Introduction

Travel insurance is designed to protect the traveller from unexpected occurrences during a business or personal trip or, a family vacation. Coverage can be arranged for a multitude of emergencies or unforeseen circumstances and it is very important to read and understand the basic policy wording before commencing any investigation.

As investigators and claims officers, you are not expected to remember all of those policy wordings of every travel policy, and in fact there are literally thousands of policies on the market today. However it is important that you understand the types of questions you need to ask and understand fully, why you are asking them.

There are a myriad of insurers, travel agents and financial institutions selling travel insurance and most policies have the same key elements, however it is the exclusions that vary considerably and it is important to be familiar with those as they relate to each claim.

A copy of all policies can quite easily be found on the insurer's website. You must familiarise yourself with these.

Here is an example of just some of the coverage available today offered by Travel Insurance companies.

• Accident and Sickness Medical Expense Limits
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• Baggage and Personal Effects
• Emergency Cash Advance
• Guaranteed Hospital Admission
• In-Hospital Indemnity
• Lost Ticket, Baggage Delay, Lost Baggage Retrieval
• Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
• Passport / Visa Information
• Eyeglass Replacement
• Translation Services
• Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption
• Interruption for Medical Reasons
• Sporting Equipment/Rental
• Sports Traveller Cancellation/Interruption
• Medical and Dental Expenses
• Trip Inconvenience
• Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services
• Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation of Remains
• Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expense
• Emergency Medical, Dental, and Medical Transport