Lost $180 Because I Didn't Know This Travel Insurance Rule — Here's Everything I Wish I'd Known Before My Claim

 

When you're planning a trip, insurance always feels like a checkbox.

Click “Add Travel Protection” at checkout.
Get a digital certificate.
Forget about it.

That's exactly what I did.

I thought I was being responsible.
Turns out, buying travel insurance and knowing how to use it are two completely different things.

 Before the Trip: Confidence Without Context

I had booked a month-long solo trip across Southeast Asia.
Vietnam was stop number three.

I’d bought insurance through a popular online aggregator.
I picked the “recommended plan,” skimmed through the coverage highlights (mostly the big headlines like “emergency medical” and “trip interruption”), and hit confirm.

I got a PDF.
Saved it in my email.
Never looked at it again.

 In Da Nang, Everything Changed

Three weeks into my trip, I landed in Da Nang.
It was beautiful — quieter than Hanoi, but with this relaxed energy that made you slow down without trying.

On the second night, I started feeling off.
My head hurt.
I had chills, even though it was 30°C outside.
I tried to sleep it off, but by morning, I couldn’t stand without getting dizzy.

 A Quick Clinic Visit… and a Big Mistake

I searched “English-speaking clinic near me.”
Found one with good Google reviews.
Walked in without thinking twice.

The visit was efficient and professional.
I got basic treatment, some medication, and paid about $180 USD in total.
They gave me receipts, even a printed diagnosis summary — which I didn’t even ask for.

At the time, I thought:

“Nice. This’ll be an easy claim.”

 The Email That Changed Everything

Back home, I filled out the claim form, attached all the documents, and submitted everything online.
Two weeks later, I got the response:

 “Claim denied — pre-authorization not obtained for outpatient care.”

Wait, what?

 The Fine Print I Never Read

Like most people, I never opened the actual policy PDF.
It was 40+ pages long. Who does that?

But after the denial, I did.
Buried in Section 7, under “Outpatient Coverage,” was a single sentence:

“All non-emergency treatment must be pre-approved by calling the provider’s 24/7 assistance hotline prior to care.”

That one step — one I didn’t know existed — cost me $180.

 I Thought I Did Everything Right

I kept the receipt.
Got the doctor’s report.
Filed the claim on time.

But none of it mattered.

Because I skipped the one step that no one talks about.

 Why Do They Require Pre-Approval?

After I cooled down, I reached out to the insurer — partly out of frustration, but also curiosity.

They explained:

• Some countries have inflated pricing or clinics that overcharge foreigners.

• They want to direct travelers to trusted partners.

• Pre-approval helps prevent fraud and manage cost expectations.

Okay. Makes sense now.
But none of this was obvious upfront.

 What I Wish Someone Had Told Me

If you’ve never filed an insurance claim abroad before, here's what I'd tell you:

1. Always Save the Hotline Number

Save it on your phone and in Notes.
Even if you don’t plan to use it — have it ready.

2. Read the “Before You Seek Treatment” Section

Most policies have one.
It’ll tell you if you need to call, what paperwork to ask for, and what won’t be covered.

3. Check the Exclusions First

Pre-existing conditions, extreme sports, scooter accidents — many are excluded unless you add extra coverage.

4. Take Photos of Everything

Paper receipts fade or get lost.
Take clear photos of all:

• Receipts

• Prescriptions

• Doctor’s report

• Your passport stamp (to prove travel dates)

• Even the clinic’s signboard if it helps later

5. File the Claim ASAP

The sooner you file, the easier it is to remember details.
Some plans have strict deadlines (30 days, sometimes 14).

 My New Travel Routine

I now do a quick 10-minute prep before every trip:

• Create a Google Drive folder: Travel Insurance – [Country]

• Save a PDF of my policy + claim instructions

• Highlight important rules in yellow

• Save the hotline number in my phone

• Mark the nearest partner clinics in Google Maps

It's small stuff. But it makes a huge difference when you're not feeling well, far from home.

Final Thought: It's Not Just About Money

Sure, losing $180 sucked.

But the worst part was realizing I had no one to blame but myself.
That I could’ve avoided it — if I had just read one sentence.

Most of us think insurance is a backup.
But it only backs you up if you know how to use it.

Now, I treat my insurance policy like part of my passport.
It’s not just a file in my inbox.
It’s something I understand, check, and carry.

So before your next trip, take five minutes.
Not just to buy coverage —
but to understand it.

— Rich Kim