Major travel insurance policies exclude war and related situations so such claims due to war scenarios are not payable and hence during war situations ideally one will never get the policy.
The recent protests in Bangladesh not only caused a political upheaval but also affected many flights and left travellers stranded. This can be a stressful situation. Even travel insurance will not cover you in such cases. We take a look at what will be covered and what will not.
“Major travel insurance policies exclude war and related situations so such claims due to war scenarios are not payable and hence during war situations ideally one will never get the policy,” says Yashesh Sampat, independent insurance professional, CII(UK) and Fellow from Insurance Institute of India (III).
A Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policy purchased in advance of a war situation allows you to cancel within three days before departure. “Typically, with CFAR, you will receive a reimbursement of 50 per cent-75 per cent of your trip costs. However, CFAR plans can have different requirements and payouts, so it’s best to read the fine print of your policy for complete details,” says Sampat.
Even if you have purchased a policy, you would not be able to claim from the policy in the event of a war. “You will not be able to claim for trip cancellation,” says Anuj Parekh, co-founder and CEO of Bharatsure. Also, if your flights are cancelled, the policy will not cover you, though your airline is most likely to refund you.
“If you are in a war-affected location, it’s better to be in touch with the origin country embassy and seek help or take professional assistance company services for a safe stay or evacuation back,” says Sampat.
So, even if you are currently in an overseas place and war breaks out, the exclusions of the travel policy will apply. “However, for illnesses that require hospitalization, for example, dengue, the policy should ideally cover this. But any hospitalization due to the war would not be covered,” says Parekh. So, if you find yourself in a war zone and are injured and need medical care, you will not be covered.
When it comes to a situation that is related to war, the general exclusions would include, war, invasions, acts of foreign enemies, civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrections, and even cases where there is destruction of property ordered by the government. Detailed exclusions would be part of the insurance policy document.