Getting injured or falling ill far from your home with an unexpected health condition that needs immediate hospital admission is stressful. If you are travelling in a foreign country, a sudden accident or illness can spoil your trip and finances with heavy medical bills. What will you do?
You should purchase travel insurance to receive protection against unexpected conditions or medical needs. Travel and medical insurance promise relief, but you need to know the medical expenses claim process. Keep reading to learn the essential steps and required documents to file a claim for medical expenses from travel insurance.
Medical Coverage While Travelling: Why Healthcare Expenses Matter?
Medical care costs drastically change across different countries. Abroad, even a few days of hospitalisation can cost thousands of dollars. A normal food poisoning or accident can result in a financial setback if you don’t have travel insurance.
Travel and medical insurance coverage ensures that travellers can access quality treatment without any delay and drain their savings. With travel and medical insurance coverage, you can access cashless treatment options, network hospitals and specialists during emergencies.
Knowing that your travel insurance provides medical coverage, you can focus on enjoying the international trip instead of worrying about medical care and costs.
Steps to Claim Medical Expenses under Travel Insurance Plan
The claim process for cashless medical cover consists of a few steps to maintain a smooth medical experience for travellers.
- Step 1: Collect and Submit Documents
Visit the official website of your travel insurance provider company and click on “Travel insurance claim settlement”. Initiate your claim for cashless medical care by submitting documents such as medical reports, passport and visa copies, hospital admission record and doctor’s prescription.
- Step 2: Payment Guarantee
Once you upload all required documents, the insurance provider will begin verifying your claim and policy details. After that, the insurer will send a “Payment Guarantee Letter” to the network hospital directly, within a maximum of 2-3 working days.
- Step 3: Complete Formalities
If the insurance company needs additional details, you must submit them promptly and ensure a quick and hassle-free claim settlement experience.
In case you claim reimbursement for your medical care bills, you must follow the same steps. After verifying the claim documents, the insurance company will credit the approved amount to your Indian bank account within 10 working days via NFT.
However, if any documents are incomplete, major insurance companies offer a 45-day limit to submit pending documents via email; otherwise, they cancel the claim.
Necessary Documents to Claim Travel Insurance
While filling out an international travel insurance online, it is mandatory to prepare and submit all necessary documents. Complete and accurate paperwork ensures a hassle-free and faster claim settlement.
- General Documents for Claims
For most travel insurance claims, policyholders must submit the following,
- Completed claim form with signature
- Government-issued identity proof
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary, such as travel schedule, hotel bookings
- Boarding pass and travel tickets
- Copy of visa and passport with mandatory entry and exit stamps
- A copy of the policy documents, showing the policy number, insured name and travel date
- Bank details or cancelled check (for NEFT claims)
- Documents Required for Medical Claims
To claim treatment expenses or hospitalisation under a travel insurance plan, policyholders must submit documents.
- Medical reports
- Diagnostic test reports
- Original pharmacy and hospital bills with payment receipt
- Discharge summary
- Statement from attending physician
- Papers for Permanent Disability / Accidental Death / Repatriation Claims
Proper documentation helps verify the authenticity of claims, access coverage for injury or loss and ensures timely claim settlement.
- Post-mortem or coroner’s report (if applicable)
- Death certificate
- Repatriation or emergency evacuation documents (if required)
- For an accidental case, a police report or FIR
- Treatment papers and hospital bills
- Medical records
- Travelling proof
Medical Expenses that an International Travel Insurance Covers
Travel and medical insurance provide comprehensive coverage for unexpected medical emergencies.
- Emergency Hospitalisation
International travel insurance online covers hospitalisation expenses, including doctor’s fees, room rent, and diagnostic lab test expenses and prescribed medicines resulting from any illness or injury.
- Medical Evacuation
Travel insurance provides medical evacuation to the nearest network hospital and even transportation costs to return to the home country.
- Outpatient Hospitalisation
You can receive expenses for doctor consultations and prescribed medication for minor health problems like fever, minor injuries or cold.
- Repatriation
Travel insurance provides repatriation costs to bring the deceased’s body back home. It also offers 24/7 assistance for any medical emergency, evacuation and lost documents while travelling abroad.
- Dental Care
Some travel and medical insurance plans cover accidental dental injuries or acute dental pain that needs urgent attention.
Final Words
With an ideal travel insurance plan, you can enjoy coverage for personal accidents, hospitalisation abroad, lost passports, trip cancellation and emergency evacuation. Travel and medical insurance plans offer coverage beyond health expenses, including lost baggage, trip interruption and personal liability.
Purchasing international travel insurance online offers additional discounts and ensures protection from several potential risks abroad for policy-holding travellers.
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