It is no secret that having insurance can come in handy in several circumstances, especially when you are travelling. Be it coverage for medical emergencies or loss of passport, your travel insurance policy can help in more ways than you can imagine. There are various kinds of policies, and they differ based on the benefits they offer. For instance, student travel insurance is tailor-made for individuals travelling abroad to study.
Among these travel insurance policies is Schengen travel insurance, a customized international travel insurance policy. Here are some things to know about this kind of travel insurance policy:
What is a Schengen travel insurance policy?
Before we answer this, let us give you a background of ‘Schengen’. The word Schengen in the policy name refers to the Schengen Area that includes 26 European countries (22 belonging to the European Union and four outside it). Following the 1985 Schengen Agreement signed in Schengen, Luxembourg, the member countries abolished border controls (like visa and passport requirements) to travel within the Schengen Area.
These requirements were eliminated to promote tourism and allow the easy, free flow of people and goods across the member nations’ mutual borders. However, these Schengen States require visitors to have a travel insurance policy. Having this policy is mandatory to get a Schengen visa (a single visa that can be used to travel to all the Schengen countries for a total period of 90 days). Luxembourg, France, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, and Portugal are some of the 26 Schengen States that require you to have travel insurance to visit them. A Schengen travel insurance policy is a special travel insurance policy designed to keep up with specific needs that may arise while travelling to Schengen nations.
Benefits
The benefits a Schengen travel insurance policy offers vary by insurer. The coverage may include:
- Medical emergencies (bodily injury due to an accident and cashless hospitalization cover)
- Medical evacuation
- Trip cancellation or interruption
- Loss of check-in baggage
- Delay in the arrival of check-in baggage
- Personal liability
- Loss of passport (obtaining a duplicate or new one)
- The return ticket fare for a family member who visits the policyholder if the latter is hospitalized in a Schengen nation for more than a week
- Accidental dismemberment and death
- Third-party damage
Why have Schengen nations mandated travel insurance?
The Schengen States require tourists to have travel insurance to reduce the financial burden that may build on the economy if they receive treatment in the country but don’t pay the medical bills. Travel insurance ensures that visitors can afford any medical expenses that may come their way.
Having a Schengen travel insurance policy is necessary because it offers the policyholder a safety net—they can travel across multiple countries without worrying about lack of funds if an unfortunate incident were to occur, even if it is with clauses. Before finalizing a policy, research and compare all your options, and do not forget to read the fine print so that you choose an insurance policy best suited to your needs.
