Some travel insurance policies, thankfully, go without claims because the trip was uneventful. However, if you do find yourself sitting in an emergency room far away from home, you’ll never be mad at yourself for having all that insurance! When you purchase travel insurance, there are five ways you can avoid a problem if you need to file a claim.

1. Honesty is Always the Best Policy

One of the most common reasons for a travel insurance claim to be denied is that the insured hasn’t been honest when filling out their medical questionnaire. To ensure you don’t run into trouble with a travel insurance claim, disclose any and all medical conditions honestly. If you’re not sure how to answer any of the questions on the form, review the application with your healthcare team, especially the information on the required “stability period” if you have a pre-existing condition.

If there are any changes in the status of your health between when you purchase your travel insurance policy and when you leave on your trip, be sure to consult with your insurance broker or insurance provider to find out if your coverage will be affected.

2. Cover Trips Within Canada

Though it’s true that Canadians enjoy healthcare coverage through a single-payer system, when we are visiting another province, we are only entitled to the same coverage at the same rate as we are in our province of residence. Coverage from province to province varies widely, and a service like an air ambulance back home can easily run into thousands of dollars. It makes good sense to cover every trip outside of your home province, even those trips that keep you in our home and native land.

3. Buy Travel Insurance for Short Trips

75% percent of Canadians live within 161 kilometres of the U.S. border. With so many people only a short drive away, it’s no wonder that there are hundreds of thousands of cross-border trips every day. Those who live right across the border have been known to go for short trips on a near-daily basis, and yet a huge number of these travellers make the trip without carrying travel insurance. Something as simple as a minor car accident could require a trip to the hospital, and that can be really expensive!

4. Know Thy Exclusions

Do you like scuba diving, parachuting or skydiving? How about motor racing, bungee jumping or mountain climbing? Do you know what all of these activities have in common? They are all excluded from coverage under most travel insurance policies. In fact, under some travel policies, the relatively benign practice of sipping a few cocktails beside the pool could void your travel insurance policy.

The activities that are excluded under travel insurance policies vary by insurance provider. If you are planning to take part in any “extreme sports” while on holiday, be sure to consult with your insurance provider.

5. Review Coverage Details Carefully

The language of an insurance policy can sometimes be complicated. If you are purchasing your insurance along with your trip at a travel agency, you are buying a policy from someone who specializes in finding the best deals on travel, not an insurance expert. If you have any questions about the nitty-gritty details of your coverage, you may have a hard time getting answers. If you have a claim, you will be on your own to figure out how to get it processed.

The most effective strategy to ensure you don’t have a problem with your travel insurance claim is to work with an insurance broker. Insurance brokers are independent professionals who work on behalf of their clients to help them get the most out of their insurance coverage. If you do have a claim while working with an insurance broker, you automatically have a powerful advocate and industry professional in your corner.

From a single-trip policy for the infrequent traveller to a multi-trip policy that can cover several adventures within a 12-month period, we can help you find a travel insurance policy that will only leave having a good time on your travel to-do list. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation travel insurance quote.