Most Indians book flights, hotels, and visas months in advance — but skip the one thing that protects that entire investment: travel insurance. A ₹500 policy can save you from a ₹5 lakh medical bill abroad, a lost-baggage nightmare, or a last-minute trip cancellation. Here is a plain-English guide to what travel insurance actually does for Indian travellers.
Domestic Travel Insurance
For trips within India — Goa, Kerala, Himachal, the North-East, Kashmir — domestic travel insurance covers:
- Trip cancellation or curtailment (weather, illness, family emergency)
- Personal accident during the trip
- Emergency hospitalisation away from your home city
- Loss of checked-in baggage on flights
- Missed connections and flight delays beyond a threshold
Premiums are extremely low — often ₹100 to ₹400 for a 5–10 day trip — and worth it especially for family holidays or trekking/adventure trips.
International Travel Insurance
For international trips, travel insurance is not optional — many countries (all Schengen nations, Cuba, Ecuador, Antarctica, most Gulf countries for certain visa categories) legally require it before granting a visa. Even where it is not mandatory (USA, UK, Australia, Southeast Asia), medical costs abroad make it unavoidable. A single day in a US hospital can exceed $3,000–$5,000, and Indian health insurance does not work overseas.
A good international travel policy covers:
- Emergency medical and hospitalisation (sum insured typically $50,000 to $500,000)
- Medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
- Loss of passport (including cost of getting an emergency travel document)
- Loss or delay of checked-in baggage
- Trip cancellation, curtailment, and missed departure
- Personal liability abroad
Things Indian Travellers Often Miss
- Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded unless you specifically declare and pay extra.
- Adventure sports (skiing, scuba, bungee, trekking above 3,000 m) need an add-on.
- Cover starts from the day you leave India, not from booking date — buy a “trip cancellation” add-on if you want protection between booking and departure.
- Always carry your policy number and the insurer’s 24×7 international helpline saved on your phone.
Planning a trip? Get travel insurance quotes in under a minute — contact our team for a personalised recommendation.
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