Travel insurance
Travel Insurance FAQ | Travel Insurance Questions Answers | Travel Insurance Queries
Answers about overseas cover, Schengen visa, baggage, PED and claims. Ask an adviser if your trip needs a tailored plan.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need Travel Insurance?
One usually travels abroad for various reasons- a pleasure trip, a business trip, a study trip etc. You do not want anything to ruin your hard earned holiday, foreign study or your crucial business meeting. But there is a possibility of some unexpected occurrence no matter how perfect the planning is. Unfortunate events such as baggage loss, passport loss, a medical emergency or an accident can affect you. Having Overseas Travel Insurance protects you from all such perils. It ensures that in the unknown foreign land, you are not left stranded in any kind of an emergency.For detailed coverages you can visit our site
Who can take travel insurance?
Any person going abroad can take overseas travel insurance â€" a tourist, a businessman or a corporate executive,student, a person visiting his family members.
Is travel insurance mandatory for all countries?
Travel insurance is mandatory for Schengen visa countries. The Schengen visa basically allows the visa holder to travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa, thus avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country. This is particularly beneficial for persons who wish to visit several European countries during the same trip.
What are the things to look for while choosing a travel insurance plan?
Given below are some factors you may consider while selecting an appropriate travel insurance plan.
How to buy insurance online?
Step 1
We have three types of policies
Instant policy You can pay and download immediately.
I have already left india and forgot to take travel health insurance,can I still buy?
No, since you have already left India, this is not possible. You can however look for insurance in the country you have travelled to.
I have to visit USA and Canada for a few days and then any place excluding USA and Canada ,what coverage area should I choose?
As travel health insurance is expensive for USA and Canada and cheaper for countries excluding USA and Canada and if a person has to visit both in one trip then you can contact us and we will provide you the solution.
My travel medical policy has expired and I forgot to extend same. Can I get it extended now?
Insurance companies generally provide three days grace period to get your travel medical insurance policy extended provided there is no claim in the expired policy. However it is at the sole discretion of the company and as per terms and conditions of individual companies.
Can I buy Overseas Travel Insurance If I am traveling on an immigrant visa?
Yes, you can buy Overseas Travel Insurance even if you are traveling on an immigrant visa (e.g. H1-B Visa, Work permit, Green Card or Permanent Residency(PR)) . However, the maximum duration of your policy can only be 120 days. After 120 Days, You need to purchase the Policy from the country you are immigrating to. Some insurers provide cover to immigrants for 90 days and some others for 120 days. So select a plan according to your requirement.
I have made payment for instant travel insurance policy and the amount has been deducted from my account but I have not received the policy. What should I do?
In some companies like Bajaj and HDFC Ergo, when you make payment, a transaction number is generated. Kindly note that down and in case your payment is successful but you do not get the policy, mail us that reference no. Or if you have not noted down the transaction number, please mail us your account statement showing that the amount has been debited. In case of other companies where transaction number is not generated, please mail us your account statement showing the transaction. We will get your policy issued from the company. If you are in a hurry and you have to leave immediately or the next day is a holiday, you can buy a new policy and put in a mail as above and we will get your previous amount refunded to the credit card from which the payment has been made.
I want to take a travel insurance and want to know how will you deliver the policy?
If you opt for instant travel insurance plans, the policy will be e mailed to you instantly on making payment through your preferred mode of payment. In case of other plans also, once we receive your payment, the policy will be emailed to you within the time frame mentioned against each plan on our website. Also, if you require, a hard copy will be sent to you through courier or speed post.
I have taken a travel insurance policy but my travel dates have changed(postponed). Can I use the same policy?
If you wish, you can use the same policy if your travel start date is within 15 days of the policy start date. Or you can get the dates changed before your policy starts. It can be changed after policy start date too but then you have to give proof that the travel has not been undertaken i.e. your passport copy, tickets etc.
I have taken an instant travel insurance policy but there are some mistakes like spelling, address, passport no., nominee name. What can I do?
You can put in a service request using the link given below:
There are more than 90 days left for my travel start date but I need my travel insurance policy for visa. What should I do?
Some insurance companies do not provide travel insurance if there are more than 90 days left for the travel to begin. However, you can opt for plans of Cholamandalam and Tata AIG. Further, if medical tests are required, most of the companies provide insurance only 30 days in advance. Bajaj Allianz has a plan for age group 71 to 85 where you can get insurance more than 30 days in advance.
I have purchased tickets for my overseas trip and my travel itinerary is final. When should I buy my travel insurance policy?
Once you have purchased the air tickets and/or made hotel and other bookings, you have already spent a large chunk of your trip budget. It is best to buy your travel insurance policy soon after you buy your tickets and make bookings as many policies offer trip cancellation and interruption benefit wherein the Company will pay this benefit up to the Sum Insured as specified in the policy for trips that are canceled before the scheduled departure date due to certain specified reasons . The Company will reimburse for the forfeited, nonrefundable prepaid payments, made prior to the Insured Person’s departure date.
Can a minor become assignee in travel insurance?
Yes, a minor can be assignee in travel insurance.
Yes, a minor can be assignee in travel insurance.
No, Indian insurance companies do not provide travel health insurance for this yatra.
When does the travel insurance cover begin?
The travel insurance cover commences on the date specified in the Policy Schedule or the time you board the conveyance to leave for onward overseas journey or the Departure Date as per the policy, whichever is later.
Till when is the travel insurance policy valid?
Overseas travel insurance cover shall terminate
Do I need to carry the policy along with me?
You are advised to carry the policy along with you when traveling. This would be helpful in case of a claim. But most important the policy details ,like policy number, should be known to the insured when traveling
How much of the hospital expenses are covered by the policy? Is it 100%?
Hospital expenses shall be reimbursed in excess of the deductible and up to the sum(s) insured applicable to each cover.
Is there a cap on the hospital amount per day?
Yes, in certain policies there is a cap on the hospital amount per day. Please refer to our limits of liability benefit for further details or refer to the policy wordings given against each plan.
Is medical examination necessary for travel insurance policy? When and where are medical tests to be done?
You will find plans on insurancepandit.com which offer cover without medical tests for all ages.
am over 70 years old. Do I need to take medical tests?
Now, travel insurance plans without medical tests are available for all ages, even above 70 years.You can check these plans at
What are the Medical tests required?
Normally the insurance companies require three tests: E.C.G., Urine and Blood Sugar test but the required tests may vary from insurance company to insurance company depending upon the type of case. These tests are mentioned in our portal against each plan.
Are the expenses for the test a part of the overseas travel insurance policy or additional?
The cost of the medical tests(wherever required) has to be borne by the insured.
Do I need to go to the doctors specified by travel insurance policy?
Although there is no specified list of Doctors/Clinics/Hospitals/Labs to get the medical exam done for most of the companies, these tests are to be verified by M.D. Doctor only for all the companies.
How can I make any change (addition/deletion/change in name or address etc) in my present overseas travel insurance policy?
For any endorsement before departure date, please put a service request using the link given below:
Are there any sub limits like room rent, etc?
For any endorsement before departure date, please put a service request using the link given below:
Can I get a refund if there is change of plan?
Yes, you can get the refund after fulfilling the requirement of cancellation of policy .The original policy amount will be deducted by the cancellation charges. For details kindly refer cancellation and refund policy of each insurance company given against each travel insurance plan on our website.
What is the procedure for issuance of a duplicate policy?
You can put in a service request using the link given below:
Is there any travel insurance plan without Medical Cover?
Yes, overseas student travel insurance plans without medical cover are available (only for students) as some foreign universities offer their own medical insurance.
Is there any travel medical insurance plan which covers Drug Abuse, Cancer Screening, Inter collegiate sports, child care, Mental & nervous disorders, pregnancy?
Yes, Plans are available only for students under ICICI Lombard, Reliance, Tata AIG and Cholamandalam (student travel insurance plan).
My parents are quite healthy and coming to USA to visit us. Do we really need overseas medical insurance for them?
Overseas medical insurance is for future financial protection for medical problems. As future medical problems or injuries/accidents can't be predicted and medical treatment in USA is very expensive; hence it is always advisable to buy medical insurance.
If I lose my passport, will that be covered under overseas medical insurance?
Yes, most of the travel insurance plans cover loss of passport as well as the expenses incurred towards the procurement of a duplicate/temporary passport. Please check the coverage offered by the specific plan that you choose.
What happens if my baggage is delayed for more than one day but not lost? Will I get some compensation?
Most insurance companies cover baggage delay if the baggage is delayed for more than 12 hours. Compensation is given for emergency items purchased like medicines, clothing and toiletries. You will have to provide receipts for the same. If your baggage is lost, then compensation is given for the market value of the items lost subject to coverage and limits specified in your policy.
How do I know the limit of each type of expenses, what expenses are covered or not?
You can know the limits and coverage by clicking on the Show benefits icon against each plan. The general coverage and exclusions are also given in the Learn More section on our portal. For further clarification, you can refer to the policy wordings of each company.
What are pre-existing conditions?
Any condition, ailment or injury or related condition(s) for which insured person had signs or symptoms, and/or were diagnosed, and/or received medical advice/ treatment, within 48 months prior to seeking insurance cover.
Is there a cover for pre-existing medical conditions?
Pre existing diseases are excluded from the scope of travel health insurance policies.
My mother has diabetes and she needs to take insulin injection every day. Is that covered in overseas medical insurance?
No. That would be considered as a pre-existing condition and hence would NOT be covered.
What is the point of buying overseas medical insurance if it does not cover pre-existing medical conditions? These are the ones we need to get covered. Probability of other illnesses is very low anyway.
Even though the insurance will not cover pre-existing conditions, it will cover other conditions that were not pre-existing or unrelated to pre-existing conditions. The basic purpose of insurance is to cover you against the unexpected, unforeseen circumstances. You may be worried about the pre-existing conditions. However, you never know what may happen in future. A person may get into any health problem such as weather change, allergies in a new place, change of food, cold, fever, flu, diarrhea, pneumonia, food poisoning, snake bites, getting hit by car, falling in snow, or any other small or big health problems like urine infection, heart attack for reasons not related to pre-existing conditions. Therefore, it is very advisable to buy health insurance for those traveling abroad.
What are the things to look for while choosing student travel insurance plan?
While choosing the right travel insurance plan, students should keep some important things in mind.
Is pregnancy covered in overseas health insurance policy?
No, infact it is one of the exclusions of travel health insurance.
I am going for pilot training. Does my overseas health insurance cover medical expenses to treat the injuries sustained during the training period?
No, your overseas health insurance policy does not cover the medical treatment for injuries sustained during training. You will have to get it covered specifically by paying extra premium.
I am looking at some of the travel insurance plans and some of them cover up to $200,000, but on the same note, it says hospitalization maximum limit is $25 per day.Can you please clarify this?
This daily limit is daily hospitalisation allowance besides hospitalization expenses. Medical expenses limit is $200000 subject to sublimits if any .
This daily limit is daily hospitalisation allowance besides hospitalization expenses. Medical expenses limit is $200000 subject to sublimits if any .
Trip Cancellation Benefits: This benefit pays up to the Sum Insured as specified in the policy Schedule for trips that are canceled before the scheduled departure date due to the reasons specified below. The Company will reimburse for the forfeited, nonrefundable prepaid payments, made prior to the Insured/Insured Person's departure date.
I have taken a rental car abroad. Is the damage to the rental vehicle covered under overseas health insurance policy?
No, it is one of the exclusions of the policy. Kindly refer the policy wording for further details.
Do we need to pay upfront in case of a medical treatment and then claim, or the insurance policy will pay upfront?
In an emergency situation where hospitalization and/or medical evacuation are required, the insurer covers these costs upfront (subject to the insured complying with the policy wording). You would need to contact your relevant Emergency Assistance Service immediately to notify them of the situation.
What is a TPA?
TPA stands for Third Party Administrator. The most essential service they provide is cashless medical services. They also provide the necessary information to deal with any problem regarding claims.
From where can I get the claim form to make a claim?
Generally the claim form is provided in the travel kit with the policy itself and in the event of a claim, is to be submitted as per instructions provided in the Policy and Claim Handling procedure of the company.
In case medical treatment is required, is there any need for any pre-approval before hospitalization?
You would need to contact insurer’s TPA (the address and phone numbers of TPAs are given in our claims assistance and forms section) and they would arrange for the cashless claims for the medical treatment. In case cashless facility is denied for any reason, you can still apply for the reimbursement of your medical bills.
Would I be reimbursed for the medical expenses incurred abroad, if I go specifically for the purpose of seeking medical treatment?
Travel health insurance covers you only for accidents or sickness which happen unexpectedly and unintentionally while you are traveling abroad. This policy does not cover planned Medical Expenses / Treatment overseas.
In case I lose my baggage, how do I claim?
TPA has to be contacted to register the claim. You will have to submit the baggage loss claim form along with the supporting documents from the airline. Claim forms and TPA contact numbers are given in your policy document and are also there on our site https://www.insurancepandit.com/travel/travel_claim_assistance.php
What if in an emergency I don't have time to call up?
TPA should be contacted by any person within 48 hours and given the details about the insured.
Can I continue my treatment of the disease which happened during my travel abroad, in the home country, after expiry of my policy?
If the Third Party Administrator (TPA) advises that the continued treatment in the republic of India is appropriate, then the company will pay the medical expenses incurred in India for the same illness/injury contracted abroad following the transportation to India, for a maximum period of time varying from company to company from the date of return to the Republic of India, provided that the illness/injury is sustained or contracted within the period of insurance during the trip abroad.
If I am evacuated on grounds of medical reason, can I continue my treatment in India?
If recommended by the claims administrator and subject to the medical sum assured remaining, you can be indemnified in respect of the medical expenses incurred by you within India to continue medical treatment started outside India, immediately prior to any medical Evacuation. The company’s liability to make payments shall be limited to a specific period of time which varies from company to company.
Which doctors/hospitals can I visit?
You can go to the hospital of your choice and third party administrator (TPA) of your insurer will arrange for the cashless facility for you in the same hospital. Most TPAs have tie-ups with the local TPAs and arrange for cashless settlement. In case cashless facility is denied for any reason, you can still apply for the reimbursement of your medical bills.
How and where can I register a claim? What are the documents required?
Overseas Hospitalisation Claim, if payable as per policy terms and conditions, is cashless worldwide.
My mother is hurt during transit,will medical expenses incurred to treat her are covered?
Accident means a sudden, unforeseen, uncontrollable and unexpected physical event to the Insured Person caused by external, violent and visible means occurring during the Insured Period.It is covered and you can claim for same under travel health insurance.Travel health insurance starts when you board the flight.
Is the policy of IFFCO- TOKIO acceptable in Schengen visa requirement?
Yes, IFFCO Tokio travel insurance plans are acceptable for Schengen visa requirement. Given below is the approved list of Indian travel insurance companies for Schengen visa insurance.
COMPANY NAME
Our advisers can walk you through this for your specific policy and insurer.
APPROVED FULL COVERAGE OF AGE GROUPS
Our advisers can walk you through this for your specific policy and insurer.
All Plans without age limit
Our advisers can walk you through this for your specific policy and insurer.
without age limit
Our advisers can walk you through this for your specific policy and insurer.
Can the travel dates be adjusted after the grant of visa?
Yes, you can get the dates changed before your policy start date by emailing us the request for the same.
My mom is travelling to the UK next month. Do the Schengen countries include UK?
No, UK is not included in the Schengen countries. Please select the worldwide excluding USA/Canada plan.
Can I discuss the basic travel insurance requirement on phone with your executive?
Yes. Our customer care executives are available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. IST to answer your insurance related queries. You may give us a call at 9818175705.
I am diabetic since last 7 years, (on insulin since last one year), Have undergone angioplasty in Feb 2017. There are no medical illness options except only writing once. If I write Diabetes, I will be hiding cardiac problem, If I write IHD, I will be hiding my diabetes. Why can’t you have additional illness options in your drop down option?
This is a general list of certain specified illnesses for which most of the insurers do not provide coverage. So, just to show you suitable insurance plans, the list is provided at this step. You can select either one or when you fill the online insurance proposal form; you will have the option to mention both.
I am getting the message that no plans are available. What should I do now?
You can change your search criteria like if you are selecting a family option for age above 70, you may not get any plans; then you should look for individual plans. In case of a certain pre existing condition declined by all companies, you may not get any option. There may be certain other scenarios; if it gets too confusing, please give us a call at 9818175705 from 9:00am to 9:00 pm IST or write to us at [email protected].
Why is Schengen Visa sum insured given in $ and not in Euro?
Certain insurance companies have specific insurance plans valid only for Schengen areas and have the coverage in Euros. But most of the plans valid for the Schengen area from Indian insurers show coverage in USD. As a rough estimate, the USD 50000 plan would work for the Euro 30000 coverage condition of Schengen visa insurance.
In case during our stay we have to go to dentist or general physician for any viral fever/stomach pain etc, how to go about it? These ailments can happen to anybody at anytime and anywhere.
Your travel insurance plan covers outpatient care and dental care (subject to terms and conditions of the policy) as well. For sum insured or coverage, you must refer to your policy document. Each plan has a deductible amount of US$ 50 toUS$100 which you have to pay from your pocket; anything above that is payable by the insurance company. For claim procedures of different insurers, please refer the link:
Why can’t I buy with my International Credit Card?
Once you select the mode of payment and click on submit, you are redirected to the payment gateway of the insurer. Some of these may accept an international card and others may not. It is advisable to use an Indian credit/debit card.
Is BP a pre existing medical condition?
Yes, high or low blood pressure is a pre existing medical condition.
Is the premium for travel insurance to be paid periodically or is it just a one-time payment?
Premium for travel insurance is a onetime payment for the period of travel specified.
Does this Travel Insurance cover the required Medical Insurance overseas too?
Yes, travel insurance plans available on our website cover medical insurance overseas too for the trip duration specified.
I am travelling from India with my 21 year old son and my husband is joining from Dubai, can we go for a family policy (worldwide except US and Canada)? Or do we need to take three individual policies for our visit to Istanbul and Athens for 10 days.
You can take a family travel insurance policy for yourself and your son. Your husband will have to take an insurance cover from Dubai as Indian travel insurance plans require one to be in India at the time of start of their journey. Since he is already in Dubai, Indian insurance plans would not be available.
I am a Dutch national (The Netherlands passport holder) with an OCI card currently living in India for more than 11 months. I want to visit the Netherlands for nearly two months. Will the quoted insurance policy cover me? Please suggest.
Overseas travel insurance does not provide coverage for the country you are a resident of.
We need to buy 10 travel insurance policies, but offline. Can someone come to the office and help us with the purchase?
You can give us a call at 9818175705 and our customer care executive will be happy to assist you. It is an easy online process and a visit to your office will not be required.
My parents are visiting me in USA. They plan to stay for 5 months but may have to go back earlier. In this case, will I get a refund of the money I paid for travel insurance for the remaining period?
You must select a plan with ‘refund on early return’ benefit. Then, if your parents have to return early and there has been no claim in the policy, a proportional amount of money will be refunded as per the policy’s terms and conditions.
What are the documents required for processing the refund in case of early return?
In general, the documents required would be:
What comes under life threatening conditions?
Any medical emergency that may threaten the life of the insured would be considered a life threatening condition.
What are the extra charges for including baggage in the travel insurance?
Loss and Baggage of delay is included in almost all of the travel insurance plans up to the specified limits. Please click on the Check your quote,compare & buy plan link and check view plan benefits to know the details of the coverage.