Why do you need a Schengen travel insurance?
While gathering documents for your Schengen visa application in Nigeria, you discover something. You must submit a Schengen travel insurance certificate to the Schengen embassy.
You make arrangements for a travel insurance certificate and, hopefully, you get one. But how much do you know about Schengen Travel Insurance?
It is a popular knowledge that Schengen Travel Insurance is a must for Schengen visa in Nigeria. You must present an original copy of the certificate for verification.
This insurance policy has to cater for the costs that accrue from accidents or emergencies when traveling. It cushions the effects of travel mishaps. But besides these basic nuggets of information, there is more to Schengen Travel Insurance for Schengen visa.
Unfortunately, you may be ignorant about these vital details. And you could ruin your chances of getting your Schengen visa because of it.
Schengen Travel Insurance is Compulsory for Schengen Visa/Trip
You must get a Schengen travel insurance cover when applying for a visa to any of the following 26 Schengen countries:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland
You may compare Schengen travel Insurance to the vehicle insurance. Just as you cannot drive your car if you don’t have a valid motor insurance. You cannot travel to a Schengen state if you don’t have a medical insurance cover.
Now, this does not refer to your personal, local health insurance. As most will not be applicable to your journey overseas. It is a special type recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Schengen member states.
Therefore, Schengen embassies will deny your Schengen visa if you use a substandard insurance cover. Moreover, you enjoy all that the insurance policy has to offer, including free medical treatment while abroad.
Schengen Travel Insurance is At Least 30,000 Euro
A standard Schengen travel insurance policy must cover fees for illnesses, medical care, likely repatriation, accidents and more. It should worth 30,000 Euro!
The embassy-standard insurance policy is designed to protect you, the traveler, when visiting Schengen. And it must be applicable to any of the 26 states in the Schengen region.
While some international countries (such as Turkey) are not particular about the cover limit of your insurance policy. The European Union law does not acknowledge anything less than 30,000 Euro. This is why you must be careful when getting your Schengen travel insurance in Nigeria.
Your Schengen visa application would be refused at the Visa Application Centre once your insurance is less than the requirement. And do not get this wrong. No one expects you to pay 30,000 Euro for an insurance policy. Because, as you would soon discover, Schengen travel insurance is cheap.
Schengen Travel Insurance Must Cover the Entire Duration of Stay
The Schengen travel insurance must be valid through the entire period of your visit to the Schengen region. If you intend to visit for 21 days, your insurance policy must at least last up to 21 days. And it is even better if your cover lasts beyond your travel period. This encourages the visa officer to grant more days for visa.
Your insurance activates from the first second of your start date. So, a seven days insurance policy starting on November 1, 2018 would expire on November 7, 2018.
If you can, you must always get a policy that extends at least few days beyond your proposed return date to Nigeria. If you cannot, get a policy that expires on your departure date.
Benefits of Schengen Travel Insurance
The foremost importance of Schengen travel insurance to you, a Schengen visa applicant, is that it qualifies you for Schengen visa. Other benefits of the travel insurance policy are discussed below:
Free Emergency Medical Treatment
Putting your Schengen travel insurance in place will give you the opportunity to receive standard medical treatment when you fall sick abroad, without drilling a hole in your pockets.
All costs (or a substantial part of the cost) for medical treatment in the case of an injury sustained in an accident will be covered by your Schengen travel insurance as well. In most cases, these costs run into a huge amount of money.
Free Emergency Medical Repatriation
Schengen travel insurance policy takes care of the cost of transporting you to the nearest medical centre when you fall sick or become injured. This policy could also help cover the cost of transporting you back to Nigeria, while you are recuperating from your illness.
Covers Cost of Trip Interruption
It is common for travelers to suspend their vacation and return home earlier than they have planned. While there are several reasons why they do so, changes in travel plans usually attract additional fees for flight day-change and other necessities. Whenever you find the need to shorten your travel period, your Schengen travel insurance may absorb additional costs that come with emergency trip interruption.
Covers Cost of Returning Mortal Remains
Death is one of the characteristics of a living thing, which man is. In an instance where a traveler falls ill and dies, Schengen travel insurance could cover the cost of returning the remains to Nigeria.
Regularly, the cost of returning a corpse back to its family at home is expensive. And a good policy in place could lessen the monetary effects of this on the family members of the deceased.
Approved Travel Insurance Agencies for Schengen Travel Insurance in Nigeria
Specific travel insurance companies have been approved for issuing travel health insurance for Schengen visa application. You should endeavour to get your Schengen Insurance package from any of the companies below for a credible insurance and a successful Schengen visa application:
AIICO Insurance
AIICO partners with Chartis, a South African company, in providing standard Schengen Travel Insurance to travelers. Their package is adequate to cover emergencies and illnesses when you travel abroad.
AXA Mansard Plc
As far as travel insurance goes, AXA Schengen travel insurance is one of the most dependable worldwide. It is the most popular and easiest to make a claim for. AXA Mansard Plc was founded in 1989 and became part of the giant AXA.
AXA, a French insurance company, is second biggest financial services companies in the world. AXA Mansard Plc herself is amongst the top four largest insurance companies in Nigeria.
Cornerstone Insurance
Cornerstone Insurance company have been providing insurance since 1991. The company is the self-acclaimed trailblazer in the online insurance transactions for easy procurement for customers. With it’s head office in Lagos, Cornerstone Insurance Plc is acknowledged by the Schengen authorities.
Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc
You may also get your Schengen travel insurance from Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc. The headquarters of the company is in Lagos. Their policy for Schengen travel insurance cover is worth at least 30,000 Euro. This policy provides you with medical expenses, dental expenses and loss of luggage among others.
Great Nigeria Insurance Plc
With majority of its shares recently acquired by WEMA Bank, GNI Plc provides embassy-approved travel insurace for Schengen visa application. The company started operating in 1960 and is an old-hand in providing Schengen travel insurance.
Industrial and General Insurance Company Limited
IGI partners with administrators and underwriters overseas to help visa applicants and visitors to the Schengen region and beyond achieve their aims. IGI is amongst the recognised insurance company for visa applications. IGI has been in operations since October 1991.
Leadway Assuarance Company Limited
Leadway Assurance Company Limited is a reputable insurance company in Nigeria. And you may apply for Schengen visa using a travel insurance certificate from Leadway Assurance Company Limited. Established in 1970,Leadway Schengen insurance cover has a limit in excess of the required 30,000 Euro. It provides protection for applicants who are as old as 85 years.
Linkage Insurance Plc
Linkage Insurance Plc has been providing the compulsory Schengen travel insurance since 1991. And they are recognised by the Norway embassy and other Schengen embassies in Nigeria. You may also get your insurance policy from Linkage.
Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc
Also MBA Plc, Mutual Benefits is one of the most reputable insurance firms in Nigeria. The company is a recognised issuer of Schengen Travel Insurance. The company’s travel health insurance or visa insurance program (VIP) is acceptable at Schengen embassies.
Unitrust Assurance Company Limited
Unitrust Assurance Company or Saham Unitrust Nigeria Limited is an accredited insurance company. Unitrust is in partnership with Evasan, an insurance company in Switzerland, to provide insurance covers to travelers.
United Healthcare Travel Health Insurance
Also known as UHI, United Travel Health Insurance is another insurance company that can be trusted for authentic insurance certificate for your Schengen visa application. This company, like other standard insurance companies, provide insurance cover that is sufficient for health emergencies during visit to Schengen countries.
Zenith General Insurance
Zenith General Insurance provides Nigerian travelers with the Zenith Travel Insurance Plan or ZTIP. The company patners with BUPA Global to provide Schengen travel insurance plan for Schengen visa application and visitation. This plan is called ZTIP Schengen. And it worths the standard 30,000 Euro.
Common Concerns About Schengen Travel Insurance
Ready to get your Schengen travel insurance but still bothered about some issues? Here are answers to some of the queries that you may have:
Isn’t it Expensive, How Much?
Schengen travel insurance cover is not expensive to get. It all depends on your length of stay in a Schengen state, and your age.
The insurance premium (price) for applicants between three months and 71 years starts from 3,250 Naira for seven days. It goes for 4,750 Naira for ten days and 8,750 Naira for a month.
Yes, it is that cheap. Kindly visit our travel insurance page to know the price of the travel health insurance of your choice and for your status.
What are the Requirements for a Schengen Travel Insurance?
All you need for a Schengen travel insurance is a valid international passport document. You must have also planned for your trip because information about your period of travel is needed for the insurance.
What is the Validity of a Schengen Travel Insurance Certificate?
Your insurance certificate will only last you for the duration of your travel. You need a new one for a fresh trip.
How Quick Can I Get One?
Under thirty minutes. If you order your Schengen travel insurance from us at NaijaGoingAbroad, we will send your insurance certificate to your email in twenty to thirty minutes.
You may check out our travel insurance page to start processing your travel insurance. Once you fill out the form and make payment, we will finalise the process and send you a soft (electronic) copy of your insurance certificate.
You may visit our office or any of the AXA Mansard Plc offices nationwide to collect your insurance certificate.
Conclusively…
You cannot wish away Schengen travel Insurance if you desire to travel to a Schengen country. Schengen travel insurance is affordable and easy to get.
You can get your Schengen travel insurance with NaijaGoingAbroad. In partnership with AXA Mansard Plc, we provide credible Schengen travel insurance for your Schengen visa application and trip. You do not have to pay extra fees and you can get your insurance with ease; and in the comfort of your home or office.