the possibilities of getting your claims denied.
It will be good if we can easily receive insurance claims, but that is not always the case. Not all claims are compensated even though insurance providers shell out hundreds of millions of money a year to pay for insurance claims. In the UK alone, insurance companies pay out £345 million every year for their clients’ claim payments. But why are travel claims denied? Here are the most common reasons that everyone should know.
Inadequate Supporting Documents
Let’s start with the most typical reason why insurance claims get denied – you have incomplete supporting documents. When you are making a claim, you must present or provide substantial evidence to support the events that have caused distress to you during your travel. These proofs may include carrier’s delay information, police reports for accidents or unlawful acts, medical certificates, or purchase receipts.
Unattended Items
Unattended items are things you have lost or left in your destination, including cellphones, laptops, cameras, bags, watches, and wallets. Unless the items are securely locked inside the car or safe, you can’t make insurance claims for the things you have accidentally or carelessly lost. Insurance providers have policies regarding this matter, so make sure that you are aware of them. And to avoid getting rejected, always take care or look after your belongings when you are on holiday.
Events Before Travel Insurance Purchase
Of course, events that happen before purchasing your travel insurance are not included in the coverage. Trying to make claims for such situations will not only lead to rejection but is also considered a fraudulent act, and you can be held liable for it. The ideal time to purchase travel insurance is as soon as you have booked your trip. It will be useful for future situations.
Unadvised Travels
If you go against the travel advisory issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), your insurance provider will not compensate for your claims. If you travel to a place that WHO has advised everyone not to go, it becomes your decision, and you will be liable for it. To ensure that you have safe travels, always check out the latest travel advisories of WHO.
Illegal, Hazardous, and Reckless Activities
If you do anything illegal such as fraud, theft, dishonest behavior, drug use, among others, your insurance provider will not pay for your claims. A claim will also be denied if you get into an accident or miss a flight due to excessive consumption of alcohol. It’s your responsibility to drink in moderation, so you can’t expect to be covered by your travel insurance for your irresponsibility.
As for the hazardous activities, the terms depend on insurance policies. Some companies don’t cover for extreme sports and activities. However, if you pay an additional premium, there may be policy coverage for parasailing, bungee jumping, trekking, and mountain climbing, to name a few. It is best to read the terms and conditions of your chosen travel insurance policy.
Undeclared Health Conditions
One of the reasons why people buy travel insurance is for health security. Knowing the fact the medical services are expensive, it is helpful to have insurance ready, especially if you are traveling. However, you must never forget to declare your pre-existing medical conditions with supporting medical documents when you buy travel insurance. It will ensure that the medical expenses you have incurred during your trip will be covered, and you won’t have to shed big amounts of money.
If you fail to declare your health conditions, you can not take advantage of your travel insurance. It is also advisable not to travel if your doctor has advised it.
