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Medical and travel related covers provided by your travel insurance policy

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Published on March 17, 2021 | Est Read Time: 3 min

Travel insurance has become a key factor for international travelers, particularly when the entire world is experiencing a pandemic of historic proportions. The global travel industry has started to find its feet again. Yet, international travel still remains a high-risk affair! Some countries have always had mandatory travel insurance requirements, but now a number of other countries have also started to impose new requirements for mandatory and adequate travel insurance. Countries, which used to be travel hubs like Thailand have also placed mandatory Covid-19 insurance cover requirements.

If you are planning to make an international trip, it is strongly recommended that you take appropriate travel insurance. There are many eventualities, which a travel insurance policy will protect you from. Let us discuss a few common things that will be covered by a travel insurance policy.

Medical care and hospitalisation-related expenses covered under a travel insurance plan:

• Medical expenses in case of emergency: Let us assume that you are travelling out of India and any kind of medical emergency arises. Any kind of medical emergency will get covered under the travel insurance policy. In many cases, the medical expenses will be covered under the cashless system. This means that you will not be required to pay from your own pocket first. The insurance company will take care of your medical expenses from their side.

• Medical evacuation in case of emergency: There may be cases where you will need medical evacuation. Let us assume that you are on a holiday and a medical emergency arises. You will need to be taken to the nearest medical facility, which can provide you with appropriate care. This may involve significant cost, particularly when you are in a remote area of your host country. Medical evacuation costs will generally be covered by your travel insurance policy.

• Dental expenses in case of emergency: Dental health is as important as any other kind of medical requirement. Toothache can become so unbearable that the pain and problem need to be solved immediately. Dental care costs almost as much as any other kind of medical treatment. This is the reason; travel insurance companies provide cover for emergency dental treatment.

• Daily cash allowance for your stay in hospital: When you are admitted to a hospital, there may be a number of expenses. This can completely throw your travel budget off the track. Not only will the travel insurance policy cover the medical expense aspects, but a daily cash allowance will also be provided to you for covering all small expenses.

• Compensation in cases of permanent disability: There is a risk of permanent disability if you get involved in an accident. If you become a victim of permanent disability, it can throw your life completely off the track. This risk becomes much more exacerbated when you are out of the country. As a support mechanism, your travel insurance provider will give you a one-time, lump sum payment to work as compensation in cases of permanent disability.

• Compensation in case of accidental death: Like the risk of permanent disability, whenever a person travels, there is always a risk of accidental death. When you drive in India, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India mandates a Rs. 15-lakh accidental insurance policy for all owner-drivers of vehicles. Since there is no equal provision for international travel, your travel insurance policy provides a one-time compensation to family members in case of accidental death.

• Repatriation of mortal remains: In case of death of the policyholder when overseas, the mortal remains of the person will have to be brought back home. The insurance company will cover the cost of bringing the mortal remains back to India.

Travel and baggage related costs and expenses covered under a travel insurance plan:

• Costs arising in the form of personal liability: If you fall victim to a situation where you have to pay for any third party or personal liability, you do not need to worry. The insurance company that has issued your travel insurance policy will cover the cost of such third-party liability. This will keep you safe from any unwanted financial distress arising out of unfortunate situations.

• Costs arising out of flight delays: The global airlines system is still trying to get back on the runway after having become grounded because of Covid-19 and lockdowns that came out of it. The entire system will take a long time to get back to the pre-Covid levels. This is the reason that there will be cases of delayed and missed flights. Your travel insurance policy will cover the cost of problems arising out of delayed flights.

• Costs arising out of loss of baggage or personal documents: When you are travelling out of the country, your passport and personal documents become perhaps your most important possession. If you lose your passport and other important documents or any other belongings in your personal baggage, you end up in a situation that can cause a lot of complications. Your travel insurance company will provide you cover for the damage caused because of such losses.

• Costs arising out of delay or loss of checked-in baggage: As with the case of missed flights, the baggage management system of airlines will still take a long time to come back to pre-Covid levels of operational efficiency.There may be a risk of loss or delay of checked-in baggage. This may create a lot of unnecessary problems and expenses. Your insurance company will come to your rescue in such a situation once more.Your travel insurance policy will cover the costs arising out of any delay or loss of checked-in baggage.

• Costs arising out of hijack distress: Travelling by air has always had a risk of fight hijacks because of the global political situation. The insurance company may not be able to get you out of such a situation, it will definitely work its best effort to help you overcome the distress caused by such a problematic situation. For this purpose, your travel insurance policy will provide you with a hijack distress allowance.

Travel insurance may seem like an unnecessary expense when you are purchasing it. Many people think that they may not need it for whatever reason. Some seasoned travellers may think that they do not need travel insurance because they have seen it all and can manage anything that may come. Then there may be cases where novice travellers may simply be unaware of travel insurance. The fact is that in post-Covid times, global travel will come to rely on travel insurance like never before.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.