Insurance questions to ask before an Umrah trip

Travel insurance is not always part of an Umrah package, and when it is, the cover can be thin. Spend ten minutes on it before you pay for the trip.

Start by asking your agent a direct question. Is any insurance included in the quote, and if so, who is the insurer and where is the written policy? A line that only says insurance included does not tell you what is covered.

Next, read what the policy says about medical care. Ask whether it pays for a doctor or hospital visit, whether it covers existing conditions that you or your parents already have, and whether there is an upper limit per claim.

Ask about trip changes. If a flight is cancelled or you cannot travel because of illness, find out whether the policy repays any part of the cost and what proof you would need to show.

Ask about baggage and documents. If a bag is lost or a passport goes missing, you want to know whom to call and what is covered.

Find the emergency phone number and keep it on paper as well as on your phone. Make sure a family member at home has a copy of the policy.

If you decide to buy cover yourself, compare a few policies and read the exclusions page first.

Pakistan Travel Diaries is a Lahore tour company that also arranges Umrah packages, and these questions are worth putting to any agent.