Page 25 - Insurance Times May 2022

5. Individual liability benefit
6. Accidental hospital money Benefit
7. Hotel accommodation rent if the trip is postponed due
to delay in train/ plane arrival.
8. Loss of Ticket - Rail/Flight following accident
9. For transportation of family
10. Additional staff assistance in case of emergency (Only
for business tours)
11. Ticket expenses if you miss the train or flight due to an
accident

Some of the major providers include Reliance, Religare, Apollo
Munich (now HDFC ERGO), Bajaj Allianz and TATA AIG. The Digit on the Move Policy of Digit Insurance also covers
travel in India or foreign countries. It is a comprehensive
To illustrate the point ; the Bajaj Allianz Bharat Bhraman travel cover. As per Areas Covered it mentions "Area Covered-
Insurance Policy is one such policy, which is designed to take The area covered shown on your policy schedule which will
care of the risks faced by travelers travelling within India. It is be one of the following: India Asia Excluding Japan Europe -
a comprehensive cover with one compulsory and several Schengen Countries Worldwide excluding USA, Canada and
optional sections. In fact, this makes it a very flexible policy all Caribbean Islands Worldwide including USA, Canada and
which can be tailored to the specific needs of the domestic all Caribbean Islands".
traveler. As per the Customer Information Sheet of this policy
there is a Base Cover which is the Personal Accident Section.
Standard Travel Policy Exclusions
Further, depending upon the mode/modes of transport opted Be it domestic or overseas travel policies, there are some
for by the Insured he can opt for various optional covers. The fairly standard policy exclusions, common to all insurers. As
optional covers include Accidental Hospitalization Expenses, far as medical coverage is concerned; policies generally
Hospital Daily Allowance, Emergency Medical Evacuation, exclude the following: pre-existing diseases, those travelling
Personal Liability, Repatriation of Remains, Trip Cancellation, against the advice of a physician, has received a terminal
Emergency Hotel Extension, Missed Connection, Home prognosis or those going for planned treatment. However, of
Burglary Insurance, Bounced Hotel, Compassionate Visit by late, some insurers are covering declared pre-existing
a Family Member, Delay of Checked Baggage, Loss of Checked diseases upto a limited and specified quantum. The new global
Baggage, Trip Curtailment, Trip Delay by Scheduled Aircraft, health policies (analysed later) cover planned treatment
Loss of Baggage and Adventure Sports Benefit. It may be abroad with the prior permission of the insurer. Treatment
observed that the covers are in line with those covers available other than allopathy is normally excluded. Pregnancy related
for overseas travel insurance. Moreover, the Insured has the complications are covered in a very restricted way, by some
option of selecting those covers which he requires and insurers.
ignoring those which may be already covered elsewhere.
Travel policies also exclude expenses arising from suicide,
An interesting low cost domestic travel cover is provided by attempted suicide, mental illnesses, self-inflicted injuries,
a start-up Digit Insurance . They are offering a fixed-benefit alcoholism, abuse of drugs, HIV and AIDs and venereal disease.
cover for only domestic flight delays at a premium of Rs. 49/ However as stated earlier, a few insurers are now covering
-, for a single flight. Subject to conditions, there is a benefit of some of these exclusions, with additional premium, in their
Rs.1000/- for a delay of 90 minutes or more during the travel student-specific policies.
months of February to November. For delays of 120 minutes
or more during the travel months of December and January, Persons participating in naval, military or air force operations
there is a benefit of Rs. 750/-. The claim process is mobile are also excluded. Travelling via transportation not licensed
phone oriented and simple and hassle free. On conclusion of to carry passengers is not covered. Claims are also not payable
the procedure, the money is credited to the account of the for war, acts of foreign enemy, hostilities war be declared or
Insured and can be used for any purpose that he deems fit. not and nuclear radiation or contamination. However,

The Insurance Times, May 2022 25