Are you planning a trip abroad soon? If yes, then you should consider buying foreign travel insurance online. Travel insurance can be your support system in a foreign land. It can provide you with a financial cushion in a place where you have no known souls around and where the cost of things might be higher than that of India. Moreover, when you opt for a foreign travel insurance policy, your insurance company will cover your expenses overseas during an emergency crisis.
If you think about what can go wrong while you are travelling abroad, here is the truth. The truth is, you may lose your belongings, passport or may get sick. Fret not, though! With insurance for foreign travel that is offered by insurers like Tata AIG, you can save your hard-earned money. So, now that you know that travelling insurance is important for overseas travelling, is it mandatory? Well, let’s find out below.
Is Travel Insurance Mandatory for Foreign Travels?
There are around 34 nations worldwide that have mandated having a travel insurance policy for visitors. These countries have made it compulsory for their visitors to have travel insurance to save them during a medical emergency, accidents, passport or luggage loss, third party property damage or any other bodily injury. The reason is the cost of treatment and living is high in those nations.
But even if you travel to any country where an insurance policy isn’t mandatory, it is prudent to have one. Here are two most important reasons to have one:
- Having valid foreign travel insurance will save your pockets from undue expenses in emergencies, including medical issues, treatments, personal liabilities, and so on.
- As you will be alone in a foreign land, with nobody around whom you can ask for any help, travel insurance could be your only reliable source of support in a far-off place.
List of Countries That Require Travel Insurance if Travelling from India
As mentioned above, there are 34 countries where you will need to have a valid travel insurance policy to enter. And you will need to apply for foreign travel insurance before you depart from India. You cannot buy one once you reach your destination.
Here is a simple list of countries where travel insurance is mandatory for their visitors –
- Schengen Countries – a group of 26 countries in Central Europe.
- Qatar
- Cuba
- The United States of America
- Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands
- Russia
- Turkey
- Antarctica
- The United Arab of Emirates
Benefits of Having a Travel Insurance
For countries like the US, UK and Japan, medical treatment costs are significantly high. So, if you are planning a trip to any of these nations, and an unforeseen event takes place where you are left stranded in a foreign land without any monetary support, travel insurance plans can help you immensely. Here are a few more reasons for you to buy travel insurance online:
- Medical Support: Your foreign travel insurance policy will cover all your treatment expenses in a foreign land during any kind of medical emergency.
- Loss of Passport: In case you lose your passport in transit or during your stay in a foreign nation, your insurance provider will arrange for emergency money for you and replace the passport.
- Loss of Baggage: In case you end up losing your luggage during the trip, your insurer will arrange for a compensation amount for you. This amount will be a predetermined sum of money which will be mentioned in your travel policy.
- Flight Delays: In case of delay or cancellation of your flights, your travel insurance policy will cover the cancellation and delay costs. This is useful because foreign tickets are usually expensive.
- Trip Cancellation Charges: If you need to cancel your trip due to unavoidable circumstances, the cost of all your cancelled tickets, hotels, etc., will be covered under your travel insurance policy.
Does Travel Insurance Help in Getting Visas?
Yes, it surely does. Your foreign travel insurance policy will have a very positive impact on your visa processing procedure. This is because your visa processing centre officers will know that you are a responsible Indian citizen. Also, they would know that in case of an accident or emergency, you will be able to afford every single expense through valid insurance.
Furthermore, as your policy will also cover the liabilities of any third party, the embassy representatives will know that you will not be a trouble for them in a foreign land. This is because they will not want any locals to suffer because of a visitor from another nation.
Conclusion
Even though you might feel that travel insurance will be an unnecessary expense on your part, keep in mind all the details mentioned above to understand why it’s necessary for travelling abroad. Also, foreign travel insurance will not cost you a lot. However, before choosing one, you should always compare travel insurance plans, read the policy documents and get all your doubts cleared through a representative from your chosen insurer to be sure about the policy. This will make your policy purchase, as well as your foreign travel, absolutely safe and hassle-free.
