Going on vacation seems fun. You are ready to explore novel places, make new friends, try never-tasted delicacies and leave your everyday life behind for a few days.
But what if everything goes south? Are you prepared for it?
Consider international insurance for travel as your vacation buddy. It provides support, compensation, and care when things go wrong while travelling. With this guide, we want to address the concerns, confusion, and misconceptions. After all, having international insurance for travel is important, whether you have broken your camera, lost your baggage or popped an eardrum.
Key Features of International Travel Insurance
Our lives now revolve mostly around travel. People are travelling more than ever, whether it be for fun, work, or to pursue their ideal education! This has increased both the number of travellers and the risks associated with travel, such as airline baggage loss or illness. Therefore, it is crucial to understand every aspect of your international travel insurance in case you find yourself in any unforeseen circumstances abroad.
Look over these essential features of travel insurance to avoid confusion in an emergency:
- Coverage For All Medical Emergencies
Unfortunate occurrences can occur at any time, and the likelihood that they will be related to your health is higher. Imagine yourself and your family stranded in a distant country in such a circumstance. Make sure you choose a comprehensive policy that covers both your inpatient and outpatient medical costs.
- Coverage For Lost Baggage
Think about what it would be like to arrive in a foreign country, only to discover that your luggage has been lost, or that you have misplaced your passport while travelling. You most definitely do not want to be in this predicament! Make sure to purchase a travel insurance policy that covers these expenses.
- Protection From Personal Accidents
Make sure your travel insurance protects you from accidents that result in physical harm or death.
- Covers Trip Cancellation and Shortening
Imagine a scenario where a family member becomes ill without warning. You cannot travel until your trip plans are finalised. Make sure the travel insurance you choose will reimburse you for any last-minute trip changes or cancellations. While buying suitable insurance, make sure you compare the international travel insurance cost of various competitors.
Who Need International Travel Medical Insurance?
For people who spend a lot of time travelling or working abroad, there is international health insurance. It provides expats with freedom in terms of choice of doctor and treatment facility, with the opportunity to obtain treatment anywhere within their territory of coverage. It also covers treatment for both emergency and routine healthcare.
International health insurance may be necessary if you are relocating or if you have a residence overseas where you spend a lot of time. Make sure to examine the international travel insurance cost of several rivals’ before purchasing a suitable policy.
International health insurance will guarantee you receive the necessary medical care when you need it during a medical emergency or even for normal medical care in a nation where the healthcare system is unfamiliar to you and you do not understand the language.
Read More: Travel Medical Insurance
Limitations of International Travel Plan
Even though international travel insurance has become extremely crucial for travellers nowadays, there are still some disadvantages that come with opting for international travel plan. These are:
- The things which are not covered by the international travel plan may get risky for people.
- There are some minute details that can get missed out while you’re doing your research on which international travel plan is bets for you. therefore, you must pay close attention while picking the best international travel plan as per your needs.
A foreign travel policy might cover several things, but it surely misses out on a few.
Pre-Existing Illnesses or Natural Circumstances
Your travel insurance company will not process any claims made for the pre-existing medical conditions. For this reason, it is important to disclose any health conditions beforehand.
Also, if the country you are travelling to experiences a natural calamity, you won’t be covered for it.
Dental Treatment
Planning to get routine dental checkups while travelling? No, you can’t get that done under your travel insurance policy.
International travel insurance will only cover dental injury or acute dental pain resulting from an accident during the trip.
Loss or Damage Due to Suicide
A suicide attempt by the insured will not be covered under a travel policy. Also, losses or damage caused due to mental disorders, emotional breakdowns or bipolar disorder will not be processed for a claim.
Bad Weather
Weather conditions can get bad anytime. And if you suddenly need to cancel your trip due to poor weather, you won’t be eligible to be compensated. However, if the flight gets cancelled, the travel policy will cover you.
Adventure Sports
Looking forward to skiing, scuba diving and bungee jumping? Remember that you will be performing these activities at your own risk, and the policy won’t cover you for them.
Types of International Travel Insurance Policy in India
- Domestic Travel Insurance: Customers who plan to travel within the boundaries of the nation should use this policy. A domestic travel insurance policy protects the policyholder from costs associated with dealing with a medical emergency, theft/loss of luggage and other valuables, flight delays/cancellations, permanent disability, and personal liability (which refers to third-party damages you cause while on the trip).
- International Travel Insurance: This policy was created with the needs and preferences of international travellers in mind. An international travel insurance policy protects you (the policyholder) against risks such as airline hijacking, repatriation to India, etc. in addition to the standard coverage provided by its domestic counterpart. International travel insurance cost is a bit more than domestic.
- Senior Citizen Travel Insurance: In addition to the standard benefits of acquiring travel insurance, a policy aimed at senior persons (usually those between the ages of 61 and 70) provides extra protection against dental treatments and procedures as well as cashless hospitalisation.
Coverage Of International Travel Medical Insurance
Make sure to examine the international travel insurance cost of several rivals’ before purchasing a suitable policy. Domestic or International, travel insurance policies usually vary. But generally, all policies provide three things.
- Protection for your well-being
- Protection for your belongings
- Protection for your financial expenses
When looking for an international travel insurance policy, look for the following benefits.
Coverage for Trip Cancellation
Do you remember the times when you prepaid for an entire trip in excitement and got sick at the last moment?
Oops! That sounds like a huge financial loss. But if you had international travel insurance, you could have avoided losing all those bucks.
A travel policy reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid trip deposits if the trip gets cancelled at the last minute. Valid and acceptable reasons to cancel a trip and get reimbursed include sickness, injury, family emergency, jury duty or civil unrest.
But of course, you must not expect reimbursement if you have had a fight with your best friend and don’t want to travel with her to Hawaii anymore.
Coverage for Trip Delay
In case you experience a hiccup in your trip itinerary, your travel insurance policy can bring some relief.
There is something called travel delay coverage that provides reimbursement if the trip is delayed for one of the covered reasons.
Coverage for Trip Interruption
There are unfortunate events when you have an emergency back home and need to cut your trip short. In that case, foreign travel insurance reimburses you for expenses you forfeit in case you return home early.
The travel policy may also cover the cost of a one-way economy ticket to home. But remember, not all reasons are covered. We mean that if you miss your furry friend or your spouse wants you to come back early out of insecurity, you don’t get coverage for such reasons. Different service providers provide different international travel insurance cost, therefore it is crucial that your perform through research and compare various international travel insurance cost.
Coverage for Loss of Baggage
The travel insurance policy can be a saving grace if your baggage does not arrive at your destination. Moreover, your personal belongings are also covered if they are lost or stolen during the trip.
So, what do you need to file a claim for loss of belongings?
It’s simple. You need to report the loss to the airport, police and other relevant authorities like a hotel manager or tour operator. These documents are important while filing a claim.
Pro Tip – Most policies don’t cover cash and expensive jewellery, artwork, antiques and heirlooms. It’s best to avoid bringing such valuable items on vacation.
Coverage for Medical Expenses
Even the healthiest people can feel unwell on a trip. And sadly, healthcare costs in a foreign country can create a hole in your savings.
Not to worry. Taking foreign travel insurance can help cover the costs of medical emergencies, including the medical expert’s fee and hospital expenses.
Read More: What Travel Insurance Covers?
Eligibility Criteria for International Medical Insurance
Do you intend to spend a lot of time living abroad? If so, it would be wise to purchase a top-notch overseas health insurance policy to cover your medical expenses.
If something were to happen while you are travelling and you needed medical attention, having an international health insurance plan could be your lifeline. In most circumstances, you must provide evidence that you have proper health coverage in order to obtain a visa (if you need one). This is also true for most other nations.
There is no such eligibility criteria for buying international medical insurance but it is ideal for some groups of people. For expats, digital nomads, and other international citizens who spend the majority of their time each year travelling overseas, these global medical insurance plans are ideal.
Documents Required for Travel Medical Health Insurance
Here is a list of documents which are required when buying International insurance for travel:
Age Proof: Your age proof is one of the most crucial health insurance paperwork. To be covered by the health insurance plan you choose, you must additionally show evidence of age for each member. Some of the approved documents you can present are listed below:
- birth registration certificate
- 10th or 12th grade transcript in a passport
- ID card, Aadhaar
- Passport, voter ID, PAN card, etc.
Address Proof: Proof of a permanent address must also be provided. The following paperwork can be provided for the same
- ID card, Aadhaar
- Phone bill, electricity bill, travel documents, and ration card.
- Driving permit
- Voter ID
How to Buy International Medical Travel Health Insurance
Individuals can purchase International insurance for travel both online as well as offline. There are many insurance companies providing international travel insurance, ensure that you read all the features and compare the various international travel cost before you commit to any one provider. International insurance for travel is crucial for travellers because it insures against any unforeseen damages faced while travelling. The process for purchasing any International insurance for travel is quite straightforward, you can either get in touch with the the company’s agents or you can visit their website.
Benefits of International Travel Health Insurance
The following are some of the advantages of International insurance for travel:
- You are guarded against mishaps when travelling:
Loss of checked baggage, loss of a passport, and other losses are some of the catastrophes covered by international travel health insurance. By offering protection against these losses, it pays the traveller for any additional costs incurred as a result of these losses.
- It pays for medical costs:
To cover potential accident or medical treatment costs incurred while travelling, travel insurance is frequently chosen. The insurance provider will cover costs up to the maximum amount indicated in the insurance policy in the event of any accident, dental work, or medical care. Some insurance providers offer cashless medical care through a network of hospitals in various nations.
- It protects against modifications to the itinerary :
The itinerary for the journey could alter at any time. It can be due to unanticipated events, health issues, cancellation by the person who sold you the hotel or airline reservation, or the financial collapse of the travel agency or cruise line that is providing the trip.
- Personal liability is covered:
Protection against harm the insured may inflict to a third party is known as personal responsibility. This portion of travel insurance will pay out compensation if you ever harm a third party who has to be reimbursed when travelling, especially when doing so internationally.
How to Use Travel International Insurance When Required?
The process to claim international travel insurance is similar to purchasing a travel insurance policy. Here are the steps you need to follow to register a claim under international travel insurance:
- Inform the insurance company about the mishap, hospitalization etc through mail or phone calls.
- Submit the documents that will be needed in support of your claim. this will include your claim form.
- Submit these documents through mail or fax
When to buy International Travel Insurance?
The ideal time to buy your international travel insurance is ‘as soon as possible’. But if for some reason it got delayed, make sure your purchase your insurance no later than 15 days prior to the trip.
Conclusion
International travel insurance is one of the most important things to pack when going abroad. It is a must-have, and you should never leave your home without it. Yet most of us conveniently forget to take one. More than often, people don’t have much knowledge of international travel insurance. On top of that, misconceptions do what they do best – mislead people. Travelling to a foreign land is an amazing experience. You don’t want to ruin it with unexpected events. So, get international insurance for travel and insure your trip against losses.
FAQs
While buying international travel insurance, you need to declare pre-existing medical conditions. These include the illnesses or injuries you had before taking a travel insurance policy.
Since pre-existing conditions are not covered in travel insurance, some insurance companies might require you to undergo a medical test.
It is advised to read the terms of the travel policy at the time of purchase. Some travel policies, especially overseas travel plans, allow extension.
There are many insurance providers which offer the best international travel medical plans. The way to determine the best international travel medical plan is by comparing the various international travel insurance cost and their benefits.
In case you find yourself in a situation where you lose your passport, the next step should be to file a police complaint and claim your international travel insurance.
