Travel insurance aims to protect the money travelers spend on their domestic or international trips or vacations. If an accident occurs, travelers must file claims with their travel insurance company and await approval or denial of their claims. During this process, chances are that appealing a travel insurance claim denial would be required.
Understanding the process of appealing a travel insurance claim denial is important to know what to do when you find yourself in such a situation. When you receive a claim denial, the first thing to do is carefully examine your policy, checking for exclusions.
This may help identify reasons for your claim denial. If it is still not clear, check with your travel insurance company for more information. If you consider the denial unjust, this write-up contains guidelines on how to file an appeal.
How to Appeal a Travel Insurance Claim Denial
There are several ways to appeal a travel insurance claim denial. The following is a broken-down process to appeal a travel insurance claim denial:
Analyze the Denial Letter:
A denial letter is a document sent to you by an insurance company to inform you that your travel claim has been denied. Read through the document to understand why your claim was denied. Understanding the reason helps you determine the next step for your appeal. Some of the common reasons your appeal may be denied include:
- You didn’t take proper care to avoid the issue.
- Your insurance application had some issues.
- The proper claim process was not followed.
- Lack of proper authorization.
Put Together Applicable Documentation:
Any documentation that supports your claim process is important at the beginning of your claim filing. An example of this documentation includes proof of paid healthcare costs and receipts from your trip. This documentation stands as proof that you paid out of pocket for the services. Also, providing receipts for trip cancellations and lost baggage can help your claim. It is, however, important to put together these claims for your travel insurance denial appeal.
Craft a convincing appeal letter:
When you are against a claim denial, it is important to properly craft an appeal letter to send along with the documentation you have gathered. In this letter, you explain why you are appealing the insurance company’s claim denial. The guide below indicates what a proper appeal letter contains:
- Information on the person appealing the travel insurance claim denial, their contact information, and the policy number.
- Information on the denied claim, the terms on which the denial was made, and the date it was received.
- Explanation of the denial alongside the reason for your appeal.
- The context and existence of supporting documents for your appeal.
- Other documentation that may be useful for your appeal.
Compose the letter with a humble and professional tone all through, avoid manipulating the reader into supporting your appeal, stick to facts, and go straight to the point.
Submit the Appeal:
Submit your appeal through certified mail to the travel insurance company address stated in your policy and your denial letter. Track the letter to make sure it is received by the insurer. While the appeal process can take time, be ready to be patient for a response.
Every two to four weeks, contact your insurer to be updated about your appeal. Every insurance company’s appeal process and time frame are different; the appeal process usually takes 30 to 90 days. However, if an appeal is filed after the specific deadline, it may be rejected due to delay.
Causes of a Travel Insurance Claim Denial
The following are two common reasons why your travel insurance claim may be denied:
- Insufficient documentation or evidence to support your claim. These include a lack of proof of payments, receipts, and proof of the incident you are filing a claim for.
- The incident is not covered by your insurance policy or your insurer. In cases like this, your claim will be denied because your policy does not cover it. An example of this incident is extreme sports not covered by your policy.
Tips to Successfully Appeal a Travel Insurance Claim Denial
The claim denial appealing process is most times a straightforward process. There are certain tips you can follow to increase your chances of a successful appeal to win your claim. These tips are:
Provide Any Undisclosed or New Information
The more information you provide on your appeal, the more details you provide, and the more you increase your chances of getting your claim approved. If you discover any undisclosed relevant information for your claim, submit it.
Request Legal Advice if Necessary
If you require help with your appeal, you can seek external appeals and legal services for guidance. Legal help can help strengthen your application, making it more straightforward and clearer. An attorney can also be a good option to help you look for provisions in your explanation of benefits that require an external review of your denied claim.
Be Respective
Do not underestimate the logistics of good manners and professionalism. Being respectful goes a long way when communicating with your travel insurance company concerning your appeal. While this process can be long and frustrating, keep your temper and your words accurate, and respect your insurance company representatives.