No matter what the season, you can be forgiven for spending your time searching for last minute travel deals, eagerly hoping to get out of town for a week or two. If you are planning a travel escape, don’t forget Emergency Medical Travel insurance. Provincial health insurance won’t be much help if you get sick or injured while out of the country and emergency care outside of Canada can be very, very expensive.
Shockingly, less than 50% of Canadians going on vacation think to buy travel medical insurance, and many still fill out their insurance application forms incorrectly or purchase inadequate coverage for their needs. And, when it comes to submitting travel insurance claims, the paperwork is important. Here are three common mistakes to avoid.
Don’t guess at how to fill out a form. Honesty really is the best policy.
Let’s start with applying for your travel insurance coverage. The rule of thumb regarding past medical conditions when applying for insurance is when in doubt, disclose. You might not think a past treatment is relevant to your current health, but a doctor or claims examiner might disagree. Sure, the odds that you’ll make a claim are relatively low, but once you make that claim, the insurance company will request your medical records from your doctor.
Have this information ready when you apply:
- Your travel destination(s)
- Your departure and return dates
- Every traveller’s date of birth
- Full medical history including pre-existing conditions
- The cost of the trip for each person
To avoid a mistake and for more tips on how to complete a Travel Insurance Medical Questionnaire read our blog here.
If you must file a travel insurance claim (good thing you applied for coverage!), you can avoid a rejection by reading your policy, ensuring your paperwork is in order and filing on time. That’s right: it is essential to carefully read your contract before you leave. That way you’ll know what is covered and how the policy works.
As soon as you realize you need to make a claim on your policy, you should contact the travel assistance company. While some insurers allow up to 20 days to make a claim it is possible that your coverage may be altered, or potentially decreased, if the emergency assistance department is not notified within a certain time frame. If you have questions about certain clauses or are unclear about them, don’t hesitate to call SBIS for explanations that are full and clear.
And remember – it is helpful if you have given your emergency contact your insurance information if you cannot make the call yourself.
For more tips on how to complete Travel Insurance Claims Forms read our blog here.
Don’t trust just anyone. Leave insurance to the professionals.
Travel agents can make your trip a smooth one and get the best deals on your holiday, but they’re not usually insurance professionals. Don’t make the mistake of thinking the coverage they are offering with your vacation package is a great deal for saving money. It isn’t if it leaves you or your family members inadequately covered in an emergency, and you face out of pocket expenses.
Let a travel agent handle your vacation planning but talk to an insurance broker like SBIS for your travel insurance needs. Travel insurance specialists can help you pick the best coverage, so you have the right financial protection when you travel. Personalized service, specialized knowledge and experience all play a part in helping you buy a good travel insurance plan, especially if you’re traveling abroad.
You may also have special needs when you travel, and a travel insurance specialist like SBIS can suggest the right insurance products to fit your concerns. If you buy travel insurance from your travel agent who sells mainly trips it may seem convenient, but they may only have limited access to policy choices. You won’t get a customized, comprehensive travel insurance plan and the best value for your money.
Don’t rush it. Take your time when completing your forms.
Emergency Medical Travel insurance questionnaires and forms can be complicated. A lot of the questions may seem repetitive. It’s tempting to quickly scan through the list, ticking off the “No” column as you go. That can be a big mistake. If one of those “No’s” should have been a “Yes” it can be a big problem if you need to file a claim.
Don’t leave your travel insurance decision to the last minute. You need to take your time and review your options, the questionnaire and coverage documents carefully – BEFORE you go.
While you may just have one trip planned, think really carefully about whether or not you’ll be leaving the country again within the year, even if it is only a daytrip over the border for some shopping. The difference in premium for a single trip versus a multi-trip coverage is often pretty low and applying just once will minimize the time you need to spend completing forms.
If you do have a claim, use these 5 ways to avoid a problem with your claim.
Don’t make travel insurance mistakes. We’re here to help
Remember, you can call our SBIS team for help with understanding travel insurance application questions so you can provide answers to complete your medical questionnaire properly. You may also review the questions with your physician. Knowing you have done that will give you the peace of mind that you have the coverage you need while away.
SBIS will also work on your behalf to help you get the most out of your insurance coverage. If you do have a claim, we will be your 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 or go online at SBIS.
