Friday, March 21, 2014

Overseas Travel Policy of 14 Indian Insurance Companies is to be accepted by Embassies for Issue of Schengen (European Visa Authority) Visa

Overseas Travel Policy issued by following Indian Insurance Companies is not to be honoured by Schengen (European Visa Authority) w.e.f.March 10, 2014
1- National Insurance
2- SBI General
3- ICICI Lombard
4- Bharti Axa General
5- L&T General Insurance
6- Religare Health Insurance
7- Raheja QBE.
This decision seems to have come because of various reasons and some of these are
1- Claims not being honoured
2- Policies floating in the market, which were not genuine policies or we can say were fake policies
3- Inability of Visa authorities to verify the genuineness of the policy by accessing the data base of the Insurance Companies as software is not compatible.

We are reproducing the Circular of Visa Authority according to which list of approved or acceptable Insurance Companies is:
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            Schengen States Consular Posts Approved List of Indian Travel Insurance Companies Providing Travel Medical Insurances for Schengen Visa Procedure
                 Effective as of 10 March 2014

                1) Apollo Munich for the age group of 6 months to 70 years
                2) Bajaj Allianz for the age group of 6 months to 70 years
                3) Chola MS for the age group of 0 month to 70 years
                4) Future Generali for the age group of 6 months to 70 years
                5) HDFC Ergo for the age group of 3 months to 70 years
                6) IFFCO Tokio for the age group of 3 months to 70 years
                7) New India Assurance Company for the age group of 0 month to 60 years
                8) Reliance for the age group of 3 months to 70 years
                9) Royal Sundaram for the age group of 3 months to 70 years
                10) Star Health and Allied Insurance for the age group of 6 months to 70 years
                11) Tata/AIG for the age group of 6 months to 55 years
                12) Oriental Insurance Company for the age group of 6 months to 60 years
                13) United India Insurance Company for the age group of 0 month to 65 years
                14) Universal Sompo for the age group of 0 month to 70 years
                 
Consular Posts of Schengen States approved specific travel medical insurance policy schemes for corporate travels of travel insurance companies on this list with 70 years of age as upper limit of appropriate coverage. However, acceptance of travel medical insurance policy schemes for group travels (e.g. tour or incentive groups) with 70 years of age as upper limit of appropriate coverage is conditioned on that Consular Posts of Schengen States would be able to check the coverage of individual members of these groups in the Travel Insurance Portals of Non-Life Insurers of the General Insurance Council (online verification tool). 
Visa applicants are advised to note that other travel medical insurances issued by Indian insurance companies are not accepted for Schengen visa procedure. However, visa applicants may seek to obtain insurance in any other country where claims against the insurance company would be recoverable in a Schengen State.

NOTE1

Visa applicants for a Schengen visa for one or two entries shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on the territory of the Schengen States. Visa applicants for a uniform visa for more than two entries (multiple entries) shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit. In addition, such applicants shall sign the statement, set out in the application form, declaring that they are aware of the need to be in possession of travel medical insurance for subsequent stays. The insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Schengen States and cover the entire period of the person�s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30 000. Applicants shall, in principle, take out insurance in their country of residence. Where this is not possible, they shall seek to obtain insurance in any other country. When assessing whether the insurance cover is adequate, consulates shall ascertain whether claims against the insurance company would be recoverable in a Schengen State.

1This note makes reference to Article 15 of Regulation 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas.
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We are surprised to see age limit of 70 years. What will happen to those who are above 70 years? This needs to be clarified. May be IRDA can come up with suitable action to save the image of those companies, who have been blacklisted.

We in Ria Insurance Brokers P Ltd will be pleased to answer queries from you, who are planning to go in for Schengen Visa in the coming months. We are reachable on ria@surekhae.com

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