Planning a holiday soon? Don’t forget to get adequate Travel Insurance to avoid a vacation disaster. Read on.
Finally! You’ve booked your flight tickets, packed your essentials and you can’t wait to have a stress-free vacation far away from the maddening city life. That’s awesome! But it’s time you check your travel checklist again to avoid a vacation disaster.
There is nothing worse than a well-deserved vacation turning upside down. From losing your passport to falling ill to getting mugged in a foreign land, there are several things that could go wrong and lead to serious financial implications. This is when Travel Insurance comes in handy.
Additional Reading: Why You Should Never Go On A Vacation Without Travel Insurance
It not only covers your medical expenses but also covers your delayed or cancelled flights, emergency evacuation, stolen bags, natural calamities and much more. Therefore, it’s important to choose the right policy that suits your needs. Here are a few factors you should consider before taking your pick:
Country
While taking an Insurance policy, it’s important to do a little research about the country you are going to visit. For example, countries like the US, where the medical and hospitalisation costs are high, you might require a good medical cover in case you run into a medical emergency.
Similarly, if you are travelling to a country who is more prone to natural calamities like earthquake etc. you might need an additional cover that includes loss against natural disaster and your premium might be a bit higher than in other places.
Activity
If your travel plan includes just sightseeing and shopping, then a regular travel insurance plan will suffice. But in case you plan to participate in an adventure sport, take an add-on cover that also includes adventure activities.
Age & Type Of Plan
There are different policies available for different age groups like senior citizen Travel Insurance, family Travel Insurance, student Travel Insurance etc. You can customise your plan according to your needs. For example, senior citizens can opt for a large medical cover that includes specific diseases and hospitalisation expenses.
Also, there are different plans available for different needs. For example, a single-trip plan will be suitable for a short tour while a multi-trip annual plan will work best for the frequent-flyer.
So, instead of randomly picking an insurance plan, it’s smart to search and compare plans online and then customise it as much as you can to get the full advantage. Also, check for 24×7 helpline numbers, claim process, payment options etc. before buying a plan.
Here’s a list of 5 covers you must include in your Travel Insurance before you plan your next vacation.
Pre-existing disease coverage:
Most travel policies generally exclude coverage for treatment of pre-existing diseases. However, there are some insurers that now cover pre-existing diseases in case of life-threatening medical conditions.
Clearly, declare the medical history for all family members and get it registered in the insurance policy to avoid any trouble at the time of claim.
Additional Reading: 10 Things To Do Before Claiming Travel Insurance
Baggage loss:
Checked-in baggage getting lost or misdirected to a different destination is a very common issue faced by travellers. Make sure your insurance plan covers loss or damage to your check-in baggage. Here are few things you must keep in mind about the baggage loss cover:
- Only checked-in baggage is covered. Cabin baggage is not covered by Travel Insurance.
- Baggage delay is usually covered only if the delay is beyond 12 hours.
- Some insurance companies may ask you to show original bills for clothes, toiletries and other essentials to reimburse these expenses.
- You are also required to submit the ‘property irregularity report’ as part of proof with regards to baggage loss or delay. Check with your airline for this document.
Third-party liability vehicles:
In case you plan to go on a road trip abroad, it is important to get a third-party liability cover. Generally, travel insurance policies do cover general public liability but they exclude liability that has arisen from the use of any vehicle. So, if you are hiring a vehicle abroad, make sure that your short-term car insurance covers such liabilities.
Medical Cover:
Medical emergencies come unannounced. And, if you’re in a foreign land, medical costs can put a huge dent in your wallet. Make sure your Travel Insurance covers you for medical emergencies. This will provide you with a daily allowance for a certain number of days, however, these conditions could differ from plan to plan.
Trip Cancellation or Interruption:
We all know the pain when a trip gets cancelled due to bad weather or a family member falls ill. In such cases, you can get a fixed amount of your Travel Insurance. It won’t reimburse your hotel and flights in full but it could take care of the huge cancellation charges you might need to bear.
So, before you pack your bags, ensure that you have adequate Travel Insurance that fits your needs and sufficiently covers you for any emergency that might ruin your well-planned holiday. Oh, to add that extra zing to your holiday, don’t forget to carry a Travel Credit Card. You can get amazing discounts, cashback, rewards and much more!