Guide to Schengen Travel Insurance

Eu​rope is one of the most famous tourist destinations for Indian and global travellers. A significant part of Europe is the Schengen region, which consists of 29 countries.

From the cobbled streets of Prague and the architectural marvels of Barcelona to the culinary experience at Tuscany and the 16,000+ islands of Greece, the Schengen area is packed with endless adventures. 

To explore the Schengen area, you must have valid travel insurance for a Schengen visa to enter and explore different countries without any hassle. As per the Schengen visa guide, among all the other Schengen visa requirements, travel insurance ensures maximum financial safety for your Schengen excursions. 

However, to obtain travel insurance to Schengen countries, you must meet the mandatory Schengen visa insurance requirements. To help you understand the role, requirements and processes of travel insurance for a Schengen visa, we have curated a detailed guide below. 

What is the Schengen Region? ​

The Schengen Region is part of Europe and consists of 29 countries that share mutual borders. All these European countries share common entry and exit criteria to allow efficient tourism in the region. 

To enter any of the countries in the Schengen region, you must be aware of the Schengen visa guide requirements to obtain a valid Schengen visa based on the duration and purpose of your trip. You can choose between a short-stay, transit, or long-stay visa option with single and multiple-entry permits.

Here is a quick list of countries in the Schengen region.​

Schengen Visa Application Guide - Is Travel Insurance Mandatory?​

When applying for a Schengen visa, you must follow the guide to fill Schengen visa application form accurately and attach the additional supporting documents as per the Schengen visa application guide mentioned below to avoid unexpected delays and rejections. 

• A valid Indian passport with a validity of at least 3 months from the date of departure from any of the Schengen countries. 

• A duly filled and signed visa application form with accurate personal and travel information.

• A valid, clear passport-sized photograph as per the ICAO standards. 

• Your biometric information (fingerprints) at the time of visa application submission.

• Travel tickets to and from the Schengen country.

• ​Proof of accommodation in the form of booking confirmation emails, vouchers, etc. 

• Proof of funds like bank statements, salary slips, etc., to confirm ample financial stability to live and stay in any of the Schengen countries. 

• All the necessary supporting documents as per the Schengen visa guide for different categories. For instance, for a student visa (long-stay), you need to provide a letter of admission. For a work visa (long-stay), you need to provide an offer letter copy and so on.

• Travel insurance - When purchasing a travel insurance plan, you must meet the Schengen visa insurance requirements to stay protected and comply with the necessary guidelines. ​

Schengen Visa Insurance Requirements

Travel insurance is mandatory as per the Schengen visa guide. Here is all you need to know. 

• ​​​Coverage Needs - According to Schengen regulations, a travel insurance plan that offers medical coverage of at least €30,000 is mandatory. This is necessary to ensure you have ample financial support for emergency medical treatments when travelling.

• Required Duration - Your chosen Schengen travel insurance plan must be valid for the entire duration of your trip to the Schengen region. This not only ensures maximum financial protection during the entirety of your trip but also confirms visa approval. 

• Validity - You must choose a travel insurance plan that is valid for all the European countries in the Schengen region. If you choose a plan that only covers one or a few of the countries, your travel will be limited to just those countries.

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for a Schengen Visa?

With the increasing demand for Europe travel and travel insurance mandates, the list of travel insurance companies for a Schengen visa has also grown significantly. 

To find the best and cheapest travel insurance for a Schengen visa, you must consider a list of factors that help you make a favourable decision without compromising your coverage requirements. 

• ​​The list of factors to consider when buying travel insurance for a Europe trip includes the following - ​Coverage Needs - Assess your coverage needs based on the trip itinerary, pre-existing conditions, number of people travelling together and other travel requirements to easily compare different plans and find the best travel insurance for a Schengen visa. 

• Premiums - Individual budgets vary, so you must compare different travel insurance plans to find the one that best fits your budget while providing the required medical and other coverage necessary for a Schengen visa application.

• ​Inclusions and Exclusions - Other than the mandatory minimum requirement of medical coverage for a Schengen visa insurance, you must also review the other inclusions and exclusions of travel insurance policies from different insurers to assess and choose the one that best aligns with your travel needs. 

• Customisation Flexibility - Many insurers offer a range of add-ons with their Schengen travel insurance plans to allow customisation to cater to the specific needs of individuals at an additional price. Check for the available add-ons to evaluate the use-case for the same to benefit from customised coverage.

• Purchase, Renew, and Claim Processes - Choose an insurer that offers online convenience for buying, renewing, and filing a claim for a Schengen travel insurance policy. Moreover, look for additional customer support and market reviews to ensure you choose a reputable insurer. ​​​​​

​​Reliance General Schengen Travel Insurance

In the list of travel insurance companies for a Schengen visa, Reliance General Insurance offers two types of Schengen travel insurance plans. This category of travel insurance plan is specifically curated for travellers looking to explore the Schengen region. 

Our plans are divided into two sub-categories: Basic and Standard. Both offer extensive coverage for specific medical and other emergencies that can show up unannounced during your international trip. 

Let us look at them below. 

Basic Schengen Travel Insurance

The basic Schengen travel insurance plan is curated to provide travellers with the minimum medical coverage required for a Schengen visa. In addition, you get additional coverage for personal accident-related expenses and dental treatment costs up to a specific limit when travelling to any of the Schengen countries. 

Therefore, if you are looking for the cheapest travel insurance for a Schengen visa, you can opt for our basic plan, which provides the necessary coverage and allows you to easily meet the Schengen visa insurance requirements. 

Standard Schengen Travel Insurance

The standard Schengen travel insurance plan is curated to provide comprehensive coverage to travellers looking to visit the Schengen countries with added financial protection in addition to the coverage offered by the basic plan. 

With a standard Schengen travel insurance plan, you get additional coverage for lost or delayed checked-in baggage, accidental death, loss of passport, personal liabilities and compassionate visit in case of extended hospitalisation. 

Basic vs Standard Schengen Travel Insurance

To understand the common coverage differences between both plans, let us look at them in detail below.​

How to Buy/Renew Schengen Travel Insurance?

To buy the best travel insurance for a Schengen visa, you must follow the steps mentioned below - 

1. Visit our website. 

2. Select “Explore Products” from the top bar, and click on “Schengen travel insurance” from the dropdown menu.

3. Next, on the new webpage, select one of the travel types between “Individual”, “Family”, or “Annual Multi-trip” and click on “Next” to proceed. 

4. On the next pop-up, enter your travel duration, select your region as “Schengen”, and enter your personal details as requested. 

5. Select and accept the terms and conditions before clicking on “Check Quote”.

6. On the next screen, choose between basic or standard plans and click on “Buy Now”.

7. Enter your trip details and personal information to review the policy terms and conditions. 

8. Add your payment details and complete the payment to buy the Schengen travel insurance plan of your choice. 

9. Get the policy on your registered email address. 

How to File a Claim under Schengen Travel Insurance?

Unexpected accidents, injuries and illnesses can have a significant impact on your Europe trip and leave you with hefty financial expenses for treatments. However, you can easily file a claim under the Schengen travel insurance policy using the steps mentioned below. 

1. Notify the Insurer - The first thing you must do is notify the insurer about the accident/injury/illness within 24 hours of it happening. You must not delay this step as it can delay your claim settlement procedure. 

2. Collect Evidence/ Proof - After informing the insurer, collect the necessary proof related to the expenses incurred due to the medical emergency. This is crucial for the insurer to evaluate the claim upon submission. 

3. Initiate Claim - The next step is to update the claim details by submitting a duly filled and signed claim form along with the necessary documents to RCare. 

4. Claim Approval - The insurer will evaluate the claim form and supporting documents and decide on the claim request. The approval of the claim settlement amount is based on specific policy terms and conditions. 

5. Claim Settlement - Once the claim request is approved, the settlement amount will be released to the registered bank account using NEFT.

Conclusion 

If you are planning a trip to Europe, your travel map must begin with the purchase of travel insurance to Schengen countries. 

From medical emergencies to personal liabilities, travel insurance for a Schengen visa is a crucial travel companion that ensures your European adventures are stress-free and hassle-free. 

Reliance General Insurance offers destination- and purpose-specific travel insurance plans that offer extensive coverage for various destinations, such as Schengen travel insurance, international travel insurance, Asia travel insurance, student travel insurance, etc. 

All our plans offer comprehensive insurance for a wide range of trip mishaps to ensure maximum financial protection in times of need to safeguard your out-of-pocket expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. ​​​​​​​​What ar​​e the standard exclusions of Schengen Travel Insurance from Reliance General Insurance?

    Some standard exclusions include the following - 

   • Voluntary travelling against doctor’s advice

   • Self-inflicted injuries 

   • Injuries or accidents due to substance consumption

   • War or nuclear attacks 

   • Undisclosed pre-existing illnesses or diseases

   • Loss of passport due to negligence 

2. ​List of documents required to file a claim for total loss of baggage.​

   The list of claim documents includes the following - 

   • Completed claim form 

   • ​

     ​​FIR report

   • Proof of identity 

   • Copy of flight tickets and boarding passes

   • Airline statement letter confirming the claim request 

   • Additional documents related to the claim request 

3. ​Is it possible to buy Schengen travel insurance after applying for a Schengen visa?

   ​​A Schengen travel insurance plan is mandatory as per Schengen visa insurance requirements. If  you wish to obtain a Schengen visa to visit any of the Schengen countries, you must buy the travel insurance plan first and then apply for one to ensure compliance and reduce the risk of visa application rejection.​​​​​

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