How long does a claims payout take?
There is no single, fixed turnaround time that applies to every claim. How long a payout takes depends on several factors, including the type of claim, the completeness of the documentation provided, and whether pre-approval was sought before treatment took place.
Once your claim has been submitted, our claims team will keep you updated on its progress at each key stage – for example, when it’s received, when it’s under review, and when a decision has been made. If we need any additional information to process your claim, we’ll contact you directly to request it.
What affects how quickly a claim is processed
A number of factors influence claims processing times:
- Documentation: claims submitted with all required documents tend to be processed faster than those requiring follow-up requests
- Type of claim: straightforward outpatient or travel claims are generally quicker to assess than complex inpatient or hospitalisation claims
- Pre-approval: claims for hospitalisation or treatment likely to exceed €1,000 that have been pre-approved in advance avoid the additional verification steps that can otherwise add time
- Response to queries: if the claims team needs clarification or additional evidence, the time taken to respond directly affects how quickly the claim can be concluded
Why pre-approval can speed things up
Claims that have been pre-approved through the 24-hour assistance line before treatment are typically resolved more efficiently, since costs are often guaranteed directly to the treating facility, removing the need for a separate reimbursement process afterwards.
How to help your claim move quickly
To support the fastest possible outcome:
- Submit all required documents at the time of claiming, rather than in stages
- Seek pre-approval in advance for hospitalisation or higher-cost treatment
- Respond promptly to any requests for further information from the claims team
- Use the expatriate.claims portal to track the status of your claim
If you have a query about the progress of a specific claim, contacting the Expatriate Group Claims administration directly is the most reliable way to get an update.
