As the quote says – Life is full of uncertainties. But you always have a choice to plan for those uncertainties. Now, if you wish to travel abroad or even across your motherland, then travel insurance is a must in today’s time. You can’t escape the uncertainties, so it’s better to plan and move ahead.
Now the question is, which travel insurance is right for you? So, without much delay, here’s the full checklist of what an ideal travel insurance should look like.
Types of travel insurance covers
When trying to find the best travel insurance in India, these are the most common travel policy types and coverages you’re likely to encounter:
Trip cancellation cover
If, due to any unforeseen situation such as illness or any other emergency, you have to decide to cancel your trip, then this insurance coverage helps you recover your planned trip costs.
Covers for medical expenses
This cover is ideal for an international trip as this protects you if you fall ill or get injured abroad and covers all the medical expenses, not to mention sometimes even medical evacuation.
Baggage and Personal Belongings Cover
The major advantage of this coverage is that it helps you reimburse for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage and personal items during your trip.
Emergency Medical Evacuation
In case any medical contingency or natural calamity comes into play, then this assistance service ensures that you and your loved ones are evacuated to safety
Comprehensive Travel Insurance
This policy is a combination of the above insurance coverages, which offers peace of mind against a broad array of travel-related risks.
The checklist you need for buying travel insurance
After knowing the types of policies, here are some of the major things you need to consider before buying travel insurance:
Destination coverage
If you are looking to buy travel insurance online, then this is the first thing you should check on your travel insurance policy. Different policies might have different coverage depending on the destinations you wish to explore. You need to double-check with your insurance provider to ensure all your destinations are adequately covered under your policy.
Trip Duration
After confirming the destination coverage, the next thing you should check is the duration coverage. You must ensure that the policy you select provides coverage for the entire duration of your trip. Some policies have restrictions on the maximum number of days, so you must check if your insurance aligns with your itinerary or not.
Activities and Adventures
Ensure that your travel insurance policy covers specific activities or adventures, such as sports or other adventure activities.
Health and Medical Coverage
Medical and healthcare coverage becomes essential when you’re traveling abroad, especially to countries that have high healthcare costs. You must confirm with your policy partner about this medical coverage, hospitalization, and even medical evacuation (if needed).
Cancellation and Interruption Protection
You must look for policies that offer protection in case of trip cancellation due to uncertain events, such as uninvited illness, family emergencies, or flight cancellations. Travel insurance providers are now offering transparent cancellation coverage as they understand the need of the hour.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
Make sure your policy covers your pre-existing medical conditions. As some policies don’t include these conditions, you must disclose your pre-existing condition and seek additional coverage.
Baggage and Personal Belongings
You must cross-check the policy limit to ensure that all your valuable possessions are adequately protected or not. Many times, people don’t focus much on their baggage coverage, but it is a must in travel insurance.
Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
Emergency evacuation is a lifesaver when you are traveling abroad. You must ensure that your policy includes provisions for emergency evacuation. Checking this may help you land safely in your country during war times, infection outbreaks, or any other natural calamities.
Policy Limits and Exclusions
If you don’t want any surprises while making a claim, then you must get familiar with the policy limits, exclusions, and other conditions.
Comparing Quotes and Providers
Before finalizing any travel insurance, you should compare quotes from different insurance providers and check their customer reviews and their claim process.
Customizing Your Policy
The time has changed, and now you can easily customize your policy according to your needs. So be specific about your needs, and don’t overpay for coverage you don’t need.
Emergency Contact Information
You must have a record of emergency contacts such as your contact details of insurance provider, agent, or any other person to ensure you can reach out quickly in case of an emergency during your trip.
Conclusion
However, there’s a really long checklist that needs to be understood and considered before choosing any travel insurance. But, here, we have listed some of the major considerations to be made before buying any travel insurance.
