Key Features of International Travel Insurance You Need
Taking an overseas trip can be an amazing experience. But there are times when your plans can be undone by certain unforeseen events, both medical and non medical in nature. International travel insurance is the solution to all such troubles as it compensates you in scenarios of flight cancellations, medical emergencies, or when your luggage is lost or delayed.
Additionally, such policies are specially designed to cover your unique travel requirements, from injuries leading to Emergency Evacuations, any unexpected Litigation for which Personal Liability coverage comes into play or unforseen Cancellation of your trip due to a medical emergency in your immediate family. So now you can worry less about finances and focus on building some amazing memories.
Opt for Star Travel Protect and get comprehensive coverage, 24/7 Worldwide support while abroad, Cashless Settlements for Inpatient Medical Treatment and more!
What is International Travel Insurance?
International travel insurance acts as a financial safety net for people planning to travel to a different country either on business or as a tourist. It helps to recover financial losses or unexpected costs that might be incurred due to specific unplanned medical or non medical situations while travelling, ensuring that your trip is not jeopardized.
The scope of these plans includes medical emergencies, personal accident cover, emergency medical evacuation, dental emergencies, and more. Furthermore, it reimburses the insured individual for non-medical difficulties such as lost passports, flight delays, and liability coverage following unintentional damage caused by the traveler.
With these international travel insurance benefits in mind, you can enjoy the many benefits of travelling overseas without worrying.
Important Features of International Travel Insurance
Following are some essential elements of international travel insurance that you should be aware of:
Medical Emergencies
When it comes to International Travel, injuries, accidents, or other medical emergencies can come without warning. Under such circumstances, International Travel Insurance covers medical expenses incurred, like your Hospital Bills, Ambulance Charges, and Other associated costs. Star Health’s policies provide Cashless Settlements for Inpatient Hospitalization following an Accident or Sickness, or Reimbursement of Expenses for Outpatient Treatment.
Trip Cancellation
You might face numerous situations requiring you to cancel your trip, ranging from medical emergencies to yourself or an immediate family member, or Compulsory Quarantine, Jury or other Legal service, Witness call or Redundancy of the Insured. In the majority of such policies, Non refundable portions of Pre-paid expenses of Airline Tickets and Accommodation Expenses are compensated, making it a smart option to avoid losing money.
Flight Delay
Bad weather, Strikes, Industrial Action or Mechanical Breakdown can delay your flight, disrupting your vacation plans. Having international travel insurance takes care of additional costs incurred under such situations, such as accommodation, food, transport, etc., ensuring zero hassles at your end subject to the fact that the flight delay has been longer than 6 hours from the scheduled time of departure.
Personal Liability Cover
One of the significant benefits of travel insurance plans is that they come with a Personal Liability cover. If the Insured in his/her private capacity shall become legally liable for bodily injury or illness (fatal or non-fatal) or cause loss of or damage to property to any third party/person, then the compensation and all legal costs awarded to any claimant, up to the Sum Insured limits are payable under your Travel Insurance plan.
Baggage Loss or Delay
Often, airlines or carriers end up losing or delaying your checked-in baggage, which can seriously delay or jeopardize your trip. If you have international travel insurance, the insurer provides you compensation for baggage loss or delay up to a specified limit, as mentioned in the policy documents. Furthermore, such policies offer coverage in case the checked-in bag gets delayed beyond a period of 12 hours from the scheduled time of arrival. This benefit is an Indemnity Benefit and hence you will need to produce bills for expenses incurred directly related to the Baggage Loss/Delay for reimbursement of the claim.
Cover for Loss of Passport
The passport is one of the essential documents when travelling abroad, and losing it can lead to serious financial and legal implications. However, if you have an international travel insurance plan, you can gain coverage to get a new passport or other essential travel documents for you to return to your home country. This benefit is an Indemnity Benefit and hence you will need to produce bills for expenses incurred directly related to the Passport Loss for reimbursement of the claim.
24/7 Support Abroad on in India
Have questions or need assistance? Star Health offers 24/7 customer service, available through our dedicated helpline at 1800-425-2255. Whether you need help with claim intimation or settlement or any general inquiries, our team is here to support you at every step, ensuring a seamless experience with your international travel medical insurance. Star Health has a partnership with Falck India, a renowned International Assistance Company (third-party administrators (TPA)), for all Claims settlement, both Cashless and Reimbursement. Our qualified in-house team ensures that your claims are processed smoothly and promptly through Falck India, without any unnecessary delays or confusion.
Dental Emergency Cover
International travel insurance benefits also include coverage for any acute anaesthetic treatment for dental issues resulting from accidental injuries. This ensures comprehensive coverage for any type of injury that may come your way during the trip.
Repatriation of Mortal Remains and Medical Evacuation
In case the insured individual, unfortunately passes away while travelling abroad, having an international travel insurance policy can be really helpful. It can provide compensation for transporting the Individual’s Mortal Remains back to India or help the family arrange for a local funeral in the country where this unfortunate incident took place. Additionally, if the insured member falls sick or meets with an accident in a remote location without adequate medical facilities, the cost of evacuating/transporting the insured to the closest available medical facility, subject to recommendation of the attending physician is covered under the travel insurance policy.
Now, to ensure that you get these above-mentioned travel insurance benefits, availing yourself of a policy from a reputed insurer like Star Health is a must. This ensures that you get reliable coverage with minimum delays when you need it the most.
Factors Affecting Travel Insurance Benefits
To keep enjoying the advantages of travel insurance without any hindrances, the following are some factors that you must keep in mind:
1. Type of Plan Selected
The scope of benefits offered by a travel insurance plan solely depends on the policy type you have selected. Generally, a basic plan will only cover medical emergencies, whereas a comprehensive plan will offer coverage for trip cancellations, baggage loss, and more. Most insurance companies offer Sum Insured options/variants from $50,000 to $500,000 for treatment of sickness and accident related incidents.
2. Travel Duration and Destination
The location of your trip and the period of your stay greatly alter your policy’s primary benefits. Most insurance policies have plans which are “Including USA/Canada” and “Rest of the World” or Excluding USA/Canada. Based on the destination country, the plan needs to be chosen. Also if the traveler is going for a longer duration of time, it is recommended to have a higher sum insured plan.
3. Age and Health Condition
Based on your age and health condition, the travel insurance benefits will tend to differ. All policies charge a higher premium in case the holder is a senior citizen or has an adverse medical history, and there are medical sublimits under the coverage for seniors. All insurance policies offer coverage from 6 months onwards upto 80 years of age and some plans offer coverage upto 100 years of age.
4. Policy Add-ons and Exclusions
Travel insurance plans usually come with several add-ons that can expand the coverage beyond the limits of the base plan. Additionally, they come with several exclusions that include situations under which the policy will not provide coverage. It is extremely important for you to go through the terms and conditions of the policy to understand the exclusions especially.
When it comes to the benefits of travel insurance plans, both these aspects play a major role.
5. Policy Limits and Deductibles
All travel insurance plans come with a sublimit up to which they provide coverage for each benefit, which is clearly stated on the Certificate of Insurance. Furthermore, all plans have Deductibles, the amount up to which the policyholder must incur in order to start getting coverage.
For example, under the Medical Cover, the Deductible is $100, which means to say if the claim is $500, the insured will pay $100 and the insurance company will pay $400. Alternately, if there is a Flight Delay, then the insurance company will reimburse the expenses incurred, unless the delay is beyond 6 hours from the scheduled time of departure.
Ensure to check both these factors in the policy documents before purchasing a travel insurance plan.
As you now have a clear idea of the most important features of international travel insurance, it’s time that you choose a comprehensive travel plan. In this regard, the Star Travel Protect Insurance Policy can be an ideal choice.
Get flexible sum insured options and comprehensive coverage encompassing lost/delayed luggage, trip cancellations, medical emergencies, flight delays, and more.
Call us now for a customized quote!
FAQs
1.What does international travel insurance cover?
International travel insurance provides coverage for medical expenses, lost luggage, flight cancellations, and other unexpected losses that may occur during your journey. It offers protection from the day you begin your trip until you return to India, subject to a maximum of 180 days. In the unlikely event of extension of the insured’s stay beyond 180 days, extension can be provided subject to underwriting approval.
2.Why is travel insurance important?
Travel insurance is an essential part of any trip plan. It safeguards you against various travel-related risks and, most importantly, ensures you are covered for medical treatment in case of unexpected health complications during your journey. Medical costs abroad are very high and hence Travel Insurance ensures you are not out of pocket to pay for these treatments.
3.What is the purpose of a travel insurance policy?
A travel insurance policy serves as a crucial safety net. It is indispensable for protecting you during unforeseen events such as medical emergencies, lost baggage, or Trip Cancellations.
4.Do I need travel insurance if I’m healthy and don’t have any medical conditions?
Absolutely! Travel insurance isn’t just for those with medical conditions. Life is unpredictable, and travel comes with its own set of uncertainties. A good travel insurance policy provides coverage for medical treatment, hospitalization, and emergency evacuations, ensuring you’re protected no matter what happens.
5.Is travel insurance necessary if I already have health insurance?
Yes, travel insurance is still important even if you have health insurance. While some health insurance plans offer limited coverage overseas, travel insurance provides additional benefits like Trip Cancellation, Emergency Medical Assistance, Passport Loss, Baggage Delay/Loss and coverage for other unforeseen travel-specific events.
