Emergency Medical Expenses

One usually travels abroad for various reasons- a pleasure trip, a business trip or a study trip . You do not want anything to ruin your hard earned holiday, foreign study or your crucial business meeting. But there is a possibility of some unexpected occurrence no matter how perfect the planning is. Unfortunate events such as a medical emergency or an accident can affect you. Having Overseas Travel Insurance protects you from all such perils. It ensures that in the unknown foreign land, you are not left stranded in any kind of a medical emergency.

Medical Expense Coverage will cover you for accidents and emergency medical and dental care when you travel abroad. Overseas Travel Insurance plans cover outpatient, in-patient, medical aid, therapies and diagnostic tests costs incurred due to illness or accident.

Wherever you go, go with all your heart, said Confucius but well, do not forget to buy travel health insurance before you leave for unknown lands. While you explore the world, let there be one less thing to worry about, your medical bills, in case of an unforeseen illness or accident. Life is so unpredictable and it is better to be prepared for a medical or financial emergency when you are in a foreign land.

The pleasure of a trip abroad should not be hampered by finding oneself in a medical situation with no insurance to cover the medical bills which can run into thousands of dollars depending on the country you are visiting; or loss of baggage or important documents like your passport.

There are travel insurance plans available which provide medical coverage ranging from US$ 15,000 to US$ 500,000 catering to ages 3 months to 100 years. These plans not only provide medical cover but also cover exigencies such as loss of passport, loss or delay of baggage, third party liability among others up to a specified amount. The insurers have tie ups with third party administrators (TPA) abroad which process and guide you regarding claims.

Who can take International Travel Health Insurance?

Any person going abroad can take overseas travel insurance - a tourist, a businessman or a corporate executive, a student, a person visiting his family members.

Is International Travel Health Insurance mandatory for all countries?

Travel insurance is mandatory for Schengen visa countries. The Schengen visa basically allows the visa holder to travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa, thus avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country. This is particularly beneficial for persons who wish to visit several European countries during the same trip.

It would be a wise idea to carry traveler's insurance no matter what the destination, and this requirement for the Schengen visa should not be something travelers resist, but rather view as a welcome formality.

Even if you are travelling to countries where travel health insurance is not mandatory, it would be wise to carry traveler’s insurance as it protects the traveler in the event of emergencies or circumstances that create any type of interruption or disturbance in the trip plans. Travel insurance is basically a means to minimize the financial risks that can occur due to Medical emergency , Trip Cancellation/Interruption , Passport loss and legal expenses , Events like delay or missed departure , loss or delay in arrival of baggage, Loss of cash, or valuables etc.

So, do not forget to add overseas health insurance to your travel checklist.