Expert Tips for Choosing Travel Insurance: Protect Your Next Trip

With the yearly travel season about to begin, everyone will start getting busy with planning their trips. When it comes to planning a trip, it is never an easy task. Selecting the destination, booking flight tickets and accommodations, and packing for the trip, are just some of the tasks when it comes to planning. However, one item you should never overlook when planning your itinerary, especially when travelling abroad is international travel insurance. While it may look easy to simply go online and purchase the insurance; there are different things you need to check before buying one. Here’s what you can look out for when checking for the right travel insurance.

Things to Consider

There are different things you need to consider before you can purchase travel insurance online:

1. Determine Your Coverage Needs

The first step in selecting the right travel insurance is to determine your coverage needs. Consider the type of trip you will be taking, the length of your stay, and any activities you plan to participate in. For example, if you plan to engage in extreme sports, you will need a policy that covers these activities. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you will need a policy that covers medical expenses related to that condition.

2. Compare Policies

Once you have determined your coverage needs, it's time to compare policies. Look for policies that offer the coverage you need at a reasonable price. Don't only focus on the cost; also consider the reputation of the insurance provider and the level of customer service they offer. Read reviews from other travellers to get an idea of how well the insurance provider has handled claims in the past.

3. Check the Policy Limits

Be sure to check the policy limits of any policy you are considering. Policy limits are the maximum amount the insurance provider will pay out for a particular type of claim. For example, if the policy limit for medical expenses is Rs.2 Lakhs, but you need Rs.5 Lakhs worth of medical care, you will be responsible for paying the difference. Make sure the policy limits are sufficient for your needs.

4. Understand the Exclusions

All travel insurance policies have exclusions, which are events or circumstances that are not covered by the policy. Make sure you understand the exclusions of any policy you are considering. For example, most policies do not cover pre-existing medical conditions, so if you have a pre-existing condition, you will need to find a policy that specifically covers it.

5. Consider the Deductible

The deductible is the amount you will be responsible for paying before the insurance provider begins covering costs. Policies with lower deductibles generally have higher premiums, while policies with higher deductibles have lower premiums. Consider how much you are willing to pay out of pocket before selecting a policy.

6. Look for Additional Benefits

There are additional travel insurance benefits, such as 24-hour emergency assistance, coverage for lost or stolen items, and trip cancellation coverage, that you might benefit from. Consider whether these additional benefits are important to you and factor them into your decision-making process.

7. Read the Fine Print

Before purchasing any travel insurance policy, be sure to read the fine print carefully. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions of the policy, including any exclusions, deductibles, and limitations. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact the insurance provider for clarification.

 3 Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance

While you are making a list of things to check when purchasing travel insurance online, you also need to know how the policy can benefit you:

1. Provides Medical Coverage

Travellers going to a foreign country for the first time can fall sick due to different reasons. Change in the climate, change in diet, or even exertion due to travelling can make you ill. Getting hospitalised in a foreign destination can be expensive, especially when you are a tourist who might have to pay out of pocket for the treatment. The policy covers these expenses for you, ensuring that you do not have take the burden of expenses on yourself*.

2. Insures Your Baggage

Often times, travellers end up losing a bag or more during transit or at the destination of their travel. As a tourist, you might have valuable items in the baggage which you wish to retrieve. However, the chances of retrieving lost baggage can be low. Your policy insures the baggage which you would be carrying with you on your trip. In case of loss of the baggage, the policy ensures that you are financially compensated for the valuables you have lost*.

3. Emergency Evacuation is Covered

There is no predicting when and how an emergency can take place. An emergency could be of any nature. For example, you could fall severely sick and need to be flown back to your home country. Or a natural calamity may have taken place in the country you are touring, and you need to fly back home. In such situations, last minute bookings for flights can cost a lot. The policy covers the cost of these flights in the event of an emergency*.

Conclusion

These tips can help you buy the travel insurance policy which can benefit you and let you have a fruitful trip. If you have travelling within India, you can enjoy the benefits of travel insurance in India as well.   *Standard T&C apply Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.