How To Find The Perfect Travel Insurance For Schengen Trip | Bharti AXA

For any of you considering business or leisure travel to the Schengen area, it is necessary to buy travel insurance that is ideally suited to safeguard you in that part of the world.    

As per the rules it is compulsory for every visitor to the Schengen territory to buy travel insurance for Schengen. Having travel insurance for Schengen is part of the documents required in the application process for being granted a Schengen visa. You need to look out for a travel insurance plan that is designed especially for travel to the Schengen countries and complies with the legal travel advisories specified for that region.   

So what exactly should you look for and how do you go about finding the travel insurance plan that will best take care of your travel requirements during your Schengen trip? Let us assist you with some handy tips.

Tips For Getting The Best Travel Insurance For Schengen

Following these tips as a kind of checklist will be useful while you scout around for the right Schengen travel insurance to decide on the one that gives you the appropriate coverage.

Tip # 1 – Should Have A Medical Emergency Cover of €30,000

Medical cover is a vital and big component of your travel insurance policy. Check that the travel insurance policy provides adequate cover for medical emergency expenses you may face due to an accident or falling ill. 30,000 Euros is the minimum emergency medical cover for Schengen travel insurance, which includes repatriation costs if necessary.

Tip # 2 - Should Cover The Entire Schengen Area

The travel insurance you purchase should be valid across all the 26 countries falling in the designated Schengen Area to ensure that you are covered no matter which of these countries you travel to or are included in your Schengen trip itinerary. Only if the travel insurance policy covers all these Schengen countries it will qualify as Schengen travel insurance.

      Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,  Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. 

     Tip # 3 - Should Cover Delay Or Loss Of Checked Baggage

In case your checked-in baggage is delayed by the airlines for more than 6 hours or gets altogether lost, your Schengen travel insurance policy should be able to provide for a reimbursement for emergency purchase of essential items such as clothes, toiletries etc.

     Tip # 4 - Should Include Trip Cancellation Or Interruption Cover

Due to circumstances beyond your control if you are unable to go on the trip and need to cancel after all bookings are done, or need to cut your trip short, the Schengen travel insurance you buy should be able to cover you for the financial loss by reimbursing cost of non-refundable flight tickets and pre-booked hotel accommodation.

     Tip # 5 - Should Cover Loss of Important Travel Documents

Losing your important travel documents such as your passport due to a theft could lead to a lot of inconvenience and hassle. Your Schengen travel insurance should be able to cover you in case of such an incident by reimbursing cost of re-issuing and replacing the lost documents.

     Tip # 6 – Check For Single Trip vs Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

If you happen to travel regularly to the Schengen area for business or leisure then you can  opt for a multi-trip Schengen travel insurance plan which can give you better benefits including savings on your policy premium.

Check for all these points and once you are satisfied that the Schengen travel insurance policy you are considering covers all these important aspects, only then go ahead with the purchase. In addition the Schengen travel insurance policy should also cover you in the event of unexpected trip delays and third party personal liability.

Remember that Schengen travel insurance for Schengen visa needs to be purchased from India before you fly out of the country. You can check out travel insurance plans and get a travel insurance quote online to buy a policy that is tailor-made for the travel needs of individuals and families travelling to Schengen countries. Choose a travel insurance policy to suit your requirement as per traveller type and destination.