Travel Medical Insurance – Why Does Everyone Say You Need It?

Until you fall sick to your stomach. You’re in pain in a faraway land, and you don’t have enough funds to get the best medical care possible. You’re stuck there knowing not what to do. Wouldn’t it be a dreadful end to the trip you have been fantasizing about all your lives?  Yes. But that’s the thing about troubles and tragedies, they do not come ringing the doorbells. All the reasons why you have to be prepared for them by getting travel medical insurance. 

What is Travel Medical Insurance?

Healthcare is already expensive in India, so imagine how costly it would be in foreign countries? All your budgets can come crashing down and cause you some unrepairable and hassling medical expenditure. This is where travel insurance comes to your rescue. 

The name gives it away, travel medical insurance is a kind of travel insurance that takes care of the medical contingencies during your travel. That said, a standard travel health insurance can cover the medical expenses, including medical bills and hospital bills, if God forbid the need arises. 

Key Takeaways

• Travel medical insurance covers the medical costs incurred during your trip. 
• There are four types of travel medical insurance policies you can choose from. 
• Moreover, it covers treatment costs of medical illness, personal accidents, evacuation, and daily allowance. 

Travel and Health Insurance – Is There a Connection?

Yes, there definitely is a connection between travel and health insurance. Travel medical insurance is a type of travel insurance that covers the medical expenses incurred during the trip.  Health insurance, on the other hand, may only cover the medical expenses incurred within the geographical boundaries of the country you reside in.

Did you Know? 

You can claim your damaged electronic devices under a travel medical insurance plan. 

Why Do You Need Travel Medical Insurance?

Choosing the best travel medical insurance plan will ensure that no illness becomes a hindrance to your perfectly planned vacation. Reasons you need travel medical insurance-

1. Although we always make a fun and elaborate plan for our trips, medical emergencies can arise at any point in life. This is where travel insurance plays its role. They ensure to cover all the necessary medical expenses that come your way.
2. If a medical situation demands you to be transported from the scene of the incident, you do not have to worry about the expenses. On top of that, if you are already admitted to a hospital in a foreign land and need to be taken back to your country for further treatment, your travel insurance plan will cover that too.

Also Read: What is a Domestic Travel Insurance?

Types of Travel Health Insurance Policy in India

1. Single Travel Health Insurance

Guessed it already? The name gives it away. A single travel health insurance policy covers an individual against medical expenses during a single trip.

2. Multiple Trip Travel Medical Insurance

A multiple trip travel medical insurance covers multiple trips made during a year. However, there is a certain limitation to the duration of such trips, which depends on the insurance company. 

3. Family Travel Health Insurance

With the ongoing stress of work, client meetings, and managing the household, we all deserve to go on a family trip. That being said, an important part of family vacations is a family health insurance policy. In fact, some countries like Germany, the UK, France, etc. Have made it a necessity and do not sanction visas without valid travel health insurance.

4. Senior Citizen Health Travel Insurance

This type of travel health insurance plan refers to plans specially designed for senior citizens aged 71 and older. However, the age limit varies depending on different insurers. Senior citizen travel health insurance is made to cater to various age and health-related risk factors that are not covered under general travel health insurance.

This plan caters to various hospitalization and medical benefits like doctor visits, intensive care treatment, ambulance services, and much more, along with the common age-related health concerns.

5. Student Travel Health Insurance

Student travel health insurance assists a student who is studying abroad to avail of medical coverage throughout the period they are staying in the foreign country. This plan includes emergency hospitalization, pre-existing diseases, treatment in the home country, medical evacuation, and much more.

Moreover, there are two other types of international travel medical insurance based on the geographical locations: 

6. Schengen Travel Medical Insurance

To brush up on your geographical knowledge, Schengen is an area involving 26 countries in Europe. Schengen travel medical insurance, as the name suggests, is designed for travel in the Schengen area.

7. Non-Schengen Travel Medical Insurance

Likewise, Non-Schengen travel medical insurance is designed for all countries that do not fall in the Schengen region. This policy is available for multiple as well as individual trips.

Also Read: How to Buy Travel Insurance? 

Coverage Of Travel Medical Insurance

Travel health insurance reimburses the unplanned medical costs incurred during your trip. We have listed below all the factors that are covered in the best travel health insurance.

• Emergency medical expenses
• Emergency dental expenses
• Medical evacuation
• 24-hour emergency assistance
• Trip interruption
• Accidental death or dismemberment

Exclusion of Travel Health Insurance

While there are notable inclusions in the coverage of the best travel health insurance, we should also look at certain exclusions-

• Medical expenses incurred beyond the expiration date
• Pre-existing illnesses
• Attempted self-harm
• Injury due to alcoholism or drug abuse
• Experimental treatments

While there are some common exclusions, it is always recommended to read the policy documents carefully before opting for them.

Required Documents & Eligibility Criteria for Travel Medical Insurance Policy in India

Although the exact type of documents required to claim settlement will be based on the insurance policy and the problem faced by the policyholder. However, we have curated a list of documents that you might generally need in order to claim your travel health insurance.

1. Claim form: The first thing you need to do is fill out an online or offline claim to initiate the settlement process from your end.
2. Policy Document: Your travel health insurance policy is the most important document that your insurance company will notice in case of a claim. They will check the issue faced and whether your plan covers that issue or not.
3. Identification: Some insurance companies require you to submit an identification document like an Aadhaar card or passport copy.
4. Tickets: If it’s an international travel health insurance, they might ask you for your flight tickets which come in handy in case of trip delays, cancellations, and more.
5. Hospital Bill: In case of an accident or any other kind of medical emergency, you will be asked to submit your hospital bills. This will be helpful if you want to claim reimbursement.
6. Discharge Card: It is important to submit a discharge card in case of a prolonged stay at a hospital.

How to Buy Travel Medical Insurance?

You can simply buy the best travel medical insurance through both online and offline modes. In case you want to buy it offline, visit the nearest branch of the insurance company. On the other hand, if you want to buy it online, follow the steps given below-

• Visit the official website of Max Life Insurance and look for the option of buying travel health insurance.
• Fill in all the necessary details, such as travel destination, dates, etc., in the online application form.
• Select the travel insurance plan you want to buy and make the payment.
• In the end, you will receive a soft copy of your policy document in the email ID you have filled in.

What is the Significance of Medical Insurance for Overseas Travel?

Some people refrain from buying medical insurance for overseas travel, thinking it’s just an added expense and they won’t need it at all. But here’s a truth bomb alert – it’s imperative. Here’s why:

1. Accidents and Illness Do Not Come with a Warning

Although we would hate for it to happen to you, the billboards on the streets won’t inform you about the possible injury or illness that you might meet with during your journey. Even when you are in your sunrise years, fit and fine, and in the best of your health. Medical troubles are not unreachable – regardless of your age and fitness levels. 

And let’s just face it, medical costs are a nightmare, especially when you are abroad. That said, if the last thing you would want is to be a spoilsport for your finances, getting international travel medical insurance is a rule of thumb for you. 

2. Probability of Sickness is High on Trips Abroad

There are a thousand dreadful yet realistic possibilities on your vacation abroad. It can be possible that the weather doesn’t suit you, the food, or the jetlag. 

Even though these would be the last things we would want to happen to you, you cannot deny the probability is damn high. That is to say, good health is not guaranteed in foreign locations.  But financial burdens of it can be easily managed through a travel health insurance policy. 

3. Vacations are Meant to Be Enjoyed

Vacations are the moments we look forward to in a year. We brag about it to our friends, make our shopping lists, and whatnot. In a nutshell, vacations are supposed to be enjoyed, not feared. Moreover, they should never be something that you ever have to worry about. 

With international travel medical insurance, you can ensure that the financial burdens of your sickness don’t ruin your vacation at all. 

Did you Know? 

This is for all the dog lovers out there! You can get your ball of fluff insured. But once again, it depends on company to company.

What Does International Health Insurance for Travel Cover?

Here comes the question you must have been wondering. What does international health insurance for travel cover? So, here we are spilling the beans: 

1. Medical Illness Coverage

Any medical costs that may be incurred owing to sudden diseases or illness would be covered by an international travel medical insurance policy. This includes hospitalization costs and daycare treatments. Pre and post-hospitalization costs may also be covered depending on the insurance company.  

2. Emergency Medical Evacuation

An emergency medical evacuation covers the transportation costs of evacuating the insured to a nearby hospital, i.e., it covers the ambulance charges. 

3. Personal Accident

The medical costs of an accident or injury caused to the insured would be covered by the insurance company. In addition to that, additional compensation would be provided to the insured in case of permanent or partial disability caused by accident. 

4. Hospital Daily Allowance

Hospital daily allowance covers an insured against hospitalization by providing them daily allowance, given that they are hospitalized for more than a number of days, as defined by the travel insurance company. 

Did You Know?

A traveller in The Whitsundays went shark diving and lost her engagement ring. Thankfully, the insurance company compensated her for it. So, if you lose your costly metals, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you can be compensated for it (If your travel insurance company is kind enough). 

Word to Remember

Pre-existing Diseases

Pre-existing diseases refer to the diseases that the insured suffered from before purchasing insurance. Pre-existing diseases are not usually covered in a policy. 

Conclusion

From what is travel medical insurance to what it covers and the benefits of buying one for your travel plans, we have provided you with everything that you need to know. Just remember, buying insurance is not a rule of thumb but an imperative action if you wish to make your vacations as enjoyable and hassle-free as they can be! 

So, pack your bags, buy a policy, and set the ship to sail! Have a happy and safe trip!

Also Check: International Travel Insurance

FAQs