Travel Insurance vs. International Health Insurance: What You Need To KnowIJ
If you are traveling abroad, you may need some insurance to cover any medical contingencies. But you are not the only when who gets confused between travel insurance and international health insurance. So isn’t it good to spend some-time on learning about them firstIJ
When we talk about travel insurance, it is meant to cover your trip for a certain period of time. If you are on a small foreign trip abroad, then such insurance offers protection against travel-related issues.
You should go for it if you are planning to live or work overseas for a longer duration. It covers emergency treatment as well as covers routine healthcare. It also provides flexibility to choose the doctor and also the treatment facility. It also offers the ability to get treatment anywhere in the region of coverage. For instance, if you have a home abroad, and want comprehensive medical coverage in a home country as well as other countries where you want to spend a significant amount of time then you might need international health insurance.
Ok, to understand the differences you’ll have to first understand issues, and then you’ll understand which one will be helpful where:
loss of luggage: Say your luggage is lost on the way then it is travel insurance that will provide coverage. It has nothing to do with health, so health insurance (international) won’t work in such situation.
Trip Cancellation: You have done all the planning of your trip and have relevant bookings in place as well. But then you discover to your dismay that the flight is canceled. It is where travel insurance comes into the picture. You can file a claim for resulting losses to the extent of sum assured.
Flight Delays: Ok your flight is not canceled but it got delayed due to certain reasons. Well, your preparations are all wasted. But with travel insurance, you may rest assured that you will get coverage.
loss of Personal Belongings: If somehow during your flight, your personal belongings are lost then it surely may cause a lot of trouble. While the personal belongings may not be recovered, but if you are covered under travel insurance, you may file a claim which may provide some relief.
lost Passport: If any of the family members has lost or has misplaced the travel documents then your travel insurance might reimburse the cost of getting the documents back again.
Medical Emergency: If there is a situation of medical emergency that demands hospitalization for a shorter duration within the span of travel insurance, then you will get the coverage. Your travel insurance may also cover the costs of the medical treatments as well.
Cancer Treatment: It is where international health insurance may help. It may provide cover for some of the costs to the extent of sum assured.
Maternity Cover: If have gone for hospitalization in the home country or during travel to other covered countries, then such policy may be of great help to you.
Regular Medical Check-ups: Whether you are planning to go for check-ups in the home country or those that are covered by international health insurance you may get cover by insurance.
Now once you have understood the conditions that will be covered different insurance types, the next step would be to buy the relevant insurance.
Buy Travel Insurance If: You are planning a short foreign trip and want to make sure that you are covered against any or all travel related issues.
Buy International health Insurance If:If you want to get covered against health-related issues in the home country or those where you plan to travel.
No matter which insurance you buy, just make sure that you are traveling with all the relevant documents so that you can get all the benefits.
-- Author is a digital marketing consultant and editor of Smartechtoday & Srjnews – an Indian online news websites.Read,share and discuss current & technology news from around the globe.