A guide to travel insurance claims
Did something go wrong while you were overseas? Read these tips to give yourself the best chance of making a successful claim.
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Making a travel insurance claim tends to happen when things go wrong, so it's not always a nice experience. However, with a little bit of know-how and preparation, you can save yourself a lot of time, energy and tears.
This guide will go through everything you need to know about making a travel insurance claim, from preparation to making a claim when you get home.
Proper preparation prevents poor performance - as with life so goes travel insurance...or something like that. Point is, getting your ducks in a row before you leave will make making a successful travel insurance claim easier and less stressful when the time comes.
"I've not had to make a travel insurance claim yet, but I know it's just a matter of time with how often I travel. I always make sure my travel insurance policy covers everything I need it to - when I went to New Zealand recently I made sure bungee jumping was included. That way I have the peace of mind that if I need to make a claim, it'll probably be successful."
If you experience a medical emergency while traveling, seek immediate medical attention before you thinking about insurance - your wellbeing is more important! Once things are stable, contact your insurer. Be prepared to provide detailed information about the incident, including:
For non-emergency medical expenses, such as routine check-ups or prescription refills, you can submit a claim to your insurer after returning home. Gather all relevant documentation, including:
In case of delayed luggage, obtain a delay certificate from the airline. Contact your insurer and provide them with the delay certificate, along with:
If your belongings are stolen, report the incident to the local authorities and obtain a police report. Contact your insurer and provide them with the police report, along with:
If your flight is significantly delayed, collect any relevant documentation, such as:
If you need to cancel your trip due to a covered reason, such as illness or a natural disaster, contact your insurer immediately. Provide them with:
If your claim is denied, review the reasons provided by the insurer. If you believe the denial is unjustified, consider the following steps:
supporting evidence.
Not every travel insurance company is as good at approving claims quickly. The table below has all the info you need.
Brand | How long do I have to make a claim? | How long do claims usually take to be resolved? |
---|---|---|
![]() 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. |
![]() Freely | Within 60 days of the return date shown on your Certificate of Insurance. | Within 10 business days upon the receipt of a completed claim with necessary supporting documentation. |
![]() 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. |
![]() Zoom | 30 days from when you return home. | Within 10 working days of all necessary documentation being provided. |
![]() | 30 days from when you return home. | Within 10 business days upon the receipt of a completed claim form with necessary supporting documentation. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() | Up to 30 days after completion of your travel. | Within 10 business days of all necessary documentation being provided. |
![]() | Up to 30 days after completion of your travel. | Within 10 business days of all necessary documentation being provided. |
![]() World2cover | Full details should be submitted within 30 days of your return. | Within 10 business days of all necessary supporting documentation being provided. |
![]() Cover-More | Within 60 days of the return date shown on your Certificate of Insurance. | Within 10 business days of all necessary supporting documentation being provided. |
![]() Southern Cross | You must give notice of your claim as soon as possible. | Within 10 business days of all necessary supporting documentation being provided. |
![]() 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. |
![]() Easy | Within 60 days of the return date shown on your Certificate of Insurance. | Within 10 working days of all necessary documentation being provided. |
![]() Australia Post | Within 60 days of the return date shown on your Certificate of Insurance. | Within 10 working days from the time they receive the claim or each time they receive further information on it. |
![]() 1cover | 30 days from when you return home. | Within 10 business days of all necessary supporting documentation being provided. |
![]() | 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. |
Note: This information was last updated November 2024
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Allianz has denied our travel claim on the basis that our flight was delayed for less than 6 hours ( actually, the delay in Helsinki Airport was 342 minutes). Is this reasonable? Because of the delay, we missed our connecting flight in Frankfurt and need to buy new airline ticket and spend on Hotel.
Hi Leo,
Thank you for your inquiry.
finder.com.au is a comparison and information service. We are not permitted to provide our users with personalized financial advice. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the claim you should contact Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold