When people apply for life insurance, they often disclose medical history, age, and lifestyle choices. However, one often overlooked aspect that can lead to denied claims is undisclosed travel plans. Many insurance companies assess risk based on where applicants plan to travel, and failing to disclose trips to certain high-risk destinations can have serious consequences. If a policyholder dies in a country they didn’t mention in their application, their beneficiaries might face an unexpected and devastating claim denial. The following countries are considered high risk: Ukraine; Gaza; Syria; Afghanistan; etc. Our life insurance lawyers fight all claims denied due to undisclosed travel.
From an insurer’s perspective, travel can significantly increase the risk of death depending on the destination. Certain countries have high rates of crime, political instability, war, or inadequate healthcare systems, all of which raise concerns for insurers. Because of these risks, insurance companies typically ask applicants about their travel history and plans during the underwriting process. If someone omits or misrepresents this information, the insurer may argue that they failed to disclose a material fact, potentially voiding the policy.
For example, a businessman who bought a life insurance policy in the United States but failed to mention his upcoming travel to Ukraine. Tragically, he was killed in a drone attack. When his family filed a claim, the insurance company denied it, citing the fact that he had not disclosed his planned travel to a country on the insurer’s restricted list. Another example involved a woman who had taken out a policy but neglected to disclose that she traveled to Gaza for volunteer work. She passed away due to complications from Hepatitis while in Gaza, a country with known health risks. Because she had only listed the United States as her primary place of residence, the insurance company investigated and found that she had a pattern of extended stays in regions with high disease risk. They ruled that her failure to disclose these trips constituted a material omission, resulting in the denial of her family’s claim. Another example was that of a young couple who had just gotten married and purchased a joint life insurance policy before setting off on a trip to Syria. They hadn’t mentioned their travel plans when applying for the policy. While hiking in the mountains, the husband tragically fell and died due to severe injuries. When the wife tried to file a claim, the insurance company reviewed their records and found no mention of international travel during the underwriting process. Since their destination was on the insurer’s list of high-risk areas due to its remote nature and lack of emergency medical services, the company denied the claim, stating that the undisclosed travel was a material misrepresentation.
To prevent these situations, policyholders should always be upfront about their travel plans when applying for life insurance. If you frequently travel for work, humanitarian aid, or personal reasons, it's crucial to disclose this information. However, our top life insurance lawyers fight these claims and win!