Cash? Check. Extra pair of clothes? Check. Medicines? Check.
Isn’t it normal to be sure of everything that you might need on your trip abroad? Yes, it is. The way the year 2020 rolled, it imposed one fact that life is uncertain and unpredictable. It left people homebound and without travel. But now as things seem to ease a bit, they have a high urge to travel and relax away from their home.
According to a survey, around 25% of Indians have planned a trip abroad by the end of the year. It is #timetotravelagain. While you plan to travel post the COVID pandemic, bear in mind the current situations and know how best you can handle if anything unanticipated happens.
You may also like: A Complete Singapore Travel Guide for Indian Travellers
Imagine you were in the streets of any market abroad when someone stole your purse. It had all the cash, your passport, and some essential papers. But it is all gone. You just couldn’t do anything other than filing a complaint.
If you had an international travel insurance policy in the same situation, you would have been reimbursed for the things that do not affect your trip. It will help you in place when things are not in your hand.
What is an international travel insurance policy?
An international travel insurance is an insurance cover that protects you against different risks while traveling. Largely, it will cover medical expenses due to emergencies, immediate evacuation due to medical reasons, lost luggage, flight cancellation/delays, and other types of losses that you might incur.
Post covid trips, the demand for a travel insurance policy has increased. One, the awareness about how the policy helps has risen, and second, many countries have made it a compulsory document to allow foreign visitors.
But why is the international travel insurance policy made mandatory after Covid-19?
The risk of spread of Covid-19 infection is high. The mode of contracting the disease could be staying close to a Covid +ve person. It might also spread through surface touch. When you are traveling, you cannot maintain hygiene at all levels. This puts you at risk of getting infected by the disease. Hence, countries have made the travel policy mandatory.
Not only this, abiding by the guidelines post-travel, many countries will request you to take a test on arrival. If tested positive, you will be sent to quarantine.
Reasons to buy an international travel insurance policy.
Here are the reasons to buy an international travel insurance policy.
I. Flying the COVID skies is not risk-free:
International skies are still not 100% considering human vulnerability towards the COVID-19 virus. Before and after arrival, the Covid test is considered mandatory. In case you are tested positive, chances are you have to abandon the trip. Though aviation industries are still battling to re-establish confidence in air travel with bundles of safety measures, the inconvenient truth is- flights are risky in some ways.
II. Government decisions are unforeseen and immediate due to COVID:
Any country can impose a sudden lockdown. Getting locked away from home is a risk. Your International Travel Insurance Policy will pay you if you have to cancel the flight as well as hotel bookings.
III. Flight cancellation is the new normal:
Flights are uncertain because of the fluctuating number of covid patients. In any situation, countries can impose flight cancellation. It is the new normal, so you have to be prepared. The travel policy will cover your cost for urgent cancellations.
You may also like: Malaysia Airlines Review
IV. Emergency Evac can be vital in some cases:
You might need emergency medical evacuation if you are not near a covid help center. It might happen that on your three or more days of the trip, you feel uneasy. Later, you will realize that you are infected by corona. The disease can leave you in a pitiable state if you have some pre-existing illnesses like diabetes, thyroid, kidney or liver issues, breathing problems, and lung disorders. In any case, you need medical evacuation the cost of which will be covered under the travel policy.
V. Emergency accommodation can be more expensive than the whole trip budget:
The risk of emergency accommodations can not be avoided. Such unexpected cost stands covered under the Travel Policy.
VI. Risk of trip cancellation is more these days:
Trip cancellation can be costly, and it may not be in your hands. You might have made bookings of flight and hotel. If you have to cancel the trip in any circumstance, the insurance company will reimburse your expenses. The travel policy covers travel delays/cancellations due to an infectious disease.
You may also like: 6 holidays you must try out
Things to look at while buying an international travel policy:
I. Conditions of Covid coverage:
Read the recent policy changes due to covid. The insurance policy clearly states that it will cover all the expenses if you have to undertake emergency hospitalization. It will not pay you for quarantine, isolation, or any mild symptoms.
II. Locations covered for Covid:
You must notice if the policy does not cover any specific covid affected location. The chances are that if you visit any high covid infected area, the insurance company might exclude the coverage. Be sure of it when you make the purchase.
To avoid this, you can choose safer destinations like Thailand, Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, etc.
You may also like: International Driving License Malaysia
III. Covid coverage:
What if you got affected by the coronavirus while you are on a trip in a foreign country? Who will take care of you? So, in this situation, checking if the insurance policy covers COVID is the most important. Anyway, insurance companies have customized their policies and focused on covering the disease after the pandemic, so it will be hard to miss.
IV. Length of Stay:
You should be precise about the length of your stay when abroad. It will govern the amount of premium you pay under the Travel Policy.
V. Distance of Travel:
The cost and the coverage of the travel insurance are directly proportional to the premium you will pay. If you want to buy an affordable cover, make sure the data and stats are correct.
VI. Check for Restrictions:
If you plan to indulge in some adventure sports, your travel insurance policy might have some restrictions. You should check them before buying the policy.
VII. Check the health coverage under the policy:
More than the destination, it is essential that you be in sound health. But everything may not be under your control. Before you make the final purchase, check the list of diseases that stand included under the international travel policy.
The sudden outbreak and invariably rising number of covid patients can change your travel plans. Buying an international travel insurance policy will be the wisest thing you choose to do.
