Common Mistakes People Make When Making A Travel Insurance Claim

Updated: 28 Nov 2023

Written byGredel Shadroch

There’s nothing more stressful than having to snap out of holiday mode to file a travel insurance claim. Maybe that’s why a lot of travellers make mistakes and have their claims denied? Well, whatever the case, we’re here to help you steer clear of those common mistakes.

Purchasing travel insurance is pretty straightforward, but yet travellers are still making some very common mistakes!

From buying travel insurance too late to not knowing the different plans and coverages available, see if you’re guilty of making any of these mistakes!

Planning a trip soon? Here are some travel essentials you shouldn’t leave home without, and travel insurance lessons from our team!

Compare Best Travel Insurance

Mistakes to Avoid While Submitting a Travel Insurance Claim

Here are five of the most common mistakes people make and the consequences:

#1 Not knowing the different plan conditions and tiers

Let’s address that bit about the fine print first. It’s important to read them carefully, folks! Every policy comes with its own set of conditions and knowing them can mean the difference between having your claim accepted or denied. These limitations could be in terms of the item value, certain situations, or even medical outbreaks.

Since every insurer has their own set of conditions, you can’t always be sure about the limitations. So be sure to read the fine print and contact your insurance agent in case you don’t quite understand something. The last thing you want is to go through the effort of filing a claim and have it be denied.

Example: Let’s say you’ve filed a claim for missing your flight. Maybe because you couldn’t find a cab in time? However, that’s not an insured event. So your claim will be denied on the grounds of an uninsured reason.

Knowing the limitations of your policy such as insured and uninsured reasons are important when filing a travel insurance claim.

#2 Fabricating or overclaiming

Fabricating a loss or even claiming more than the actual loss is basically insurance fraud. You might think it’s not common. However, many people add a couple of extra dollars to a claim thinking they won’t be caught.

Claim investigators are trained to track the authenticity of each and every claim. They can easily spot misrepresented facts and that could land you in a lot of trouble — the least of which being the denial of your claim.

Make sure the claims you’re making, whether for illness, theft, or any other loss have actually happened and the amount you are claiming is backed by proof. There’s no point trying to sneakily add in a couple of extra hundreds. It will only affect your entire claim and possibly leave you blacklisted.

Example: Your travel bag which contained a few souvenirs as well as your tablet has been stolen. While submitting a claim you decide to list your tablet as a higher model than what you actually owned to get a little extra from the claim.

However, claim investigators will require a receipt of purchase for the listed tablet. Seeing as how you’ve tried to overclaim, you won’t be able to furnish the required documentation. This will result in your travel insurance claim being denied and your coverage revoked.

Best Travel Insurance for Different Needs

#3 Documentation

There are two main types of mistakes people make when it comes to providing supporting documentation — submitting the wrong documents and not having the required documents.

Every travel insurance claim submission will require you to provide supporting documentation. This could be your travel itinerary, tickets, reservations, police reports (in case of accidents and theft), or even medical bills and reports. Depending on the claim you are making, your insurer will specify certain proofs that need to be submitted. It’s absolutely important that you submit the right documents.

One of the most common mistakes with documents that people make is not saving things. The last thing on anyone’s mind while they’re travelling is saving bills, receipts, prescriptions, etc. But trust us — it’s probably the most important thing you can do. You never know when you need to submit a claim and the supporting document is that little bill you tossed in the trash.

Example: Let’s say you’ve just had a scrumptious seafood dinner. You reach your hotel room and make a mad dash to the washroom to throw up. You’re down with a case of food poisoning. You head to the nearest hospital and the doc writes up a prescription. You get your meds and head back.

When you file your travel insurance claim, you find that the insurers want both the doctor’s bill and statement/prescription as well as the bill for your medicines. But you don’t have the prescription anymore. The lack of this important document means your pharmacy purchase isn’t valid and your entire claim gets denied.

#4 It’s too late

Here again we see two common problems — starting your coverage too late and filing a claim too late.

It’s quite common for people to think that they require coverage only from the first day they arrive at their destination. However, a lot could happen while you’re travelling. If you’re not insured for those dates as well, you could end up with hefty losses should things go awry.

So always purchase travel insurance a few weeks before the travel date as you're covered for "bankruptcy of travel agency", medical expenses if you’re involved in an accident while travelling to the airport (some insurers do cover that). You can also claim for the unused hotel and planned trip expenses if something were to occur a few days before the trip that causes you to have to forgo the trip (death of family member, illness, etc).

When you file a claim, it needs to be done within a stipulated time. This is usually 30 days from the date of the event. However, if you don’t make it within that time frame, your claim could be denied. Note that it could be denied even if you have all the required documents to prove what happened.

Example: Let’s say you were cycling in the countryside when a car coming from the opposite direction knocked you over. You end up in the hospital with a fracture and the last thing on your mind is filing an insurance claim.

You remember to take all the required documents with you so you can file the travel insurance claim once you’re back home. However, things keep getting in the way and by the time you finally get around to it, it’s too late. You go ahead and submit it anyway.

The claim is denied because it was submitted 31 days post the date of the event. Every day counts!

Compare Single Vs Annual Trip Travel Insurance

#5 Claiming reimbursed costs

Travel insurance is designed to reimburse you for financial losses caused by insured reasons. If you’ve already been reimbursed for a loss by the selling party, then you cannot file a travel insurance claim for the same. This is regardless of whether it is an insured reason or not.

Example: You’re all set to head to the airport when you learn that your flight has been cancelled due to political instability at the destination. The airline also issues a refund on your cancelled ticket.

Now while a cancelled flight is an insured reason, your travel insurance claim would still be declined. Why? Simply because this loss has already been reimbursed by the airline.

You can still however claim for other insured losses that have occurred due to the cancellation. For example, your hotel reservation.

Compare Best Travel Insurance

How to File a Travel Insurance Claim Correctly?

Every travel insurance provider might have a few procedural differences. There may also be some differences in terms of the documentation required. So be sure to read the travel insurance claim process on their website when you purchase the policy.

However, here is a standard procedure for filing a travel insurance claim online:

#1 Notify your insurer

Before leaving on your holiday, be sure to save your insurance provider’s helpline number. Some insurers also have a separate helpline for overseas medical emergencies.

No matter the situation, be it just a flight delay, a theft, or even an accident, the first thing to do is to notify your insurer. Call the helpline number and fill them in on what has happened.

They will be able to help you understand if it’s an insured event or not. They’ll also be able to provide overseas assistance if your policy includes such coverage. Most importantly though, they’ll be able to guide you through the process of filing a travel insurance claim with the right documents.

Tip: Keep your policy number and policyholder’s name handy before calling the helpline. They will need it to verify your coverage policy. Also, write the helpline number of a piece of paper and keep it in your wallet. You don’t want to find yourself in a pickle in case your phone has been stolen.

Compare Best Travel Insurance Promotions

#2 Gather necessary documents

Depending on the situation you find yourself in, you might need a different set of documents to produce as proof. You can cross-check what’s required on your insurer’s website.

Here are a few common documents to keep handy:

Copy of your passport and visa
Trip itinerary
Boarding pass and tickets
Documentation supporting flight delay, cancellation and baggage loss
Hotel reservations
Local police reports in case of accidents and theft
Proof of ownership for stolen items
Medical bills and doctor’s statement
Hospital bills for proof of cost
In case of death or disablement — police report (if any), medical reports, death certificate

Tip: Keep a copy of every bill and receipt from the time you begin making bookings for your holiday. It’s always good to keep a soft copy of all these documents so it’s easy to source and file online.

#3 Submit your claim

You can submit your travel insurance claim online. It’s faster and easier to submit your claim online rather than filling out the form and posting it yourself. Almost all insurers now have easy-to-fill online claims forms that can be found on their website.

Keep all your documents handy before beginning to file your claim. You can also keep in touch with the insurance helpline to ensure you have the right documents for your claim.

Once your claim is submitted you can track the status of your claim online. You can also choose how you want the claim to be credited to you if it’s been approved. The fastest way to get your claim money is to have it credited directly into the bank account linked to your policy.

Best Travel Insurance for Phones

SingSaver's Best Price Travel Campaign: All successful applicants of participating Travel Insurance products will receive 1x (single trip) or 3x (annual trip) draw chance to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed (up to a maximum of $2,000) and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Valid till 5 January 2024. T&Cs apply.

Travel Insurance	Premium for Individual Cover	Covid-19 Coverage	Promotion
Starr TraveLead Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$11.05 (for 1 week in ASEAN)	Yes	Get up to $50 Grab Vouchers (min. Premium $30) and get 40% off when you use promo code SS40. Plus, till 5 January, every applicant will also score an Apple AirTag — perfect for keeping tabs on your luggage on your next trip — or a ReboundTag. T&Cs apply. Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw. 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 5 January 2024. T&Cs apply.
MSIG Travel Easy Apply Now	from S$34.10 (for 1 week in ASEAN)	Yes	Enjoy 40% off when you apply for Single Trips and 20% off for Annual Plan plus get up to $38 Grab Vouchers when you purchase now!! Valid till 31 January 2024. T&Cs apply. Plus, till 5 January, every applicant will also score an Apple AirTag — perfect for keeping tabs on your luggage on your next trip — or a ReboundTag. T&Cs apply. Enjoy up to 3x chances to enter our Weekly Lucky Draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply.
Allianz Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$34.10 (for 1 week in Asean)	Yes	Use promo code TRAVEL40 to get 40% discount, up to $35 Grab Vouchers, and 1x Airalo eSim with up to 3GB data (minimum premium of $60) when you apply NOW! Valid till 14 January 2024. T&Cs apply. Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 5 January 2024. T&Cs apply.
FWD Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$22.50 (for 1 week in Asean)	Yes	Use the promo code WELCOME24 to get a 25% discount on Single and Annual Trip plans! Valid till 7 Jan 2024. T&Cs apply. Also receive: 1x Airalo eSIM with up to 3GB data before your fly (minimum premium $60). Valid till 28 February 2024. T&Cs apply. 1x Apple AirTag (worth $45) for the first 3,800 applicants. Valid till 5 January 2024. T&Cs apply. Additionally, enjoy up to 3x chances to enter our Weekly Lucky Draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply.
Etiqa (TIQ) Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$39 (for 1 week in Asean)	Yes	Single Trip: Use the promo code TIQSINGSAVER to get 42% off. Valid till 14 Jan 2024. T&Cs apply. Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 5 January 2024. T&Cs apply.
Singlife Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$46.20 (for 1 week in ASEAN)	Yes	Score an Airalo eSIM with up to 3GB data and receive it before you fly when you apply now! Valid till 28 February 2024. T&Cs apply. Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 5 January 2024. T&Cs apply. Single Trip: Enjoy a 25% discount when you use the promo code TRAVEL25. Valid till 11 Jan 2024. T&Cs apply. Annual Trip: Get a 25% discount when you use the promo code ANNUAL25. Valid till 31 Jan 2024. T&Cs apply.
Allied World Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$45 (for one week in Asean)	Yes	Enjoy 48% discount for Single Trip Plans and 15% discount for Annual Trip plans when you apply now! Valid till 31 Jan 2024. T&Cs apply. Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 5 January 2024. T&Cs apply
AIG Travel Guard® Direct Apply Now	from S$30 (for 1 week in Asean)	Yes	Single Trip: Get $20 PayNow! (minimum premium of $80) when you apply now. Valid till 15 Jan 2024. T&Cs apply. Annual Trip: Receive $200 PayNow when you apply now! Valid till 15 Jan 2024. T&Cs apply. Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 5 January 2024. T&Cs apply.
Great Eastern Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$52 (for one week in Asean)	Yes	Single Trip: Enjoy 20% off when you use promo code TSP20%. Valid till 31 Jan 2024. T&Cs apply. Annual Trip: Enjoy 10% off when you use promo code TSP10A. Valid till 31 Jan 2024. T&Cs apply. Discount is only valid for Elite and Classic plans. Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply. Promotion ends on 5 January 2024. T&Cs apply.
Seedly Travel Insurance Apply Now	from S$49.80 (for 1 week in Asean)	No	Receive 50% off and 1x Airalo eSIM worth up to 3GB data when you apply NOW! Valid till 31 January 2024. T&Cs apply. Stand a chance to win an Apple IPad 9th Gen. T&Cs apply. Enjoy 1x chance to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply. Promotion ends on 5 January 2024. T&Cs apply.