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*Price shown is for a 30 day trip to Thailand with 1 lakh dollar coverage for an adult of age 25 years
We have all heard about the benefits of travel insurance - so many of us buy trip insurance to ensure overall safety. But what exactly do you do when you find yourself in a fix? Read on to know everything about the travel insurance claim process here!
Suppose you're out on a family vacation abroad; everything has been planned and you were busy exploring a busy market when the purse around your neck is suddenly snatched by a bike passing by.
Along with your wallet, it has your passport without which you can't do a lot in this foreign country.
This is where your insurance plan will come in handy, but how do you go on about it? While you were quick to buy the trip insurance policy, it was even more important to go through some basics of claim procedure in case of any eventuality.
Thankfully, this is a hypothetical scenario and you have time to rectify this. Read on to know exactly what to do if you’re ever in this situation while travelling!
You already know that you can file for a travel insurance claim while you're abroad (in case of hospitalisation etc.) or when you're back from your trip. However, the entire process has some important steps that every policyholder should know. These are discussed in detail below:
All policies have terms and conditions that are available on the insurer's website. These are called inclusions and exclusions and constitute important facts. You should read these well and resolve all doubts with the representative before buying the policy. This can be easily done through their customer care number or emails.
Knowing the difference between these will let you prepare for any emergency situation so that you don’t need to be confused about the claim procedure.
Cashless claims are generally available in case of hospitalisation abroad. These are only available at network hospitals and you must inform your insurer beforehand to avail of this benefit.
On the other hand, reimbursement is a very common method of claim payout where you pay for expenses (medical, passport issuance costs, etc.) out of your pocket first. After returning, you can get it reimbursed upon providing relevant documents.
Make sure to provide a valid number or email while filling out the proposal form. Ensure that this number will be functional during your trip abroad. Not only this, don't hide any underlying health conditions especially if you have a pre-existing disorder that may pose a risk later. If you have any PED then your insurer can outright reject your claim later (unless you have an add-on for that!)
While most people now prefer digital documents, it is important to have safe storage for your insurance policy. In case your phone gets stolen or the physical copy of the policy is misplaced abroad, make sure to carry backup storage with soft copies of your policy, passport, and important documents.
Most insurers have a dedicated helpline or a team focusing entirely on the needs of the policyholder abroad. However, some insurers also have smartphone applications, email IDs, EAP or fax numbers so that you can contact them. It’s important to know all these points of contact so that you know exactly how to contact them. Save them in your phone or mail so that you don’t need to hunt for them during an emergency.
As soon as you notice something is wrong or land up in a situation, contact your insurer. The earlier you inform them the quicker will be the resolution. They will also guide you regarding the situation and even offer the best possible course of action.
Before submitting your claim form, double-check it so that no detail has been missed or a mistake overlooked. This will save you any extra steps later or more time spent clarifying those shortcomings.
This is most important during a reimbursement process. Important documents like bills, receipts, FIR copies, and any other proof of expenses that you incurred abroad should be stored safely so that you can get them reimbursed later. Misplacing these documents may lead to rejection of the claim or a lower payout.
While the claim procedure varies from insurer to insurer, it is important to know the basics of claim reimbursement. While we buy an insurance policy and hope it's never put to use, in case of need it is the safety net that protects us from financial losses and difficulties while we are travelling. If you keep these points in mind, you will save a lot of time and effort at the time of your claim settlement.
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. For more details on risk factors, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure carefully before concluding a sale.
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*Price shown is for a 30 day trip to Thailand with 1 lakh dollar coverage for an adult of age 25 years