What does your travel insurance policy not cover ?

Posted on: Mar 26, 2019 | | Written by:

What does your travel insurance policy not cover ?

You have taken travel insurance while planning the annual family trip overseas. However, the trip got cancelled because of some reason and you thought of filing a claim for the same. But soon you realize that the cancellation reason was not covered in the claim. You feel frustrated and cheated. You feel all your money buying the travel insurance is wasted and it wasn’t worth it.

Such scenarios can be avoided by clearly understanding what is covered by your policy. You should always read the policy documents carefully to understand what travel insurance covers and what it does not.

Travel insurance does not cover cancellations for ‘everything’

While most travel insurance coverage includes coverage for trip cancellation due to certain circumstances, not all reasons are covered. For example, no travel insurance company will compensate you just because you had a change of mind and you don’t wish to travel anymore.

If there is a medical emergency, you must provide supporting medical documents and a doctor’s recommendation for making the claim. Cancelling a trip because someone in the extended family is sick will not be covered.

Participating in high-risk sports & activities will not be covered

When travelling, many of us love to enjoy sporting activities that give us an adrenaline rush. Most travel insurance will not cover a claim made for injuries during a sporting activity.

However, some specific adventure sports are covered under some travel insurance. So it is wise to inquire with your insurance company about the policies before engaging in any sporting activity. You may consider upgrading your policy if the activity is not covered.

Every travel insurance company has a list of ‘Exclusions’

Every travel insurance policy comes with a pre-defined list of inclusions and exclusions. This list should be carefully read and reviewed.

For example, if you are buying an HDFC ERGO travel insurance plan, it will not cover for:

Tour operator cancellation
Acts of wars or local protest
Pre-existing medical conditions
Baggage delays for less than 12 hours
damage to keys, money, or cards
Sports injuries
Death or illness of a pet
Pregnancy and childbirth
Self-inflicted injuries
Divorce or separation from spouse
Participating in hazardous adventure sports
Injuries caused under influence of liquor, drugs or narcotics (Unless advised/administered by a physician).

Despite the list of exclusions, we cannot deny the importance of having the right travel insurance policy. The key is to read and understand things that are and that are not covered under your policy to ensure you are not caught off guard at the moment of need.

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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