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Travel Insurance Isn’t Just About Buying It — It’s About What You Keep
We’ve all read the advice:
“Never travel without insurance.”
“Medical bills abroad can bankrupt you.”
“Flight cancellations are more common than ever.”
All true. But here’s what almost nobody tells you:
Travel insurance only works if you can prove your claim.
And that comes down to one thing: documentation.
If you ever need to file a claim, the difference between a smooth reimbursement and a denied request often comes down to the paperwork you saved (or didn’t).
Here’s exactly what travelers should preserve — before, during, and after a trip.
Before that, please take a quick look at these women-led adventures 😃
Women-led adventures that make a difference
Peru, Bhutan and Cambodia. That’s where Intrepid, the world’s largest adventure travel company, has launched three new Women’s Expeditions.
These small-group trips are designed exclusively for women, creating space to connect, explore and support local women-led businesses along the way.
Trek the lesser-known Chinchero to Urquillos route in the Peruvian Andes with an all-female crew. Discover Cambodia’s street food scene on a women-run tuk tuk tour. Unwind with a traditional herbal hot stone bath at a women-owned farmhouse in Bhutan.
Every trip is led by an expert female guide and built around meaningful, immersive experiences.
Back to our topic ⬇
1. Proof of Your Trip Purchase
Before you even leave home, keep:
Flight confirmation emails
Boarding passes (most important. yes, even after flying)
Train or bus tickets
Hotel confirmations
Tour/activity receipts
Car rental agreements
If you booked through platforms like Booking.com, Airbnb, or Expedia, download PDF confirmations — don’t rely on app access alone.
Why this matters:
If your trip is interrupted or canceled, insurers need proof of what you paid and when you paid it.
2. Receipts for Every Travel Expense
If something goes wrong — delayed luggage, canceled flight, medical issue — you must show what you actually spent.
For Delayed / Damaged Baggage - collect the PIR (Property Irregularity Report) from the airline, take a picture of the Damaged Baggage
Keep receipts for:
Emergency hotel stays
Replacement clothing or toiletries
Meals during delays
Taxi/Uber receipts
Rebooked flights
Medical consultations and prescriptions
No receipt = no reimbursement.
Pro tip for readers:
Create a simple album in your phone labeled “Travel Insurance” and photograph every receipt immediately.
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Back to our topic ⬇
3. Official Airline or Carrier Confirmation of Delays/Cancellations
If your flight is delayed or canceled, ask the airline for written confirmation.
A delay confirmation letter
The reason for the delay
Duration of delay
Many insurers require proof that the delay exceeded a minimum number of hours.
Screenshots of airport boards are helpful — but official documentation is better.
4. Police Reports (For Theft or Loss)If your phone, passport, or luggage is stolen:
File a police report immediately and take a copy of the filed report.
Ask for a copy (or at least a report number).
For loss of passport, collect a Emergency certificate from your overseas embassy
Without a police report, most insurers will reject theft claims outright.
5. Medical Documentation (The Most Important Category)
If you need medical care abroad, apart from your boarding pass, preserve:
Doctor’s report with diagnosis
Treatment summary
Prescriptions
Hospital discharge papers
Itemized medical bills
Proof of payment
If you’re hospitalized, ask for documentation before discharge — it’s much harder to retrieve later.
6. Trip Cancellation due to Visa Rejection
Most countries require submission of return air tickets and proof of accommodation when you apply for a visa. However, getting a visa is not guaranteed and it may get rejected for various reasons. Most insurance companies cover these costs but you need to submit the following documents:
Visa appointment and rejection letter
Initial/unused flight ticket with fare details
Refund or no-show document from the airline
If you paid using travel credit cards, keep statements showing the charge.
7. Your Insurance Policy (Yes, Really)
Download and save:
The full policy wording
Emergency assistance number
Your policy number
Airports and hospitals are not ideal places to start searching for policy details.
8. This one is overlooked.
If something happens, write down:
Exact time of incident
Who you spoke to
What they said
Case or reference numbers
Take pictures where necessary. Memory fades fast when travel stress kicks in.
A Simple Rule
If you think, “Do I need to keep this?” The answer is almost always: Yes.
Digital clutter is free. Denied claims are expensive.
Buying travel insurance is easy. Getting paid is procedural. The travelers who get reimbursed aren’t lucky. They’re organized.
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Safe Travels!
-Yogi 😄