4 Advantages of Buying Travel Insurance Online

Imagine going to an insurance provider's office on a bright sunny day, and they send you back saying, "Sir, you don't have all the documents. Kindly come tomorrow to get your policy activated."

No one wants this recurrent hassle. Thanks to digitalization, this can be achieved in a few clicks now. Buying travel insurance online is the best alternative to regular visits to insurance providers' offices. But, it is not as favoured as it sounds.

Often, buying travel insurance online is considered to be risky and incompetent. In such a scenario, people feel perplexed and end up buying policies offline, which makes the process of buying travel insurance cumbersome and lengthy.

No more! Let's clear some air from this perplexity.

Is Buying Travel Insurance Online a Risky Affair?

If this question had been asked years back, the answer would have been a yes, but in today's time, with the world inching towards digitalization, it is no more a question of scrutiny.

Buying travel insurance online is safe as well as preferred. The platforms these days are built with strong end-to-end encryption, safe servers, stable frameworks, and much more. The added database security elevates data safety and ensures that customers' data isn't leaked or attacked. In addition, the online platforms for buying travel insurance online aid in providing complete support to the customers.

If you are still confused about whether to buy your next travel insurance plan online or not, here are some of the advantages of buying travel insurance online:

1) Easy Comparisons

Imagine getting into long meetings with various insurance providers and then comparing all plans, terms, conditions, coverages, etc. It is daunting and cumbersome. That's when considering travel insurance online assists.

Buying a travel insurance plan online helps in easy comparisons, gives insights into the benefits and glitches of the plan, and much more. This elevates the chances of getting the best travel insurance plan with minimum hassle.

2) An Easy and Convenient Way

With the availability of online travel insurance, bid adieu to long hours of documentation and meetings, as now you can buy travel insurance in a few simple steps. Credible and client-oriented Insurance providers such as TATA AIG let individuals buy travel insurance plans by following the below-mentioned steps:

a) Visit their official website
b) Choose travel destinations and journey date
c) Input age and other details of all the travelers
d) Pick the policy
e) Pay online with a safe payment gateway

And boom! You have gotten your travel insurance activated. Even if you have an upcoming trip and you haven’t bought travel insurance yet, don’t panic! Visit TATA AIG’s website, put in your basic details, and get your travel insurance policy issued instantly without any prior medical check-up.

3) Supports Sudden Trips

Trips are not always planned; rather, a majority of them are impromptu. For such unplanned trips and travelling plans, getting an immediate appointment from insurance providers is no less than a day-long hassle. But, by making a wise decision of buying travel insurance online, one can get complete and immediate assistance in buying travel insurance for sudden trips.

4) A Convenient and "Do It Anytime" Mode

The significant advantage of buying travel insurance online is the flexibility to access it anytime throughout the day. This is because digital platforms are not time-bound; generally, one can access these anytime at their convenience.

You need not take a day off from your work; instead, you can buy travel insurance instantly using your smartphone or laptop. This eliminates the compulsive need to physically visit the chosen insurance provider's office for documentation and verification. Instead, everything happens online over an easy and convenient platform.

Therefore, buying travel insurance online saves time and effort, and allows easy comparison across various insurance providers, thus increasing the probability of getting the best travel insurance policy. Additionally, the regular customer support, immediate policy issuance, and access to detailed terms and conditions make the online mode a winner.

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5 Features to look for when Buying Travel Insurance for Students

Travel insurance for students is a necessary investment when they are studying abroad. It not only covers their medical expenses but also provides cover for events, such as loss of baggage, loss of passport, personal liability cover, etc.

If you are someone studying abroad for education, you must consider adding travel insurance to your overall travel plan. It will come in handy if you are faced with eventualities like a medical emergency or an accident, among other things.

Some insurance policies will also provide cover for pre-existing illnesses, cancer screening, maternity cover, etc. Student insurance policy is for students who are travelling abroad for their higher studies. This policy is designed to not only protect you from unpredictable events but it also meets foreign university requirements.

However, with so many companies offering travel insurance for students, it can be difficult to choose the right product. But don't worry, this article will share some tips to help you make an informed purchase decision.

1) University insurance policy

First, when you plan to buy travel insurance for student, you must acquaint yourself with the university insurance requirements. The mandate will mention if you must take the insurance cover from the university itself or whether you have the flexibility to buy it from your own country. In addition, most countries in Europe have made it mandatory for students to get travel insurance for visa eligibility.

If your university accepts Indian travel insurance for student, then you must check the university’s requirements and make your decision accordingly. Needless to say, the premium paid for an Indian insurance cover will be much cheaper than the policy bought overseas.

According to financial experts, it is advisable to buy a policy even if the university mentions no specific requirement to carry an insurance cover. It is for your safety and protection!

2) Check the pricing

This has been mentioned before; an insurance policy bought from an Indian insurance provider will be much cheaper than the insurer abroad. The difference between the two can be significant. Therefore, one may be tempted to buy a policy that promises wide coverage at a low premium. But the students should avoid falling for these marketing gimmicks and read the policy document carefully to know what is included and excluded from the coverage amount. Don't just get attracted to the low cost of the insurance premium. But suppose the cost is a big decision-making factor. In that case, you must consider buying your insurance cover at home to enjoy equal benefits at a much lower price, if permissible by your university.

3) Deductibles and co-payment clause

This is an out-of-pocket expense that the student would have to bear before the benefits of their insurance policy are made available to them. Co-payment is a certain percentage of the total bill that the student is liable to pay before the insurer releases the payment. When comparing travel insurance for students, make sure that the policy you buy has the lowest co-payment and deductible. However, the premium may go up in that case, so be sure to keep that in mind. Students need to do proper due diligence to balance the two when choosing an insurance cover.

4) Sub-limits and pre-existing illness cover

This is one of the most important factors to consider when buying an insurance policy. Sub-limits are a limit applied to certain expenses, such as room rent, consultation fee, diagnostic tests, ICU expenses, etc. Students should look for a policy that comes with a sub-limit or has a higher sub-limit. Additionally, most insurance policies will not cover pre-existing diseases. However, if it is a university requirement, your insurance provider may offer it, albeit at a higher premium.

5) Claim settlement ratio

You can check the insurer’s credibility by checking their claim settlement ratio. The higher this ratio, the more trustable they are. CSR is defined by the number of claims settled in a given year. For example, Care Insurance has a CSR of 95.2%. It means that the company has settled more than 95% of the claims raised in a given year.

Travel insurance for students is an added layer of protection you can give to your children. Read these points and keep them in mind before making an investment.

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Amusement park peril. What are your rights if you are injured at a theme park?

Who doesn’t love a trip to the amusement park? The thrill of the rides, the smell of the candy floss, popcorn and hotdogs…screams of delighted kids and the cheers from the game stands. It’s a great day out for everyone, of all ages.

Sadly, not every trip to the amusement park ends with the kids falling asleep in the backseat with happy memories of a day well spent. Believe it or not, thousands of accidents and injuries occur in theme parks in the US every year, leaving many victims counting the cost of a tragic day out.

If you’re left with life-changing injuries, steep medical bills, you're unable to work or your children are injured due to an accident at the park, then you shouldn't just accept it and move on. It's difficult to know your rights, but if you believe that the amusement park was negligent, and their actions (or lack of) were the cause of your injuries, then it is your right to do something about it. Click the link to speak to a Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer now.

All amusement parks have a duty of care to all visitors, whether they’re traveling carnivals or established amusement parks. They will either be regulated by the local government or the state. There are laws and protective legislation in place to ensure visitor safety is always a top priority. When these laws are violated then this is classified as negligence. Reaching out to a personal injury lawyer should be done as soon as possible if you believe you or a family member have been injured due to negligence.

How can I prove that the park was to blame?

It might sound impossible, but gathering evidence and proof of negligence at a theme park or carnival is easier than you may think. You’ll need strong evidence to add weight to your claim and to create the strongest case possible.

- Report the accident: If something has happened, don’t leave the scene straight away. Report the injury to the staff immediately. Call for an ambulance if needed. If the amusement park staff offer you medical assistance, take it – it’s evidence that your injuries occurred at the park.

- Speak to witnesses: Did someone witness you fall? Did they see you bang your head when the harness on the ride came loose? If there were witnesses, get their contact details.

- Take photos/video: Maybe you cut your hand on some rusted metal on a safety bar, if so, take a photo or video it or ask a family member to help. Perhaps you broke your leg when you fell down a broken step – get someone to film the staircase from various angles to prove what caused your injuries.

And finally, speak with a park manager.

All injuries and accidents need to be reported and recorded in the parks incident book. Speak with the manager or staff and fill in a report, make it detailed and keep a copy for yourself. If you’re dealing with a traveling carnival and no one will help you, consider speaking with the police. Seek proper medical attention and speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

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4 Important Health Insurance Facts and Tips for Travelers

Traveling is supposed to be a time to unwind and disconnect, but one thing you can’t neglect is your health. The truth is that your body doesn’t care if you’re on vacation or not, and being in a foreign country can sometimes increase your chances of coming down with something. Then there’s the reality of having to deal with a whole different healthcare system. Thankfully, this is why travel health insurance exists. But you have to understand how it works and its limitations before you leave. Here are some important health insurance facts and tips for travelers.

Make Sure that You Read the Policy in Detail

This may sound obvious, but it’s important that you read your policy and understand what type of coverage you’re actually getting. Some travel health insurance plans will have limitations, so you have to know what those are first. This also goes for people who are getting their insurance from work or their credit card. Check for how long it is valid, or if there are some age restrictions. You should also know if you’ll have to pay the expenses first before they reimburse you or if they’ll pay upfront.

Honesty is Key

One of the most common reasons why many claims end up being rejected is because people either omitted some details or flat out lied when filling out their medical questionnaire. That’s why it’s essential that you are as truthful as possible and consider talking with your doctor if you’re confused about anything. Also, some policies have what is called a “stability period”. If your medication or health conditions have changed since taking out the policy, it is your responsibility to let them know.

Understand the Local Healthcare System

You also have to consider where you’re going and how much you can expect to pay for procedures. And don’t be fooled by places with seemingly cheap healthcare, like China for instance. If you’re going to China for an extended period of time, we strongly suggest you get more than just travel health insurance and get a great Chinese health insurance plan.

While some procedures in China may seem cheap by American standards, major surgeries can get really costly. And healthcare in public hospitals, while being adequate, is very different than what you would get at other establishments. Services like China Expat Health will connect you with multiple insurers and compare them so you can find the best plan. If you want more details about their services, contact them for health insurance in China.

Type of Accident Could be an Issue

Many people might not be aware of this, but the type of accident and the circumstances surrounding it could have an effect on whether you’ll be covered or not. In some cases, if it was deemed that you suffered an injury by engaging in risky activities, you might not be covered.

If you like to engage in extreme, or even not so extreme sports like scuba diving for instance, some policies won’t cover you in case of an accident. Others won’t cover you if there was alcohol involved. So there again, it’s very important that you review your insurance policy in detail down to the fine print to know if some activities could end up excluding you from coverage. There are some cases where you could also upgrade to cover you for adventurous activities, but it will cost more.

Your health is important, and you have to be extra vigilant when you’re in a whole different country. Make sure that you get the proper coverage before you leave, and know exactly to which extent you’ll be protected.

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SafetyWing: Innovative Travel Medical Insurance for Long Term Travelers

Exploring the world is a privilege and a surreal experience. Whether you are on a short holiday, a gap year holiday or you are simply a long term traveler, you want to create many happy memories and meaningful experiences. None of us wish to fall sick, lose something or be in a sticky situation during our trip. But, certain things are beyond our control and to mitigate such emergencies without compromising our financial situation, state of mind or trip itinerary, there exists a thing called ‘Travel Insurance’.

Do we need travel insurance?

If you ask me, I would say we definitely need travel insurance for all our trips. It is a no brainer according to me. Not having travel insurance is similar to crossing a high traffic road blind folded. The law of probability and the risks are the same. Having travel medical insurance gives you peace of mind, allows you to enjoy your holiday like you should and helps and guides you financially, emotionally and medically in case of emergencies and contingencies. And in return for this, we pay a small fee. It is as simple as that!

If you still do not get the drift, do have a chat with some of those travelers who have faced such emergencies and talk to them about how their travel insurance policy reduced their headaches significantly. One of the examples that immediately comes to my mind is a friend who went to Vietnam on a backpacking trip, had a freak accident riding a rented motorcycle and ended up breaking her back. She had to have back reconstruction surgery immediately. And having a solid travel insurance plan ensured that she got immediate ambulance support and quality medical treatment in a country where she didn’t speak the local language. And she didn’t end up paying anything for the surgery and recovery.

Is there Travel Insurance for Long Term Travelers?

Now that we have established the fact that travel insurance is essential, lets talk about travel medical insurance for long term travelers. You might ask who fall under the purview of long term travelers. Long term travelers could include travel bloggers, travel writers, travel influencers, travel photographers, entrepreneurs and freelancers who live and work for long durations in different countries or simply slow travelers who move from country to country for many months or years before returning to their home country.

I am your typical long term traveler. My travels and work take me from country to country. My plans are very flexible, unpredictable and I may or may not return to my home country for a long duration of time (anywhere from a few weeks to a few years).

Limitations of Indian Travel Insurance Plans for Long Term Travelers

For a long time, I could not find any flexible travel medical insurance plan for my long term travels. I always had to make do with the standard travel insurance plans offered by the Indian general insurance companies. They came with their fair share of limitations, which made me yearn for a much superior product. Some of these limitations were:

1) Travel insurance in India is very rigid and is offered only for a fixed set of dates and for a fixed country. Any change and your insurance is not valid. If you return sooner, you lose out too as premium amount is not returned.

2) You can only apply for a travel insurance plan before you commence your trip from India. So super tough for last minute planners and for those who simply forgot.

3) They are only valid outside of India, which means they cease to work once you return into India. Any back to back trips and you will have to get a new policy.

4) A lot of the insurance service providers do not provide coverage all around the world. Some countries are completely off bounce for them.

5) Travel and medical insurance coverage is good, but whenever I have used my insurance, I felt that it could have been better, especially when it comes to local partnerships, customer care, translation, hospital coverage, etc.

6) And they do not offer any ongoing plans. Only fixed departure and arrival plans are made available.

SafetyWing: My Long Term Travel Medical Insurance Choice

If you are a long term traveler, you will certainly understand these pain points and which is why I have always been on the lookout for better options. And that is when I came across SafetyWing, a new kid in the block offering an innovative travel medical insurance product that addresses all the above limitations, offers more and that too at a very reasonable price point. They brand themselves as insurance for nomads, but I think they offer a stunning product for all long term travelers.

Backed up by Tokio Marine HCC, one of the world’s largest insurance companies and the underwriters at Lloyds, this insurance product designed by nomads for nomads is everything what a long term traveler wants. Some more features and they will literally be a dream come true. Here are some of its key features:

Why SafetyWing?

1) The best of travel and medical



What I like about SafetyWing is that it offers the best of both travel and medical insurance in one single policy thus removing almost all worries of long term travelers.

When it comes to the medical component, they cover the following: hospital room and nursing services, intensive care, ambulance services, urgent care, physical therapy and chiropractic care, emergency dental and all other eligible medical expenses. These will come in super handy if you either fall sick or meet with an accident and need medical assistance.

And when it comes to the travel component, they cover the following: trip interruption, trip delays, lost checked luggage, natural disaster, political evacuation, emergency medical evacuation, personal liability, accidental death and dismemberment. This is to mitigate all unforeseen circumstances and help create a contingency plan.

2) Extremely flexible

You could be in any country or you could be in the middle of your travels and it would not matter. You could apply for your SafetyWing travel medical insurance plan any time you want. There is no more need to be in your home country to get yourself a travel insurance plan.

And unlike fixed payment plans of traditional insurance, SafetyWing works just like a subscription with automatic monthly payments wherein your policy renews every 4 weeks till you assign an end-date. This avoids situations where you forget to renew and thus lose your coverage. There is also an option to avail of their travel medical insurance for specific dates.

3) Visits to home country are covered

This is a very unique feature and super useful to all those who don’t have medical coverage at home. Say for example, you travel to the USA for 3 months and then return to India for 2 weeks before heading to Thailand for say a month, SafetyWing’s unique feature will provide you medical coverage in case you fall ill when visiting your home country. This feature allows you 30 days of medical coverage in home country for every 90 days of policy.

4) Affordable price point



The actual price would depend on your age and destination, but as a thumb rule, if you fall in the age bracket of 10 to 39 years and you are visiting any country apart from the USA, the insurance plan costs you US Dollar 37 for a duration of 4 weeks. Such a plan would cover you up to a maximum limit of USD $250,000. For the range of coverage and for the duration, the insurance premium cost is extremely affordable.

5) Excellent worldwide coverage

SafetyWing’s travel medical insurance can be purchased in 180 countries. In addition to this excellent worldwide coverage, they offer 24x7 support when a person is in need and they have a good network of medical partners.

6) Young children included

1 young child per adult (up to 2 per family) aged between 14 days and 10 years can be included on the insurance without any added cost.

More plans in store

SafetyWing’s travel medical insurance is only the first step of their journey with the end goal of building a full global safety net for online freelancers and long term travelers.

Overall Verdict

This is a fabulous insurance product innovation for long term travelers. Their depth of coverage, unique flexible features and affordable price point makes them appealing to all kinds of travelers and certainly to nomads, freelancers, professionals and entrepreneurs who travel often or stay abroad long term.

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