The purpose of travel insurance is to make sure you have some of the unfortunate events or emergencies that happened before or during your trip. If something went wrong on holiday and you want to make travel insurance claims, a smooth and hassle-free process is ideal. You want to avoid unnecessary hassle and the possibility of your claims being denied.
It would be good if we could get insurance claims easily, but that’s not always the case. Not all claims are compensated, even though insurance providers spend hundreds of millions of money annually to pay insurance claims. In the UK alone, insurance companies pay out £345m each year in claims payments from their customers. But why are travel claims denied? Here are the most common reasons everyone should know.
Insufficient evidence
Let’s start with the most common reason why insurance claims are denied – you have incomplete receipts. If you are making a claim, you must provide or provide material evidence to support the events that caused you to distress during your trip. This evidence may include delay information from the carrier, police reports of accidents or wrongdoing, medical certificates, or proof of purchase.
Unattended Items
Unattended items are things you lost or left behind at your destination, including cell phones, laptops, cameras, bags, watches, and wallets. Unless the items are securely locked in the car or safe, you cannot make insurance claims for items lost accidentally or through negligence. Insurance providers have policies on this subject, so make sure you are aware of them. And in order not to be rejected, always take good care of your belongings on vacation.
Events prior to purchasing travel insurance
Of course, events that occur before you take out your travel insurance are not included in the coverage. Attempting to claim in such situations will not only result in rejection but will also be considered a fraudulent act for which you may be held liable. The ideal time to purchase travel insurance is as soon as you have booked your trip. It will be useful for future situations.
Not recommended trips
If you breach the World Health Organization (WHO) travel advice, your insurance provider will not reimburse your claims. If you travel to a place that the WHO has advised everyone against, it is your choice and you are responsible for it. To ensure you travel safely, always read the latest WHO travel advice.
Illegal, dangerous, and reckless activities
If you do something illegal, such as B. fraud, theft, dishonest behavior, drug use, etc., your insurance provider will not pay your claims. A claim will also be denied if you are in an accident or miss a flight due to excessive alcohol consumption. It is your responsibility to drink in moderation, so you cannot expect to be covered by your travel insurance for your irresponsibility.
As for dangerous activities, the conditions depend on insurance policies. Some organizations don’t cover extreme sports and activities. However, if you pay an additional premium, you may be covered for parasailing, bungee jumping, trekking, and mountaineering to name a few. It is best to read the insurance conditions of your chosen travel insurance.
Undeclared health conditions
One reason individuals purchase travel insurance is for health security. Knowing that medical services are expensive, it’s helpful to have insurance on hand, especially when you’re traveling. However, when taking out travel insurance, never forget to state your pre-existing medical conditions with the relevant medical documents. It ensures that the medical expenses you incurred during your trip are covered and you don’t have to spend large amounts of money.
If you do not state your health conditions, you will not be able to claim your travel insurance. It is also advisable not to travel if your doctor has advised you not to.
