Foreign Health Insurance: Key Benefits and Coverage Options for Travellers

Why Travel Health Insurance Matters?

Even minor illnesses can cause trouble abroad, since their medical system can be completely different. Some situations might require local medical insurance (treatment can be quite expensive without it), and in the absence of that, travel health insurance comes in as a welcome saviour. 

Key Benefits

Take a look at the benefits you can expect with a foreign health insurance policy:

1. Medical Emergencies
   This includes doctor visits, medications, and emergency treatments for sudden illnesses or injuries, which are crucial for young travellers in unfamiliar settings.
2. Hospitalisation
   Travel health insurance provides coverage for hospitalisation, surgery, and intensive care, against costly treatments in foreign health centres.
3. Repatriation
   In situations where a medical evacuation is necessary, this is particularly useful for students overseas.
4. Trip Cancellations
   Refund of non-refundable expenses if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to illness or an emergency.
5. Lost Passport/ Baggage
   Lost baggage or assistance in obtaining a replacement for a lost passport is covered. This is quite essential for young adults who need to carry books or essentials with them.
6. 24/7 Support
   24-hour medical referral support, emergency coordination, and travel advice are available to cater to the needs of new international students.

Coverage Options for Students and Young Adults

Student-specific foreign health insurance plans are designed for 15-25-year-olds and include longer periods such as semesters abroad, medical costs associated with accidents or illness, study interruption fees in case a medical condition interrupts education, and sponsor protection to cover tuition in case of unforeseen troubles for a financial sponsor.

These policies also cover emergency dental treatment for acute injury or pain, prevalent among young active travellers, and accidental death and dismemberment benefits to make a payment for accidental death or severe injury to provide family security.

For adventure sport enthusiasts, coverage for adventure sports is available as an add-on, catering to activities such as skiing or trekking, which are favoured by young travellers visiting new places. Limited pre-existing medical conditions, including asthma and diabetes, are covered upon prior declaration and in accordance with policy conditions. Flexibility is provided in choosing between single-trip and multi-trip options, depending on whether you prefer short holidays or frequent travel, and according to your budget and time.

Key Considerations for Travel Health Insurance

Student-centric policies are quite affordable, offering low premiums for basic coverage. You will come across a good variety of budget-friendly travel health insurance policies as a student between 15 and 25 years of age. Since many student visas now require the mandatory purchase of foreign health insurance, taking care of this will simplify the visa process. 

This reduces the anxiety of financial worries in emergency cases, especially since people in this category are likely to be financially dependent on their parents. Signing up for these policies is now available online and is quite hassle-free. Overall, young adults travelling abroad or staying away temporarily should definitely consider this option.

Take a look at the things you should keep in mind when you are exploring foreign health insurance:

1. Policy Length
   Align coverage with your trip, vacation, short-term, or longer for study programs (up to 1-2 years for students).
2. Coverage Limits
   Check maximum limits for medical, evacuation, and baggage claims to ensure adequacy.
3. Exclusions
   Understand what the policy excludes, including pre-existing conditions without notification, risky activities without riders, and non-emergency procedures.
4. Claim Process
   Choose plans with cashless hospitalisation and easy online claims, which are needed for students with limited budgets overseas.