US-Iran Conflict: The deepening geopolitical tension in the Middle East has severely affected international air travel. Due to the increasing tension between America and Iran, many major airlines have canceled their flights or changed their routes as a precaution. Due to this sudden reshuffle, hundreds of Indian passengers are stuck at foreign transit airports. Thousands of kilometers away from home, indefinite wait and fear of medical emergency has increased the anxiety of these passengers. In such difficult times, the question arises whether the travel insurance taken after spending lakhs of rupees will be able to help them financially in this time of crisis?
This is how the claim will be decided
Unlike domestic trips, taking out travel insurance for foreign trips is considered a very important step. But, in a situation like the current crisis, whether the insurance company will give you a claim or not depends on two things. Firstly, what is the real reason behind the disruption in your travel and secondly, when did you purchase the insurance policy.
As per the rules, the claim of any passenger is considered only if he has purchased his policy before the dispute or problem started in that area. If due to increasing geopolitical tensions, airspace in Dubai, Qatar, Tehran or any other part of West Asia is suddenly closed and the passenger is stranded, then the insurance company can compensate under the benefits of ‘Trip Delay’, ‘Trip Interruption’ or ‘Missed Connection’. The only condition is that the coverage should have been taken before the problem arose.
When company rules become a hindrance
When it comes to war or military conflict, the rules of insurance companies become quite strict. According to Naval Goyal, Founder and CEO, PolicyX.com, travelers need to understand that most policies exclude claims arising out of an official declaration of war by a government. In case of active war, the ‘war exclusion clause’ generally applies and the company does not cover liability.
However, if passengers are stranded due to some operational glitch like cancellation of flights or closure of the airport, insurance companies consider the claim. Difficulties arise when situations like undeclared confrontation, precautionary diversion or sudden airspace shutdown arise that have not been officially declared a war. In such a situation, the acceptance of the claim depends on whether the insurance company considers the loss as a direct or indirect result as per the specific terms of the policy.
What will happen if health deteriorates due to stress?
Being stuck at the airport for a long time is bound to affect mental and physical health. In such a situation, there remains a risk of a passenger falling ill or becoming a victim of an accident. In this situation, travel medical insurance proves to be very helpful.
If a passenger suffers an illness or accident that is not directly related to the ongoing military conflict, a claim for hospitalization, treatment or emergency evacuation is usually easily passed. But, it is very important to note that if the health damage is directly caused by any military action, then the medical claim will also not be accepted.