Cancelling Your Trip for Medical Reasons

If you fall sick or become injured before your trip, the first step is to consult a medical professional. Once your physician confirms that you’re unable to travel, you’ll want to contact your travel suppliers and your travel insurance provider right away.

1. Contact your travel suppliers early. Inform airlines, hotels or tour operators that you’ll need to cancel. Some may offer partial refunds or credits for early notice.
2. Gather documentation. Collect medical records, doctor’s notes and receipts to support your claim.
3. Review your travel insurance plan. Trip Cancellation coverage may help reimburse some prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if you cancel for a covered reason, such as certain unexpected illnesses or injuries.

A trip insurance plan may provide coverage for cancelled flights when the cancellation is due to a covered reason outlined in your policy. Covered reasons may include sudden illness, injury or other unforeseen events affecting you or a family member before departure.

If you must cancel a flight due to illness, your plan may help reimburse the cost of nonrefundable airfare and certain change fees. Always review your policy of insurance to understand specific coverage limits and requirements.

The covered reasons under a trip insurance plan for trip cancellation typically include unexpected situations that are beyond your control, such as:

• Serious illness or injury affecting you, a travel companion or a family member
• Death of a traveler or close family member
• Natural disasters or severe weather affecting your destination
• Job loss, jury duty or military deployment

Each plan lists covered reasons in detail, including limitations, so be sure to read your policy of insurance carefully before filing a claim.

If your doctor confirms you’re unable to travel, follow these steps to file a claim:

1. Contact your travel suppliers early to inform them that you need to cancel (by not notifying your travel suppliers you may not be reimbursed for certain cancellation fees).
2. Notify your travel insurance provider as soon as possible.
3. Complete your claim form (available online or by phone).
4. Submit supporting documents, such as:
   • A signed authorization form
   • Physician’s statement confirming the illness or injury
   • Copies of receipts, invoices or booking confirmations
   • Proof of nonrefundable costs and cancellation terms from your travel suppliers

If you have questions during the process, Travel Guard’s claims and assistance teams can help you understand what documents are required and ensure your claim is properly submitted.