Travelling wouldn’t be exciting without surprises. However, the unexpected isn’t always pleasant. Imagine a situation where you are getting injections at a hospital when you should be exploring the beauty of a picturesque site. Illnesses, accidents, injuries, and other emergencies similar to this can literally destroy your ideal journey plan. And that’s precisely where travel insurance can save you from all the anguish.
The amount of relief you can expect depends on the kind of insurance you plan to buy. The idea is to invest in a plan that help you deal with a number of situations such as cancellation of trip, accidents, loss of your belongings, wallet, passport or other important documents etc.
Listed below are 10 tips for buying travel insurance in India that covers you well:
Tip 1: Types of Travel Insurance
It is important to know about the types of travel insurance available in India. This will help you buy a plan that specifically suits your requirements for travel and budget. Some of the most common types of insurance plans offered by the major players in the insurance industry include Single trip individual plans, Student plans, Single trip family floater plans covering spouse and children, Multi trip individual plans, and Senior citizens plans.
Tip 2: Know Sum assured
This is really important. You must know what amount you are covered for before investing in one. Usually insurance companies in India offer a sum assured in the range of US $10,000 and US $500, 000. This precisely depends on the country you plan to visit. So it is crucial to speak to the company representative to know the minimum cover amount raised to the place you plan to travel to.
Tip 3: Go through Activities Covered
When going out on a trip, you would be indulging in a number of activities. In case, you plan to go on adventure trips and would participate in risky activities such as hiking, skiing, trekking, water sports etc., make sure your travel insurance company covers you for these activities.
Tip 4: Policy Duration
Most of the insurance organisations offer cover for 180 days with a supplementary extension period of 180 days in the event there is no claim. Knowing the time duration you are covered for will help you enjoy a stress free journey throughout.
Tip 5: Claim Reimbursement Ratio
Before buying a travel insurance plan, you need to know the process of requesting for a claim (do they accept online claim, the documentation, complexity etc.). You need to know the ease at which the claim can be filed and the time duration within which the company takes it into consideration. Most importantly, it is crucial to keep in mind the claim settlement ratio of the company. The higher the rate, the better the company is.
Tip 6: Buy Online
There are many benefits of buying insurance policy online. You can save a lot of time, buy as per your convenience, save money, and make fewer efforts. Many companies in India offer discounts to consumers who buy online. So the benefit is all yours!
Tip 7: Get Quotes
If you are really serious about buying a plan that is affordable and fits into your specific requirements, then it is good to get at least 8-10 travel insurance quotes from insurance companies in India and compare them. You will be able to settle on the best one.
Tip 8: Eligibility
Of course, it is not wise to invest your hard earned money in a travel insurance plan without knowing the eligibility. You need to provide the chosen company with several details such as your age, purpose of travel, number of people travelling with you to know whether you are eligible for a specific plan.
Tip 9: Purpose of Travel
What is the purpose of your tour? Why do you wish to travel to a specific country? Are a student, do you wish to meet a relative of yours, are you on a honeymoon? The company will decide on the best plan based on the purpose of your tour.
Tip 10: Premium
When buying a travel insurance plan, you must know about handling the expenses too. So make sure the premium is settled within your budget without compromising on the cover quality.