How to Prepare a Travel Insurance Claim

Save your travel insurance policy document and confirmation number before you travel. The policy document specifies what events are covered, filing deadlines, and the documentation required for each claim type. Knowing your coverage before an incident allows you to collect the right evidence at the time of the event.

Keep all original booking confirmations for flights, hotels, tours, and any other prepaid, non-refundable travel arrangements. These documents establish the amount at risk and provide the booking reference numbers your insurer will need to process a trip cancellation or interruption claim.

For trip cancellation: obtain written cancellation confirmation from each provider (airline, hotel, tour operator) and save documentation of their refund policies. Insurers require proof that you sought available refunds from providers before submitting the residual amount to the insurance claim.

For medical claims abroad: obtain an itemized medical report or discharge summary from the treating facility, keep all pharmacy receipts, and save ambulance and medical transport bills. Get the facility's name, address, and a treating physician's contact information. Itemized bills — not totals — are required for claim processing.

For theft or loss: file a police report in the local jurisdiction as soon as possible after the incident. Most travel insurance policies require a police report filed within 24 to 48 hours for theft claims. Keep the report number, the filing location, and a copy if one is available.

For trip delays: save the airline's written or electronic delay confirmation, keep receipts for any meals or hotel stays required by the delay, and retain your original boarding pass and baggage claim tags. Many policies require documentation that the delay exceeded a minimum number of hours (commonly six hours) before reimbursement applies.

Save all boarding passes and baggage claim tags throughout your trip. These documents confirm your itinerary and are required for baggage delay, loss, and some cancellation claims.

Contact your travel insurance provider within 24 hours of the incident using the 24/7 emergency assistance number on your policy card or in your policy document. Many policies require timely notification as a condition of coverage. For medical emergencies, some policies also require that you contact the insurer before receiving non-emergency treatment abroad — check your policy for this requirement.

For lost or delayed baggage, file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with the airline at the destination airport before leaving the baggage claim area. Under the Montreal Convention, which governs most international airline liability, you must file written notice of damage to checked baggage within seven days and notice of delay within 21 days. Missing this deadline can affect both your airline and insurance claims.

For theft or loss while traveling, contact local police to file a report before leaving the area. The local police report number is required by most travel insurance policies as a condition of the theft claim. Keep the report or a translated copy if you are traveling internationally.

If you hold a credit card with travel benefits, contact your card issuer to understand whether secondary travel coverage applies. Credit card travel protection typically covers a more limited range of events than a standalone travel insurance policy and may have lower reimbursement limits.

Contact the US Embassy or a US consulate if you need emergency assistance, documentation, or evacuation coordination while abroad. The State Department's 24/7 emergency line for US citizens overseas is available at travel.state.gov.

File your claim within the deadline specified in your policy — typically 90 days from the incident, though this varies by insurer and claim type. Filing deadlines are a condition of coverage; missing the deadline can result in denial regardless of the claim's merit. Check your policy document for the exact requirement.

After you submit the claim, your insurer will acknowledge receipt and review the documentation. Processing time varies by claim type: trip cancellation claims are typically settled within 30 to 45 days when documentation is complete. Medical claims from international travel may take 60 to 90 days due to the complexity of international billing and provider verification.

The insurer may request additional documentation, particularly for medical claims. Provide the requested items promptly — delayed responses extend the processing timeline. Keep copies of everything you submit.

For Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, which is an optional policy upgrade, reimbursement is limited to 50 to 75 percent of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs, depending on the policy. CFAR coverage must typically be purchased within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit and requires that all remaining trip components be insured. CFAR is a policy feature — not all policies include it, and the reimbursement percentage varies.

Reimbursement is issued for the covered portion of your loss after any applicable deductible. For medical claims, your travel insurer pays claims in the currency of your policy (typically US dollars), converting foreign currency amounts at the exchange rate on the date of service.