While many people would have heard about international travel insurance, it is not so popular in domestic travel. When you buy a travel insurance policy, the insurer offers coverage for medical and non-medical emergencies. Medical emergencies include sickness, injuries due to accidents, emergency dental procedures, emergency medical transport, etc. The non-medical emergencies include the loss or delay of baggage, loss of passport, etc.
The insurers make sure that when you file a claim travel insurance plan takes care of the covered costs. Many international countries have made it mandatory for travellers to have a valid insurance policy before entering the country.
However, when we travel within India, most of us don’t feel the need to have a travel insurance policy. In this article, we will talk about domestic travel insurance in India and why you should consider getting one before you embark on your next trip.
What is Travel Insurance?
When you travel to a new place, you want to explore the place, its food, and its culture. Since you are there for a limited time, you try to make the most of your days and indulge in as many activities as you can. Unfortunately, this exposes you to the risk of falling ill or getting injured due to an accident.
Further, you can lose your baggage or other important documents. You might also have to cancel or modify your trip plan due to unavoidable circumstances and face a lot of problems getting a refund from the pre-booked hotels or airlines.
With a travel insurance policy, you can receive reimbursement for many medical and non-medical emergencies as covered by the policy. When you buy travel insurance, the policy document usually details the inclusions and exclusions that should be read carefully to understand the coverage offered.
What Does a Domestic Travel Insurance Policy Cover?
There are many insurers and different types of domestic travel insurance in India available. Before buying a policy, make sure that you go through the fine print and understand the inclusions and exclusions carefully. Here is the usual coverage offered by domestic travel insurance online:
- Medical emergencies – If you fall sick or get injured due to an accident while travelling, then a domestic travel insurance policy takes care of the costs of treatment and hospitalisation. Hence, you can focus on getting better without having to worry about denting your finances.
- Loss of baggage – There have been numerous instances of people losing their baggage or their luggage getting inordinately delayed on a domestic or international flight. A domestic travel insurance policy reimburses the cost of any personal items that you might have to purchase until your bags reach you. Also, if your baggage is lost or stolen, then the policy offers reimbursement for certain items in it.
- Trip cancellation – Booking flight tickets and reserving a hotel room weeks in advance is a common practice in India. It helps get good rates and saves the last-minute hassle. However, it also exposes you to the risk of losing the money towards these bookings if you were to fall ill or have an emergency at home and cancel your trip. With a domestic travel insurance policy, you can get a refund of your trip cost subject to certain terms and conditions.
- Personal liability – If you accidentally damage the property of a third party while travelling and have to reimburse the owner, then without an insurance policy, you have to bear the costs. A domestic travel insurance policy covers you from such accidents too. This is particularly helpful for people travelling with kids.
Summing Up
The risks faced by people during domestic trips are similar to those faced during international trips. Domestic travel insurance policies do not cost a lot but can go a long way in saving money and offering peace of mind while you are on vacation. Before buying one, think about the place you are planning to visit and the family members that you are travelling with.
This will help you understand the ideal cover you need from the travel insurance plan. Then, research your options and compare policies before making your decision. Remember, a trip can offer memories but also comes with unforeseen challenges. A domestic travel insurance policy allows you to handle any such exigency with ease. Safe travels!
