Spending medical bills in foreign currency is certainly an expensive affair, and the tension makes the situation worse. There are other difficult situations also, that one might face like loss of passport or baggage, even emergency evacuation can be needed in special situations. There are several policies, which also pay the expenses for cancelled trips under circumstances. A question often arises why one needs a travel protection plan if one has credit cards that include travel insurance. But we should remember that travel insurance medical from credit cards is usually limited to coverage for car rental damage, flight accidents or for accidental death while on travel i.e it does not cover several eventualities which one can face while on international tour. Also, this protection is in effect only when payment has been done through that particular credit card. Most credit cards do not offer any coverage for travel medical expenses, evacuation costs, or trip cancellation expenses. On the other hand the regular domestic private insurance or government sponsored health insurance programs may offer comprehensive coverage in home country, but hardly any one of them is designed for international travellers or expatriates. Even programs that cover international travel often provide limited benefits that do not normally cover medically supervised emergency evacuation, emergency reunion, or repatriation.

Only specially designed international travel insurance medical schemes provide health insurance coverage for travellers outside their home country. This

coverage includes emergency medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, return of dependent children, bedside lodging, accidental death, cost of return flight, and most of the policies include Baggage loss, Trip Cancellation, and Emergency Repatriation and reasonable and necessary expenses to obtain a duplicate passport or a valid travel document in case of loss of passport. However Loss or damage to the Insured's passport as a result of the confiscation or detention by custom's, police authority is not covered.

The packages also provide coverage for trip cancellation due to a non-travelling family member's death or illness requiring you to stay home. Trip cancellation coverage is generally considered to be a "named peril" type policy, meaning that only those perils that are named in the policy are covered. This generally includes terrorism. However each company gives their own definition of terrorism.

The Financial Default protection benefit is part of the Trip Cancellation/Interruption benefit. Financial default coverage applies if the airline, cruise line, or tour operator goes out of business and you are unable to travel or suffer financial loss. In order for this coverage to apply, coverage must be purchased within 7 - 21 days (depends on company) of the initial deposit. After determining if you qualify for the benefit, some of the plans have 7-14 day waiting period before the benefit would become effective. Additionally, this benefit would be only available if the airline, cruise line or tour operator was not in bankruptcy at the time you purchase your travel insurance policy.

You can purchase a policy up to the day before you travel. However it is suggested that to receive the most benefit from the travel policy you must purchase the insurance within 7 to 21 days (varies by company and plan) of making your initial trip payment. If the travel insurance medical is purchased within the 7 - 21 day period you may receive two significant enhancements (varies by company and plan) to the policy. Purchasing early will prevent situations where something can happen before you buy your insurance, which will not be covered. It is to be noted that most companies count the day you make the first trip payment as day one and not the day when the check is cashed. Most of the companies allow you to review the policy for about 2 weeks following purchase (varies by company and plan). If you cancel your policy within those 2 weeks, you will receive a full refund except for a small non-refundable processing fee charged by the company.

Another important concept is deductible. A deductible is a way for the insurance company to reduce claims and your premium. If your plan has a $100 deductible, you pay the first $100 of expenses and then the insurance company picks up the rest/ The higher the deductible, the lower the cost and vice versa.

For Travel Medical, Multi-Trip Medical and Medical Evacuation Policies, coverage begins at 12:01AM the day of departure. If purchased on, or after your departure date, coverage begins at 12:01AM the following day. However there is a maximum limit of eligible expenses per sickness or disease are applicable to insured Person Aged 56-70, depending upon plan to plan. A general picture is shown below:

Hospital room and board and hospital miscellaneous: Maximum $1500 per day up to 30 days whichever is less.

Intensive care unit: Maximum $3000 per day up to 7 days whichever is less.

Surgical treatment: Maximum $10,000

Anesthetist Services: Up to 25% of surgical treatment.

Physician's visit: Maximum $75 per day up to 10 visits.

Diagnostic and pre-admission testing: Maximum $500.

Ambulance service: maximum $400.

For Flight Accident Policies, coverage becomes effective the day of your departure upon boarding your flight. However Flight Accident policies cannot generally be purchased if you have already departed on your trip.

Before purchasing any policy exclusion conditions should be carefully read. Main exclusions includes coverage of any expenses incurred directly of indirectly in respect of travelling against the advice of a Physician, for obtaining treatment; Pre existing ailments & complications arising out of them, suicide or attempted suicide, Illegal Acts, Dangerous Sports. Pre-existing travel insurance medical condition refers to any injury, disease or illness occurring prior to and including the effective date of your policy. If your medication is controlled and you see a Doctor for routine checkups, this would not be considered a pre-existing condition. It would only be considered a pre-existing condition if your Doctor altered your medication, had a test done, requested that a test be done, or changed your diagnosis.