3 Times Your Travel Insurance Claim Will be Denied, says Squaremouth

Last Updated: September 19, 2017February 9, 2022

ST. PETERSBURG FL September 19, 2017 — Misunderstanding a travel insurance policy can lead to an automatic denial when it’s time to file a claim. Leading travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, explains 3 common reasons travel insurance claims are denied, and how to give yourself the best chance of getting your claim approved.

You Were Inconvenienced, Not Interrupted

Some travelers think their insurance will pay out because their trip didn’t go as smoothly as they planned. However, in order for a traveler to be covered by their travel insurance, their trip must be cancelled, cut short, or delayed by a circumstance listed in their policy. If the reason is listed, they can be refunded for out-of-pocket trip payments, as well as additional expenses incurred.

Travel Insurance Claim Tip: Don’t assume you’re automatically covered if anything goes wrong. If you have specific concerns, make sure they are covered by your policy. If you are worried about something that your policy does not cover, you may be able to cancel the policy for a full or partial refund.

You Bought the Policy Without Knowing You Were Ineligible

Travel insurance only covers unforeseen events, however many travelers think they can buy travel insurance after they become sick. If a traveler is already sick when they buy their policy, any claim related to that same illness will not be covered.

Travel Insurance Claim Tip: Some policies have the Pre-Existing Condition option, which can refund a traveler if their trip is impacted by an existing sickness or injury. To get this coverage, you usually must buy a policy within 14-30 days of making your first trip payment. However, even with this coverage, you must be medically able to travel when you buy a policy.

You Forgot to Keep Your Receipts

In order to be refunded, travelers typically need to provide proof of the expenses they incurred. Receipts are required to authenticate a claim, whether it’s for a cancellation, delay, or medical emergency.

“We ask for receipts to prove the traveler made the payments they say they made, and to verify what happened,” says Squaremouth Claims Director Brandi Morse. “Keeping your original receipts can speed up the process and improve your chances of getting your claim approved.”

Travel Insurance Claim Tip: Ask for receipts to document any expenses incurred. If you forget, or if receipts are not available, your bank or credit card statement will usually prove you made the payments you are claiming for.