A single insurance policy cannot protect you from any and allunexpected encounters that occur on a vacation. However, if you are covered by a good travel insurance plan, then you have the option to recover some cost that you might have otherwise lost.
Travel insurance policies offer a wide range of coverage and yet most people do not buy one. Maybe it is because no one would like to ruin an upcoming vacation by thinking of unpleasant thing.Regardless, it is always good to be practical. Hence, travel insurance policies are recommended to everyone.
A travel insurance policy will help you deal with unwanted situations such as sudden illnesses and/or accidentsin a foreign location. It is especially helpful if youare travelling with your children or parents. It can also be of tremendous help if you lose your baggage or essential travel-related documents while travelling in a foreign country.
A plethora of travel insurance policies are available online, which might be confusing if you wanted to buy one that suits your need best. To help you with that, here is a list of six questions, asking which will help you finalizeyour travel plans.
- Does the policy cover your travel destination?
The very first thing to check before you purchase an internation or domestic travel insurance policy for a single trip is if thepolicy coversyour travel destination. Most insurers have a list of locations that they provide insurance coverage for. If a basic policy does not cover your destination, you can always check if the insurer charges extra to include it in the policy. Undoubtedly, you should not purchase a travel insurance policy that does not cover your travel destination.
- Does your plan provide cover for adventure activities?
If your travel plansinclude adventurous activities such as safaris and extreme sports, etc., which you intend to participate in, then ensure that your policy provides cover for the same. There area few activities that are classified as ‘high risk’ as the chances of injury and/or death are excessive. Hence, most of theseare not covered in many travel policies. If you are an elder or have other members who are senior citizens travelling along with you, cover them with travel insurance for senior citizens.
- What will be the maximum payable offered by your policy?
Before you finalize any travel insurance plan, ensure that you check the maximum payables of the policy. This would make it easier if in case you were to make any claims.
- What will be excluded from your policy?
Every insurance policy will have some exclusions. In the case of travel insurance, these are situations wherein the policy would refuse coverage. For instance, some insurance policies do not provide coverage for the losses incurredunder the influence of alcoholor drugs. Hence, it would be prudent to check the policy exclusions along with thebenefits.
- Whether you have any pre-existing medical condition(s) or not? If yes, will it be covered?
As per the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers, a pre-existing condition is defined as a medical condition that afflicted you before you were insured. In the case of a claim, your policy might be invalidated if your pre-existing condition was not declared. Thus, if you have any pre-existing medical issues,either choose a plan that covers the same or choose an add-on rider to include it.
- What is the process for filing a claim?
Along with an understanding of the benefits ofyour travel insurance policy, it is also essential to know the processof making a claim. Missing out onsomething while filing a claim might lead to rejection.
Every travel insurance policyconnects you with an Assistance Service Provider (ASP), who is working with theinsurance company. Thisperson is your single point of contact for any misgivings during the trip. Hence, even to make a claim, the ASP has to be immediately informed, even if you wish to pursue the claim after returning home.Each claim that you make under the travel policy should be submittedwith the original ticket and/or the original boarding pass or with a photocopy of the passportthat indicates the travel dates.
Since it would be difficult to gather evidence once you are back home, ensure that you ask all the relevant questions and collect the necessary documentation at the location of the incident itself. From the insurer’s end, the process should be fast,easy and efficient. Moreover, the insurance company must have 24×7 support centres so you cancontact them at any given time.
These are only a few questions that you should ask yourself before finalizing a travel insurance policy. Consider these before buying any policy for single or multiple trips. They will help you make an informed decision while purchasing a travel plan.
