Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

Before paying for a new policy, however, it's worth checking whether you are already covered: some all risks home insurance policies may cover your possessions when overseas, and many private medical schemes include cover when abroad. In Canada, Provincial health plans partial medical cover for mishaps overseas, while holders of official student/teacher/youth cards in Canada and the US are entitled to meager accident coverage and hospital in-patient benefits. Students will often find that their student health coverage extends during the vacations and for one term beyond the date of the last enrolment. After exhausting the possibilities above, you might want to contact a specialist travel insurance company.

A typical travel insurance policy usually provides over for the loss of baggage, tickets and up to a certain limit cash or cheques, as well as cancellation or curtailment of your journey. Most of them exclude so called dangerous sports unless an extra premium is paid: in India this can mean scuba diving , whitewater rafting, windsurfing and trekking with ropes, though probably not jeep safaris. Many policies can be chopped and changed to exclude coverage you don't need for example, sickness and accident benefits can be often be excluded or included at will, if you do take medical coverage, ascertain whether benefits will be paid as treatment proceeds or only after return home, and whether there is 24 hour medical emergency number.

When securing baggage cover, make sure that the Per Article limit typically under 500 will cover your most valuable possession. If you need to make claim, you should keep receipts for medicines and medical treatment, and in the event you have anything stolen, you must obtain an official statement from the police. A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is wise. Beware that some policies specifically exclude dangerous activities, which can include scuba diving, motor cycling and even trekking. There is a wide variety of policies available, so check the small print carefully .

You might prefer a policy that pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than you having to pay on the spot and claim later. If you have to claim later ensure you keep all documentation. Check that the policy covers an emergency flight home and that it adequately covers India and adjacent countries. Note that it's crucial to get a police report in India if you've had anything stolen as insurance companies may refuse to reimburse you without one.