Travelling is exciting, but an unexpected hospital bill, a missed flight or lost luggage can turn a happy trip into a stressful and expensive experience. That is why more Indian travellers now buy a travel insurance policy before they leave home. In this guide, Mykaka explains travel insurance in simple words — what it covers, which type suits your trip, who can buy it, what documents you need, and how to choose a policy wisely.
Mykaka is an independent guide website that explains insurance and loan topics in plain language for readers in India. This guide is for information only and is not a substitute for reading the actual policy document before you buy.
What Is Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance is a short-term insurance policy that protects you financially during a trip. You pay a premium for a fixed period — a few days, weeks or a year for frequent travellers — and the insurer covers specified unexpected events during that period, up to the limits written in the policy.
For example, if you fall ill abroad and need hospital treatment, the insurer may pay the covered medical expenses. If your checked-in baggage is lost by the airline, the policy may pay a fixed compensation. If your trip is cancelled for a covered reason, the policy may reimburse non-refundable prepaid costs. The exact benefits, limits and exclusions depend on the plan you choose, so two policies with similar-sounding names can differ a great deal.
A travel insurance policy does not cover everything. Pre-existing diseases may be covered only in limited ways or excluded, adventure sports often need a special add-on, and losses caused by travelling against official travel advisories may not be covered. Always read the policy wording, especially the exclusions section, before paying.
Types of Travel Insurance
Domestic Travel Insurance
Domestic travel insurance covers trips within India. It usually includes emergency medical expenses, accidental hospitalisation, trip cancellation or interruption, loss of checked-in baggage, and missed connections on domestic flights. It suits family holidays, business trips and pilgrimages inside India.
International Travel Insurance
International travel insurance covers trips outside India. Medical costs abroad can be very high, especially in the United States, Canada and Europe, so this cover is particularly important. Most international plans include emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, repatriation, loss of passport, loss of checked-in baggage, trip delay and personal liability cover.
Single Trip vs Multi-Trip Plans
A single-trip plan covers one journey, from departure to return, and is best for occasional travellers. A multi-trip or annual plan covers several trips within a year, each trip up to a maximum number of days. Frequent business travellers and students who travel often usually find an annual plan more convenient.
Student Travel Insurance
Student travel insurance is designed for students going abroad for studies. It typically adds cover for study interruption, sponsor protection and baggage loss, along with standard medical cover. Universities in many countries require students to show proof of adequate health cover before enrolment.
Senior Citizen Travel Insurance
Senior citizen plans are designed for older travellers, usually above 60 or 61 years of age. These plans may require a medical check-up or a health declaration, and the premium is generally higher because the risk of a medical emergency is higher. Some plans offer cover with a co-payment clause, where the traveller bears a fixed percentage of each claim.
Family Travel Insurance
A family floater travel plan covers two or more family members travelling together under one policy. It is often simpler and cheaper than buying separate policies for each person, and it is popular for family holidays abroad.
What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
While benefits vary by plan, a comprehensive travel insurance policy commonly covers:
- Emergency medical expenses, including hospitalisation and outpatient treatment during the trip
- Medical evacuation to the nearest suitable hospital, and repatriation to India if medically necessary
- Trip cancellation or curtailment for covered reasons such as illness, injury or death in the family
- Loss, delay or damage of checked-in baggage
- Loss of passport, including the cost of obtaining a duplicate passport
- Flight delay or missed connecting flights
- Personal accident cover, including accidental death or permanent disability during the trip
- Personal liability cover if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property
Common exclusions include treatment for undisclosed pre-existing diseases, injuries from adventure sports without the relevant add-on, travel to a region under an official advisory against travel, losses due to intoxication, and claims filed without supporting documents. Claims also have time limits, so report an incident to the insurer as soon as possible.
Who Is Eligible for Travel Insurance?
Eligibility rules differ slightly by insurer, but the general conditions are:
- The traveller must be an Indian resident travelling from India for most India-issued policies
- Age limits apply: most plans cover travellers from infants up to 70 or 75 years, with special senior citizen plans for older travellers
- The trip must have defined start and end dates, and the policy must be bought before departure — you generally cannot buy travel insurance after you have already left India
- For senior citizens, a medical test or health declaration may be required
- For student plans, proof of admission to a foreign institution is usually required
- Travellers with pre-existing diseases should disclose them honestly; hiding a condition can lead to claim rejection
Documents Required to Buy Travel Insurance
Buying travel insurance is usually a quick online process. Keep these documents ready:
- Valid passport, with details matching the policy exactly
- Visa, if the destination country requires one
- Travel itinerary, including flight and hotel bookings
- Proof of age and identity, such as Aadhaar or PAN, for domestic plans
- For student plans, the university admission letter and course details
- For senior citizen plans, medical reports if the insurer asks for them
- Payment details for the premium
After purchase, you receive the policy document by email. Carry a printed copy and keep a digital copy on your phone, along with the insurer’s 24-hour helpline number for emergencies abroad.
How to Buy Travel Insurance Step by Step
Step 1: Decide your destination and trip dates. International trips need higher medical cover than domestic trips, and longer trips need a longer policy period.
Step 2: Compare at least three plans. Look at the sum insured for medical expenses, the list of covered benefits, the exclusions, the deductible or co-payment, and the claim settlement process — not just the premium.
Step 3: Choose the sum insured carefully. For the United States and Canada, travellers often choose higher medical cover because treatment costs there are high. For other countries, a moderate sum insured may be enough. Remember that costs vary by destination, insurer, age and health profile.
Step 4: Fill in the proposal form honestly. Enter your name exactly as on your passport, declare pre-existing diseases, and give correct travel dates. Errors can cause problems at claim time.
Step 5: Pay the premium and download the policy. Check that your name, passport number, destination, travel dates and sum insured are correct. If anything is wrong, ask the insurer to correct it before you travel.
Step 6: Save the emergency helpline number. In a medical emergency abroad, call the insurer’s assistance partner first if possible, so they can guide you to a network hospital and arrange cashless treatment where available.
How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?
Travel insurance premiums vary widely and depend on several factors: destination, trip duration, traveller’s age, sum insured, and whether the plan includes add-ons. A short domestic trip for a young traveller costs far less than a month-long trip to the United States for a senior citizen. Premiums are also affected by pre-existing diseases and the insurer’s own pricing.
No guide can quote an exact premium for you, because the figure depends on your personal profile and trip details. The best approach is to get quotes from two or three insurers for the same destination and dates and compare what each plan actually covers for that price. A cheaper plan that excludes the benefits you need is not a bargain.
Tips to Choose the Right Travel Insurance
Buy before you leave. Travel insurance bought after departure is usually not valid, and some countries require proof of insurance for a visa.
Match the cover to the destination. Medical costs, visa rules and risks differ by country, so do not copy a friend’s plan blindly.
Read the exclusions before the benefits. The exclusions tell you what will not be paid, and that is where most claim disputes begin.
Check the claim process. Prefer insurers with a simple online claim process, a 24-hour helpline and a good claim settlement record.
Declare pre-existing diseases honestly. Non-disclosure is one of the most common reasons for claim rejection.
Keep all bills and reports. Medical bills, discharge summaries, airline delay certificates and police reports for lost baggage are essential for a claim.
For adventure trips, buy the right add-on. Trekking, skiing, scuba diving and similar activities usually need specific adventure sports cover.
For family trips, compare a family floater with individual policies. The floater is often cheaper, but check that the sum insured is adequate for every member.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel insurance mandatory for visiting abroad?
It depends on the destination. Some countries, including many Schengen countries in Europe, require travel insurance for a visa. Even where it is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended because medical treatment abroad can be extremely expensive without cover.
Can I buy travel insurance after reaching my destination?
Generally no. Most India-issued travel insurance policies must be bought before departure from India. Buying after you have left may not be accepted, so always buy before your journey begins.
Does travel insurance cover COVID-19 or other illnesses during the trip?
Many current plans cover emergency medical treatment for illnesses contracted during the trip, subject to the policy terms. Cover for trip cancellation due to illness also depends on the specific plan, so check the policy wording for the exact terms.
What should I do if I fall ill abroad?
Contact the insurer’s 24-hour helpline as soon as possible. They can guide you to a network hospital, arrange cashless treatment where available, and tell you which documents to keep for the claim. Keep every bill, prescription and discharge summary safe.
Does travel insurance cover lost baggage and flight delays?
Most comprehensive plans cover loss of checked-in baggage and flight delays, usually after a minimum delay period and up to a fixed limit. You will need documents such as the airline’s property irregularity report for baggage claims and a delay certificate for flight delay claims.
Closing Note
Travel insurance is a small cost compared with the financial risk of a medical emergency or a disrupted trip abroad. Choose a plan that matches your destination, trip length, age and health needs, read the policy wording carefully, and buy before you travel.
Before buying any policy, verify that the insurer is registered with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). You can check the insurer’s registration on IRDAI’s official website, compare plans from registered insurers, and read the policy document in full before paying the premium. Safe travels, and plan your cover as carefully as you plan your trip.