Travel insurance (and other queries) for the United States

Max · 23rd August 2007, 16:41

thanks for all your help guys, i am back from usa, if any one needs tips on chicago, new york and las vegas, just PM me.

Mayavi · 23rd August 2007, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max

thanks for all your help guys, i am back from usa, if any one needs tips on chicago, new york and las vegas, just PM me.

Damn, one month in US and you have seen all those places?

condor · 10th August 2008, 13:20

Quote:

Max

: Any suggestions on which insurance company i should use for travel insurance? icici lombard / bajaj allianz ..?

Max

: My friend told me to go with USA based insurance company as it will be better.

bill1182

: TATA AIG travel insurance policy is best and cheapest.

Guys, specific question reg insurance : which insurance company & coverage plan is good ? Pls let me know your experience of any insurance company / plan that you have availed services of.

In case it helps, my mom's travelling tomorrow night to US, for the usual 2-3 month visit. Need to purchase the policy by tomorrow (11-Aug).

I have checked ICICI Lombard & will check Tata-AIG. Feedback is Indian service providers are not very prompt .. response is better if policy is purchased in US, with a US based service provider.

EDIT :
ICICI Lombard : say they provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, has a premium calculator & on-line chat (not that the chat response agents provide satisfactory service). Can extend coverage (1 extn allowed - but agents dont know how or what's invloved). Refunds available if atleast 30 days coverage still left, and no claims done on that policy.

Tata-AIG : none of the above 3.

TIA !

condor · 8th January 2009, 18:54

Guys, URGENT Help Reqd:
I need help in escalating a service request with ICICI Lombard. Can anyone help me ?

I had taken up an overseas travel policy with them for my mom. As per their guidelines, I put in a cancel request (after my mom came back). Each call I make to ask about the status is responded to with a fresh request number. Now the service request is closed saying customer pending, inspite of sending in the documents.

* How do I escalate ?
* Is there anyone you know, working in ICICI Lombard, who can help me get this closed ?
* Is there a supervisor / manager contact number I can call ?

panky12345 · 8th January 2009, 19:03

Technically, the travel insurance becomes invalid the time you land in India. I've used TATA and ICICI both for atleast 6 times in past 2 years, but never had a chance (or requirement) to cancel those.

Rest, if you are adament to getting it cancelled manually, refer this..

ICICI Lombard - Customer Care India

it has the direct contacts of the senior management.

Max · 8th July 2010, 14:49

i am again going to united states and again hunting for insurance. Last time i took insurance for icici in hurry but this time i am considering insurance company based in united states.

Last time, I did not face any incidence so really don't know how icici was going to treat me.

Max · 8th July 2010, 14:51

guys i found good web site with tons of information about travel, special 101

Travel Insurance 101 | Travel Insurance Review

Bigzero · 8th July 2010, 17:56

Just thought I willl give my 2cents on the need for Internationall Driving License :

I have made a number of Business trips to US and have faced no issues renting cars ( I usually take it only from Enterprise ) after showing my Indian DL ( an old Gujarat driving license which looks like a very small book and has the details written by hand - also with some text partly smudged after an unfortunate outing in the rain ).

Interestingly the Enterprise guys have a thick book that has photos of all driving licenses, and during one transaction I saw him compare my license to the Guj license photo in the book. But most of them dont bother to check at all.

I havent been asked for an International Driving License so far. I have rented cars in NJ, IL, MN and CA.

Okay, touch wood, I havent been stopped by Cops in US-yet; So I dont know whether that would be a different experience.

I hope I didnt go OT on this one...

Max · 13th July 2010, 03:23

bigzero, thanks for the post man. about the insurance, i learn trip cancellation covers cost of trip in case its canceled due to weather or death of some person in family or some other situations. Unfortunately, HDFC Rego do not offer trip cancellation cover and icici lombard only offers $500 for the same in platinum insurance plan which cost rs.1000-1200 more.

So now my choices are 2 HDFC REGO gold and ICICI Lombard gold travel insurance. I will be paying nearly rs.1300 in both and both cover other fancy stuff but no trip cancellation. I have 24 hours to decide so please post your suggestion and experience if any.

Max · 13th July 2010, 21:42

never buy policy from icici lombard read these reviews.
Should anyone ever buy ICICI Lombard? I don't think so - Immihelp Forums

i am considering buying insurance from US based company.

akroy · 16th July 2010, 17:30

My Mom is flying to US in Aug and I want to buy insurance for her. Now the main Qs is should I buy India insurance or buy from any US provider? Let me know if there is any specific US provider which you are aware off?

Abhi

Gandhi · 12th January 2011, 23:09

Hi,

I am traveling to US for about a month and a half. Need a travel insurance for myself. Looking at policybazaar.com, I am very confused about what to buy.

Please help.

Fantasy · 13th January 2011, 07:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by n_aditya

Refrain from using slang like nigger etc and you should be fine.

that word isn't slang, it's actually derogatory.

NetfreakBombay · 13th January 2011, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigzero

I havent been asked for an International Driving License so far. I have rented cars in NJ, IL, MN and CA.

Okay, touch wood, I havent been stopped by Cops in US-yet; So I dont know whether that would be a different experience.

International Driving Permit is just an Official English Translation of existing license. So if license is already in English, IDP is not a requirement.

GTO · 14th January 2011, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

International Driving Permit is just an Official English Translation of existing license. So if license is already in English, IDP is not a requirement.

Not so. Some US States recognise the IDP ONLY, while others (surprisingly) accept the regular Indian driving licence ONLY. I usually carry both.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gandhi

I am traveling to US for about a month and a half. Need a travel insurance for myself. Looking at policybazaar.com, I am very confused about what to buy.

I'd say medical coverage of 100K should suffice.

23rd August 2007, 16:41	#16
Max BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Thane Posts: 538 Thanked: 99 Times View My Garage	thanks for all your help guys, i am back from usa, if any one needs tips on chicago, new york and las vegas, just PM me.
	() Thanks

8th January 2009, 18:54	#19
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 16,242 Thanked: 16,854 Times View My Garage	Guys, URGENT Help Reqd: I need help in escalating a service request with ICICI Lombard. Can anyone help me ? I had taken up an overseas travel policy with them for my mom. As per their guidelines, I put in a cancel request (after my mom came back). Each call I make to ask about the status is responded to with a fresh request number. Now the service request is closed saying customer pending, inspite of sending in the documents. * How do I escalate ? * Is there anyone you know, working in ICICI Lombard, who can help me get this closed ? * Is there a supervisor / manager contact number I can call ?
	() Thanks

8th January 2009, 19:03	#20
panky12345 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,697 Thanked: 172 Times	Technically, the travel insurance becomes invalid the time you land in India. I've used TATA and ICICI both for atleast 6 times in past 2 years, but never had a chance (or requirement) to cancel those. Rest, if you are adament to getting it cancelled manually, refer this.. ICICI Lombard - Customer Care India it has the direct contacts of the senior management.
	() Thanks

8th July 2010, 14:49	#21
Max BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Thane Posts: 538 Thanked: 99 Times View My Garage	i am again going to united states and again hunting for insurance. Last time i took insurance for icici in hurry but this time i am considering insurance company based in united states. Last time, I did not face any incidence so really don't know how icici was going to treat me.
	() Thanks

8th July 2010, 14:51	#22
Max BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Thane Posts: 538 Thanked: 99 Times View My Garage	guys i found good web site with tons of information about travel, special 101 Travel Insurance 101 \| Travel Insurance Review
	() Thanks

8th July 2010, 17:56	#23
Bigzero BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 461 Thanked: 601 Times	Just thought I willl give my 2cents on the need for Internationall Driving License : I have made a number of Business trips to US and have faced no issues renting cars ( I usually take it only from Enterprise ) after showing my Indian DL ( an old Gujarat driving license which looks like a very small book and has the details written by hand - also with some text partly smudged after an unfortunate outing in the rain ). Interestingly the Enterprise guys have a thick book that has photos of all driving licenses, and during one transaction I saw him compare my license to the Guj license photo in the book. But most of them dont bother to check at all. I havent been asked for an International Driving License so far. I have rented cars in NJ, IL, MN and CA. Okay, touch wood, I havent been stopped by Cops in US-yet; So I dont know whether that would be a different experience. I hope I didnt go OT on this one... Last edited by Bigzero : 8th July 2010 at 18:02.
	(1) Thanks

13th July 2010, 03:23	#24
Max BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Thane Posts: 538 Thanked: 99 Times View My Garage	bigzero, thanks for the post man. about the insurance, i learn trip cancellation covers cost of trip in case its canceled due to weather or death of some person in family or some other situations. Unfortunately, HDFC Rego do not offer trip cancellation cover and icici lombard only offers $500 for the same in platinum insurance plan which cost rs.1000-1200 more. So now my choices are 2 HDFC REGO gold and ICICI Lombard gold travel insurance. I will be paying nearly rs.1300 in both and both cover other fancy stuff but no trip cancellation. I have 24 hours to decide so please post your suggestion and experience if any. Last edited by Max : 13th July 2010 at 03:24.
	() Thanks

13th July 2010, 21:42	#25
Max BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Thane Posts: 538 Thanked: 99 Times View My Garage	never buy policy from icici lombard read these reviews. Should anyone ever buy ICICI Lombard? I don't think so - Immihelp Forums i am considering buying insurance from US based company.
	() Thanks

16th July 2010, 17:30	#26
akroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Posts: 2,424 Thanked: 88 Times View My Garage	My Mom is flying to US in Aug and I want to buy insurance for her. Now the main Qs is should I buy India insurance or buy from any US provider? Let me know if there is any specific US provider which you are aware off? Abhi
	() Thanks

12th January 2011, 23:09	#27
Gandhi BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 962 Thanked: 209 Times View My Garage	Re: travel insurance for united states and general tips for usa travel Hi, I am traveling to US for about a month and a half. Need a travel insurance for myself. Looking at policybazaar.com, I am very confused about what to buy. Please help.
	() Thanks