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Travelling? Go in for an insurance first

If the recent attacks in Brussels are any indication, then travellers today need to protect themselves from being stranded cashless in a foreign country.



Amit Bhandari

If the recent attacks in Brussels are any indication, then travellers today need to protect themselves from being stranded cashless in a foreign country. While family and friends can help you with the emotional distress, the right travel insurance can take care of the financial aspect. There is a rider though. Most travel insurance products provide coverage for terror attacks but not civil unrest.

However, there are several other pointers, such as, a hijack allowance or emergency cash advance, which go a long way in reducing your financial distress.

Typically, travel insurance products provide emergency benefits for:

Hijack distress allowance: In case the common carrier in which the insured person is travelling, while on a trip abroad is hijacked within the term of insurance, an allowance will be paid for each day of the hijack up to the limits specified under the policy.

Political risk and evacuation: This clause applies under the following circumstances:

  • When officials in the country where the insured is visiting recommends that certain sections of the population should leave the country
  • The insured person is expelled or declared persona non grata in the country of travel
  • When the insured person has to evacuate the country he is in to avoid risk of personal injury or illness from a natural calamity such as a flood or an earthquake, or an epidemic.
  • The insurer usually bears the cost of the insured’s return to the country of residence or the nearest place of safety
  • The insurer usually bears the cost of accommodation for a maximum of 7 days, until the insured is unable to return to the country of residence.

Medical emergencies: While abroad, in case of illness or injury requiring hospitalisation, you will need to register your claim and get an approval from your insurer to be able to claim coverage under the policy. The usual conditions covered under a medical coverage include inpatient or out-patient treatment, provided it is critical and cannot be held off till the insured’s return to the country of residence. Some of the other medical costs usually borne by the insurer include.

  • Emergency hospitalisation in case of any injury and illness excluding pre-existing illness
  • Medical aid, radiotherapy, heat therapy, photo therapy, X-Ray, diagnostic tests and other such treatment/diagnostic tests prescribed by a physician
  • Cost of transportation, including necessary medical care en route, by recognised emergency service providers for medical attention at the nearest hospital or at the nearest physician
  • Travel and boarding expenses for a family member or relative in case the insured person is in hospital for more than a certain period, under special plans

It is important to know, however, that few insurers cover pre-existing medical condition or ailment, up to a limited sum.

Emergency cash advance: It is an assistance service where the insurer provides emergency cash to the insured during incidents such as theft, burglary of luggage, money or hold-ups by coordinating with the insured person’s relatives in India to provide emergency cash assistance to the insured person as per his requirement, up to the limit specified in the policy schedule.


Trip cancellation or missed flight connection: The insurer usually covers pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs and cancellation penalties of travel and accommodation in case insurer needs to cancel or interrupt the trip due to stated reasons in the policy.

Delayed trip: This cover includes the payment of the actual additional expenses for meals and lodging incurred in case the insured’s trip is delayed due to natural calamities, acts of terrorism or medical emergencies etc.

In case of any trip extension plans, it is advisable to extend the travel insurance policy as well to stay covered under the insurance coverage without any gap.  It may be difficult to plan everything ahead, least of all a terror attack. But it’s never too late to prepare.

The author is Head, Claims and Underwriting, Health and Agriculture Insurance, ICICI Lombard General Insurance. 

The views expressed in this article are his own

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