When purchasing travel insurance, consider several factors since coverage varies by country. For example, think about your destination, vacation duration, cash and valuables, medical expenses (including those related to sports and adventure activities), trip cancellations, and insurance plan limits and exclusions.
Travel is something most people love and find joy in. Some travel annually, while others are frequent travellers. A travel insurance policy is a crucial financial safeguard regardless of how often you travel. It protects you from unfortunate events such as lost baggage, flight cancellations, or extra expenses due to rescheduling.
Different types of travel insurance policies are available based on the frequency of travel. As the name suggests, the Single-Trip Travel Plan provides insurance coverage for a single journey, typically valid for a minimum of four days to max 180 days (depending on the insurer).
Says Aashish Sethi, head- health SBU and travel, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance: “However, the Bajaj Allianz Travel Ace policy includes coverage for 365 days in single-trip travel insurance. Unlike a multi-travel insurance policy, it is limited to one trip a year. Single trip policy is available for both domestic and international journeys, starting from when you leave your home for travel until you return or the end of the insurance period, whichever comes first. Occasional travellers can benefit from this plan, as it covers travel inconveniences and medical emergencies within the scope of a single trip. However, if you're travelling with family or a group, there's another option available.”
Depending on your insurance company, you may have the option to add extra coverage through optional add-ons. It's a way to tailor your insurance to fit your needs and ensure a worry-free travel experience.
Multi-trip travel insurance is designed for individuals, such as business professionals, who travel frequently and do not want the hassle of buying travel insurance before every trip/journey. This type of insurance usually offers coverage for multiple/unlimited number of trips. Though the policy duration for multi-trip travel insurance is generally one year the maximum duration of every trip is capped. Travellers are advised to check the maximum trip duration allowed in the product before buying any multi-trip policy.
“A multi-trip policy is particularly advantageous for business or frequent travellers who must embark on numerous journeys within one policy period. Similarly, parents visiting their children abroad can benefit from multi-trip travel insurance designed for senior citizens,” adds Sethi.
Both plans provide comparable coverage except for their durations. The main factor influencing preference between them hinges on the frequency of your annual travel trips. Additionally, it's essential to consider the length of each trip.
“Considering your travels' duration and frequency, you can choose between a single-trip or a multi-trip policy. The best policy for you is the one that checks all the right boxes by providing adequate insurance coverage. It is necessary to analyze your needs and choose the correct insurance for yourself or your family,” adds Sethi.
Hence, the choice between single-trip and multi-trip travel insurance depends on a traveller’s requirements. “A single trip policy is an ideal solution for a person who doesn't travel often but if there is a frequent traveller, a multi-trip policy offers more value and convenience to him. It provides continuous coverage for all the trips throughout the year without remembering to buy travel insurance before every trip,” says Amrish Dubey, Vice President, of travel insurance, TATA AIG General Insurance.
We advise all prospective buyers of travel Insurance to go through the policy terms in detail before buying the insurance.