First, we would like to apologize for the delay you've experienced from our travel insurance provider, ORION. The COVID-19 Pandemic has created an unprecedented volume of travel insurance claims (ORION received almost 11,000 claims in 90 days –typically they expect to receive in 11,000 claims over 3 years!). Thank you for your patience. They are working hard at processing every claim.
This week, ORION Travel Insurance will be sending letters to many of the claimants created by the global travel advisories related to COVID-19. Our goal is to provide you with clarity and support surrounding your claim and to ensure you know you can reach out to us at any time.
The letter you receive regarding your claim, will fall into one of three categories. Click the category that's relevant to you below:
1) I received a travel credit/voucher or a full refund for my trip from my airline or travel supplier
2) I received a partial refund or credit/voucher for my trip
3) I made a claim for a trip I cancelled, and it did not relate to COVID-19
2) I received a partial refund or credit/voucher for my trip
If you received a partial refund or a partial future travel credit for the trip that you purchased travel insurance for – but you lost some value of the portion of your trip, you will receive an indemnification letter for part of the trip that remains as a travel credit. If you are asked for documentation in that letter, you will need to provide documentation to show the value of the future travel credit, or refund or voucher from the travel entity (airline, tour company, river cruise company) so that ORION can assess the partial loss.
Money due from ORION is money that you have lost. Your trip cancellation insurance policy provides coverage only for the non-refundable and non-transferrable amount. So, if you received a partial future travel credit from the airline, or cruise line, or tour partner – but suffered a financial loss for another portion of the trip for which you purchased insurance, such as hotels that did not issue a refund or credit, then you need to provide documentation to show the financial loss portion only, so ORION can assess the claim accurately.
Example: I purchased a $3000 WestJet Vacations trip to Mexico and bought ORION Travel Insurance – Trip Cancellation. I was due to travel April 1st, but WestJet Vacations cancelled my flights due to travel advisories related to COVID. WestJet Vacations issued me a $2000 credit to a WestJet Travel bank that I can use to book a trip in the future when the travel advisories are lifted. However, I lost $1000 on the hotel booking and cannot recoup this money. I sent ORION a claim and want to be paid $1000 by ORION for the hotel portion of my trip, where I suffered a financial loss.
Outcome: The portion of the trip that suffered a financial loss (the $1000 hotel portion) is covered by the ORION Travel Insurance policy. If you have not already received payment, you will need to provide documentation from the hotel stating that there was no future travel credit or refund made to you and that you suffered a $1000 financial loss as a result.
You will be covered by ORION for the future trip you will take with the $2000 WestJet Travel Bank credit.
If you require assistance obtaining any relevant information related to your claim, we encourage you to call your CAA Travel Consultant.
What to do if... your indemnification letter suggests that you have a partial travel credit but that is NOT the case, you may appeal to ORION. Provide the documentation required to show the portion of your trip you lost and ORION will review the claim. Our CAA Travel Consultants will help you with that if you wish.
In conclusion, mistakes happen - especially during these unpredictable times. If you received an indemnification letter in error (category #1) or a denied, closed or other letter in error – we sincerely apologize.
Please use the link for appeals and resubmit the claim, or call your CAA Travel Consultant. We will help answer any questions to help you resolve your claim. You may also visit one of our CAA Travel stores, or call 1-800-267-8713.
It is important to ensure claims are submitted with all necessary supporting documentation. ORION claim assistance will not be able to adjudicate claims that are submitted incomplete and will need to contact the traveller, or travel supplier, for the missing information, which may cause delays.
The following items are required to support a claim:
1. Original and cancellation invoice/itinerary from travel provider shows changes in travel arrangement
2. Proof of payment/purchase of travel arrangements in full or in part
3. Proof of cancellation from the travel supplier (e.g. airline, hotel, etc.)
4. Proof of any refund
5. Proof that voucher/travel credits are voided (where applicable)
6. Proof of the cause of the claim
Unsure? Contact a CAA Travel Consultant, visit a CAA Store, or call 1-800-267-8713 to speak with someone today.
If your claim was denied in error, we sincerely apologize. Please visit www.globalexcel.ca/orion and resubmit the claim. Or call your CAA Travel Consultant, we will help answer any questions to help you resolve your claim. You may also visit one of our CAA Stores, or call 1-800-267-8713.
Going online is the fastest way to access updates to your travel insurance claim - even if your claim was submitted over the phone or in-person! Check for updates on www.globalexcel.ca/orion or by calling ORION claim assistance at 1-866-696-6355.
