How to Utilize Travel Insurance for Hospitalization Abroad?

Posted on: May 2, 2022 | | Written by:

How to Utilize Travel Insurance for Hospitalization Abroad?

Hospitalization Coverage under Travel Insurance

Travelling abroad is such an exciting and enlightening experience as you get to explore a new country, new culture, and new cuisines. To make the most of your international trip, you need meticulous planning. There is so much to look after, such as visa, foreign currency, accommodation, packing, and most important of all international travel insurance, that will help you deal with any unforeseen situation during your trip.

International travel insurance will provide medical benefits, in case you fall sick during your journey. It also covers medical emergencies and emergency evacuation due to a medical condition. Comprehensive international travel insurance provides financial support and minimizes your medical expenses, in case a medical emergency occurs during your trip.

Following are the benefits offered by travel insurance during a medical emergency

Emergency Hospitalization

Hospitalization may be required in case you get injured, suddenly fall sick, or have an underlying health condition. Whatever may be the reason, falling sick during an international trip can be scary. So, it is best that you are prepared especially if you are travelling with kids or citizens. Invest in good international travel insurance and inform your insurer immediately in case of an emergency. Your insurer will assist you in finding immediate medical assistance but here are a few things to keep in mind.

● Duly filled claim form

● Your family doctor’s contact details.

● A signed copy of the Release of Medical Information (ROMI) form. This is required to authorize your treating doctor and your doctor from India to provide your medical information to the Insurance Medical Assistance Department.

● Your medical reports and prescriptions

● Copy of passport and insurance

● Details of your insurance

● Details of your health insurance policy.

● Estimate of medical expenses

Emergency Medical Evacuation

Ensure to check that your travel insurance covers emergency medical evacuation services. In this process the insured who is injured or sick needs to be transported to a healthcare facility either through the air or by any other mode. If you have travel insurance all the evacuation expenses are covered by the insurer provided the healthcare facility is listed in the insurer’s network. Most travel insurers also cover the cost of travelling to the home country for treatment.

Personal Accident Cover

If in a situation the insured is involved in an accident, the travel insurance offers increased coverage for accidental hospitalization. This is subject to policy terms and conditions. The policy also provides coverage for expenses due to loss of life or permanent disability. The policy includes repatriation cover.

International Travel Insurance Exclusions

● If medical treatment is the purpose of travel. Travelling abroad for medical treatment comes under medical tourism and there is separate travel insurance for it.

● Any treatment that is not urgent and can be delayed till the insured travels back to his home country.

● Any dental procedure or treatment that can be postponed and not urgent.

● Any treatment for birth defects or congenital anomalies.

● Hormone replacement therapy.

● Any elective treatment.

Is It Mandatory To Avail of Travel Insurance While Travelling Abroad?

Travel insurance while travelling abroad is a must-have. It is an essential part of international travel which acts as a safety net against medical emergencies, any losses, and liabilities. A single policy can protect you from many unforeseen risks in a foreign land. Let us see how

1. Coverage against Medical Expenses-

Travel insurance covers all kinds of emergency medical expenses like outpatient, in-patient, tests, accident or illness, medical aid, medical evacuation, air ambulance, etc.

2. Accidental Death or Disability-

Travel insurance also covers expenses due to accidental death or disability during an international trip. It also covers repatriation expenses.

3. Travel Related Emergency-

Travel insurance also covers any non-medical emergency, such as loss of important documents or property such as baggage or laptop, any flight delays, baggage delays or missed flights, and unused hotel reservations. The insurance company reimburses the food and essentials expenses in case of delays provided all bills are submitted. These emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime. Having these covered can make your trip stress-free.

4. Personal Liability-

Travel insurance also covers personal liability in case damage is caused to a third party or property. Compensation for damages resulting from death, injury, or damage to health or property is covered by the travel insurance policy.

5. Assistance throughout the Trip-

Your travel insurance policy does not only provide financial cover but also assistance throughout your trip. Most insurers have a dedicated assistance team to provide support in case you need any help. It provides financial emergency assistance, hijacks distress allowance, contingency travel benefit, hospital cash, etc. It is that friend you can turn to, in a foreign land.

6. Mandatory Requirement-

Many countries have made it a mandatory requirement for travellers to have travel insurance. In absence of international travel insurance, your entry to the country may be banned. Many a time visa applications also get rejected if travel insurance documents are not provided along with the application. Hence it is recommended to check before you apply for a visa, whether your destination country has mandatory travel insurance requirements or not.

Conclusion

It is always better to have international travel insurance for your much-awaited international trip because any kind of situation may arise and the best way to deal with uncertainty is to be prepared for it. This holds especially in case of medical emergencies because the cost of basic medical aid or treatment can be much higher in a foreign country compared to India. Also, the assistance you will require during an emergency is readily available if you have a travel insurance plan.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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