The What, Why, and How of Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is typically available as an add-on when purchasing an airline ticket, either directly from the airline or through a third-party site like Expedia or Priceline. Due to the lower plan limitations compared to other options, travel insurance is considered “light” coverage. Every insurance plan, including travel insurance, has a certificate that describes what may be covered in the event of unforeseen circumstances and the coverage’s maximum value. This certificate summarises the plan’s limitations.

What does travel insurance cover?

Most travel insurance policies only cover unexpected occurrences that occur during your journey. These include, in general, travel delays, trip cancellation or interruption, as well as lost, damaged, or stolen luggage up to the plan limit. It also covers you if you are unable to travel on the day of your trip due to a documented medical condition. Keep in mind that while the restrictions are modest, there may be some coverage gaps.

How does travel insurance work?

Most people might think of travel insurance, as a way of reimbursing you if sickness, injury, or a family death stops you from taking a holiday. However, travel insurance covers a wide range of other concerns that could prevent you from embarking on your vacation or force you to return home early.

For instance, if you become injured or sick just six days in a 14-day vacation and are unable to continue, your travel insurance may be able to reimburse you for the remaining charges. Other scenarios in which an insurance policy might very well cover you and refund your non-refundable expenses include:

  • severe weather cancelling flights or causing damage at your travel destination
  • losing your job at the scheduled time of trip
  • being called to jury duty and unable to escape;
  • Your booked travel organisation is going bankrupt.

Keep in mind that coverage varies depending on the provider and plan.

Other benefits of trip insurance include a death benefit, coverage for emergency medical treatment while travelling, and compensation for misplaced baggage.

What’s Not Covered by Travel Insurance?

When it comes to travel insurance, among the most crucial things to remember is that any perks are secondary to any compensation you might receive immediately from the carrier. Yet, travel insurance does not provide any coverage in the following situations:

  • Pre-existing disorders or illness
  • Dental therapy
  • Suicide or mental illness-related loss or damage
  • Medical care requiring travel
  • Collections resulting from pregnancy or childbirth
  • Natural disasters that began before you bought an insurance
  • Mistakes in any adventure activity or sports
  • Absence of insurance paperwork

How much does travel insurance cost?

The price of a travel insurance coverage is determined by the risks involved in the journey. The bigger the risk, the higher the cost for travel insurance. However, we can’t provide you with a precise figure for the expense of your travel insurance. This is due to the fact that the cost of travel insurance is determined by a variety of criteria that isn’t the same for all. It will differ not only from one journey to the next, as well as from one tourist to the next. However, travel insurance often costs between 4% and 12% of the overall cost of your travel.

If the overall price of your travel is Rs 1 lakh, your insurance policy could cost anywhere between Rs 4000 and Rs 12,000. However, if you do not go on your vacation, the fee for travel insurance is non-refundable.

Should I get travel insurance?

Travel insurance protects you while you’re on the trip. Insurance firms may refer to travel insurance under several names. It’s critical that you double-check and understand whether your policy covers domestic or international travel, or both at times. Travel insurance policies provide you and/or your family protection against travel-related accidents, unexpected medical expenses while travelling, losses such as passport loss, baggage loss, and flight disruptions or delays, among other things.

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance

Some comprehensive travel insurance policies include cancellation for any reason as an optional add-on (CFAR coverage cannot be purchased separately). While tour cancellation coverage reimburses you if you terminate a trip for a covered cause, CFAR reimburses you only partially if you cancel for any reason. The rate of compensation varies by policy, although it is usually about 75%, if you cancel two days in advance.

Student Travel Insurance

Students travelling abroad to continue their higher education can benefit from an effective Student Travel Insurance coverage that provides financial and medical help. While studying in a foreign location, students may suffer financial difficulties or other emergencies; a comprehensive travel insurance coverage allows them to continue their studies without worry. Students who are now studying abroad or who plan to study abroad can benefit from these plans. The insurance coverage provided is for the entire duration of the course.

Conclusion

You will not make any mistakes if you are clear about the conditions that are not covered by your travel insurance organisation. If you ignore policy exclusions, your trip could be ruined. With the information provided above, you should be able to make an informed selection and enjoy a stress-free trip.

Take a look around for the best coverage for your needs. People frequently claim that they might not afford travel insurance, but in truth, affordability is more of a misconception when it comes to travel insurance. When unexpected scenarios emerge, it can save them thousands or lakhs of rupees in unanticipated expenses.

There are multiple websites like Cleartrip who provide all the information regarding travel insurance in a very comprehensive yet clear manner. It prevents the travellers from any hassle or confusion regarding the insurance.

So, visit and check out Cleartrip Travel Insurance and find the most beneficial travel insurance, as per your requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What causes for a trip cancellation are covered by insurance?

Several causes are covered, including:
1. Injuries to the insured, their travel companions, family members, or business partners.
2. Destination is hit by a hurricane or natural calamity.
3. A travel company’s bankruptcy or financial default.
4. Terrorism or evacuation requirements at the destination

Can a travel insurance claim be rejected?

If you postpone/cancel your travel for a personal issue, such as a scheduling conflict or a personal issue, that isn’t covered by your insurance, your claim will be denied..

How much time after an incident do you have to file a claim for travel insurance?

Unless authorised by law, you generally have 90 days from the date of your loss to file your claim. The time might vary in various companies, depending on their policy.

What if your insurance claim is turned down?

If your claim is refused, you will almost certainly need to employ an attorney to defend the denial, irrespective of how legitimate you believe it is. Insurers, after all, make money by collecting more cash in premiums than they give out in claims.

What’s the distinction between a denied claim and a rejected one?

Denied claims are those that have been received and evaluated by the payer but have been determined to be unpayable. These claims could be in violation of the payer-patient contract, or they could simply contain a critical inaccuracy that was only discovered after processing. A claim that has been denied cannot easily be resubmitted. It’s important to figure out the reason behind a denial of claim. A claim that has been rejected has one or more flaws that were discovered before it was processed. The insurance company will not pay the bill due to errors, as well as the rejected claim will be forwarded to the biller to be addressed. A mismatched procedure or a clerical error and ICD code might lead to a claim being rejected.

travel | Travel Tips | travel tips for beginners