Before I began pursuing life as a travel blogger in 2007, I was a call center manager for a health Insurance company.

One of my team’s many responsibilities was helping our customers understand how to submit claims, how claims are processed, and when, in the case of a refund, they could expect to receive a check in the mail.

It’s not a stretch to say these are pain points for everyone who’s needed Travel Insurance, too.

Enter the latest version of the TravelSmart mobile app by Allianz Travel Insurance, which now makes submitting and tracking travel insurance claims even easier.

If you can do it on a cell phone, you know they’ve done everything they can to streamline the process, so you’re compensated as soon as possible.

Another cool new feature is that, from within the app, you can choose to be reimbursed by direct deposit, so the money goes straight into your bank account.

No more waiting for a paper check in the mail.

According to Allianz Travel Insurance, choosing direct deposit can cut the time it takes to be reimbursed to as little as 48 hours from the time the claim is filed.

No wonder a third of customers are choosing direct deposit.

I’m still kicking myself for not having purchased travel insurance in 2015 when in the Fall, I was surprised to find out I had a blood clot in my lungs and had to cancel a planned trip to Peru.

I have a way of learning things the hard way, whether it’s losing phones to theft or losing money spent on airfare due to unexpected medical conditions.

Key app features:

• Claims – quickly send and track claims and choose how to be reimbursed (direct deposit or check).
• Policy Information – access your policy information, including coverage details and limits.
• TravelSmart Hotline – easily call for medical assistance or customer service from anywhere in the world. No more remembering country phone codes.
• International Hospital Search – find the closest Allianz-screened hospital or clinic.
• Prescription Drug and First Aid Terms – store photos of your medications for easy reference, and translate common medical words from English into 17 languages.

See the app in action in the video below.

The TravelSmart mobile app is available for free on iPhone or Android phones.

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I work as a travel insider for Allianz Global Assistance (AGA Service Company) and receive financial compensation.