If you’re planning a trip abroad, travel insurance is an essential financial safeguard. It will shield you against unexpected events and various types of losses–medical and non-medical–that could arise during your journey.
A comprehensive travel insurance plan should provide coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellation or interruption, personal liability and lost or stolen belongings. Furthermore, it should include 24/7 emergency assistance.
Coverage for medical emergencies
No matter if you’re planning a long trip to India or just taking a quick vacation, travel medical insurance plans can help reduce out-of-pocket expenses. These policies can be purchased as part of an overall comprehensive travel insurance package or separately as a stand-alone policy.
India offers more affordable healthcare than the United States, but the quality can differ depending on where you visit. Generally, urban centers provide high-quality medical services comparable to Western standards.
Unfortunately, rural India often lacks the medical facilities visitors to India require. Therefore, visitors to India should purchase an insurance policy that covers transporting patients to appropriate urban facilities in case of an emergency.
Comprehensive travel medical insurance policies typically cover both emergencies and non-emergencies, and can be tailored to fit your individual needs. Common benefits include emergency medical coverage, evacuation coverage, reimbursement for lost or delayed luggage, as well as coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Trip cancellation or interruption coverage
In the event that you need to cancel your trip for any covered reason, you’ll receive your money back. This type of coverage is often included in comprehensive travel insurance policies.
The great thing about it is that it can reimburse you for unused, pre-paid trip expenses like flights and hotel nights. Furthermore, you’ll get a daily allowance to cover meals and other incidentals.
Another key benefit of trip cancellation or interruption is that it can help you secure a new flight and resume your vacation after it has been cut short due to an insured reason, like illness or death in the family.
Comprehensive travel insurance plans often include this coverage, though it can be more costly than other options. For instance, searching on SquareMouth (a NerdWallet partner) using a $5,000 two-week trip to Argentina revealed that the cost for this coverage ranged from $115 to $361.
Personal liability coverage
If someone you care about is injured while traveling abroad, you can file a claim to get reimbursed. But, in order to do this, it must be proven that your negligence caused the damage or injury and not some other factor.
Personal liability coverage is an invaluable addition to any travel insurance plan. It will cover legal fees and damages if you are found at fault for injuring another person or damaging their property.
Travel insurance is especially essential when travelling with children or teens, who may be more vulnerable to accidents. Additionally, it helps pay for medical bills in case an injury or illness occurs while you’re away on vacation.
Travelers Insurance Company of India offers a selection of plans, both single trip and multi-trip. These policies provide 24-hour travel support as well as assistance with trip cancellation, luggage loss or damage, medical emergencies, emergency cash transfers and more.
24/7 emergency assistance
Travel insurance should provide a comprehensive selection of benefits and services, from medical coverage to loss/damage protection for your belongings if they are lost or stolen during your trip. No matter where in the world you go, something could go awry at any moment; having an effective policy in place can mean the difference between an expensive ordeal and contented, yet disgruntled travelers.
A reliable travel insurance company should have a helpful customer service representative available 24/7 to guide you through your options, whether planning for a weeklong family holiday or month-long backpacking trip. They should also be able to recommend the most suitable plan for your individual needs, which may differ depending on budget and lifestyle. Finding the perfect policy that meets individual requirements can be tricky without enough information and research beforehand. With the correct plan in place, enjoying your dream vacation without worry becomes much simpler!
Pre-existing medical condition coverage
If you have a preexisting medical condition that could negatively impact your travel plans or health, you should strongly consider purchasing travel insurance. This coverage will help you avoid expensive bills or delays in receiving care while away on vacation.
When looking for insurance, the ideal policy should have a preexisting medical condition waiver in place. This type of waiver can be granted for many different conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
A pre-existing medical condition refers to an illness or injury you had before purchasing your policy. This could include serious illnesses like cancer and diabetes, as well as more common ailments like arthritis or flu.
Thankfully, most insurers no longer follow the outdated practice of rejecting or charging more for coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. Nonetheless, there are exceptions to this rule.
Travel insurance for pre-existing conditions that is suitable requires a short Look Back Period (LBP). This means your insurer only considers the time between when you purchased your policy and 60, 90 or 180 days before visiting a doctor for any medical attention.
Coverage for lost or stolen belongings
If your bags are stolen or lost, travel insurance can cover the cost of replacement items such as luggage, clothes, toiletries and more.
This coverage can be a crucial addition to your policy. Having it can mean the difference between spending thousands of dollars to replace personal belongings or having to pay out-of-pocket.
With certain plans, you can have your personal belongings insured for either their actual cost value or replacement value (the depreciated cost of an item at the time it was stolen). Speak with a local agent or Travelers about which option works best in your situation.
India is a popular tourist destination, but it also attracts petty thieves. Even if you’re vigilant, your wallet, camera and cell phone may be taken from you in busy tourist areas.
Adventure sports coverage
Adventurers may want to purchase travel insurance that covers extreme sports like skydiving, SCUBA diving and skiing – just to name a few!
These activities carry high risks, and medical expenses can be substantial. Your travel insurance policy should also provide emergency evacuation if you become injured during your journey.
Coverage from this policy can assist in covering medical evacuation to a hospital that’s better equipped to treat your injury. Furthermore, it covers repatriating your remains back home if you pass away during your trip.
You can purchase travel insurance separately or as part of a package plan. The cost depends on where you’re going and the activities that you have planned.
Insurance companies offering adventure sports coverage vary. Some provide protection for various extreme sports, while others focus on contact sports or recreational activities. When looking for the ideal plan, compare several different options and read each policy thoroughly to guarantee you’re covered for all activities planned during your trip.
Policy limits and deductibles
Travel insurance policies with premium features like 24/7 emergency assistance are often inadequate, leaving travelers to foot the bill for hundreds of dollars before their insurer reimburses them. Be mindful that deductibles on these policies can add up quickly, leaving you responsible for hundreds before your insurer steps in to help with medical claims.
When searching for travel insurance, there are plenty of options to choose from. But in order to select the ideal plan, you need to know what attributes are most important to you.
Before anything else, it’s wise to review your coverage limits. Coverages and eligibility requirements differ by state and type of policy. Speak with an agent or representative to learn which benefits you could potentially take advantage of.
When shopping for travel insurance, the most essential step is to shop around to get the best plan at a competitive price. An independent agent can help you find a plan that meets both your budget and lifestyle. While deductibles will be costly, any savings from lower premiums could add up quickly.
