Single Trip Travel Insurance

What is Single Trip Travel Insurance?

Single trip travel insurance is among the most purchased insurance plans as they offer overall coverage to the insured, abroad or domestic. These plans can be purchased for travelling somewhere in India as well as abroad. Unlike India, the cost of medical treatment is exorbitantly high in foreign countries. Even a small dental ailment can cost a fortune. This is why people often insist on getting insured during their international trips.  To avert such incidents during an overseas trip, even if it is a short one,  it is important to stay covered with a single trip travel insurance policy. Travellers can also buy a comprehensive plan for an extensive cover against any loss or damage during the trip.

This kind of policy is suitable for those who don’t travel frequently. For non-frequent travellers, buying a single trip travel insurance policy will be adequate. It is provided by most insurance providers in India and offers protection against major troubles at affordable premium costs from the day of departure and upon returning to India.

Why Choose Single Trip Travel Insurance?

As the name suggests, a single trip travel insurance policy provides coverage for one domestic or international trip. The policy will last until the traveller returns home from their planned trip. All insurance companies have a cap on the number of days that are to be counted as a single trip. While this is usually for up to 180 days, the number of days may vary from insurer to insurer and the kind of plan opted for.

If planning to take only one or two vacations in a year, then a single trip insurance plan is the right fit. However, if planning to travel frequently, going for multi-trip insurance is a better choice as it saves money as well as time spent in buying the policy repeatedly. An annual travel insurance policy offers coverage for an entire year from the date it is issued and provides worldwide coverage.

However, it also costs higher than a one-time single trip travel insurance plan as the latter is only valid for a limited number of days and a limited area or country. It is perfect for people who travel occasionally or need to meet compulsory travel health insurance requirements set by several countries.

Features of Single Trip Travel Insurance

Single trip travel insurance is among the most purchased insurance plans as they offer overall coverage to the insured, abroad or domestic. Take a look at some features of a single trip travel insurance policy:

• Affordable Premiums: Thanks to shorter duration and limited geographical scope, most travel insurance companies in India offer very affordable international travel insurance plans with the necessary coverage. These plans can be purchased individually or for the family.
• Medical Benefits: In case of falling sick abroad or getting hospitalised due to an accident or other covered reasons, the insurer will cover the relevant medical expenses.
• Customizable:These policies come with several add-on benefits that only cost a nominal price. For example, benefits like home burglary insurance or adventure sports cover can be availed through riders.
• Flight-related Benefits:Be it a delay from the airline’s end or cancellation, the single trip travel insurance will cover several flight-related issues such as flight cancellation, flight hijacking etc.
• COVID-19 Coverage Benefits: Nowadays several insurers also offer COVID-19 related benefits with their single trip travel insurance, such as hospitalisation and quarantine costs in case the insured gets infected abroad.

Fast Facts: Single Trip Travel Insurance

Take a look at the table below to learn more about this plan’s features:

Single Trip Travel Insurance Eligibility Criteria

Often referred to as pay per trip travel insurance, anyone can buy a single trip travel insurance policy given that they are Indian citizens. Most insurers allow those aged 0.6 years up to 70 years, however, the age bracket can differ significantly with the insurer.

The eligible insured can get coverage for up to 180 days during their trip, depending on the policy duration decided before finalising with the insurer.

Things to Consider Before Buying Single Trip Travel Insurance

Pay per trip insurance is excellent for people who have an annual vacation and need to find appropriate coverage throughout their trip. However, a few things need to be kept in mind before buying a single trip travel insurance plan:

• The plan is feasible if the total number of trips in a year doesn't exceed one or two times. If travelling more than twice internationally, then this plan is not suitable economically.
• Ensure that there isn't another policy covering the trip. Nowadays several credit cards offer benefits of overseas travel insurance plans as well as some life or medical insurance policies that may cover short trips abroad.
• Once the trip dates and flight tickets are booked, don't delay buying single trip travel insurance. This will ensure safety from cancelled flights, bookings or a cancelled trip.
• Always evaluate the kind of cover needed. Depending on the travel itinerary and the kind of activities planned, opt for a plan which ensures safety for the most necessary things.
• Don’t forget to compare travel insurance plans on Policybazaar.com before finalising one. This will make it easier to find the right plan at the lowest price.
• It’s important to know everything offered or not offered by the insurer and their overall reputation. Do check the time taken to settle claims, their claim to settlement ratio as well as general customer reviews.

Coverage Under Single Trip Travel Insurance

There is a plethora of benefits offered by pay per trip travel insurance plans. Some of the policy inclusions of a single travel insurance policy are mentioned below.

• Trip cancellation and disruption cover
• Loss of passport; assistance in acquiring a duplicate passport
• Medical expenses in case of emergency hospitalisation and accidental injury
• Compensation for delay of connecting flights (beyond 12 hours)
• Delay in the reception of the checked-in baggage (more than 12 hours)
• Home burglary cover during your absence
• Emergency evacuation due to medical purposes and political risks
• Accidental death while using a public transport
• Medical cover for emergency repatriation
• Provision for Compassionate visit
• Emergency dental cover
• Personal liability cover
• Hijack risk cover

These benefits may vary with the insurer and may not be offered by all the travel insurance companies in India. All the policy inclusions are in adherence to the policy terms and conditions.

What's not Covered in Single Trip Travel Insurance?

It is important to understand when the travel insurance plan won’t cover the damages. The insurance policy will not cover the below-mentioned circumstances-

• Any Ayurvedic, homoeopathic and/or naturopathic treatment
• Pre-existing diseases will not be given a cover
• Any type of venereal diseases, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS are not covered.
• Accidental injuries resulting from adventure sports or life-threatening activities taken up by the policyholder
• Claims arising due to damage caused by nuclear radiation and weapons
• Any loss or damage resulting from mental illness, anxiety, depression and/or intoxication
• In case of failure in reporting the loss of baggage, passport or travel document to the concerned authorities on time, then it will not be admissible under single trip travel insurance.
• Leaving belongings unattended and losing them, as a result, will not be compensated either.

Before making the purchase, please cross-check all the policy exclusions with a representative of the travel insurance company.

Single Trip Travel Insurance Claim Process

• For filing the claim, the insured should inform their insurance company via email, fax or its helpline number.
• The policyholder needs to submit a duly filled insurance claim form to the insurance company.
• The insurance company will inform the insured about all the supporting documents that are required from their end to initiate the claim process. These documents are based on the type of accident and the nature of the claim.
• For speedy settlement, it’s advisable to keep handy the insurance documents, personal documents, a copy of the policy, medical bills, boarding pass, passport, original bills, doctor’s prescriptions, and first information report copy.

Please read the policy documents carefully before buying a single travel insurance policy.

How to Choose/Buy Single Trip Travel Insurance?

It can be difficult to buy an insurance policy especially if it’s the first time. Here are a few tips to choose single trip travel insurance policy:

• Always Compare: In order to know the right insurance plans, it’s important to know what’s being offered in the market. Check different plans being offered by different travel insurance companies in India and see which one offers the most benefits
• Check for Add-Ons:If the plan lacks something but suits other needs, then consider buying an optional cover for that certain benefit. This may be cheaper than opting for a costlier plan variant.
• Confirm Premium: Once there is some clarity about the insurer that suits all the needs, confirm the premium value so that there are no additional or hidden costs. This happens a lot if the buyer has opted for one or more optional covers. Premium can be easily calculated online by using a travel insurance premium calculator.
• Shop Online:Browsing online is easier and faster, especially when there are so many plans in the market. The buyer can also save considerable time and money as the cost of commute and other intermediaries are eliminated.

Why Buy from Policybazaar?

With so many uncertainties surrounding us, travel insurance has become a necessity to ensure some level of overall financial safety. Policybazaar.com has continually provided a platform catering to different insurance needs of the people, so that they can browse and buy the plan that suits them. Irrespective of the insurer, there are several travel insurance policies with varying benefits and costs to ensure that everyone can find something within their budget. Take a look at some other benefits of buying from Policybazaar.com:

• Affordable: Because of no intermediaries and distribution costs, customers can save significant money while getting the most out of their plan.
• Time-Saving:Instead of visiting different insurer websites individually or going to their offices in person, customers can browse different plans in one place and buy a policy within minutes.
• Environment-Friendly: Because of zero paper waste as well as fuel saved in visiting the insurer’s office, a lot of waste can be avoided if the travellers decide to buy from Policybazaar.
• Automated Services: Get timely reminders, offer reminders and other important notifications regarding insurance plans that come with shopping here!