Why Some Travel Insurance Claims Get Rejected — And How to Avoid It

When I first started traveling alone, I used to think travel insurance was this safety net that just… worked.

Click a box online. Pay a small fee. Get a confirmation email with words like “24/7 global support” and “emergency medical.”
I’d screenshot the PDF, stuff it into a Google Drive folder, and forget about it.

That is, until I got sick in Vietnam.
And my insurance claim got rejected — not because I didn’t have coverage,
but because I didn’t follow the fine print.

Mistake #1: Not Reading the Exclusions (Seriously, Read Them)

Most insurance policies are long and written in what I call “legal sleep language.”
You skim the bold headlines: emergency coverage, baggage loss, trip delay.
But the real landmines? They’re hidden in the exclusions.

Here’s what I didn’t realize until I made the mistake:

• Pre-existing conditions? Usually excluded.

• Clinic visits for minor stuff (like stomach bugs)? Sometimes excluded unless you call first.

• Scooter accidents without a helmet or license? Definitely not covered.

I had a policy that looked solid, but in the tiny gray-text section was a line that said:

“Claims resulting from incidents involving unlicensed vehicles may not be eligible.”

Guess how I got sick?
Yep — scooter crash + street food combo. My bad.

What to do instead:
Before buying, open the PDF.
Search for the word “exclusion.”
Read that section even if you read nothing else.

Because what’s not covered matters more than what is.

Mistake #2: No Medical Report = No Refund

I used to think that a receipt from the clinic was enough.

It’s not.

Most insurers want to see an actual diagnosis summary —
something from a doctor that says what was wrong, how it was treated, and when it happened.

Receipt: proves you paid.
Report: proves you were actually sick.

In my case, I only had the payment receipt.
When I filed my claim, they asked for a report.
I emailed the clinic — no reply.
And just like that, I was out $160.

What to do instead:
When you’re at the clinic, ask for:

• Doctor’s full name

• Contact info or clinic stamp

• Short written summary of your diagnosis

• Treatment notes

• Date & time

It doesn’t have to be long. Just official.

Bonus if it's typed or on letterhead.

Mistake #3: Not Calling the Insurance Hotline

This one feels unfair, but it’s real.

Many policies require you to call the hotline before getting non-emergency treatment.
It’s not just for help — they use it to:

• Confirm you’re not scamming

• Guide you to a preferred clinic

• Approve the claim in advance

I didn’t know this.
I was sick, sweating, and barely thinking straight.
I just went to the nearest clinic.

No call = no pre-approval = claim denied.

What to do instead:
Before your trip, save the emergency number in your phone and Notes app.
If you’re unsure whether a call is needed, just call anyway — it takes two minutes.

What I Do Differently Now (My Pre-Trip Checklist)

After learning all this the hard way, here’s my simple insurance checklist before every trip:

Before the trip:

• Save the PDF of the policy in Google Drive

• Screenshot the claims process page

• Save the hotline number in my phone contacts

• Add a note in Notion titled “What to do if I get sick”

During the trip:

• Take photos of every receipt

• Ask for a medical report, not just a bill

• Save proof of travel (boarding pass, passport stamp)

• If unsure, call before treatment

• File the claim within 30 days

It’s boring, but it works.

Final Thought: It’s Not About the Money (Well… Not Just)

Yeah, losing $160 sucked.
But what felt worse was not knowing I’d made mistakes — until it was too late.

I didn’t need a better policy.
I just needed to understand the one I already had.

So if you're reading this and you haven’t used your insurance yet?
Good. You still have time to figure it out.

Print this post. Screenshot it. Make your own checklist.

Because insurance isn’t magic — it’s a tool.
And like any tool, it works best when you know how to use it.

— Rich Kim