it is about preparing oneself to enjoy a pleasant, smooth trip. A travel insurance plan offers protection to travellers from various perils (as mentioned in the policy document) that one encounters during a tour. However, many tourists tend to overlook this, and realise the significance only when an emergency strikes.
If you have an upcoming international trip, here are some important tips for buying travel insurance plan in India:
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Trip Expenses
You should check if your trip expenses are covered. Ask the company representative if they will reimburse these expenses later on.
- Policy Wordings
Before actually investing in a
travel insurance plan, be doubly sure that you understand terms like coverage limits, deductible, etc. This is important to avoid any confusion and inconvenience in the long run.
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Replacement Charges
For those who are on medications, it is crucial to make sure the travel plan also covers replacement expenses.
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Travel Agents
Strictly avoid buying policies that are clubbed with the trip by travel agents. Most of these plans are costly. It is always better to buy travel insurance from a reputed insurance company in India.
- Rider
You should verify with your insurance service provider about adding a rider. This is usually added to an existing plan in order to offer cover for costly items such as jewellery, electronic items, laptops, etc.
- Cancellation Service
Before buying a travel insurance plan, you should check whether a cancellation service (cover) is available. Most companies these days offer ‘cancellation of trip due to terrorist acts’ service to their customers.
- Coverage
It is vital to enquire to the insurance provider about the coverage. Know whether it is primary or secondary. Secondary travel plans would ask the customer to go through the standard cover initially. On the other hand, a primary travel insurance plan covers you out-and-out.
- Restriction on Destination
The travel insurance plan you buy should not impose any restrictions on destinations.
- Risky Activities
When deciding on a travel insurance plan, you should know about the risky activities covered. You should weigh these activities against your tour plans.
- Review the Coverage
You need to review the coverage and then try to maximise it via buying it at least 2 weeks prior to setting out on the journey.
- Claim Filing for Travel Insurance Plan
When filing a claim, it is important to be honest about trip plans when buying the plan. In short, the organisation must be aware of your plan about visiting a specific place and the activities you wish to undertake as soon as you reach the desired destination.
Prepare a detailed list of items you would carry on your trip. This will facilitate you to make a claim for any loss or damage during the trip. Also take pictures of all the items and receipts if possible. This will help when filing a claim.
In the event of a loss due to theft, you must report it immediately to the local authorities. Also, supply a document trail for insurance claim. It is vital to get copies of reports (if any).
Types of Tour Insurance - Travel insurance in India can be categorised under three types:
Medical Travel Cover
This is one of the most popular travel plans offered in India. It covers tourists for health issues, including dental costs arising due to illness or injury during the journey. For instance, if you happen to break your leg or meet with an accident during your journey in London, the medical travel cover will take care of the hospital and related expenses.
It also includes medical evacuation cover. It covers you in the event of hospitalisation due to a health emergency. Getting injured in an isolated area will require a special transportation service to admit you in a hospital. This can be really expensive. Buying a medical cover before travel will help you handle these expenses. The plan is usually tagged with a travel medical insurance. However, you can buy one as a separate plan too.
Accidental death policy (with dismemberment plan) is also important. This offers cover on flight over. This is quite similar to a life insurance plan wherein the company pays a fixed amount to the beneficiary in case; the covered individual dies during the tour.
Prior to buying medical travel plan, one must check their terms and conditions for age restrictions.
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Trip Protection
The cover is further categorised into three sections. It offers cover in the event of trip cancellation due to various problems including illnesses. Here, the prepaid costs are reimbursed by the insurance company. It also offers cover for cancellation of tour in case any of any family emergency.
The delay travel cover takes care of delays in transportation. For instance, if the destination you are supposed to reach is heavily snowed in, and no flights or other transportation is available, then the insurance company will cover you for prepaid expenses of hotel.
Trip interruption protection is another cover offered by insurance companies these days. In case, you or your family member gets sick during the journey, the interruption policy will help you leave the trip in mid-way the expenses will be covered by the company. The cover plan is also applicable under conditions such as trip interruption due to bad weather, bankruptcy of a tour company, etc.
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Luggage and/or Car Rental Protection
The plan covers rental car in case of lost items and accidents. This type of plan may not cover you for the loss or damage incurred inside the flight.
Make sure you read the fine print carefully before buying a plan, know exactly what’s covered and how.