A guide to travel insurance claims

One of the most important components of taking out travel insurance is reviewing your insurance provider's process for handling claims. It is crucial to have a clear understanding of what will be required from you if you make a claim. This will ensure your claim is handled quickly and you receive the full benefit amount.

3 simple steps to ensuring your claim is successful:

1. Notify your insurer as soon as possible. There is usually a time frame within which you must submit your claim and your insurer will inform you if additional documents are required.
2. Gather documentation to validate your claim. Details of what will be required for your claim to be processed will be discussed in your product disclosure statement.
3. Submit a claim form. We've assembled the claim forms for our panel of travel insurance brands below. Send the completed claim form and any documentation through to your insurance provider.

How long do I have to make my claim?

Brand	How long do I have to make a claim?	How long do claims usually take to be resolved?	Apply
Medibank	Within 60 days of the return date shown on your Certificate of Insurance.	Varies depending on the nature of the claim and whether you have provided the necessary supporting documents.	Bonus Get quote
Freely	You must give notice of your claim as soon as possible.	Varies depending on the nature of the claim and whether you have provided the necessary supporting documents.	Bonus Get quote
Stella	You must give notice of your claim as soon as possible.	Within 10 business days upon the receipt of a completed claim with necessary supporting documentation.	Get quote
Zoom	30 days from when you return home.	Within 10 working days of all necessary documentation being provided.	Get quote
fastcover	30 days from when you return home.	Within 10 business days upon the receipt of a completed claim form with necessary supporting documentation.	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
Insure4less	No later than 31 days after the expiry of the trip during which the claim occurred.	Within 10 business days upon the receipt of a completed claim with necessary supporting documentation.	Get quote
Travel Insuranz	No later than 31 days after the expiry of the trip during which the claim occurred.	Within 10 business days upon the receipt of a completed claim with necessary supporting documentation.	Get quote
InsureandGo	Up to 30 days after completion of your travel.	It varies depending on the nature of the claim and the supporting documents you provide.	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
Tick	Up to 30 days after completion of your travel.	Within 10 business days of all necessary documentation being provided.	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
World2cover	Full details should be submitted within 30 days of your return.	Within 10 business days of all necessary supporting documentation being provided.	Get quote
Cover-More	Within 60 days of the return date shown on your Certificate of Insurance.	Varies depending on the nature of the claim and whether you have provided the necessary supporting documents.	Bonus Get quote
Southern Cross	You must give notice of your claim as soon as possible.	Varies depending on the nature of the claim and whether you have provided the necessary supporting documents.	Finder Award Get quote
Travel With Kit	You must give notice of your claim as soon as possible.	Within 5-10 business days of all necessary documentation being provided.	More info
Travel With Jane	You must give notice of your claim as soon as possible.	Within 5-10 business days of all necessary documentation being provided.	More info
Travel Insurance Saver	You must give notice of your claim as soon as possible.	Within 10 working days upon the receipt of a completed claim form and all relevant information.	Get quote
Easy	Within 60 days of the return date shown on your Certificate of Insurance.	Within 10 working days of all necessary documentation being provided.	Get quote
Australia Post	You must give notice of your claim as soon as possible.	Within 10 working days from the time they receive the claim or each time they receive further information on it.	Get quote
1cover	30 days from when you return home.	Within 10 business days of all necessary supporting documentation being provided.	More info
Worldcare	You must give notice of your claim as soon as possible.	Within 10 business days upon the receipt of a completed claim with necessary supporting documentation.	More info

Note: This information was last updated September 2022

3 pre-cautions that will make claiming a smoother process

Read your product disclosure statement before you apply for cover.

Understand what is covered, how much excess you have to pay and under what conditions.

Register any high-value items

that you would like covered before purchasing, and ensure you have evidence of these items in the form of

• photos
• receipts
• proof-of-ownership documentation

Keep electronic and hard copy versions of your travel insurance policy

This will include a copy of your policy number and the documents you will need.

Common travel insurance claim conditions that need to be followed

Conditions for travel insurance claims will vary between insurers, but the following conditions commonly apply:

• You must not violate the exclusions of your policy (e.g. being intoxicated when you injure yourself will not be covered).
• You must make the claim within a specific period of returning from your trip, which is typically 30 days.
• You must disclose exactly what occurred and provide the necessary documentation to the insurer.

For lost or stolen items, the following conditions apply:

• You must report the loss/theft to the local police as well as any appropriate authority in the circumstances (such as an accommodation provider, airline or tour operator) within 24 hours and obtain a written policy statement while you are there.
• If a transport carrier has lost or damaged your personal belongings or you notice that something has been taken from your luggage, you must report the incident to a representative from the carrier and obtain a property irregularity report as soon as possible.

For medical-related claims, the following conditions apply:

• You'll need to provide a medical report or summary from a treating doctor or dentist that explains the condition, diagnosis provided, medication provided and treatment given.
• You'll need a medical certificate from a local GP or dentist.

• Other types of evidence include original receipts, proof of ownership for your luggage and personal effects and valuations.
• If you do not provide the evidence that is required by the insurer, your claim may be rejected or the benefit reduced.
• If the insurance provider is making a claim against a third party, you must do everything possible to help recover the money in legal proceedings.
• If you are aware of any third party that the insurer may retrieve money from, you must notify the insurer.

Find out more about travel insurance

Worried your claim won't be paid? Follow these steps.

• Know before you leave what evidence will be required for claims. For example, you may need proof of purchase for expensive items, police reports within 24 hours for stolen items and medical certificates for any treatment received. The requirements will be stated in the PDS.
• Tell your insurer as soon as possible. You will be told if any other information is required for your claim to be processed and paid.
• Keep a copy of your policy with you at all times. It will list emergency numbers and the insurer's 24-hour hotline.
• Be honest when buying cover. Skipping a couple of details when taking out cover in order to save money could mean your genuine claim is rejected.
• Include as much detail as possible in your claim and submit it on time. The more information you provide, the more likely it is your claim will be accepted and the faster it will be processed.

How can I avoid having my claim denied?

There are a few steps you can take to improve the chances that your travel insurance will pay out. Next time you travel, make sure you do the following:

• Get familiar with your policy. Reading your policy documents will allow you to avoid claiming for events you aren't covered for while also making it clear what steps you need to take when a claimable event occurs.
• Aim for more detail, not less. When you are travelling, keep all paperwork and important documents like receipts, even if you don't think it is important at the time. Take photo evidence of injuries, crime scenes and other important details. It's better to have it and not need it for your claim than to need it and not have it.
• Make sure your policy is active. If you have travel insurance through your credit card, call them up and make sure it is activated before you travel.
• Call your insurer as soon as possible It's good to talk to them as soon as you know you are going to claim for something, even if you aren't ready to claim at that moment. This gives you a chance to find out what additional information the insurer might need.
• Be truthful. Make sure you are honest in your policy application and in your claim submission. Your claim can be denied if your insurer finds out you gave them false or misleading information. This is especially important around pre-existing conditions.
• Take pictures of you and your belongings. A photo of you and your laptop can be used as proof of ownership if it's later stolen. Before you leave, take pics of yourself with each of the valuable items you are taking. Don't forget to do the same with items you buy on your travels.

My travel insurance claim was denied. What can I do?

Appeal it with your insurer.

• The first thing to do is to file an appeal with your insurer. Your insurer is required by law to have an internal resolutions department that will look at your claim again. If your insurer denies it a second time, it is required to tell you why.
• The insurer has 15 business days to let you know the outcome of your complaint. This period may be extended if more information is required.

Lodge a dispute with the Ombudsman.

• If you're still not satisfied with the outcome of the insurer's internal review of your complaint, you can escalate it to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
• The AFCA will work with you and the insurer to resolve the dispute, looking to achieve a fair outcome for both parties.
• The AFCA will attempt to resolve the dispute by negotiation, mediation or deciding on the appropriate action.

Go to court.

• If after working with the AFCA you are still not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint, you have the option to proceed with legal action against the insurer.
• There may be binding time agreements in place for when legal action can be taken.

I'm ready to compare travel insurance policies

Lodging a travel insurance claim can be a difficult process, which is why it’s important to always keep your insurance provider abreast of the situation throughout the whole process. The most important thing to remember is that the sooner you get all your documentation in order and contact your provider, the sooner your claim will be processed, putting the whole ordeal behind you.

Written by

Richard Laycock

Editor

Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance. See full bio