If you are like me who was in search of the answer to this question as to whether my travel insurance was useless after i got my VISA, then you will know how important this question is.
DISCLAIMER: This information is based on my experience getting a VISA to an EU country.
Whatever VISA you get, be it a tourist VISA, student VISA for scholarship, visiting VISA, etc the embassy will ensure that you have adequate funds to sustain yourself while you are in that country.
If you are lucky to get a Schengen VISA which means you can travel to all the 26 countries in the region, then you will know that medical bills in Europe is not something to be played with.
Having said that, the travel insurance takes care of every aspect of your travel depending on the country you are heading to and the duration of your stay. It is also a requirement for the embassy to grant you a VISA to their country.
One mistake so many people make is not using the insurance companies recognised by the embassy. For example, the Polish embassy in Abuja (Nigeria) has a list of insurance companies that they recognise and failure to use any of these will result to a disapproval of your VISA. I now understand why.
Use recognised travel insurance
The reason is very simple, you purchase health insurance which is usually worth 30,000 euros for a period of say 1 year and one week.
The embassy expects that while you are in their country should you have cause to in-cure some medical cost, the insurance company will be liable for that because trust me, MEDIAL BILLS IN EUROPE IS EXPENSIVE.
In my case, I used AXA MANSARD insurance because it was among the companies specified; I also think because it is a USA based company so they are known globally. Now, here’s how I know your travel insurance is not useless. I called the head-office in UK with reference to the one in Nigeria, they affirmed to me that the insurance is valid for as long as it is.
Although, they also explained that one might have to spend one’s money first before they eventually refund you (which i find very tricky – typtical to insurance companies).
My Advise
Get to that foreign company and buy a small insurance there ti avoid stories that touch the heart. I hope this helps someone out there looking for an answer to this question.