Buying health insurance while travelling abroad
NEWDELHI: When you travel abroad, it’s advisable to buy travel insurance. In fact, there are health insurance plans that cover planned international hospitalisation as well, but be aware of some caveats.
For instance, Apollo Munich Health Insurance Co. Ltd has a rider called Critical Advantage. A rider is like an add-on that you take with a base policy. You can take Critical Advantage with any of Apollo Munich’s basic health insurance policies, provided the sum insured under the base policy is at least ₹10 lakh. This rider specifically insures only against eight critical conditions like cancer, neurosurgery and coronary artery bypass surgery. The maximum sum insured under the rider is about ₹3 crore.
Max Bupa Health Insurance Co Ltd covers international hospitalisation under the platinum version of its plan called Heartbeat. This policy offers cashless treatment for nine critical illnesses as well as for emergency hospitalisation abroad. The maximum sum insured under this plan is ₹1 crore. The policy doesn’t provide insurance covers in the US and Canada, and you need to pay extra to be included these countries.
Religare Health Insurance Co Ltd offers two kinds of international health insurance covers: one that covers critical illness and the other that covers both planned and unplanned hospitalizations. “Our product care offers sum insured up to ₹6 crore. For sum insured option from ₹50-75 lakh, international cover is available for 12 specified critical illnesses,” said Anuj Gulati, CEO and MD, Religare Health. “For sum insured option of ₹1 crore and above, we offer global coverage of all conditions for both planned and emergency hospitalisation,” he added. The maximum sum insured under this plan is ₹6 crore. For option of ₹1 crore and above, the policy doesn’t insure you for hospitalisation in the US. You need to pay extra for it.
Elite version of Royal Sundaram General Insurance Co. Ltd’s Lifeline plan is available for up to ₹1.5 crore of sum insured. Cigna TTK Health Insurance Co. Ltd offers international cover, but only for emergencies. The sum insured in this health insurance plan is ₹1 crore.
But remember, while such covers are a solution if you wish to get treatment abroad, they are not a substitute for travel insurance policies.