What documents you need to file a travel claim

Claims are settled on evidence, not memory. The travellers who have the smoothest experience are the ones who gathered the right paperwork while things were happening. Here is what to collect and why.

Your policy details and assistance record

Start with the basics: your policy number and the details of your contact with 24/7 assistance. Contacting our assistance line early in an emergency not only helps coordinate care and, where possible, payment to the hospital — it also opens your claim and creates a record. Note the case or reference number you are given. This ties everything that follows to your coverage and to the event.

For an emergency medical claim

This is the most common claim, and it rests on two kinds of document. First, itemized bills and receipts that show exactly what was charged — not just a total, but a breakdown of the services. Second, the medical side: diagnoses, physicians’ reports, and records describing the treatment and why it was needed. Add prescriptions and proof of any payment you made yourself. If treatment was clearly a sudden, unexpected emergency, a report saying so supports the claim. Collect these before you leave the facility if you can, because requesting them later from another country is far harder.

For baggage and personal effects

If belongings are lost, stolen or damaged, report it at the time to the police and to the carrier (airline, hotel, transport provider) as appropriate, and keep that report. You will also want proof of the value of the items — receipts, photos, or other evidence. Insurers need to see both that the loss was reported promptly and what it was worth. A report made days later, once you are home, carries much less weight.

For trip cancellation or interruption

These claims need two things: proof of the covered reason for cancelling or cutting short the trip, and documentation of the money at stake. The covered reason might be supported by a medical note or an official document, depending on the cause. The financial side means proof of the prepaid, non-refundable costs and any additional expenses you incurred — booking confirmations, invoices, and receipts. Keep your original booking paperwork so you can show what was non-refundable.

Keep originals and back them up

Hold on to original documents where possible, since insurers may ask for them, and photograph or scan everything as you go. Store the digital copies somewhere you can reach them even if a bag is lost — a secure cloud folder or email to yourself works. This habit protects you if a physical document goes missing between the event and the claim.

Submit complete, respond promptly

When you file, provide the full set of documents the first time rather than in pieces, and include your policy number and assistance case reference. Complete submissions avoid the back-and-forth that slows claims down. If TripCovered requests additional detail, respond quickly. Remember that policies set a deadline for filing, so submit as soon as you reasonably can after the event.

Build the habit before you travel

The best time to prepare is before you leave: save the assistance number offline, carry your policy details, and tell a companion where to find them. Knowing in advance what to keep means that if something goes wrong, you collect the right paperwork automatically. If you have not arranged coverage yet, compare your options and get a quote before your trip so the whole process is in place when you need it.