When you start planning your trip, most of you might look out for smart tips and tricks so that you do not miss out on any important stuff. While exploring such tips, you must’ve come across a common travel tip, ‘buy travel insurance’. However, you might have certain questions in this regard.

So, let’s start with contemplating what is travel insurance and why is it important. In layman’s terms, it is your safety net if you are planning to travel domestically or internationally. A travel insurance plan allows you to travel without fearing the uncertainties that might arise during your trip. Now, to understand travel insurance and its benefits in detail, you must primarily understand the need for it. So, let’s get started.

What is Travel Insurance exactly?

Travel insurance is a policy you buy to protect and safeguard yourself and your family against major and minor mishaps arising during your trips, such as delayed/lost baggage, a medical emergency including COVID 19 in a foreign country, or last-minute trip cancellation due to a medical emergency. In addition, it helps you in case of passport loss and other unfortunate events. So if you ask what is travel insurance, in brief, it would be safe to say that it is a lifesaving policy that every traveller must have, irrespective of their destination.

Apart from that, here are a few things that you must know about travel insurance before opting for one:

• The covers and benefits of travel insurance vary from plan to plan. Thus, it would be best to choose a policy that fits your needs, budget, and travel plans. 

• Travel insurance might not cover every possible situation, but it covers most of them. For having a complete understanding, you can check out the available travel insurance policies, compare them across insurers and pick one that provides maximum coverage at a reasonable premium.

• If you have understood what Travel insurance is, then by now, you must have figured out that this insurance plan is designed to cover unforeseen or unpredicted situations and not any situation that can be seen coming or things within control. So, for instance, you cannot claim insurance coverage in case of a predicted hurricane or earthquake.

Types of Travel Insurance Plans

There are different types of travel insurance plans available according to the varying needs and purposes of different travellers. Therefore, you must carefully go through the inclusions and exclusions of each type in order to get the maximum benefits. The different types of travel insurance plans available with TATA AIG, one of the leading insurance companies, include:

• Domestic Travel Insurance
• International Travel Insurance
• Student Travel Insurance
• Senior Citizen Insurance

How does Travel Insurance Work?

Travel insurance covers most of the expenses incurred in case of an unfortunate happening such as passport loss, baggage loss/delay or medical emergency, including COVID 19 during your trip. However, the mishap shouldn’t be a part of the policy’s exclusions. Travel insurance works on cashless claims and reimbursement methods where you have to file a claim request with the insurer along with bills and documents to prove the authenticity of the situation. If the insurer is satisfied with all the pieces of evidence and information, it disburses the claim. For example, you must apply for a claim along with a medical prescription in case you have to cancel a flight or booking due to sickness or health issues. And then get the amount reimbursed in your registered bank account within few days of claiming the amount.

Now that you have understood what travel insurance is and what travel insurance covers, you can get your future travels insured with a reliable and trusted insurance company such as TATA AIG, which has a significant presence in 190+ countries across the globe. They offer 24x7 services along with local assistance in a foreign land, helping you have a relaxing and safe trip.