Travel insurance in India is equally important as it is for international travel. This is because usually people are very cautious about buying travel insurance for international trips. However, while travelling within India, people tend to be less cautious about the trip and its safety. But irrespective of the place you are travelling to, you must stay protected with a good travel insurance plan. So, if you are planning to go on a trip anywhere in India or abroad, it is important that you must insure your journey comprehensively and enjoy the trip of your dreams.
However, you should note that certain things are not covered by insurance providers. They are called exclusions of the travel policy. It is important that you know what is not covered under your travel insurance plan. In this blog, we will help you know about the exclusions of travel insurance in India and abroad.
What are the types of travel insurance available?
Travel insurance policies can basically be divided into two categories –
- Domestic travel insurance: Domestic travel insurance or travel insurance in India is a policy that protects you against any unforeseen circumstances such as – trip cancellation, flight delays, loss of passport, baggage loss, personal liability, medical emergencies, and many more. It is best to buy a comprehensive plan to ensure your travel anywhere in India is safe and free from stressful events.
- Travel insurance international: International travel insurance is for those who are going abroad. Anyone who wants to go abroad must insure their travel to ensure the trip is not hindered by any uncertain circumstances such as flight delays, medical emergencies, trip cancellation due to natural calamities, etc. Some insurance providers even cover the dangers of sports and adventures that might lead to mishaps.
What are the exclusions under your travel insurance policy?
Below are some of the major exclusions that travel insurance in India or even that for an international trip does not cover –
- Pre-existing illness: The travel insurance India provider will reject your claim if you are already suffering from an illness. There is a look-back period of 60 to 180 days in which you can inform your insurer about the medical illness (if any). Diseases such as HIV are not covered under this plan. Travel insurance will only cover the sudden accidental injuries or natural disasters caused during the trip.
- Dental treatment: A travel insurance policy only covers accidental damage to your teeth during the injury. So, it does not cover the cost of routine dental check-ups or treatment. Also, the claim might get rejected if you do not have real teeth.
- Travel for medical treatment: The insurance policy does not cover if you travel anywhere in India or abroad for medical treatment. However, if you are travelling abroad for treatment not available in India, the travel insurance international covers you and processes the claim. However, this differs from insurer to insurer.
- Loss caused due to suicide attempt: A travel insurance international policy does not cover any self-harm claims. Suppose you have a mental disorder like depression, emotional breakdown, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or any other psychotic disorder. In that case, an insurance provider will not process the claim. However, some insurance providers offer to cover emergency hospitalisation expenses.
- Natural disasters caused before purchasing the policy: Suppose there has been a volcanic eruption in Hawaii, which has already been declared unsafe to travel by the government. In this case, the insurance company will not accept the claim for any loss or damage caused if you have purchased the policy after the declaration. This means if you are travelling to certain places which are prone to natural disasters or man-made violence. The insurance provider will not accept the claim and thus have the right to reject it. However, travel insurance protects you from natural disasters caused while travelling.
- Complications caused due to pregnancy: Travel insurance does not cover any pregnancy-related concerns and issues. Also, hospitalisation due to childbirth, abortion, or miscarriage will not be covered by the insurance provider, unless specifically outlined in the travel insurance policy document. Hence, it is advisable not to travel during the last few months of the pregnancy.
- Adverse weather conditions: If you can cancel your booking for a flight and vacation due to bad weather conditions, the compensation claim will be rejected by the insurance company. However, if the bad weather leads to the cancellation of your flight, you will be compensated for the loss. Also, cancellation of your trip due to weather prediction is not the condition on which you can raise a claim for the loss.
- Unavailability of proper documents: When raising a claim, you must present all the valid documents to get compensation. Without the proper documentation, the insurance provider will not process the claim. Also, keep your payment record, such as medical bills, handy to ensure you have a smooth claim process.
- Claim beyond limitations: There always are certain limitations to the policy. An insurance provider offers claims only for the amount and reasons listed in the policy terms and conditions. If your concerns are not listed in the document, the insurance providers will not cover those. However, you can always talk to your insurance provider to check if there are any add-ons available with travel insurance.
Keeping the inclusions and exclusions of travel insurance in India in mind will not lead to the miscalculation of the coverage. Hence, it is important to go through and understand the exclusions of the policy, as it might affect your trip adversely. Also, if you are buying travel insurance for international travel, you must be extra careful to check the exclusions. This is because you obviously do not want to get stuck in a foreign land with problems. Also, always talk to the insurance providers to ensure the inclusions and exclusions of the travel insurance policy.
Disclaimer – The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
