Venice trip canceled - trip insurance claim question
 

We had to cancel our trip to Venice due to my husband having been hospitalized for kidney stones and needing follow up surgery. I did purchase trip insurance from AIG through insuremytrip and I’m wondering if anyone has had to file a claim and how difficult the insurance company made it to file the claim and process payment. When I spoke to them yesterday on the phone it sounds like they require reams of documentation and made me feel like I was trying to rip them off. The agent asked me why I was canceling and not going. Well, who would take care of him and drive him to and from the procedure? And what kind of wife would go off and leave her sick husband? Any advice you have would be welcome. Thanks.

If the insurance company asked for documentation, provide it. Don't worry about "what if" beforehand or what/how you think the insurance company is addressing you... they've got a set list of questions and that's what you get. Once you realize that insurers aren't generally pleasant, you'll be fine.

You should have doctor's records, hospital records, medicine bills, etc... so submit them and go from there.

I work with CSA and have never had one of my clients claims (nor my own for that matter)denied for a valid health issue such as yours. In addition, the claim process is actually not that long with CSA -- and reimbursement came within a month of having filed, if memory serves me correctly. I realize CSA is a different company than what you are using, but I'm hoping they will work the same way for your sake. Sorry you had to cancel. I hope your hubby gets well soon.

Sandi and Bianca, thank you for your responses. I have discharge papers, patient instructions, receipts for prescriptions and the doctor will fill out his paperwork so hopefully that will satisfy them. Thanks again, I really appreciate your input.

No problem bfrac. But just to clarify so other people don't think the wrong thing from my wording -- I said I work WITH CSA, not FOR CSA. In other words, I send my clients there for the most part to get their travel insurance coverage and then I help CSA verify my clients' claims if they file one. I am not affiliated with them in any other way!!

I've had to file claims three times!! It's always a pain in the------but we've always been reimbursed eventually.

Insurance companies make their money by taking premiums and NOT paying out settlements. They are never happy about making payments since obviously that is the only way they AREN'T making money. Ignore the attitude and go for it. Good luck. I've heard from a lot of people who discovered there were a dozen loopholes in their policies favoring the insurance companies.

Grandma, thanks you give me hope.

Patrick, I appreciate your response and of course you are right about insurance companies. It has just been a stressful time.

We had to file twice with CSA for trip cancellation, and both times my husband just filed the necessary documents and we got our money back. No big deal. Of course, it took a little time and effort, but everything was OK. I would not worry too much.

Charnee

Insurance companies make money (among other ways) by making statistical estimates of how often events will occur and how much those occurrences will cost. They price their products on those assumptions, thereby spreading the risk through the insured population, and attempt to control their exposure to fraudulent claims through requiring documentary proof of loss/injury/costs, etc. If they do a good job (including paying claims so they have return customers) they might make a profit. Im sure everyone has heard stories of over-reaching, they happen or situations of extreme delay - there are some bad apples. Do your homework on the companies before you buy a policy and be sure to document your losses and follow up and you should be fine.

I have used travelex also and files claims a few times. It is usually fairly easy and they have never given me a hard time. Too bad you have to cancel. Hope your husband feels better soon.

jjkbrook, thank you for your comments.

charnees and cparris, I will look into CSA and Travelex next time for quotes and information.

I will let everyone know how things progress with AIG.

Hi everyone, I just want to let you know that I received a check from AIG 19 days after I mailed all the documentation to them. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they sent it. DH is doing much better now and we have re-scheduled our trip for the first week of November. Thanks again for your responses and words of support.

Thanks for the update, B