Are you travelling solo? Here is why you must buy Travel Insurance

Travel insurance will cover various kinds of risks associated with your journey. If you are travelling alone, you should take additional care as you should be able to manage the situation when something goes wrong. There are various kinds of travel insurance policies offered by Indian companies. You should choose a plan that best fulfills your needs. If you are covered by a health plan offered by your company, you should fill the gaps with the travel insurance plan. 

Benefits of travel insurance plan 

The best Travel Insurance Policy will take care of your needs in a very efficient manner. 

• Medical emergency - The travel insurance plan will protect you from medical emergencies. If you make a claim, upfront payment will be done by the insurance company. When you have access to cashless treatment facility, there will be great convenience. 

• Trip delay/trip cancellation – If you pay higher insurance premium, you can take advantage of the trip cancellation benefit. You should be aware of the trip length and trip delay clauses as well. 

• Age restrictions – The travel insurance plan should fulfill your needs. If you are above 65 years, some restrictions are applied by the insurance company. 

• Loss of baggage – If there is loss of baggage or personal items, the insurance company will bear the expenses. You should declare the value of items in your policy proposal form. The insurance company will take all possible searches to find out the lost baggage. If your baggage cannot be traced due to several reasons, you can make the claim. 

• Loss of travel documents – Loss of travel documents will be replaced by the travel insurance company. As soon as you notice the loss of travel documents, you should report the information to the insurance company. 

• Personal liability – The travel insurance company will offer legal help if you are involved in an accident. 

• Single/multi-trip – If you travel very rarely in a year, you should go for a single trip travel insurance plan. For frequent travelers, the multi-trip travel insurance plan is ideal. 

You should go through the terms and conditions of the travel insurance plan very carefully. Some travel insurance companies offer full coverage for the pre-existing health conditions. Other policies stipulate that your health should be stable for few weeks or months before covering the pre-existing conditions. Even though the premium is high, you should opt for a policy which covers the pre-existing health issues so that there will be great satisfaction. 

Cash hospitalization 

The travel insurance policy offers cashless treatment facility. It is the best policy to take care of your medical emergencies. You can carry the electronic travel insurance card from your insurance company so that there will be great convenience. The insurance company will have agencies in various countries. The services will be rendered through their partners in a seamless manner. 

How to choose the travel insurance plan?

Before buying a travel insurance plan, you should assess your insurance requirements. The policy should be purchased based on your single trip or multi-trip needs. It should offer the medical and dental coverage. 

The following features are prominent in a travel insurance plan:

• Trip cancellation/ trip interruption/trip delay 

• Loss of baggage 

• Pre-existing medical conditions 

• Emergency medical reunion 

You should share complete information in the proposal form so that the insurance claim will not be rejected by the insurance company. If the insurance company comes to understand that your information is false, it can reject the claim. 

 You can buy travel insurance policy from the following companies:

• SBI Travel insurance 

• TATA AIG Travel Insurance 

• Bajaj Allianz Travel Insurance

• HDFC ERGO Travel Insurance

• Bharti AXA Travel Insurance

• Apollo Munich Travel Insurance

Types of travel insurance plans 

Individuals can buy domestic or international travel insurance plan as per his or her requirements. 

• Domestic - If you are travelling within the county, you can opt for domestic travel insurance plan. If you are travelling to a foreign country, you will want to overcome various contingencies as part of your journey and stay. 

• International - International travel insurance policy will offer comprehensive coverage. The policy will take care of your medical expenses, baggage, travel delays, repatriation, and loss of travel documents. 

• Student - With the help of the student travel insurance plan, student will be able to pursue higher studies in a distant land. Students who enroll in academic or professional courses will cover various kinds of risks with the best student travel insurance policy. The policy should be in tune with your university/school requirements. 

• Medical – The medical travel insurance plan will cover healthcare as well as medical expenses. If you are travelling solo, there is every need to cover emergency medical expenses. 

• Senior citizen – If you are in between 61 and 70 year age group, you will get benefits under the senior citizen travel insurance plan. You will have a pleasurable travel experience when you are insured by a reliable company. The insurance company will extend help you fulfill the needs of senior citizen in the best possible way. 

Key features of travel insurance plan 

• Covers flight issues – The flight delay or cancellation will be covered by the insurance policy. You will get accommodation at the nearest hotel until your catch the next flight. 

• Medical liability – If you meet with an accident, the insurance company will bear the medical treatment expenses. 

• Legal liability – Various kinds of legal expenses will be covered by the travel insurance company. 

• Loss of baggage – The loss of luggage and travel documents will be covered by the insurance plan. 

Conclusion 

Before buying a travel insurance plan, you should be aware of the limitations of the policy and the coverage extended by the policy. The policy should cover the places of visit and the duration. The insurance policy should be adequate enough to absorb all kinds of travel-related risks. Trip delay, trip cancellation, loss of baggage and medical & dental coverage will certainly help you accomplish your vacation with great ease. The solo travel insurance plan will be a great companion during your vacation. 

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Here is the inclusion of Student Travel Insurance Plan

Studying overseas is a dream for many and the students striving to secure admission in foreign universities spend day and night preparing tirelessly to make these dreams a reality. Once the country and university are decided and the admission process is being finalized, comes the crucial point where you must buy the best student travel insurance plan. Bearing the overseas education costs is no easy feat and while you might consider avoiding student travel insurance, you should not. Many students abroad would attest to the fact that while student travel insurance premium may seem like an additional expense at the beginning, it can prove to be a blessing in disguise when the need arises.

Keeping in mind the significance of student travel insurance and the assistance it provides to students in case of an emergency, most of the universities have made it mandatory to buy student travel insurance as part of their admission applications process. 

When you are looking to buy the best student travel insurance plan available, make sure that the eventualities specified by the University, if any under their detailed guidelines are covered by your insurance plan. 

Generally, the following are included in the list of inclusion in a student travel insurance plan:

1. Medical Expenses: When it comes to medical expenses the best student travel insurance plans not only include the emergency medical expenses incurred such as medical tests, hospitalization etc., but also the expenses pertaining to your pre-existing medical conditions, if any, and the costs for routine medical checks and for prescription medications. Another aspect best student travel insurance plans include these days is the psychological coverage which includes nervous breakdown, drug dependency etc.

2. Study Interruption: Due to certain medical emergencies, a student might have to be hospitalized for over a month. This would result in the student to take a break from the studies and even require to travel back home. This inclusion covers the expenses incurred in such an eventuality.

3. Accidental and Disability Benefit: As is the case with a general health or travel insurance plan, if you opt for the best student travel insurance plan, it will provide coverage in an event of accidental death or disability. In such unfortunate cases, the policy provider is liable to pay the pre-decided lump sum amount to the insured’s family, subject to the policy terms. 

4. Medical Evacuation: Certain medical emergencies may require the student to be evacuated immediately and transported to the home country. In such cases, the medical evacuation cover pays the expenses incurred or the lump sum amount as decided under the policy terms, whichever is less. 

5. Reparation of Remains: Under this cover, the insurance provider pays for the expenses incurred or the pre-decided amount, whichever is less in case the mortal remains of the insured are to be repatriated to his/her country.

6. Sponsor Benefit: According to the sponsor benefit, in the misfortune of the insured’s sponsor’s accidental death, the insurance provider covers the insured student’s tuition fee.

7. Flight Cancellation: This inclusion covers for the expenses incurred in case the insured’s flight is canceled by the airline. This benefit might also include the expenses in case the student misses his/her connecting flight or the connecting flight is canceled by the airline.  

8. Loss or Delay of Checked Baggage: In case the insured’s checked baggage is delayed while traveling through a common carrier, the insurer is provided with the expenses to purchase fresh toiletries and clothes. 

If a situation arises where the insured’s baggage is lost or damaged by a common carrier, he/she will be provided with the expenses to replace the damaged or lost articles and/or documents. This inclusion is crucial as almost all students carry valuable articles and documents such as transcripts, mark sheets etc. while shifting abroad for studies. 

9. Loss of Passport: While traveling and staying overseas, the passport is a very vital document for proof of nationality. If the student loses his/her passport, the best student travel insurance plan provides for the expenses incurred in arranging a fresh passport or at times the policy provider even arranges for a duplicate passport.    

10. Personal Liability: Personal liability is the damages legally payable in case someone or someone’s property is harmed by you. Under this inclusion, the insurance plan covers such damages and other medical expenditures legally payable by the insured in case someone is bodily harmed. 

11. Bail Bond: In case the insured (Student) is arrested/for detained by the local law authorities during the stay, this inclusion covers the bail amount if the arrest is made under a bailable offence. 

12. Compassionate Visit: A compassionate visit is when the student is hospitalized for 7 consecutive days or more and requires bedside assistance of an immediate family member. Under the inclusion for a compassionate visit, the policy provider pays for one family member’s roundtrip in economy class. The best student travel insurance plans even cover the expenses incurred for the family member’s stay in such cases. 

13. Identity Theft: In today’s time of technology moving at light’s pace, identity theft has become quite common. While looking for a suitable student travel insurance plan, this inclusion may seem irrelevant but it can actually come to the rescue in case of theft of credit/bank cards and/or any fraudulent charges made in the student’s name. Some policy providers even pay certain pre-decided daily allowance amount in case the student’s bank/credit cards are stolen so that they are not left in a lurch. 

A student travel insurance plan offers a protection to students against financial risks while they are studying overseas. The abovementioned list of inclusion consists of just the essential benefits, you should consider while comparing the insurance plans. Many websites or friends/family members might recommend a certain plan for you but always keep in mind that the best student travel insurance plan for you is the one which meets all your needs and requirements. Another key point to always remember is to ask for the policy provider’s round the clock assistance number which the student can use to contact in case of an emergency. 

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Buy Student Travel Insurance and Ensure Your Financial Safety

Each year a large number of student leave for higher studies abroad. While this new chapter in their lives is exhilarating and exciting, it also teaches a thing or two about responsibility. Many of these students have never left home and lived on their own. One of the significant aspects of living on your own in a foreign country is managing your finances. Hence it is essential to take steps that help these students enjoy their time overseas and make the most of it.

Why do you need to buy student travel insurance online?
The cost of living and studying in many countries abroad requires a huge amount of money and majorities of people take the help of loans. The various unfavorable incidents that may happen in the duration of the students' can add to this debt. This makes the financial safety of the students even more important so that they are able to focus all their energy on the education and learning while staying stress-free about their financial security. Today, you can buy student travel insurance online in a matter of minutes and can even compare the many insurance plans available using a plethora of insurance portals available.

What are the features of a student travel insurance plan?
A student travel insurance plan covers the essential risks of a general travel insurance plan while offering some more benefits, which are included specifically for the students traveling abroad. These are some of the features of a student insurance plan:

1. Medical Cover
When living in another country for a long period of time, you are susceptible to common illnesses such as common flu, influenza etc. In developed countries treatments for such issues can ring up to a few hundred dollars, which amounts to thousands of Rupees. A medical cover would protect you against expenses incurred in case of any medical emergency where you would need to pay the doctor’s fee, hospitalization charges, medical tests etc.

2. Accidental cover
Accidents can occur anytime, anywhere and the alarming number of accidents makes it essential that the insurance plan have accidental cover. When a person is in an accident, he/she not only has to bear the expenses for treatment of physical injuries but also for the repairs of the vehicle or any property involved in the accident. Most of the times this can come out to be a hefty sum depending on the severity of the incident. As part of the accidental cover, the student travel insurance plan bears the expenses incurred and relieves the student from the stress of paying these expenses.

3. Death or Disability Benefit
In case of the unfortunate event of the insured’s accidental death or disability, under this feature of the student travel insurance, the policy provider is liable to pay a pre-decided lump sum amount to the insured’s family.

4. Sponsor Insurance
Tuition fee for most of the foreign universities amounts to be hundred thousands of dollars which when calculated in Rupees is a great deal of money. In case the insured’s sponsor dies accidentally, under the sponsor insurance feature the policy provider pays the remaining amount of the tuition fee so that the student is not burdened by this financial stress in such time of turmoil.

5. Interruption of Studies
Many colleges require you to deposit the tuition fee in advance, at the beginning of each school year. Families take out loans to meet this need of lakhs of rupees. Interruption of studies offers the provision of reimbursement of already paid tuition fee in case the student has to leave the course in between due to a critical or terminal illness.

6. Compassionate Visit
Compassionate visit is when a member of the student’s immediate family is critically ill or die and the student needs to return to home for a short stay. In such case, the policy provider pays for the round trip in economy class of a low-cost carrier. This works the other way as well, if the insured is hospitalized for 7 consecutive days or more and requires the assistance of the family member, the family member’s airfare is borne by the policy provider. Such a cover ensures that the student has his/her family’s support and vice versa in time of need without worrying about the required finances.

7. Loss or delay of baggage
In case while traveling the student’s checked baggage is lost or delayed, the insurance plan covers the expenses incurred in obtaining the damaged or lost articles and documents. When you buy student travel insurance online make sure that the policy provides for expenses to buy fresh toiletries, clothes, and foods in such emergencies so that you have additional assistance.

8. Flight Insurance
A student travel insurance plan covers the unexpected expenses incurred in case your flight gets delayed or even canceled. The cover offers protection in case you miss your connecting flight due to the airline’s delay in the earlier flight.

9. Personal Liability
In case someone is harmed or someone’s property is damaged due to you, you could be liable to pay a large amount of money as damages. When you buy student travel insurance online, make sure that it includes personal liability so you won’t have to pay the damages in such situations.

10. Bail Bond
Certain student travel insurance plans also include the provision for a bail bond. Under this feature in case, the student is arrested under a bailable offense, the insurance covers the bail amount.


Conclusion
As a student leaving to study overseas, don’t make the mistake of equating student travel insurance with general travel insurance or skipping it altogether as this would expose you to great financial risks. Student travel insurance provides cover on risks that a student might face. It is designed in a way to include all possible eventualities and outcomes where a student might find himself/herself in a financial risk. Hence, it is crucial that you compare and buy student travel insurance online to ensure that you are protected against all risks while staying away from home. Make sure that the student insurance plan you ensures your financial safety and provides you a comprehensive cover.

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Travel Insurance: Need and Importance

Those who have not traveled much would surely brush aside the fact that travel insurance is essential when you leave for a trip overseas. But those who are frequent travelers bear witness to the fact that international travel insurance can actually help save the day in case of an emergency. When you are planning an international trip, make sure that you are sufficiently insured for all possible eventualities so that you can enjoy your trip without any hassles.

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is an insurance product designed and aimed at the travelers. Travel insurance provides a dome of protection against harm or loss from risks, which are unique to a traveler.

What is the need to buy Travel Insurance?

You could travel 9 out of 10 times without a hitch, but that one time where you do encounter any unfavorable eventuality, the travel insurance proves to be worth every penny. Travel insurance is specially designed to provide the insured with protection against all risks associated with travel. Not only does the travel insurance cover the unexpected expenses incurred, many good policy providers provide for an emergency contact number for your round the clock assistance. This kind of customer service that comes with the best international travel insurance plans often proves to be quite helpful in case you find yourself in a lurch in a foreign country without any knowledge of the local language.

Key parts of the best travel insurance, which make it important for any travel

1.     Medical Cover: When traveling to a foreign land, you might not have the comfort of your health insurance. What if you catch a local disease or meet with an accident while in a foreign country. Some cases might even require immediate transportation to the home country or the nearest medical care facility.

Medical cover provided by an international travel insurance plan protects against expenses such as emergency evacuation, hospitalization, medical tests, doctor’s fee etc. These expenses can exceed even your whole trip’s budget and if you choose from the best international travel insurance plans, you are insured against such expenses.

2.     Baggage Insurance: Losing baggage is much more common when you are traveling internationally. Even if you travel light and pack the bare essential articles, losing your baggage can surely add to your worries and dampen the whole experience. In these scenarios, your international travel insurance comes to rescue. The plans have provision to provide money for some fresh clothes and toiletries till you wait for your luggage. In case of valuables in your lost checked baggage, the insurer reimburses the value or the sub-limit amount as mentioned in the policy.

3.     Flight Insurance: Many times the trips are planned while keeping in mind the lowest airfare available. This is a very popular method used by travelers to save money. But what if the flight gets delayed or the airline refuses you to board as the flight was overbooked? You whole itinerary would go haywire, not to mention the payments you had made towards your stay bookings at stake. In such cases, if you have a good travel insurance plan, you can sit back and relax while the expenses for the insurer covers expenses towards fresh bookings.

4.     Trip Cancellation: Emergencies can strike anytime and sometimes an emergency results in you canceling your trip. But what about the non-refundable bookings and payments you have made for your trip? These would not go to waste if you buy travel insurance before making these payments as travel insurance covers the expenses in case you have to cancel or even cut short your trip due to an emergency. Even better, it is recommended that you pick one of the best international travel insurance plans available today as these plans even let you include the payments you had made towards the trip before purchasing the insurance plan.

5.     Loss of Passport: In case you lose your passport while on an international trip, you might find yourself in much greater crisis than any else. A passport is one the essential document of proof in a foreign nation. It may be required to present the passport at various checkpoints established by the authorities such as the immigration checks. Some nations are very particular about these issues and may detain you if you cannot furnish a passport. This is another reason why it is recommended that you purchase one of the best international travel insurance plans before leaving because if you lose your passport, the insurer arranges for the necessary documents for your return home or assists you in obtaining a duplicate passport from your country’s embassy.

Travel insurance as part of Visa Requirement

Keeping the well being of travelers in mind and making sure that they are looked after well in times of crisis, many nations make it mandatory for you to purchase international travel insurance as part of their visa requirements. This makes it all the more necessary and important to buy a good and affordable international travel insurance plan.

Types of Travel Insurance based on different types of travellers

·         Domestic travel insurance

·         International travel insurance

·         Individual travel insurance

·         Corporate travel insurance

·         Family or Group travel insurance

·         Students travel insurance

·         Senior citizens travel insurance

·         Single trip travel insurance

·         Multi-trip travel insurance

Apart from these, many insurance providers also offer nation or area specific travel insurance.

Not all travel insurance plans are the same.

Contrary to popular belief, travel insurance plans are available in a variety of structures, especially when it comes to international travel. When you are browsing through the best international travel insurance plans online, make sure that you compare what benefits each plan offers. With a great plan you may also covered in the event of a terrorist attack, outbreak of war, disease and even natural disasters such as tsunami, cyclone, an earthquake etc. in the region you are visiting.

It is critical to note that every plan comes with its own set of inclusion and exclusion; this is where it makes all the difference. Zero in on the plan that meets your needs and requirements instead of picking on the cheapest option, as it can make all the difference between the travel insurance becoming a waste of money or savior in a crisis.

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Here is how can you buy travel insurance online

While traveling to new places and enjoying new experiences can be pure bliss, a foreign place can be intimidating in an event of an emergency. Although while paying the travel insurance premium we hope that we never get to use it, in unprecedented misfortunes on foreign land, good travel insurance comes to the rescue. Travel insurance provides us peace of mind that is priceless and at times solutions to grave problems while traveling.

Why do you need to buy travel insurance?

Unlike popular belief, overseas travel insurance products not only provide cover in case of medical emergencies but also, in case of other unforeseen and unavoidable expenses such as cancellation or change of flight. Travel insurance even extends to medical evacuation to home country in cases where the patient needs immediate medical care. 

How to buy travel insurance online?

Choosing the best travel insurance plan that suits you, out of the array of overseas travel insurance products can be quite intimidating. Knowing how to select the perfect overseas travel insurance plan online can make all the difference. And here are a few steps on how you can buy travel insurance online with ease:

1. Check with existing policy providers

It is advised that you should always check with your existing insurance provider before purchasing a new plan out of the various overseas travel insurance products available online. Being an existing customer, the new plan could be at better rates or with increased inclusions. Also, you would have the first-hand experience of the policy providers’ services. Therefore, the first and foremost step would be to check if any of the overseas travel insurance products offered by your policy provider suit your needs.

2. Who to include your policy

If traveling with family, it is critical to include all members of the travel insurance and make sure that each of them gets maximum coverage. This step is crucial, as some policies require special paperwork and process in case of minors traveling abroad.

3. Coverage restrictions

It is pertinent to review and analyze the inclusions and exclusions while purchasing the travel insurance. For instance, some insurance plans offer extensive coverage such as inpatient and outpatient costs while some plans offer reimbursement till the patient is discharged. It is always advised to read and understand the coverage restrictions in depth.

4. Relevant medical history

Certain insurance providers require that you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions while purchasing an overseas travel insurance plan. You can be asked for a medical checkup or past medical records. This can affect or delay your coverage, hence always check what are the terms of a potential travel insurance plan towards pre-existing medical conditions.

5. Apply at least one week ahead

It is important that you purchase an overseas travel insurance plan well ahead of time so that all the bookings you make towards your trip. But a week before the trip it becomes absolutely necessary to get an overseas travel insurance plan. This is because certain insurance providers run background checks and verifications before putting the cover in action, this could at times take 2-5 business days and maybe more, hence it is crucial to purchase the travel insurance at least one week before your departure date.

6. Travel Destinations

While choosing the correct overseas travel insurance product, it is pivotal to include all your travel destinations, even cities your flights are scheduled for a layover. This would ensure complete coverage for you and your family (if applicable) at all time during the trip. 

7. Adding Types of Travel

The terms and conditions for certain insurance policy are different for various types of travel, some factors would be included if you are traveling by air while that might not be the case for traveling by road. For instance, if traveling by air, your loss of luggage could be included in the insurance cover. Therefore it is vital, that you include all modes of transport relevant to your trip.

8. Email Confirmation

Once these steps are taken care of and you have made the purchase, do not forget to take an email confirmation from the service provider specifying the terms and stipulation of the policy contract. It is also advised that you carry a printed copy of this policy while traveling to ensure hassle-free claims and/or cashless services in the time of need.

Tips to keep in mind while buying travel insurance online

1. Plan Ahead

If you plan well ahead of the trip, not only would you have time to compare various overseas travel insurance products but you can also have all your bookings and payments included in the coverage. 

2. Understand the product

As with all insurance and investment products, it is strongly advised that you must read and understand your travel insurance document before leaving for the trip so that you are equipped with the necessary information. 

3. Identify Who and What to insure

While it is the first instinct to insure everyone and everything in the insurance cover, it is not a viable option as that could mean skyrocketing premium prices, hence you must be sure to include only yourself and the family members along with the most essential and valuable articles.

4. Check all points of consideration

It is always reiterated that you check all points of consideration such as the lists of inclusion and exclusion while purchasing an overseas travel insurance product. 

5. Annual Policy vs. Single Trip policy

If you are a frequent domestic or foreign traveler, it is more practical to opt for an annual policy whereas if you travel occasionally you should select a single trip policy. 

While buying the travel insurance from an insurance agent, he/she is present to address your concerns; it is not possible while purchasing the plan online. But, if you buy overseas travel insurance plan online, you get to choose from a plethora of different products and compare them. As far as how you should buy travel insurance online, these few steps and tips should not be missed. 

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Buying Medical Travel Insurance Policy? Here are the Things you should Know!

In this era of globalization, international countries are becoming more accessible to the common man. The tourism industry is booming as people traverse the globe exploring new cities and drinking in their wonders with their own eyes. It requires a lot of expenditure and for the most part people are very open to spending vast sums of money on their travel plans. However, what most tourists are ignoring or glossing over is the issue of medical travel insurance.

The likelihood is rare, but if you are travelling in a foreign country, you could have the misfortune of encountering some sort of medical emergency. Your trip to paradise will turn into a nightmare as you see the astronomical medical bill that you will have to pay in such an event.

Why should you buy International travel Insurance?

First of all, this insurance plan will cover your medical expenses both within India and abroad. Secondly, you mal alter the plan according to the country that you choose to visit. In short, you may customize it according to your needs. These plans cover medical treatments, accommodation for medical emergencies. The coverage of the plan depends on your requirements. It could be as shirt as five days or as long as a whole year. It is indeed advisable to take up some kind of travel insurance if you are travelling abroad.

The advantage of a medical life insurance cover is that not only does it provide you a boon in terms of medical emergencies but its coverage also extends to flight hijacks, loss of your passport, delay of your flight and loss of your checked in baggage.

For frequent flyers:

There are specific travel insurance policies offered for those businessmen who have to take frequent trips abroad due to the nature of their job. Does that mean that you will have to purchase an insurance policy every time? Not at all. There is an option called the multi-trip travel insurance policy that covers either insurance up to a year or a set number of days. This kind of insurance is definitely more pocket friendly. There are several benefits such as hassle free cashless hospitalization, as well as quick settlement claims.

An important reminder is that you should purchase a medical travel insurance even if you have medical insurance within your native country. The reason for this is simple. Your medical cover may not be applicable abroad. And even if it is, the costs could escalate considering the value of the rupee against the foreign currencies like the dollar or the pound.

Visa Requirements

When you travel to countries like the USA, a medical insurance is advisable due to the reasons mentioned above. However, many countries themselves make a medical insurance a compulsory requirement in order to visit their country. This is because your medical emergency could be a liability for their institutions.

For example, you cannot travel to Europe’s Schengen area without an insurance cover that costs around €30,000 which is around 23 lakhs in Indian currency. The guidelines for visiting Germany strictly state that any visitor to the country for however a short period of time must have health insurance.

For Gulf countries:

Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar have made medical travel insurance a compulsion for tourists coming to stay in their nations. Other countries like Thailand which is a very popular destination for Indian tourists are also considering such a policy.

Russia, Turkey, South Africa and Cuba have followed in the UAE’s footsteps and insist in medical insurance for their visitors.

For the Elderly:

In the present day and age when the youth move abroad to re-settle, they often invite their elderly parents to their homes for a visit. There is definitely more risk in the travelling of an older person and so factors such as pre-existing medical conditions must be kept in mind before purchasing a medical insurance. If such conditions do exist, there are very few options available. However, one can always go to an US insurer that factors in these medical conditions.

Factors you must look out for while purchasing Medical travel insurance:

1.     Pre existing medical conditions: An important fact is that Indian medical insurers usually provide for decent cost effective policies with reasonable coverage for people who have no pre-existing medical conditions. However, for those who do suffer form some kind of ailment, the insurance policies available are scarce. So, while purchasing a plan enquire about the coverage. A hospital overseas should not be rejecting your insurance because of the medical condition.

2.     Sub-limit clauses: When you are purchasing an insurance plan, especially for the elderly, make sure you opt for one which does not have any sub-limit clauses. In case it does, you may be liable to pay additional amounts. So, if you opt for one without this sub-limit, even if the medical expenses are astronomical, you don’t have to pay anything out of your pocket. There may be sub-limits for those in the age group of 55 and above.

3.     Add-ons: When you purchase a policy look for one that has add-ons. This means that the policy has additional coverage for instances like medical evacuation, outpatient treatment, repatriation of mortal remains, and accident-related hospitalisation.

Your over-all sum insured will not reduce if you make a claim under any one of these categories.

Questions you must ask while purchasing a plan:

1.     What is the structure of the pricing? What kind of coverage will you get?

2.     Is your insurer a reliable source? Does he have a good reputation?

3.     What kind of documents will you need for the insurer to grant you the policy?

4.     How big is the approval list for the insurer? Is his network wide enough to include the places that you are travelling to?

Asking these relevant questions will help you choose the correct medical travel insurance policy to suit your needs. So travel the world and fulfil your desire but also stay safe and make sure you have made allowances for any medical emergency.

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Checklist for student travelers who are going to study in a new country

When you get a student admission in a foreign educational institute, you should prepare with the right gear so that there will be great comfort and convenience. You should make a checklist of important documents that you should carry with you. If you are traveling for the first time, you should be diligent enough to prepare a checklist so that you will not take the risk. You should have a list of items so that if the airline loses your baggage, you can claim them easily. Thus, after the confirmation of your admission, you should plan for the rest of the process.

Essentials 

You should prepare a list of essentials and it should have space for the right student travel insurance plan as well.

The following travel documents are essential:

• Passport
• Visa
• Airplane ticket
• Contact numbers
• Mobile phone
• Prescription papers
• Address list
• Travel insurance document
• Accommodation details

The above documents and your mobile phone should be in your personal handbag so that you can access them very easily. For carrying the currency, you can also use a handy travel pouch. Pouches are available with straps so that they can be attached to your waist very easily.

You should complete the paperwork related to your travel arrangements. The passport should be up-to-date and you should complete the interview at the embassy. It is very much important to procure several passport size photographs.

Checklist related to the educational institution

• If you get financial aid from the university or institution, you should get confirmation.
• The paperwork related to the admission at the university/college
• Buying or renting of textbooks
• Requirement of additional applications for other purposes
• The free time that you get after reaching the new destination and before attending the classes
• Your reporting information with the international studies office

Housing and accommodation 

• Your plans and arrangements for temporary and permanent housing
• Payment of security deposit towards housing facility
• Who will arrange the accommodation for you, the status and the contact numbers
• The exact location that you should shift after landing at the airport
• Who will pick you up at the airport?
• Do you need a rental car for transportation from the airport?
• Do you have relatives or friends in a foreign country? Are they are aware of your arrival?
• Does your student travel insurance cover travel-related issues?

Medical and health checklist 

• Have you obliged with the mandatory vaccinations with necessary documentary proof
• Health insurance to take care of your medical treatment in foreign land
• Are you fit to travel?
• Special medications that you should carry with you and the prescription
• Your consultations with your family doctor or physician about your foreign trip

Gadgets 

• You should take special care in packing electronic gadgets
• Universal power adapter will help you connect various kinds of gadgets very easily
• Pack your laptop, camera and smartphone
• Mp3 player and electric shaver
• Some items can be purchased in the country of the visit so that you can save space in the bag.
• If you do not own essential gadgets, you can buy in the new place at a low price (as per availability)

Luggage 

• Should have a list of all the clothing that you should carry with you
• Weather-proof dress, shoes, and protective gear
• Albums and mementos that you would like to carry with you
• Have you packed the luggage as per the air travel code?
• The suitcase and bag size should be as per the international travel luggage norms
• You should have some Indian currency as well as foreign currency to take care of emergency needs

Social contacts 

• You should have access to the contact numbers, email IDs, phone numbers and social media
• You can choose innovative communication channels to engage others in a very efficient manner. You can create a group on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Whatsapp and the information can be shared very easily.

What should be avoided?

• You are advised to move to a distant location with minimum jewelry. If you need essential jewelry, you can wear them.
• Sharp items such as knives, blades and scissors should be avoided in your luggage as they are banned in most of the advanced countries.
• Perishable food items should not be packed as they may make your luggage messy
• Soaps, toiletries, shampoos and other items can be purchased in abroad
• You should collect information about your accommodation. If you are provided with pillows, bed sheets and other items, you can avoid them in your luggage.

Additional items

• You can carry important books, CDs and pen drives as per your needs.
• Lotions, creams and make-up items can be included as per their usage
• Functional slippers and shoes should be included in your luggage

Student Travel insurance

There are best Student Travel Insurance Plans to cater to all kinds of students. The best plan will cover various risks including study interruption, accident medical expenses, personal accident cover, maternity benefit, and mental & nervous disorders.

You can go through the terms and conditions of the insurance policy. The best policy will cover the hospitalization expenses, loss of baggage, bail bonds & tuition fee, dental pain relief, and home burglary cover.

The sum assured and the premium rate should not be the sole criterion for the selection of the insurance plan. The online facilities support and claim settlement ratio are important parameters.

Conclusion 

You can go through the best Student Travel Insurance Plans offered by Indian insurance companies so that you will settle for the appropriate plan to cover various risk factors. The checklists will help you prepare for the new destination with great ease. The insurance copy should be readily accessible so that you can get assistance as per your need. 

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