I used to think travel insurance was one of those things you buy and forget about, like extended warranties on electronics.
Then I watched a friend try to navigate a fender-bender in rural Portugal with no Portuguese, no local contacts, and a rental car agreement he hadn’t actually read all the way through. He spent something like eight hours on hold with his insurance company, got transferred seven times, and eventually paid out of pocket because—turns out—his policy didn’t cover third-party liability in the Schengen zone the way he thought it did. The whole thing was a mess. I guess that’s when I realized that knowing how to actually use your insurance matters way more than just having it in the first place. Because here’s the thing: accidents don’t wait for convenient moments, and insurance companies don’t make claims easy when you’re calling from a foreign country at 3 a.m. with a cracked windshield and a police report you can’t read.
Anyway, the first step—boring but critical—is understanding what your policy actually covers before you leave. Most people don’t do this. They skim the summary page, see “medical coverage” and “trip cancellation,” and call it good.
What Your Policy Actually Covers (And What It Definitely Doesn’t)
Standard travel insurance usually includes medical emergencies, trip interruption, lost baggage, and maybe some rental car damage. But the exclusions are where things get tricky. Pre-existing conditions? Often not covered unless you buy a waiver within a specific window—usually 10 to 21 days after your first trip deposit. “Adventure activities” like scuba diving, skiing, or even riding a moped? Excluded unless you pay extra. I’ve seen policies that won’t cover you if you’re injured while riding a motorcycle without a local license, which is a problem because a lot of travelers rent scooters in Southeast Asia without realizing this.
Some credit cards offer travel insurance as a perk, which sounds great until you realize the coverage is secondary—not primary. That means your personal health insurance pays first, then the credit card coverage kicks in for whatever’s left. If you don’t have health insurance, or if it doesn’t cover international claims, you’re stuck with a massive bill.
Wait—maybe I should mention this: always check whether your policy requires you to pay upfront and get reimbursed later, or if they’ll pay providers directly. This matters a lot if you’re dealing with a $15,000 hospital bill in Japan.
The Immediate Aftermath of an Accident: Document Everything Like Your Claim Depends On It (Because It Does)
The moment something goes wrong, your brain wants to fix it fast and move on. Don’t. Stop and document everything, even if it feels excessive at the time. Take photos of the damage from multiple angles. Get the names, contact info, and insurance details of anyone involved. If there’s a police report, get a copy—even if the officers say it’s not necessary. In some countries, you legally need a police report to file an insurance claim, and if you don’t get one at the scene, it’s nearly impossible to obtain later.
I once met a woman in Thailand who got hit by a taxi and didn’t think to photograph her injuries or the scene because she was shaken up and just wanted to get to a hospital. Later, when she tried to file a claim, her insurer demanded proof that the accident actually happened the way she described. She didn’t have it. They denied the claim.
Also—and this is weirdly important—keep every reciept. Medical bills, taxi rides to the hospital, replacement clothes if your luggage was damaged, even meals if you’re stranded somewhere because of a delayed flight. Insurance companies want itemized proof for everything.
Navigating the Actual Claims Process Without Losing Your Mind
Here’s the thing nobody tells you: filing a claim while you’re still traveling is chaos. You’re dealing with time zones, language barriers, and often spotty internet. Most insurers have a 24-hour hotline, but actually getting through to someone who can help—not just read you a script—takes patience. Call from a quiet place if you can, and have your policy number, travel dates, and a clear summary of what happened ready to go.
Some companies let you start claims online, which is easier, but you’ll still need to upload documents. If you’re in a country where you can’t easily scan or photograph paperwork, find a hotel business center or an internet cafe with a printer. I know that sounds old-school, but it works.
One thing that’s weirdly helpful: keep a simple timeline of events in a notes app. What happened, when, where, who you talked to, what they said. Insurance adjusters love timelines, and it keeps your story consistent if you have to explain the situation multiple times.
When Your Claim Gets Denied (And What You Can Actually Do About It)
Denials happen more often than you’d think. Sometimes it’s because you missed a filing deadline—many policies require you to notify them within 24 to 72 hours of an incident. Sometimes it’s because the damage or injury falls under an exclusion you didn’t notice. Sometimes it’s just because the adjuster is having a bad day and decided your documentation wasn’t sufficient.
Don’t give up immediately. Ask for a written explanation of why the claim was denied, and read it carefully. If you think the denial is wrong, you can appeal. Gather additional evidence, write a clear letter explaining why you believe the claim should be covered, and cite specific policy language if you can. A lot of people don’t bother with appeals, so insurers sometimes reverse denials when you push back with a well-documented case.
The Stuff Nobody Mentions But You Should Probably Know Anyway
Travel insurance doesn’t cover everything, and knowing the gaps can save you a lot of frustration. It won’t cover you if you’re traveling against government warnings—so if the State Department says “do not travel” to a region and you go anyway, you’re on your own. It usually won’t cover injuries from intoxication, which is vague enough that insurers can use it to deny claims if they want to. And it definately won’t cover losses due to “acts of war” or civil unrest, which has become a bigger issue in recent years as protests and political instability have increased in popular travel destinations.
One last thing: if you’re traveling long-term or frequently, consider an annual policy instead of buying coverage trip by trip. It’s usually cheaper, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting to purchase it before a last-minute trip. Just make sure the policy covers the regions you’re actually visiting—some exclude certain countries or continents entirely.
