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Why should I buy overseas travel insurance?
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In some instances overseas travel insurance is required to get a visa to travel to certain countries. Schengen country (many countries of Western Europe constitute the Schengen countries) consulates insist on having travel insurance with a minimum of $37,500 coverage.
However even if insurance is not required for visa purposes, it is still prudent to purchase health insurance for the following reason. Health care costs in India is much less when compared to developed countries like the USA, Japan and other European countries. In most of these countries medical care is not subsidized by the government, and medical bills can easily exceed thousands of dollars which patients have to pay by themselves. Most people in these countries have some form of health insurance, however these insurance policies are not available to visitors. Given this scenario, purchasing travel insurance can be viewed as a necessity.
Along with medical coverage, these travel insurance policies also provide coverage for baggage loss, baggage delay, loss of passport etc.,
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When should I purchase the insurance?
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You can purchase it at any time before leaving India.
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What is the proof of my purchasing insurance?
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When you purchase insurance online, you will immediately receive a confirmatory email with details of the insurance. It is prudent to print this and to keep a backup of this email. You will also receive an insurance policy within 3-4 business days. This policy will have your name, policy number, insurance company's contact information such as the toll-free telephone number and the address where claims should be submitted.
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How do I purchase the insurance? When does the insurance take effect?
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Purchasing insurance online is very simple. Click on the ‘Buy’ button will lead you to the appropriate online application form. You have to complete the online application form and make the payment using a credit card. You will immediately receive an email acknowledgement, and the policy will be mailed or emailed to you within 3-4 business days. The coverage will start from the start date as indicated on the form.
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Can I purchase insurance for only part of the stay of my parents in the US?
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Yes you can purchase for only partial duration of the entire stay. However the purpose of purchasing insurance is in the event of unanticipated medical emergencies. One can never be sure when such an emergency can happen. Having purchased insurance for part of their stay will not help in the event of an emergency during the uninsured period.
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Is the insurance plan purchased on a calendar monthly basis, or can a plan span 2 calendar months?
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A month is calculated as 30 continuous days from the start date requested and it can include two partial calendar months.
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What is the minimum duration for which insurance can be purchased?
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The minimum duration varies for different insurance plans. It is typically for as little as five days.
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How do I find out which doctors are part of a given insurance network?
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You can also get this information by calling the toll free number provided in the insurance policy.
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What information do I need to complete the online application?
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All the information required to complete the application is available in the applicants passport. The main data elements are the applicants complete name, passport number, date of birth, mailing address and telephone number in India, the assignee (the beneficiary for the policy) and the correct travel dates.
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What is a deductible?
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If your plan has a $100 deductible, you pay the first $100 of expenses and then the insurance company picks up the rest.
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