You may think that having travel insurance is enough to promise you a stress free travel experience. As long as you have insurance you are covered, right? Unfortunately, the matter is more complicated than that. There are many circumstances and technicalities that can get in the way of filing a successful travel insurance claim. If you know what these potential roadblocks are ahead of time then you can avoid them and make filing a claim as smooth as possible.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Be aware that if you have a pre-existing medical condition such as a heart problem or cancer travel insurance may not cover you. It is becoming harder and harder to find an insurer that can provide cover for serious conditions. However, you may find that your policy automatically covers milder conditions such as asthma and diabetes. If in doubt, ask your intended travel insurer. Some travelers acknowledge that they won’t get cover for their condition and so are happy to accept that if something were to happen the Insurer would not pay up. Again, check with your travel insurance supplier because sometimes an Insurer won’t insure you at all if you have a condition!

. About 7% of denied travel insurance claims are because of pre-existing conditions that are excluded. Your claim will probably be declined if you become ill as a result of a condition.

Also be conscious of the fact that pre-existing conditions of those close to you such as a relative or business partner might be excluded. If a loved one’s condition becomes a reason for you to cut your trip short or cancel it before you have left then that could pose a problem when you go to file that claim. Make sure you read the product disclosure statement carefully – most insurers these days don’t cover relatives over a certain age.

Take Responsibility For Your Belongings

If you leave your belongings unattended and they are stolen then you will run into problems with your claim. Your insurance company could assert that you did not take proper care to keep these items safe and this could interfere with your claim. Leaving valuable items on the beach unattended while you go for a swim is a prime example of this insufficient care. Make sure you take the proper steps to keep your valuables safe.

If you are victim of a theft then you need to report it immediately. Many travel insurance companies require a written police report within 24 hours of the theft. This documentation may be crucial to the success of your claim.

Also, keep records of your belongings. Keep proof of ownership such as receipts. You may wish to go so far as to take pictures of your expensive items. The likelihood that your claim will be successful is increased when you can provide proof that you were in possession of these items in the first place.

Be Prepared

Preparation is important. You want to know what to do ahead of time so that if something happens and you need to make a claim, then you know how to do it. Filing a claim is made much easier when you know what information to provide and you have the proper documentation on hand.

You also want to know if you will need to take actions within a certain time frame. As mentioned earlier, you may need a police report within 24 hours or you may need to contact your insurance company to make sure that medical treatment is covered by your policy before you receive that treatment. Following the proper protocol makes filing a successful travel insurance claim that much easier.

You need travel insurance for stress free travel. More than that, you need to know how to make filing a successful claim as easy as possible. These tips will help to make your next trip as stress free as possible.