Travel insurance claim lawyers

Who can make a travel insurance claim?

If something has gone wrong while travelling, you may be eligible to make a claim if you have travel insurance. Travel insurance can cover a range of things such as:

• trip cancellations or delays
• lost or delayed luggage
• lost or stolen property
• health related fees such as hospital bills, medications and evacuation costs.

The fine print in the terms and conditions of your travel insurance will vary between insurers and policies, so it's important to thoroughly read through your specific policy before making a claim.

In general, travel insurance will not cover you for pre-existing health conditions, unless the insurer has been told about the condition and agrees to provide cover before the insurance starts. The definition of ‘pre-existing condition’ depends on your policy with some definitions being much broader than others. You should declare any pre-existing health conditions to your travel insurance provider if you want to have it covered.

Travel insurance claim payouts

How much you receive from your claim will depend on your eligibility, the type of event you're claiming for and what your excess is. An excess is the amount above which your insurer will pay for an event. Most travel insurance policies have an excess between $100 - $250. So if you have a $200 excess and an $1,800 medical bill, the most the insurer will pay you is $1,600.

Time limits for making a travel insurance claim

Time limits for travel insurance claims will vary between insurers, but generally you have to make your claim within 30 days of returning from your trip. Insurers can't deny claims outright when they're lodged late, but it can make the claim more difficult.  

Travel insurance claims due to COVID-19

If your travel has been impacted by the pandemic, be sure to read our COVID-19 travel insurance claims blog article for information on how to make a travel insurance claim during these uncertain times.

How we can help you

We're here to help you understand exactly what you can claim or navigate the complicated process of disputing a denied travel insurance claim. Our travel insurance lawyers are experts at combing through the fine print of insurance policies to help you get your full entitlement. We can help you by:

• advising you on whether you have a valid claim
• explaining how to best lodge a dispute
• submitting all the necessary paperwork
• taking care of tricky conversations with your insurer
• fighting to ensure you receive your full entitlements, which may include penalty interest for any unreasobable delay by the insurer.