All you need to know about travel insurance while travelling abroad

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The blistering summer heat is breaking new records everyday. Amidst this blazing weather,  many people are planning to take holidays abroad. But in order to take a foreign trip, many essential tasks like flight booking, hotel booking and currency exchange have to be done well in advance. Another extremely important thing that needs to be taken care of is travel insurance

In many countries, travel insurance is mandatory for travelers coming from abroad. But in some countries, it is completely optional. However, you should make sure that whichever country you are going to, you consider travel insurance as a necessity, and not a formality.

This is because travel insurance provides you with comprehensive coverage for your belongings and health, apart from many other facilities. Many insurance companies offer exhaustive travel policies. These include Tata AIG, ICICI Lombard, Care, Reliance General, Bajaj Allianz, SBI General, Digit and Oriental Insurance among others.

While taking travel insurance, you need to keep in mind a few important things.

Going abroad may mean you end up changing flights multiple times to reach your destination. Many times, the connecting flight may end up losing your checked-in luggage. So, having a cover for loss of baggage is very important. Insurance companies provide coverage for baggage loss ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 80,000. Pay attention to what coverage you are getting and buy a policy according to your needs.

If your passport or other important documents are lost, you can get coverage ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 25,000 for the same. Always check if your plan includes loss of document coverage or not. Another important and essential coverage is that for accidents. In case you get injured in an accident or something more serious happens.

The insurance company will provide coverage and necessary assistance. Some companies also cover damage to third parties. There is one important thing you need to pay attention to in all this. Check for the insurance cover you get in case of a medical emergency or when there’s  immediate need of funds for treatment

You should see if your travel insurance policy is providing you with comprehensive coverage or not. Companies provide coverage up to Rs 80 lakh under travel insurance. But above all, do not rush to buy the travel insurance policies sold on ticket booking portals. Instead, it is always advisable to compare different policies.

And then, buy a policy that meets all your needs. Also, check if the policy provides cashless service in the network of hospitals in the country you are visiting. This is important because in such a case, all medical claims can be settled easily.

And you don’t have to pay out of your pocket. Check if travel insurance also provides a global helpline facility round the clock or not. Such a facility is necessary so that you can get immediate help if you get stuck in any trouble. You should also see what is not included in the travel insurance

Most insurance companies do not cover pre-existing diseases and their treatment abroad. Recently, some companies have started covering pre-existing diseases. But even then, claims may take time