- Date : 20/01/2020
- Read: 3 mins
It’s not just the cost of medical care that travel insurance covers. There are many types of travel insurance in India that cover loss of baggage, flight delays and need for legal aid.
Whether you’re a solo globe trotter, an enthusiastic member of a family vacation, or a busy business traveller, travelling abroad is exhilarating. It helps you explore various cultures and broaden your horizon.
But, there is the other side too. Being far away from your own country, it can also expose you to a series of unprecedented challenges and unforeseen situations. A good, reliable travel insurance policy will ensure that you are protected and your financial interests are intact.
Types of travel insurance in India
There are three categories of travel insurance coverage which emerge as the best travel insurance for any traveller:
Medical insurance
Luggage insurance
Trip insurance
Medical insurance coverage / medical evacuation
A good medical coverage policy would mitigate any chances of incurring high medical costs when you are away from your home country. This usually covers minor to severe injuries such as dismemberment, urgent dental pain, etc. This can be hugely helpful to afford medical care internationally, especially considering the falling value of the rupee.
A variant of such a policy is medical evacuation coverage. For example, imagine yourself trekking in the Amazon jungles, wherein you get stung by an insect. The end result: you have a swollen foot, which needs instant medical attention. Considering your location, medical evacuation in a helicopter would be the best way out of the ordeal. However, given the situation, you would most likely be stripped bare if you had to foot the cost yourself. In such a case, apt medical evacuation coverage would take care of the incurred costs, allowing you to get treatment without losing sleep over a messy budget.
Related: How to claim health insurance [Infographic]
Luggage protection
Travelling abroad with some really expensive items in your luggage, are you? Afraid something might get stolen? What is the best travel insurance policy to safeguard yourself?
Well, if you have luggage protection cover by your side, you don’t need to worry about covering the cost of your stolen luggage during transit or travel. This also includes the loss of game-changing documents like your passport, your visa, etc.
Some insurers, along with luggage insurance, also provide travel assistance. There might be times when you urgently need a travel agency, or need to carry out an emergency cash transfer or require information about the country you are travelling to, such as immunization requirements, or even legal advice. Insurers like TATA AIG offer travel assistance in such cases.
Related: Travel insurance myths you’ve got to stop believing
Trip Insurance
This is the most common type of travel insurance in India. This option bails you out when, due to unforeseen circumstances, you have to cancel your trip at the last minute. If you don’t have travel insurance, you will be left to bear the brunt of paying flight delay or cancellation charges, hotel cancellation charges, etc. These cancellation charges can often eat up a considerable amount of your allocated budget.
A word of caution
Before signing on the dotted line, it’s advisable to check the coverage points, the scope of the travel insurance as well as the costs which you would need to bear in case of any issues. Be sure to do your research well and confer with people who have a little knowledge about the various types of travel insurance policies, including your insurance agent. You can also very easily check, compare and buy the best travel insurance online in India.
