5 Tips for an Easy Trip Cancellation or Interruption Claim

 

You've planned the perfect trip and are now on your way to the place you've always wanted to go. You even bought travel insurance in case your trip has to be canceled or cut short due to something out of your control.

Hopefully, you won't have to file a claim for a trip interruption or trip cancellation, but if you do, here are 5 tips to make the process easier!

1. Make sure you know what your insurance covers.

If you bought Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage or Trip Interruption coverage only, make sure you take the time to read the policy and understand what it covers. This is the best way to make sure your claim goes well and meets your needs. As you look over your policy, write down any questions you might have and don't be afraid to ask your trusted insurance professional about them.

2. Remember that points-based travel isn't covered.

It's a great way to save money to book travel with points from your credit card or another rewards program.

But it's important to remember that Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption or Trip Interruption Only insurance does not cover travel plans paid for with points, like flights, hotels, and more. When possible, these policies cover the costs of getting the points back, but they don't cover what the points are worth in cash.

Close-up of an older woman and her daughter at a doctor's office.

3. See a doctor before you change or cancel your trip.

If something goes wrong and you need to cancel or cut short your trip because you are sick or hurt, make sure to see a doctor first. To make sure your insurance covers your claim, you'll need to show written proof from a doctor that your cancellation or interruption was medically necessary and that it was recommended before you canceled or interrupted your trip. So, before you leave the doctor's office, make sure that this document also has the date when the doctor told you to cancel.

Tip: Keep in mind that your provincial health insurance will not cover a doctor's note, so you will have to pay for it yourself.

4. Claim non-refundable travel costs

The Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance from TuGo covers pre-paid travel costs that can't be refunded. The Henderson family found out how important this coverage was the night before their flight to a resort on the Mayan Riviera for a one-week all-inclusive vacation.

The daughter, Jamie, had a bad head injury that put her in the hospital for the night. Doctors took care of her and told her family not to fly long distances for a while, in case she had a concussion.

Peter, Jamie's dad, bought Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance a week before they were to leave. With this choice, they saved more than $17,000.

Family on couch with daughter. 5. Show proof for expenses and refunds.

Make sure you keep all of your original receipts and itemized bills for all claims, including those for cancelled or cut short trips. It's also a good idea to write a memo for each bill or receipt that explains why the money was spent. For example, if your flight was canceled and you had to stay an extra night at a hotel, you would write that on your itemized receipt. These notes will help you make a clear list of the money you spent because your trip was cut short or canceled.

Tip: If you want to speed up the travel insurance claim process, write down what happened, when it happened, and how much it cost for each event. Your travel insurance provider will better understand what happened if you give them some background information, so they won't have to ask for more later.

It's just as important to keep track of your refunds as it is your expenses. Make sure you keep track of any refunds you've already gotten from your travel agent, airline, hotel, or tour company. When you send in your claim, you'll have to show proof like these.

Keeping clear, organized records makes it easier to get the right amount of money back from your claim and keeps your claim from being denied.

We hope that these tips will help you get the most out of your claim for a trip that was cut short or canceled. Check out our blog post, How to Make Your Travel Insurance Claim Go Smoother, for more information on how to speed up the claims process.

Share :