Planning to travel overseas? Splendid! I’m sure you must have gone all the way to ensure your preparations are in place. From visa formalities to hand-picking the choicest tour package, everything is taken care of. But before taking your seat on that aeroplane, did the thought of an unforeseen health circumstance cross your mind? No, we aren’t playing spoilsport! Although the chances of things going wrong are remote, putting yourself at risk of incurring exorbitant bills in a foreign land is not a pleasant idea!
Travel insurance is your best bet, in case you face medical or non-medical emergencies outside your home country. It is advisable to get insured before you set out on that trip since even the smallest currency exchange can empty your pocket.
As far as the benefits are concerned, an international travel insurance plan secures you in multiple ways. For instance, it provides coverage in the case of loss of checked-in baggage, passport, medical emergencies, personal accident, liability cover, etc.
Trip cancellation & interruption: A trip cancellation or interruption may be the outcome of several factors, including ill health, natural disasters, a sudden death in your family, or a crisis in your destination country. Therefore, it is advisable to buy travel insurance, which secures you from the risk of losing all the money you invested in your trip.
Medical expenditure: Your domestic health insurance plan provides coverage in the wake of a medical emergency. However, many of these policies do not have international travel under their ambit or they partially cover the expenses. If you have a medical condition, always ensure your insurance company provides adequate coverage. If not, then you need to invest in a travel insurance plan.
Medical evacuation: If you are travelling to a remote area abroad without adequate medical facilities, ensure that you have the option of medical evacuation, as part of your travel insurance plan. This can prove useful, wherein an injured or a severely ill person needs to be rushed to a hospital.
Lost checked luggage: Carrying valuables while travelling can often be a risk. If you’re someone who carries expensive items in your luggage, it makes sense to insure baggage. Some travel insurance policies already offer these services. Some credit cards also offer baggage insurance as an add-on offer/service.
Flight cancellation: If your trip is time-sensitive, and your flight gets cancelled or the airline goes on strike, then it is best to opt for an add-on, which can cover the expenses in case a flight gets cancelled at the last minute.
A well-evolved travel insurance policy ensures you remain stress-free during your trip. A trusted insurance brand offers a range of policies that suit your needs. Given below are a range of benefits:
a) Medical cover: This includes in-patient care and day-care treatment up to the sum insured.
b) Optional benefits – medical cover: This includes pre-existing disease cover under life-threatening medical conditions, additional sum insured in case of an accident, maternity and other optional benefits. The cover amount can be chosen up to a specified limit.
c) Other optional benefits: The policy provides a range of 38 other optional benefits. Some of these include loss of passport, loss of checked-in baggage, personal accident, trip cancellation and interruption, identity document theft, hotel cancellation etc. The cover amount can be chosen up to a specified limit.
Now all you need to do is pack your bags and plan the trip of your choice. The rest will be taken care of by your insurance provider. Bon Voyage!