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Travelling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller - Ibn Battuta.
Travel brings memories of relaxation, happiness, new experiences, and quality time with your family. You don’t want worry, stress and mishaps to ruin your journey. You want to avoid stories about how you had to run to the hospitals and spend an insane amount on hospitals and loss of baggage, passports, etc. This is why it is crucial to get yourself and your family covered by travel insurance that covers your unforeseen medical expenses abroad, baggage loss, trip delays, etc. It would help if you had overseas travel health insurance, which takes care of any unforeseen incident while you are abroad.
Now that you know the importance of travel insurance, knowing the right time to opt for it is also crucial! But first, let us explain what an ideal travel insurance plan should cover!
What Does a Travel Insurance from India Cover?
Trip insurance in India covers a lot more than just medical expenses.
- The protection extends to checked-in baggage loss, passport loss, and even baggage and flight delays.
- It protects you from personal accidents, disabilities, trip cancellations, delays, and interruptions.
- In some countries, obtaining coverage under travel health insurance is mandatory when applying for a Visa.
- Pre-existing diseases are covered, so if you suddenly suffer a life-threatening condition due to a pre-existing health condition overseas, the insurer will take care of some expenses incurred towards getting the treatment.
- Under in-patient care, you can also ask your insurer to cover expenses for a compassionate visit from a family member to take care of you if medically advised.
- If you miss a connecting flight due to airline schedule changes resulting from a sudden strike or due to any natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, etc., your insurer will bear the expenses.
- Additional coverages that you can opt for are emergency hotel accommodation, burglary, alternate transport expenses, etc.
Check out Care Health Insurance for further details on add-on covers so that you can select what best suits your travel needs.
Can I Buy Travel Insurance After Departure
One question you might be wondering is, “Can I purchase travel insurance after departure?”The answer is no. As per the Insurance Regulatory of India, there is no provision for purchasing international travel insurance once you depart from your home country and leave India. You can apply for travel insurance after you purchase the tickets or even when a Visa is issued, even before checking in at the airport! But you need to be in India to apply for travel insurance, even if it is a day before your departure. This is as per India's travel insurance policy rule.
Post-departure travel insurance is available in various countries abroad. Hence, it would help if you mandatorily bought your travel health insurance at the earliest before you fly out.
How to Claim When You Are Abroad?
The claim procedure can be done online in a smooth, seamless manner, even when you are abroad. You just have to follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Contact the insurance company by via phone or email to inform them about the hospitalisation. You should also contact the third-party assistance provider about the cashless option, available only if the patient is admitted in a network hospital.
- Fill out the claim form online and submit it with the required documents or information.
- You can also fax or email the documents and the claim form to the insurer.
- The claims team then verifies the details and makes the payout.
With Care Health Travel policies, you can rest assured that you can travel with peace of mind.
Travel Insurance from India Vs. International Health Insurance from India
Although the main aim of any insurance is to provide financial assistance, travel insurance and internationl health insurance are two plans that may vary due to their scope of coverage. Let us understand the basic difference between the two terminologies through the table as mentioned below.
| Parameters | Travel Insurance | International Health Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Duration of Coverage | Short-term coverage for the duration of a trip | Long-term coverage for those living abroad |
| Purpose | Designed to provide coverage for travellers on a trip | Meant for individuals/ families living in a foreign country |
| Coverage Focus | Provides cover for emergency medical treatment during travel, trip interruption/cancellation, baggage loss, etc. | Provides complete medical coverage, including hospitalisation, accidents, disabilities, etc. |
| Cost | Lower premiums as coverage is limited | Higher premiums due to extensive coverage |
| Trip Frequency | Typically covers single or multiple trips within policy duration | Coverage extends beyond single or multiple trips |
Also Read: Things to Carry on International Trip
Wrapping Up!
If you are a seasoned traveller, buying travel policies for every small trip may feel unnecessary and cumbersome. But trust us, it is as important as carrying your medicines and wallet, without which you cannot survive. Even for a short trip to a conference or a wedding, apply for international coverage to avoid any financial hassles due to medical emergencies.
Always remember that you need support in an unknown country, especially if you need expensive medical treatment out of the blue. It pays to stay prepared. Before you pack your bags or make a list for shopping and other expenses, get yourself an international policy with comprehensive cover without delay. Care health policies for international travel are just what you need.
Disclaimer: Plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.
