Learn What To Look Out For In Travel Insurance Policies
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3 Things to Look Out For in Travel Insurance
Your travel insurance policy is a legal contract that protects you and your loved ones when travelling abroad. Your plan type, cover limits and exclusions are all listed within your policy document provided by your travel insurance provider.
Understanding the fine prints of what's covered, what's excluded, and what documents you'll need will help you avoid rejected claims. Here are 3 major details to look out for when getting travel insurance:
1. Coverage for Trip Cancellation
Did you know that you can claim your travel insurance if a trip is cancelled?
Flight delays, sudden illnesses, or government-issued travel bans can ruin your plans - but not all cancellations are automatically covered.
If your trip is cancelled due to certain reasons beyond your control, you may be able to claim your travel insurance and recover part or all of your prepaid expenses.
With DirectAsia's travel insurance, you're protected in situations such as:
- Medical emergencies like falling ill or getting injured before your departure date - including COVID-19 if you bought the COVID-19 add-on
- Serious injury, illness or death of an immediate family member or your travel companion
- Natural disasters
- Outbreak of communicable diseases
- Airline insolvencies
Trip cancellation coverage differs by insurance policy, so review your plan to understand its limits and minimise out-of-pocket losses when the unexpected occurs.
2. Policy Exclusions
Many rejected claims come from misunderstanding exclusions. All insurance policies have certain exclusions which could differ from insurers.
DirectAsia’s travel insurance policy wording has a section titled ‘General Exclusions’ that lists out situations in which you’re not covered. Some examples:
| Exclusion category | What's Not Covered | Example Scenario |
| Pre-existing medical conditions | Illnesses or conditions diagnosed before your policy start date | Diabetes complications before booking your trip |
| Pandemics & epidemics | Claims arising from declared pandemics, epidemics, or communicable diseases | Flight cancelled due to a WHO-declared outbreak |
| High-risk occupations | Claims while working in offshore rigs, ship crew, mining, demolition, aircrew, or hazardous jobs | Injury sustained while working on an offshore oil rig |
| Extreme & competitive sports | Professional, competitive, or contact sports; racing; high-risk adventure sports not included in your plan | Skydiving without coverage add-on |
| Intentional or unlawful acts | Criminal activities, deliberate self-harm, solvent abuse, drug/alcohol-related incidents | Drunk-driving accident abroad |
| Pregnancy & related conditions | Pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, or menopause complications unless due to an injury within coverage scope | Complications at 24 weeks without a related injury |
| Travelling against advisories | Travelling to area with official government or WHO warnings | Ignoring a government-issued travel advisory |
| War, riots & terrorism | Declared/undeclared wars, riots, civil commotions, terrorism, or nuclear-related incidents | Injury during riots in a restricted zone |
| Routine & elective treatments | Non-emergency medical treatments, elective surgeries, cosmetic procedures | Optional dental procedure abroad |
| Motorcycling without compliance | Riding without a valid licence, helmet, or adherence to road laws | Riding without a helmet in Bali |
Policy exclusions vary by insurance plan, so review your coverage carefully to understand what isn't protected before making a claim.
DirectAsia makes it simple to understand your policy exclusions, feel free to check with us if you're unsure.
3. Insufficient Documentation
A missing document is the #1 reason claims get rejected. Always keep in mind that even when your reason is valid, incomplete paperwork can delay and even void your claim.
You will need to keep proof of bookings, cancellation notices, and medical documents ready to submit as supporting documents during your claims process.
Some examples of proof to keep:
- Transport confirmation document and payment records
- Accommodation booking confirmation documents and payment records
- Transport departure and arrival tickets and slips
- All related bills and receipt incurred to be claimed
- All medical reports and test results documents
- Other documents that the insurers specify or requires for claim submission
Keeping Within The Claims Timeline
To prevent delaying the claims process and risking a void, you must notify your insurer of your claim within 30 days from the date of the incident, accompanied by all necessary proof.
submitting your documents early ensures faster processing and avoids automatic claim rejection.
Doctor's Certification for Trip Cancellations
If your trip is cancelled due to medical reasons, you'll need an official letter from a certified doctor to support your claim. Submit this together with your booking documents and receipts.
Your travel insurance policy specifies the different documents you must provide to your insurer, depending on the type of claim you wish to make.
Read and Understand Every Detail of Your Policy
Purchasing travel insurance is important and you should have the peace of mind that you’re covered for what you’re paying for. Take note of these 3 vital details within your policy and ensure you read through the fine print of your policy document.
Get in touch with your insurer if you need further clarification on these clauses or any part of your travel insurance policy. You can request for a direct quote or call us at +65 6665 5555 for further enquiries.
