Travel Insurance Add-Ons in India

The insurance scenario in India has definitely improved in the last few years, with a variety of plans constantly revamping and improving their coverage benefits. While most insurers offer great coverage for most types of travellers, some have gone a step ahead by introducing special coverage options called add-ons. Learn more about these add-ons and how they improve your overall travel experience abroad.

What are Add-On Covers in Travel Insurance?

Add-ons, optionals or riders, the name may vary from insurer to insurer. These are excellent if you want to enhance your overall trip coverage. As these are not provided with the plan, you must pay some extra premium and opt for them voluntarily. While some may consider these an additional expense, these are much-needed especially when you feel your policy may not cover all the risks during your trip abroad.

The coverage, benefits and cost of travel insurance add-ons depend on the insurer provider. You can easily compare different plans to find the best travel insurance optionals for your upcoming journey.

Types of Add-ons

Depending upon the type of travel insurance and the insurer, you can find one or more of these optionals along with your trip insurance policy. Listed below are some of the most popular add-ons offered by travel insurance plans on policybazaar:

Trip-Related Covers

Opting for this add-on will provide additional coverage in case of many emergencies. These include trip interruptions, bounced hotel bookings, automatic trip extensions, and delays in checked-in baggage.
Protection Benefits

This is another special optional available for those who want to secure themselves from hefty financial burdens in case of any of the following:
- Personal Liability
- Bail Bond
- Loss of International Driving License
- Loan Protector (Available only in a few plans)
Sports Related Activities Cover

This is a special add-on created to protect people who are travelling abroad to participate in a sports activity. It offers varying coverage depending on your needs. Key benefits include:
- Coverage for Sports Equipment: You will be covered for the loss of your sports equipment because of theft, burglary or due to a flight delay (12 hours).
- Damage of Loss to Rental Sports Equipment: This feature provides coverage for any loss or damage to your rented sports equipment while travelling abroad. It will compensate for the fine charged by the sports equipment rental owner.
- Coverage for Sports Activity: You will be reimbursed in case you get hospitalised or can’t utilise a portion of your sports activity. This may be due to hospitalisation, trip interruption, and other covered reasons. A written advice of a medical practitioner is necessary to avail of this coverage.
Inconvenience Benefits Cover

Under this optional you can get coverage for multiple emergencies during your international trip. These include colleague replacement, return of minor child, and refund of visa fee.
Refund of Visa Fees Cover

This optional is helpful in case your visa is rejected for no fault on your part. The cover will reimburse your visa fee if it is rejected without any negligence on your part, such as not providing all the documents required, not meeting necessary financial requirements, etc.
Adventure Sports Cover

For adrenaline rush seekers, this cover provides hospitalisation expenses coverage while performing adventure sports activities. The exact coverage will depend on the insurer and the mentioned sub-limits. It is usually up to 25% of the hospitalisation expenses and personal accident.
Staff Replacement Cover

Opting for this add-on covers you for any unexpected replacement in case a key staff member in your business or organisation. This includes the cost of an economy class return airfare (up to the mentioned sum) necessary to send a substitute employee/staff to fulfil the business purpose. This is offered if the insured person is not able to carry out their occupational duties for more than 7 days.

Please note that these optionals and their exact coverage will vary from plan to plan. It may not be possible to club or purchase all or more than a few of these add-ons as they may be insurer-specific. To avoid any confusion or risk of claim rejection later, ensure you go through the complete policy wordings provided by the insurer.

To Conclude

If you are looking for specific coverage which is not being commonly offered by standard travel insurance plans, then buying add-ons can help you. They can offer enhanced coverage so that you can travel stress-free abroad, without having to worry about those risks and financial burdens.