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Travel insurance is necessary for any trip, especially when travelling abroad. Among the various coverages in travel insurance plans, medical insurance for international travel ensures that you receive medical care for unexpected health issues while travelling.
International travel insurance covers medical emergencies, hospitalisation, additional accommodation and travel expenses due to illness and injury, along with an emergency evacuation, which can otherwise result in a huge cost.
Understanding the importance of travel insurance medical coverage helps you make informed buying decisions. Additionally, it ensures that you are well-informed when filing a claim.
What Coverage Does Travel Medical Insurance Provide?
In India, travel medical insurance coverage is included in travel insurance. It protects travellers (policyholders) from unexpected medical expenses during their trip abroad. Let us discuss the inclusions of travel insurance medical coverage for international travel.
- Includes emergency medical coverage:
- Cost of hospital stays
- Cost of doctor visits
- Cost of medicines
- Cost of surgery and dental treatments
- Treatments for sudden illness or injuries from accidents
- Includes medical evacuation insurance
- Transportation costs to any medical facility
- Transportation back home in case of severe health problems
- Ensures necessary medical coverage without overwhelming expenses
- Expenses for extended stay due to illness or injury
Is There a Difference Between Travel Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance?
In India, there is not much difference between travel insurance and travel medical insurance. Travel medical insurance coverage is generally included in a travel insurance plan.
With leading insurers, medical coverage is one of the benefits of a travel insurance plan. A travel insurance policy covers lost baggage, delayed flights, emergency medical expenses and more.
Benefits of Travel Insurance
- The Focus of Coverage: Travel insurance offers a broader range of protection along with covering emergency medical bills when abroad.
- Trip Protection: It includes coverage for trip cancellation, interruptions and any kind of trip delays.
- Lost Belongings: It covers the cost of lost, stolen or damaged baggage and personal items as per the policy terms.
- Emergency Assistance: It may provide additional emergency medical evacuation assistance, which may include air ambulance coverage, too.
- Ideal for: This plan is ideal for comprehensive travel protection. It includes coverage for both health and non-health-related incidents.
Who Requires Medical Insurance for Travel Abroad?
Travel insurance with overseas emergency medical insurance coverage is essential to travel abroad. Let us explore who needs travel health insurance plans:
- Tourists
- Business Travellers
- Students studying abroad
- Frequent travellers
- Families and children
- Elderly travellers
- Travellers with a longer stay in the destination country
If you are planning to visit countries like Russia, Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Cuba and Schengen countries, you need to have medical insurance for international travel to obtain a visa and enter the country.
However, even if you are travelling to any other part of the world, we would suggest you get travel insurance with ample coverage. Here, it is advisable to check the coverage inclusions and exclusions to ensure you have adequate protection during your trip abroad.
Conclusion
Travel medical insurance is a necessary investment for individuals who are concerned about potential expenses like medical emergencies, trip delays, lost baggage, etc. when travelling to another country.
Protection for medical emergencies includes the cost of medical emergencies, such as hospital stays, doctor visits and sometimes evacuation assistance. So, before you embark on your journey, do not forget to get a travel insurance plan with adequate coverage.
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