Proving You’re “Fit for Travel” for Insurance Claims, Step-by-Step
Why Proving You’re Fit For Travel Insurance Is Important
Travel insurance providers often evaluate your medical condition and whether you were in stable health before your trip when processing claims. And if you had pre-existing medical condition like type 1 diabetes or any other chronic conditions that were covered or included, they will likely pay extra attention. Without proper documentation, your claim could be delayed—or even denied.
While some travel insurance policies don’t require a pre-existing condition waiver, having a doctor’s letter stating you’re fit for travel for insurance purposes provides an extra layer of security should they question you during a claim.
Here’s how to prepare before your trip.
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Contact Your Doctors In Advance
Start early! If your doctor’s letter isn’t formatted correctly or doesn’t have all of the information you feel necessary on the first take, you may need to request edits, and that takes time. If you have multiple doctors managing your condition, coordinate with each one.
Requesting Your “Fit for Travel” Insurance Letter
- Use your healthcare portal or email to request your letter with very specific details of what you want in the letter—this helps ensure clarity and reduces back and forth.
- Mention that this is for “fit for travel” insurance purposes and that you may need it for TSA or border crossings.
- If multiple doctors manage your care, you’ll likely need to ask this of all of your physicians. Alternatively, if your primary physician has all of your records and prescriptions, they could be able to cover it in one letter if you clarify that in your request.
Request a Signed Letter on The Doctor’s or Clinic’s Letterhead
Your doctor’s letter should include at least:
Additionally, ask your doctor to:
Get A Physical And Digital Copy
Request that your doctor either mail the letter to you or allow you to pick it up in person. Picking it up avoids mailing delays, and means you can “force” the doctor into agreeing on a date/time when it’s ready. Next:
- Keep a digital copy on your phone or in the cloud for easy access
- Store a backup at home in case of emergencies
Make Future Travel Easier
Since you’ll likely travel again, ask your doctor to keep this letter template on file. Next time, they’ll only need to update medications, print, and sign—making the process smoother for you both. You can even keep a copy of the content of the document for copy/paste purposes in case it’s easier, or if you change doctors. Then when requesting, literally copy and paste the contents you want in your ask, so that they can simply populate their letterhead and sign.
Of course, this assumes you keep changes in conditions, prescriptions, dosages, etc., up to date. Otherwise, just leave it to the doctor.
Avoiding Airport & Border Hassles: Keep Your Letter Close
Besides helping with insurance claims, a fit for travel letter can be a serious time-saver at airports and border crossings. When carrying a significant amount of prescription medication, having an official document can help you avoid unnecessary scrutiny.
Keep this letter with printouts of your prescription and other important documents and have them ready, especially when you go through customs and security, just in case. If you’re traveling with insulin or other liquids in a cooler, you’ll likely at least get a question or two, so having all of your paperwork at the ready will speed things up.
Final Thoughts
Even if your travel medical insurance policy doesn’t require pre-existing condition documentation, proactively securing a fit for travel insurance letter from your doctor can provide peace of mind. This simple step can streamline claims, ease airport security checks, and ensure smooth international travel.
