Alright, let me tell you about the time I actually had to use that travel insurance I always buy. You know, the thing you get thinking you’ll never need it? Yeah, well, I needed it.
So, there I was, enjoying myself somewhere sunny – can’t even remember exactly where now, maybe Spain? Anyway, I started feeling really unwell. Not just a bit off, proper sick. Ended up having to see a local doctor. First thing that hits you isn’t the illness, it’s the thought of the bill. Ding ding ding! Time for the insurance dance.
First Steps – Panic, then Action
First, obviously, I panicked a little. Then I remembered I had that insurance policy buried somewhere in my email. Dug it out on my phone. Found the emergency contact number. That was step one: find the damn policy number and the phone number. Sounds simple, but when you’re feeling rough and you’re not at home, even simple stuff feels hard.
Got on the phone with them. It was one of those international helplines. Took a while to get through, usual hold music torture. Finally spoke to someone. Explained the situation – feeling sick, saw a doctor, got medicine. They were calm, which helped. They asked for my policy number, name, where I was, what happened. Basic stuff.
The Paperwork Trail Begins
Here’s the crucial part they told me, and what I always stress now: Keep EVERYTHING. And I mean everything.
- The doctor’s bill? Keep it.
- The pharmacy receipt for the medicine? Keep it.
- The doctor’s note explaining what was wrong? Definitely keep that.
They needed proof, you see. Understandable, but a pain when you just want to crawl into bed. I made sure I got itemized bills, not just a credit card slip. The doctor wrote a little report, thankfully in English, mostly. I took photos of all the documents with my phone right away, just in case I lost the physical copies. Learned that trick after losing a luggage receipt years ago.
Submitting the Claim – The Fun Part (Not)
Once I was feeling a bit better and back home (or sometimes you can start this while still away, depends on the insurer), I had to formally submit the claim. Most insurers have an online portal these days. Mine did. Logged in, filled out the online form. It asked for all the details again – dates, location, what happened, how much it cost. Then came the uploading part. Scanned all those receipts and the doctor’s report I’d carefully kept. Uploaded the whole lot. Their website was a bit clunky, took a couple of tries for one file.
Waiting and Following Up
Then, you wait. They usually give you a timeframe, like ‘we’ll process it in 10-15 working days’ or something vague like that. It rarely happens that fast, in my experience. Weeks went by. Heard nothing. So, I had to nudge them. Sent an email first, quoting the claim reference number they gave me. Waited a few more days. Still nothing. So, I called them again. Referenced the claim number. Asked for an update. Sometimes you gotta be a bit persistent, but stay polite, obviously.
The Result
Eventually, after a bit of back and forth – maybe they needed one more detail, or a clearer copy of something – I got an email saying the claim was approved. Phew! The money showed up in my bank account a few days later. It wasn’t the full amount I paid the doctor, mind you. There was the excess, or deductible as some call it – that bit you have to pay yourself according to the policy. But it covered most of it, which was a huge relief.
So, that’s my story. It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, there was waiting and a bit of chasing involved. But the main things I learned?
- Read your policy before you go, just so you know what’s covered and what the excess is.
- Keep that emergency number handy, save it in your phone.
- Collect all paperwork like a magpie – bills, receipts, reports. Get copies if you can.
- Be patient but persistent when you submit the claim.
It’s a hassle, no doubt. But way less hassle than being stuck with a massive bill abroad. Worth doing it right.
