A self-help guide to filing insurance claims with the major U.S. carriers — and to getting refunds from third-party travel booking sites like Expedia and Orbitz. For educational and informational purposes only; not legal advice.
Travel insurance — what to know
Travel insurance covers unexpected losses while you travel — canceled trips, medical emergencies abroad, lost baggage, and flight delays. It is a separate policy from your health or homeowners insurance and is usually bought per trip (annual multi-trip policies also exist). Credit cards often include some travel protections, so check what you already have before buying.
What it typically covers
Trip cancellation & interruption
Reimburses non-refundable trip costs when you cancel for a covered reason (illness, injury, severe weather, jury duty).
Emergency medical & evacuation
Pays for medical care abroad and medical transport home — costs most U.S. health plans do not cover overseas.
Baggage loss & delay
Reimburses lost, stolen, or delayed luggage and essentials you must buy while waiting.
Flight delay & missed connection
Covers meals, hotels, and rebooking costs when flights are significantly delayed.
Rental car damage
Covers damage to a rental car so you can decline the rental company's expensive collision waiver.
When it pays to buy
You have non-refundable flights, hotels, or tours.
You are traveling internationally (your health plan rarely covers you abroad).
You have a pre-existing condition — buy a policy with a pre-existing-condition waiver.
Your trip is expensive or you are booking many months ahead.
You are cruising or doing adventure sports (often excluded unless added).
Filing a travel claim
Read the covered reasons and exclusions before you buy — not after a loss.
Keep every receipt, booking confirmation, and proof of payment.
File the claim within the policy's deadline (often 20–90 days).
Get any denial in writing and ask for the specific exclusion cited.
A police report or carrier delay certificate is required for theft and delay claims.
How a claim works — by insurance type
The claim lifecycle differs by insurance type. Here is the basic flow for the most common lines.
Auto
1Report the accident to your insurer (and the police if anyone is hurt).
2A claims adjuster inspects the vehicle and estimates repair cost.
3You get paid the repair cost minus your deductible (or the at-fault driver's insurer pays).
4If totaled, you receive the actual cash value — dispute a low valuation with comparable listings.
Home / Property
1Report the damage promptly and make temporary repairs to prevent further loss.
2Document everything with photos, video, and receipts before cleanup.
3The adjuster inspects and writes an estimate; you can get your own contractor estimate.
4Payout is replacement cost or actual cash value per your policy, minus your deductible.
Health
1In-network providers bill the insurer directly; you pay your share (copay, deductible, coinsurance).
2For out-of-network care you may submit the claim yourself with an itemized bill.
3You receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) showing what was paid and denied.
4Denials are appealed through the insurer, then your state Department of Insurance.
Life
1The beneficiary notifies the insurer and requests a claim form.
2Submit a certified death certificate and the completed claim form.
3The insurer reviews during the contestability period (first 2 years) for misstatements.
4The beneficiary receives the death benefit as a lump sum or installments — usually tax-free.
Disability
1File a claim with medical records proving you cannot work (own-occupation vs any-occupation).
2You wait out the elimination period (30–180 days) before benefits begin.
3You receive a monthly percentage of your pre-disability income for the benefit period.
4Employer plans are governed by ERISA — you must exhaust the plan appeal before suing.
Travel
1File within the policy deadline (often 20–90 days of the loss).
2Submit proof — receipts, the cancellation reason, police report, or airline delay certificate.
3The insurer pays only for a covered reason listed in the policy.
4A written denial must cite the specific exclusion — appeal with additional evidence.
How to file an insurance claim
1
Review your policy
Read the declarations page and the relevant coverage section. Note what is covered, your deductible, and any deadlines to file.
2
Document the loss
Take photos and videos, save receipts, get repair estimates, and keep a dated log of everything related to the claim.
3
Notify the carrier promptly
File the claim as soon as possible — many policies have a deadline (often 1 year, sometimes less). Late notice can be used to deny the claim.
4
Cooperate with the adjuster
Provide requested records and allow inspection, but do not give recorded statements or accept a first low offer without reviewing it.
5
Get everything in writing
Confirm every conversation by email or letter. Keep a copy of every document you send and receive.
6
Dispute a low or denied claim
Request a written denial explanation, demand a re-review, and file a complaint with your state Department of Insurance.
Your legal rights
Implied covenant of good faith
Every insurance contract requires the carrier to handle claims fairly and promptly. Unreasonable delays or denials can be "bad faith."
State bad-faith laws
Most states allow extra damages (and sometimes attorney fees) when a carrier acts in bad faith. A few allow punitive damages.
Unfair Claims Practices Acts
State laws bar insurers from misrepresenting coverage, failing to investigate, or lowballing without basis.
ERISA (health/disability)
Employer-sponsored health and disability plans are governed by ERISA — you must exhaust the plan appeal before suing.
Evidence checklist
Policy number and declarations page
Date, time, and description of the loss
Photos, videos, and receipts
Two or more independent repair/replacement estimates
Police report or incident report (if applicable)
Names and claim numbers of every adjuster
Written denial letter with stated reasons
All correspondence saved in one folder
Pursuing a bad-faith insurance claim
Insurers must handle your claim in good faith — honestly, promptly, and reasonably. When they unreasonably deny, delay, or underpay a valid claim, you may have a bad-faith claim that can recover more than the original claim value. This is a self-help overview, not legal advice.
When bad faith may apply
Your claim was denied
You received a written denial you believe is unjustified, or the insurer gave no clear reason.
Payment is unreasonably delayed
Weeks or months pass with no decision, no investigation, and no explanation beyond the statutory timeline.
The offer is unreasonable
The settlement is far below documented damages and the insurer won't justify the gap.
They stopped responding
Repeated calls and emails go unanswered after a reasonable period.
Common bad-faith red flags
Unreasonable delays in investigating or paying a claim with no valid explanation
Denying a clearly covered claim without a reasonable basis
Lowballing — offering far less than the claim is worth without justification
Failing to communicate, respond to calls/emails, or explain a denial
Misrepresenting policy language or the value of your claim
Threatening to deny unless you accept a quick, low settlement
Ignoring or failing to investigate evidence you provided
Retaliatory cancellation after you file a legitimate claim
How to pursue it — step by step
1
Document everything
Keep every letter, email, call log (date, time, who you spoke to, what was said), denial letter, and estimate. The paper trail is your case.
2
Get a written denial
Request a written explanation of the denial citing the specific policy language. Insurers must give reasons — a vague "not covered" is a red flag.
3
Send a demand letter
Write a formal letter citing the policy, the facts, and the bad-faith conduct. State your demand and a reasonable deadline (often 14–30 days). Send it certified mail and keep proof.
4
File a state complaint
File a complaint with your state Department of Insurance. Regulators can investigate conduct and sometimes pressure insurers to settle — it's free and often faster than a lawsuit.
5
Hire a bad-faith attorney
Bad-faith law is technical and varies by state. Many attorneys take these cases on contingency. Use the attorney referral option to find a consumer-protection lawyer.
6
Consider a lawsuit
If the insurer won't resolve it, a bad-faith lawsuit can recover the claim value plus, in many states, extra damages, attorney fees, and sometimes punitive damages.
Do
Read your policy carefully — know your coverages, exclusions, and duties after a loss
Put everything in writing and keep copies
Meet all policy deadlines (proof of loss, suit limitations)
Be honest and consistent in every statement
Get independent repair/valuation estimates
Don't
Don't sign a release or cash a "full and final" check without understanding it
Don't accept the first low offer under pressure
Don't give recorded statements without knowing your policy rights
Don't miss the deadline to sue (the statute of limitations)
Don't dispose of damaged property before the insurer inspects it
Note: Bad-faith rules differ by state and by policy type (auto, homeowners, health, disability). Some claims are governed by ERISA (employee benefits), which limits extra damages — talk to a lawyer about your specific situation. A bad-faith claim is separate from the underlying claim: you can be owed both the original benefit and bad-faith damages.
Public adjusters — what they are & how to use one
A public adjuster is an independent, licensed claims adjuster that you hire to evaluate, document, and negotiate your insurance claim — unlike the adjuster sent by your insurance company, who works for the insurer. Public adjusters are most common in property claims (fire, water, storm, theft) and work only for the policyholder.
When a public adjuster helps
Large or complex property losses (fire, flood, major water damage, total loss).
The insurer denied, delayed, or underpaid your claim.
You don't understand the policy language or the carrier's estimate.
Business-interruption or extra-expense claims that require detailed loss calculations.
You are overwhelmed after a disaster and need someone to manage the paperwork.
Asks for large upfront cash or a fee not tied to the settlement.
Cannot show a current state license number.
Promises a specific dollar amount before reviewing the loss.
Asks you to sign over full settlement authority to them.
How to use one — step by step
1
Verify the license
Confirm the adjuster is licensed in your state through your state Department of Insurance. Use the NAIC directory to find your state DOI.
2
Check references & reputation
Ask for references from past clients and check the BBB and online reviews. Avoid adjusters who solicit at the disaster scene uninvited.
3
Get the contract in writing
The contract must state the fee, scope of work, and cancellation terms. Read it before signing — never sign under pressure.
4
Understand the fee
Public adjusters are usually paid a percentage of the final settlement (commonly 5–20%). They are paid only when you are paid. Be cautious of large upfront fees.
5
Hand over documentation
Give the adjuster your policy, photos, estimates, receipts, and all correspondence. They handle the estimate, negotiation, and documentation with the insurer.
6
Approve the final settlement
You — not the adjuster — approve any settlement. The insurer issues payment to you; the adjuster's fee is then paid from it.
Major insurance carriers
Official claim-filing links for the largest U.S. carriers. Always verify phone numbers on the carrier's official site, or use the live lookup below for current contact details.
Search any life insurance company for its current claims contact, death-benefit filing process, and lost-policy / beneficiary lookup service. Results are pulled live from public sources.
Live lookup — life insurance company
Refunds from third-party booking sites
Expedia, Orbitz, Booking.com, Priceline and similar sites are middlemen — getting money back means working both the booking site and the actual travel provider.
Step-by-step refund process
1
Act within 24–48 hours
Most booking sites allow free cancellation within 24 hours of booking. Cancel online immediately if you can.
2
Request the refund in the app/site
Go to My Trips / Manage Booking, cancel, and explicitly request a refund — not a travel credit.
3
Contact the travel provider directly
Call the airline, hotel, or car rental company. The provider often has authority the booking site does not.
4
Dispute with your credit card
If the charge is wrong or the service was not delivered, file a chargeback with your card issuer within 60–120 days.
5
File an FTC complaint
Report deceptive practices or refused refunds at reportfraud.ftc.gov — free and often prompts a response.
6
Escalate to your state AG / small claims
State attorneys general handle consumer complaints. Small claims court is a low-cost last resort for amounts under your state limit.
Key tips
Always pay by credit card
Credit cards give you chargeback rights (FCBA) that debit cards and bank transfers do not.
Keep every confirmation email
Screenshot the cancellation policy at booking time — policies change and you will need proof.
Know your rights
Airlines must refund cash for canceled flights (DOT rule). Hotels follow their stated policy; "non-refundable" still must refund taxes/fees not earned.
Disclaimer: Carrier contact details and booking-site policies change often — always verify on the official website. The live lookup uses public web sources and may be incomplete or outdated. This guide is a self-help resource, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. No results are guaranteed.
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