Heading to multiple countries on one trip?
Multi-country trips are hard to beat. There’s nothing like jumping from place to place taking in new cultures, cuisines and attractions at every destination.
Here’s the issue:
While most people spend hours researching their itinerary, they rarely consider what happens when things go wrong. And things will go wrong.
Familiarizing yourself with the travel insurance claims process before you depart is the most important step you can take to ensure you’re protected abroad. The last thing you want is a medical emergency or cancelled flight in a foreign country wiping out your bank account.
It gets worse…
Airfare is getting more expensive. Trips are lasting longer. And the costs of being overseas keep increasing every year.
Many travelers mistakenly believe their credit card travel insurance or domestic health insurance will cover them if they need it overseas. It won’t. Not if you’re visiting more than one country anyway. That’s why it’s critical to know how to file a claim before you even book your first flight.
Paid claims through travel insurance rose 18% in 2024. The average payout was $2,609. Knowing how to navigate the travel insurance claims process is your best hedge against losing money abroad. Finding the best international travel insurance and understanding how to use it properly is what separates smart travelers from expensive mistakes.
What you’ll discover:
- Why Multi-Country Trips Require Unique Coverage
- How the Travel Insurance Claims Process Works
- Coverage Restrictions That Trip Up Travelers
- Step-By-Step Guide to Filing a Claim
- How to Choose the Best Policy for Your Trip
Why Multi-Country Trips Require Unique Coverage
Let’s start with the basics…
If you’re going to one country for a vacation, you only need to worry about healthcare and travel insurance for that country. Multi-country trips are different.
Let’s say you visit three different countries over three weeks. If something happens, you’ll be dealing with three separate healthcare systems.
And guess what? Your domestic health insurance from back home won’t cover any of it.
You need travel insurance for multi-country trips. The problem? Some policies exclude certain countries altogether. Others have limitations on outdoor adventures like hiking, scuba diving or skiing.
But here’s the good news. Most providers allow you to name one country as your primary destination and cover all supplemental countries visited during your trip. Double check with your provider that all destinations are covered before purchasing your policy.
How the Travel Insurance Claims Process Works
This is a section most travelers ignore…
Knowing how to file a travel insurance claim before you need to use it will eliminate stress later. Emergency medical was the number one type of claim filed in 2024, making up 27% of all paid claims.
Let’s go through the process…
- Gather all documentation (receipts, medical reports, police reports, etc.) during the incident.
- Call your insurance provider’s emergency number. Most quality policies offer 24-hour emergency assistance.
- File your claim according to your policy’s deadline. Many policies require claims to be filed within 90 days of the incident.
- Provide necessary documentation to support your claim. This includes boarding passes, proof of incurred expenses and other documentation related to your claim.
That’s literally it. Simple, right? It is… if all the preparation is done at home before the trip. The number one reason people get denied on claims is due to missing documentation. Keep copies of everything while traveling.
Coverage Restrictions That Trip Up Travelers
Alright, this is where multi-country trips get a little more complicated…
Most people don’t realize their policy could have restrictions that only apply to certain countries. Many credit card insurance programs exclude travelers from visiting Vietnam. Other countries have exclusions if the US government issues a travel advisory.
Unexpected things happen. That’s why you need travel insurance. Here are the most common coverage restrictions to know about:
- Adventure activities like riding a scooter may not be covered.
- Certain high-risk countries are often excluded from coverage.
- Pre-existing medical conditions may not be covered.
- Annual multi-trip policies will likely have a maximum trip length (usually 30 to 90 days).
Solution? Read the policy. This cannot be stressed enough. Read the list of excluded countries before purchasing your travel insurance. A few minutes could save you thousands.
Step-By-Step Guide to Filing a Claim
Say you lose your luggage while visiting country A, but you already left for country B. Now what?
Here’s what to do if you need to file a claim abroad:
Start by organizing where you’ll keep all documentation relating to your trip. A dedicated folder (physical or digital) for receipts of medical visits, costs incurred due to delays, replacement items if your luggage is lost and anything else that may be useful when filing a claim is essential.
Regardless if you’re in the country of the incident or not… file the claim. Most insurance providers allow you to file a claim from anywhere in the world. The important part is having documentation from the country where the incident took place.
Reach out to your insurer. Many insurance companies offer apps and online portals that make filing a claim easy. Upload your documentation as you receive it. Don’t wait until you’re back home to file.
Pro Tip: Snap photos of all receipts and documents as they’re issued. Paper receipts get lost, wrinkled and torn during international travel. Having digital copies is extremely helpful.
How To Choose The Best Policy For Your Trip
Picking the right policy really comes down to these things. Where you’re going, how long you’ll stay and what you plan on doing during your trip will all factor into what coverage you need.
Travel insurance with at least these coverages:
- $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage (higher if visiting countries with expensive medical like Japan or Europe)
- $100,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage
- Trip Cancellation / Interruption to protect prepaid expenses
- 24 hour emergency assistance with multi-language support
- Cancel for any Reason add-on if you want the flexibility to cancel your trip
When in doubt, compare plans using an insurance comparison site. These sites allow you to see plans side by side. You can easily weed out plans that have poor coverage limits or don’t offer benefits that are important to you. Price shouldn’t be your top priority.
Wrapping Up
Planning an epic multi-country adventure is exciting. Taking the time to learn about travel insurance and filing claims is easily the most boring part of the process. But skipping this step is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make as a traveler.
Here’s your quick recap:
- Buy a policy that covers every country you plan on visiting.
- Know how the claims process works before you leave home.
- Keep all documentation in one place.
- File your claim ASAP with all supporting documentation.
Travel insurance is the foundation of any well-planned multi-country vacation. Don’t let the fear of something going wrong stop you from seeing the world. Get protected and…
Enjoy your adventure!