Hospitalisation, dental treatment top travel claims chart: ICICI Lombard General Insurance

Dental treatment and medical inpatient (( hospitalisation) expenses make up the biggest chunk of claims filed by Indian travellers who buy overseas travel insurance, an ICICI Lombard analysis of its travel claims has found.

While these two expense categories may top the list in terms of the claim size, higher frequency of claims was reported in case of trip, passport and check-in baggage delays, the company said. Most overseas travel insurance policies typically compensate travellers for inconvenience caused by such delays, besides paying for their hospitalisation bills in a foreign country, among other things.

Amongst the various countries Indian travellers visit, the US accounts for maximum claim incidents, with its cities California, New Jersey and Texas figuring in the list. The private non-life insurer has seen least number of claims being lodged by visitors to Bangkok.

Not surprisingly, it's primarily the Indian travellers going abroad who buy travel insurance. The demand from domestic travellers is ""very poor"", the report admitted. On Indian travellers' behaviour this season, the analysis noted that they are opting for ""shorter trips, but more exotic locations."" ICICI Lombard garners 45% of the annual travel insurance business between April and June, which is regarded as the peak travel period.