Medical Emergencies Abroad: How Travel Insurance Helps Indian Travellers

Travelling abroad is an adventure for many. However, seeking medical help in case of a mishap in a new country can be difficult and costly. Thus, planning a trip abroad must involve choosing travel health insurance, as it will provide financial coverage for your medical needs while abroad. 

In this regard, it is crucial for you to understand how international travel insurance can help you cover medical emergencies abroad, its inclusions and exclusions and other crucial aspects. 

How Does Travel Insurance Help Indian Travellers in Medical Emergencies?

International travel insurance helps you in the following manner:

1. Medical Assistance

Travel health insurance provides 24/7 medical support in case you need assistance in an emergency. In case of need, it is highly helpful so that you are able to connect with medical facilities in your international travel destination like hospitals, doctors, emergency services, and anything else. 

2. Peace of Mind

Travelling is a fun activity, but a sudden medical emergency without coverage can ruin your trip. Purchasing travel insurance for your trip abroad will help you enjoy your trip without worrying about medical emergencies or healthcare costs.

3. Financial Protection

International travel can be extremely costly if you have to deal with unexpected medical emergencies. An international travel insurance policy will cover your medical expenses and treatment costs if you face any health problems abroad. 

4. High Medical Costs

Medical costs abroad are soaring. For example, hospitalisation in the USA can be very costly for Indian travellers, ranging from ₹5,00,000 to ₹50,00,000. Travel insurance cover helps you gain quick access to emergency medical coverage, without major out-of-pocket expenses. 

5. Evacuation and Return

If you face a significant medical issue that requires extensive care, your insurer can help arrange relocation to a location with better medical facilities or a flight back to your home country to access local medical care. 

6. Visa Compliance

Many countries, including those in the Schengen area, require evacuation coverage as a qualifying factor for visa approval. Having international travel insurance will help you to comply with the visa requirements applicable in these countries. 

7. Health Risks

Travelling abroad can make you vulnerable to unexpected illness due to climatic variations. Under such circumstances, if you have travel insurance, you can get coverage for a wide range of conditions. This prevents your foreign trip from being affected by the high medical costs.  

If you have any pre-existing diseases, travel insurance may only cover them after a waiting period. Thus, it is crucial that you buy travel insurance online a few months before setting out on your trip to complete such waiting periods.  

8. Remote Destinations

Sometimes, you travel to a remote country like Bali or the Swiss Alps that lacks adequate medical facilities. In such situations, travel insurance helps you to access better medical facilities in a different location. 

How Does Medical Insurance for Travellers Work?

Medical insurance for Indian travellers follows a given procedural format:

1. Activation: If you ever face a serious medical emergency, like a major illness or an accident, you need to call your insurer’s 24/7 helpline. They immediately guide you on the next steps.
2. Assessment: Once informed, the insurer connects with local doctors to determine the severity of your condition and whether you need to be transferred to another medical facility.
3. Coordination: If evacuation is required, the insurer takes care of everything, like arranging an air ambulance, a medically equipped commercial flight, or a ground ambulance to the closest suitable hospital, or even all the way back to India, depending on what’s best for you.
4. Coverage: All essential expenses for the medical transport, equipment, and accompanying medical staff are covered under your plan. Most policies offer coverage up to ₹30,00,000 or even higher.
5. Repatriation: If your condition would be better treated in India, your insurer ensures you are safely brought back with the necessary medical support throughout the journey.

What are the Inclusions and Exclusions in Travel Health Insurance?

Here is a list of elements that are included in your international travel insurance policy:

1. Hospitalisation Cost: Most of the travel insurance companies offer the provision of cashless hospitalisation, where you do not have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses, and the insurer manages the entire cost. Travel insurance includes the following hospitalisation expenses:

• Room Charges
• Diagnostic Tests
• Medical Examination
• Doctor’s Fees
• Medicine Costs
• Boarding and Nursing Expenses

2. Ambulance Costs: Travel insurance includes ambulance costs for transporting the person to a hospital. Evacuation benefits added to the policy include air ambulance services, but there can be a cap on the ambulance claim amount. 
3. Repatriation of Mortal Remains: In the event of the policyholder’s unfortunate demise, the insurer bears the cost of repatriating the policyholder’s mortal remains to India.
4. Daily Hospital Charges: You can get a fixed daily allowance for support during medical emergencies abroad. 
5. Accidental Death and Disability: International travel health insurance provides a lump-sum benefit in the event of death from an accident or disability during the trip period. The amount is determined in advance when the policy is purchased. 

Medical insurance for travel does not cover the following elements:

1. Intoxication: Issues related to medical emergencies arising out of the consumption of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants are not covered by the insurance company.
2. Medical Tourism: If you are travelling specifically for medical treatment to a foreign country, it is not covered. 
3. Outpatient Care: OPD treatments are not included if you haven’t added them as an add-on cover to your base plan.
4. Non-Urgent Medical Treatment: Insurers do not cover medical conditions that can be treated after your return to India.
5. Expenses for Donors: Travel health insurance does not cover expenses related to organ or blood donors.
6. Pre-Existing Diseases: If you have any medical condition that was diagnosed before the trip, it is not covered under your travel insurance unless you have opted for optional cover for that condition. 

What Documents are Required to Claim Travel Insurance?

Here is a list of documents that you must have to file a claim for emergency medical coverage on your trip:

• Policy Documents: Policy number, validity, and other details.
• Travel Documents: Proof of your trip period, including tickets, passport copies, and visa. 
• Medical Reports: Doctor’s prescription, hospital bills, and test reports.
• Receipts: Proof of the bills associated with the medical expenses, like medication and ambulance services.
• Police Reports: If the claim is related to an accident, theft, or another police matter, police reports are required.

Investing in international health insurance is a wise decision if you are planning a trip abroad, as it provides financial coverage for medical expenses incurred during your trip. Moreover, you can focus on enjoying the journey when you know you are financially covered for any medical emergencies.