Travel Insurance

Traveling and vacations are a great way to relax from our busy and monotonous lives. But for many, traveling and exploring different places is life. Few choose to travel by air, few by road, etc. according to their comforts. For people who travel frequently, there is one thing we miss and almost consider not important and that is Travel Insurance.

We tend to ignore buying travel insurance because according to the Indian mindset, it is only an extra tactic to increase our bill amount. We fail to look at its positives and advantages and end up traveling without one. If in an unfortunate incident you are in trouble in a foreign land and you have been robbed or a medical emergency or luggage problem, etc. it will be very difficult for you to get help in any of these cases. In a medical situation it is more difficult because of the currency exchange and custom duties, etc. In case of robbery, until you get a passport or clearance from the Indian embassy, you are in big trouble.

A travel insurance can be a savior in all these unfortunate incidents. It offers you protection financially and medically against all odds that you may face during your trip. We are not saying that it will happen, but it’s smart to be prepared for such events. Many websites have different names and definitions for this but it is important to know the concept in its basic form.

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is an essential insurance that one buys to protect himself/herself against unexpected travel accidents, medical expenditures, baggage loss or delayed arrival of luggage, passport and other documents loss, flight delays, etc.

Enquire with your insurance provider before you purchase a policy, regarding what it covers and for what period. Generally, travel insurance is applicable for a specific tour. But few companies offer you packages and deals that may favor you if you are a frequent traveler.

Types of Travel Insurance Coverage:

Individual Travel Insurance:

This insurance is designed for a single traveler who is traveling either overseas or domestically. The insurance covers all traveling related issues and protects the traveler against cancellation of the trip, medical emergencies, etc. Foreign travel insurance covers both accident and general illness related medical expenses. Domestic insurance covers only accidental claims.

Family Travel Insurance:

As the name indicates, this plan insures your whole family against unprecedented events while traveling. It covers baggage delay or loss, hospitalization expenses if any of the family member needs medical attention, etc. You can easily claim disbursement under this plan.

Senior Citizen Travel Insurance:

This insurance cover is for people aged above 60. Apart from the usual benefits of a travel insurance, it also covers dental treatment expenses and cashless hospitalization.

Group Travel Insurance:

Yes, you have got it right. This insures a group of people who are not related and traveling together. They may be from a club or a trek group going on an expedition. This insurance will give benefit each of the member equally as in any other individual insurance. The biggest advantage in this insurance is you can save a big deal on the premium amount.

Student Travel Insurance:

This insurance policy is beneficial for students who are traveling abroad for universities, institutes or colleges to pursue further studies be it for professional courses or academic on a qualified visa. The policy gives them a comprehensive coverage that may include medical treatment, study interruptions (Please read the document carefully) or passport loss.

Medical Travel Insurance:

The inclusions and exclusions covered in this policy varies from each insurance provider. This is a short-term plan that can be used only for health care and medical purposes. It depends on the insurer as to how many people, if you are traveling with a co-passenger, can be covered under this plan.

Domestic Travel Insurance:

This type of insurance coverage is applicable only if you are travelling within the country. It provides coverage for personal liability, travel delay, permanent disability, and medical emergencies along with the usual benefits.

International Travel Insurance:

As the name suggests, you can purchase it only for international travel. It is a comprehensive policy and provides you coverage against baggage delay, flight delay, plane hijack, evacuation to India, loss of Ids like passport along with the usual benefits.

Corporate Travel Insurance:

This policy is only meant for corporate traveling purpose. There are no additional benefits under this policy like others. This can also be considered as a group or single travel insurance used only for corporate benefits. This covers both domestic and international travels.

Single Trip Travel Insurance:

This covers all the travelling hassles that you face while traveling in the country or outside for one single trip. Please read the documents carefully to know what are the inclusions and exclusions.

Multi-trip Travel Insurance:

Many business people and those who travel frequently in and out of the country buy this policy. The policy gives them a cover usually for one year on all their trips and do not have to buy an insurance each time. Few companies allow the cover for more than a year please check with your insurance provider.

Benefits of a Travel Insurance:

You may already have figured out the usual benefits of a travel insurance. Here is a detailed list of benefits of owning a travel insurance;

• You can claim reimbursement and get cover against medical expenses that you paid for the accidents or general illness. This benefit is very useful if you are traveling abroad. Medical treatments are extremely expensive in foreign lands. Remember, this is a comprehensive plan not a third-party liability.
• In case of emergency medical situation where you or your co-traveler are covered under family or group travel insurance, have a medical emergency and you need to be transported from one place to another, the expenses will not be borne by you. This will be covered in travel insurance.
• You can get compensation for losses and interruptions, in case you are canceling your trip or you have to travel back sooner than you planned. Travel insurance also covers baggage delay and loss along with emergency accommodation expenses.
• Few insurance providers also offer services 24 hours in case of an emergency wherever you travel through their network. This service is very helpful in the places where you are not familiar with the language.
• Coverage against loss of passport, theft, canceled flights, cut short trips, baggage loss, etc. for more details enquire with your insurance provider in detail.

Key features of a Travel Insurance:

The aim of purchasing a travel insurance either online or offline, is to be safe and prepared for the unprecedented events that one may face on their journey. Every insurance provider comes up with different benefits along with the standard policy, to be ahead of its competitors in the market. But it is important for you to know some of the key features that are important while you purchase the plan;

• A travel policy gives you cover against last minute detour of your trip or delay in traveling from one place to another. Transportation in the same city arising due to delay, expenses for hotel accommodation, switching flights due to cancellations and curtailments are covered under the policy.
• Every travel policy will provide cover for legal liabilities along with other legal expenses. This is in addition with medical and travel accommodation expenses. Few insurers also offer you with home burglary coverage while you are away. Enquire with your insurance provider.
• Always opt for a travel policy that gives you cover for medical emergencies when you are in a foreign land. The policy will look after the medical expenses like hospitalization, treatment for bodily injuries, ambulance cost, etc.
• If you are buying an insurance for traveling abroad, make sure the policy gives you cover for flight delays and cancellation. This benefit will help you while opting for an accommodation in such cases.

Why to buy Travel Insurance?

When you travel to faraway lands, you spend a lot of money for accommodation, planning, transportation, etc. you have an itinerary prepared for your visit. It is important to enjoy your trip and keep it economical at the same time. But any perfect plan can go wrong for natural reasons that is not in your hand. By purchasing a travel insurance, you are securing yourself and co-passengers with a safety net that you can fall back on in case of any curtailments.

Travel insurance guards you with many different coverage against unpredictable events. If your flight is delay or canceled, you get reimbursements on the meal on your flight and in the mean while you will be provided an accommodation for waiting period. If there is a hijack, or emergency declared in that country you can get back home safely. You can contact to travel insurance company if you have a medical emergency and can get quick help through their network, etc. You can get a maximum coverage under the policy for a very nominal cost.

Eligibility to buy travel Insurance policy:

• Schengen Travel Insurance: If you are traveling to this country, it should only be for business and tourism purposes and it is mandatory to have a travel insurance. Adults above 70 years of age and infants above 90 days should be covered under the policy. The purchaser should be minimum covered for sum insured up to US$50,000 under travel insurance to travel to Schengen.
• Family and international Travel Insurance: These are two different options that you can apply if you are traveling with your family. The plan covers 4 adults, two adults aged up to 60 year and two children up to 21 years. There are few floater options available under family travel insurance policy.
• If you are a senior citizen traveling abroad and aged above 85 years, then one need not go through any medical tests to avail this insurance plan.
• People who are already studying abroad in institutions and universities can buy student travel policy. The student travel policy caters to age group between 16 years and 40 years who travel to foreign countries for higher studies.

How to choose the best Travel Insurance plan online?

Here are some self-check points for you to zeroing on insurance provider:

• As you already know, the insurance you want to buy depends on your age. If your age is within 30 years, the premium you pay is different from that of a person who is aged about 50 years. Similarly, if he/she is a senior citizen, they you can choose senior citizen travel insurance plan which is designed to meet their requirements accordingly.
• If you are embarking on an adventurous trip which includes a lot a physical activities like trekking, mountain climbing, camping in forests, water surfing, etc. it is advisable to buy a special plan with add-on covers that will benefit you in medical emergencies. If it’s a casual and relaxed vacation, then standard insurance policy will suffice.
• It is a known fact that medical treatments and other luxury fancies that is available abroad is expensive. So when you buy a travel insurance, it is important to mention your destination which will decide the premium you have to pay. In certain countries, carrying a international travel insurance is mandatory
• If you are a frequent flyer, then opt for multi-trip policy which will normally give you a coverage for a year or so. The premium in this plan is one time and it is pocket friendly. If you are traveling for a short duration, then mention the duration of your trip. This is also a measuring value for premium calculation.
• Travel policy is highly recommended by the Tourism Department of India, because the frequency of Indians traveling abroad and within the country has increased drastically. If you are worried that this policy will cost you a lot of money, then select a plan that works for you to the best of your interest and which is cost economical for you.
• Many companies only provide travel insurances along with ticketing, providing visas etc. Check for the company’s history, credibility, customer reviews, range of products and facilities, etc. before you buy a policy. Also check for company’s claim settlements and the percentage of settlements without legal problems.
• Many insurance companies become bankrupt because of their business module. So check for the fiscal record and growth of the company before you purchase from them.
• If you purchase the policy at a high cost, the sum insured is high and so is the premium amount. So choose a plan that has minimal purchase value with maximum benefits.

Where and how to buy Travel Insurance?

With the current government’s oath to revolutionise India digitally, many facilities are available for much better price on online than offline. Every company, has become tech-savvy and have started providing all of their offline facilities online as well.

Buying travel insurance online is quick and hassle-free process. You do not have to contact any agent or third party insurance providers like the olden days. You can compare products from company’s website or third party websites to buy the best policy at a competitive rate. The process is completely transparent with policy terms and conditions documents online.

You can click on the desired insurance at the time of purchase and fill in all the personal details of all the people travelling with you, if not then fill in your details accurately in the form. The destination, duration of travel, medical conditions if any, etc. must be filled carefully and cross check one before submitting the document. The insurer will give you quote immediately, if you are satisfied with the quote click on the purchase button. Make the payment via debit/credit card or NEFT transactions. This process requires no paperwork therefore the process is eco-friendly and you will receive all the documents instantly on your email. Take print-out along with copies of it for safety purpose while traveling.

Compare the best Travel Insurance policies:

Almost every insurance company offers you a travel insurance. Many tourism companies also offer you this service if they have tie-ups with the insurance company. These are third party tie-ups on offline platform where they offer you more options to choose from according to the requirement of your trip. There are online third party websites from where you can compare different prices and plans of various insurance providers without having to travel to anywhere, it all happens in few clicks. You can get quotes from different companies to make an informed decision when you purchase. If you are renewing your existing travel insurance policy, you can get quotes very easily on online. By doing so you will have the best deal for your requirement. Compare the purchase cost, cover offered, claims easement, customer support, company’s network with hospitals abroad, renewing rate, etc.

Is it safe to purchase Travel Insurance online?

It is completely safe to buy a travel insurance online. When you buy an insurance online the paperwork is minimal and the process is quick. You do not have to go through a lot of steps by going to the office many times, rechecking the documents, and if one of your information is wrong you will have to redo the process from the beginning. But if you buy online you can correct instantly with no hassle at all.

The papers and details are mailed directly to your email in PDF document and all you have to do is take a print out. If it is a third party website, they will have a tie-up with the insurance company and the process of completion is same as when you buy it from the primary company. The only benefit in third party purchase is you will have additional benefits as a part of the package, discounts and deals, custom made tourism package, etc. to stay ahead of their competitors.

Additional coverage options:

Few standard travel policies do not offer the required coverage for your needs. In that case insurance providers offer you some add on covers which cater to that extra protection if you are not going for a casual vacation.

• Add-on cover if you are traveling to war zones or high risk destinations.
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment cover
• Adventurous sporting activities.
• Pre-existing medical condition
• Third-party supplier insolvency.

Best Travel Insurance providers:

Travel Insurance Claims:

Claiming for travel insurance it can be done in cashless way or reimbursement claims by customer. In cashless form, the policyholder has to submit the travel insurance policy to the hospital and he/she has to inform the insurance company for the further process. From here on, the bills will be settled by the insurer directly to the hospital. For reimbursement, it is the usual process, submit all bills and receipts and the insurer will validate the claim and settle it directly through the bank.

Here are the documents you need to provide while registering for travel policy claim:

• Name of the insured
• Contact details like phone number and email id
• Citizenship of the country the policyholder belongs to.
• Name of the country where the incident occurred
• Description of the incident or theft
• Diagnosis report in case of medical emergency
• Travel insurance policy number
• In case of accidents- date and time of the incident

Buying a travel insurance is not an extra expense but it is a safety net that will save you from unfortunate incidents. You can visit our website www.BankBazaar.com for further information on different insurances and loans. We can help you get any loans under thirty minutes with minimum paperwork and instant approval from our partner banks.

Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How to select a Travel Insurance?

There a number of travel Insurance providers and it is easy to be confused. First thing to do is compare the plans based on the requirement of your trip. Search for the optional coverage that are important for your trip and the destination you are traveling to. A lot of factor come to play while selecting a plan like, number of people traveling, age, medical ailment, weather of the destination, etc.

2. What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is an essential insurance that one buys to protect him/her against unexpected travel accidents, medical expenditures, baggage loss or delayed arrival of luggage, passport and other documents loss, flight delays, etc.

3. When to get Travel Insurance?

It is advisable to get the travel insurance the time you plan to purchase your tickets. But usually if you purchase within 15 days of your traveling date it is sufficient. If you are also purchasing a plan to cover the loss from trip cancellation, it is recommended that you do it after paying the first trip payment. Research thoroughly and purchase a plan that will suffice for all emergencies that may occur on your trip.

4. Which is the lowest priced travel insurance plan?

Usually a standard travel Insurance policy for a normal vacation can be purchased in the lowest price after comparing. But if the requirements are different for your trip, the premium and purchase cost also increases.

5. Who can buy Travel Insurance?

Any person who is aged above 3 years (in some cases 90 day’s infants) to 80 years of age can buy travel insurance. If you are traveling from India, it is recommended that you buy here.

6. What are the types of travel insurance?

Individual Travel Insurance, Family Travel Insurance, Student Travel Insurance, Group Travel Insurance, Medical Travel Insurance, International Travel Insurance, Domestic Travel Insurance, Corporate Travel Insurance, Single Trip Travel Insurance, Multi- Travel Insurance, Senior citizen Travel Insurance.

7. Which travel insurer is better?

There are some key features to determine who the best travel insurance provider are. It should provide you cover against last minute detour of your trip or delay, cancellation of flights, transportation for accommodation and expenses related to same, policy that gives you cover for medical emergencies when you are in a foreign land. Some of the best travel insurance providers are Bharti AXA, ICICI Lombard, HDFC ERGO, Cholamandalam Insurance and Oriental Insurance.

8. Can I cancel Travel Insurance?

Yes, you can cancel your travel Insurance only if you have not taken any trip under that policy purchase. You will have to submit your passport as a proof of the same. The insurance company will refund your amount after deducting administrative costs.

9. What if I forget to carry your Travel Insurance?

If you forget the travel insurance policy, you should at least have the details of the policy number, your customer ID, etc. to avail the benefits. But it is advised that you check thrice before you pack your bag for IDs and other trip related documents.

10. Is loss of passport covered?

Yes, in every standard travel plan loss of passport is covered. The expenses towards procuring a duplicate or temporary passport is also covered under the policy.

11. Can I get refund if I cut short my tour?

This depends on each insurance provider as it is subject to terms and conditions. Check with your insurance provider before signing the document.

12. Can I get emergency financial assistance on my travel to abroad?

Yes, the insured person will be given emergency cash to the limit mentioned in the insurance. This benefit can be availed if the person has been mugged, robbery, etc. On contacting the company, they will contact the service provider in the place to help you in the situation.

13. Will visa suffice to get have International Travel Insurance?

Generally most of the insurance providers approve for travel insurance on visa basis.

14. Is cashless hospitalisation facility available under travel Insurance?

Yes, in case of medical emergency this benefit can be utilized on producing the insurance copy to the hospital.

15. Is it possible to get more than one policy for the same trip?

If you are a frequent flyer, you can opt for multi-trip travel insurance policy. An individual can be provided with only one single policy per trip.