assport, visa, airline ticket, hotel bookings, Digene tablets, some paracetamols, sunscreen... Well, everything seems in order for that trip abroad.

Everything? Are you sure?

Have you considered what would happen should you fell ill? Or have an accident? Or lose your baggage?

I am sure you have your answers ready.

"I do not fall sick during holidays."

"I will be careful not to meet with an accident."

"And, as for lost baggage, well..."

Well, what? There is no guarantee you will not fall ill during holidays. What if you pick a local virus? Or the flu? What is to prevent your leg from breaking? Or your getting knocked down by a car? Why do you think you are immune from any kind of drawback during your holidays?

Don't leave home without it!

No. I am not talking about your glares or sneakers. Neither am I referring to your credit card. I am talking about travel insurance.

Why?

It will protect you against all the things I mentioned earlier. Or, rather, it will help pay your expenses if anything happens to you while you are abroad.

So, if you fall ill or have an accident, your medical expenses will be reimbursed.

In case you think this is not important, I urge you to reconsider.

In the US, and in some countries in Europe, for example, you will not be allowed to enter if you don't have travel insurance.

Remember, medical costs in the US are very high and if anything should happen (God forbid!) you might find yourself in serious trouble.

Asian countries do not insist on travel insurance but it is always better to be prepared. 

• Insurance terms you must know

Is it expensive?
 
Not at all. The premiums are really very nominal.

All you have to do is approach any general insurance company (as against a life insurance company) and provide them with certain details.

i. Your age. The older you are, the higher the premium.

ii. The number of days you propose to stay abroad. You will be able to get a cover from a minimum of 15 days to a maximum of six months. The lesser the duration abroad, the lower the premium. 

iii. The countries you will be visiting. Generally, the countries are broken into two broad categories: all countries excluding USA and Canada [Images] and all countries including them. 

The premium will be charged based on the above criteria.

Let's say you are 25 years old and going abroad for 60 days. If you are not visiting the US and Canada, you will have to pay around Rs 2,000. If you are, then it would be around Rs 3,500.

No medical check up is required in most cases. Some may request you to do one only if you are 60 years or older. The older you are and the greater the ailments, the more the premium.

• The best term insurance policy for you

What can I get covered against?

Insurance companies have separate packages for corporate and leisure travelers and students. If you are going as a tourist, you need to check out the leisure package.

You should approach a few companies and check out what their policies cover.

Each company will cover various issues in their policies. A few heads are mentioned below.

~ Health

Where health is concerned, hospitalisation expenses in case of illness or accident and even emergency dental treatment may be covered.

~ Passport

Should you lose your passport, you will be paid for the expense you incur in getting a duplicate passport issued.

~ Baggage

If baggage is lost or delayed, you will be given an allowance.

~ Emergencies

An urgent cash advance or expenses incurred in curtailing a trip due to some medical or other emergency.

~ Travel issues

An allowance will be given for flight delay or flight cancellation if it results in you having to stay somewhere for a longer time frame, resulting in additional expenses.

There is generally a specified limit for each sub-head. Do check out the limits.

I was traveling to Prague once and I got a health and hijacking coverage (you read that right) for three months for which I paid Rs 2,000.

Read the fine print carefully. For instance, an insurer may not cover automobile or motorbike accidents. Or, they may cover bike accidents only if you were wearing a helmet while you were on the bike.

• Insurance questions you must ask

How long will it take me to get a policy?

One day.

The documentation required is minimal. Just to be safe, carry your passport. That will suffice as proof of age.

Most insurance companies do not bother to see your tickets or visas.

Make sure you have a cheque ready when you meet up with them.

Who sells these polices?

You can ask your travel agent through whom you got your ticket.

Or you can approach any general insurer (not a life insurer). There are four public sector general insurance companies � National Insurance, New India Insurance, Oriental Insurance and United Insurance.

Check out the private insurers like Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, Tata AIG, ICICI [Get Quote] Lombard and Royal Sundaram.

• You are never too rich for insurance

How do I contact these guys abroad?

When the company issues the policy, they will also give you the helpline numbers, which you can contact if you face an emergency.

All insurers have a tie-up with an overseas insurance company.

In most cases, they will be paying for the expenses, as per the terms of the policy. There might be some insurance companies which require you to call up their India help line numbers -- in those cases, the phone call expenses are reimbursed.

In fact, the overseas insurance company will even help you with finding the right hospital or they will contact your embassy in case of dire need.

• How to gift an insurance policy for a child

Do I pay in dollars or rupees?

You pay your premium in rupees.

Where hospitalisation and medical expenses are concerned, the payment is made directly by the insurance company.

If you have lost your baggage and are to be given an allowance, then you will generally be paid in dollars or in the currency of the country which you are visiting.

Have a safe holiday!

Image: Dominic Xavier