Medical treatment abroad
Hospital stay, doctor visits, surgery and medicines for a sudden illness or injury during the trip. Most insurers arrange cashless treatment through a helpline partner; otherwise you pay and claim back.
The main cover
What it pays for
Six things that go wrong on trips, and what the policy does
Medical cover is the reason to buy. The rest is useful, but read the limits: baggage and delay benefits are fixed amounts, not the full value of what you lost.
Medical evacuation and return
If local treatment is not good enough, the insurer pays to move you to a better hospital or bring you home on a stretcher. Air ambulance bills run into lakhs.
Often inside medical cover
Trip delay and cancellation
A fixed payout when a flight is delayed beyond a set number of hours (often 6 to 12), and refund of non-refundable bookings if you cancel for a listed reason such as hospitalisation.
Fixed amount per hour block
Checked baggage lost or delayed
A sum per bag for delay (to buy essentials) and a capped amount for permanent loss. You need the airline's Property Irregularity Report, filed at the airport before you leave.
Capped per bag
Lost passport
Costs of getting an emergency travel document or duplicate passport: fees, local travel to the consulate, sometimes an extra hotel night.
Keep a scan on your phone
Personal liability
If you accidentally injure someone or damage their property abroad and they claim against you. Rare, but legal costs overseas are high.
Third party claims
Single or multi-trip
How often you fly decides the policy type
A single-trip policy covers one trip, from the day you leave to the day you return. A multi-trip (annual) policy covers every trip in a year, with a cap on how long each trip can last, usually 30, 45 or 60 days.
The rough rule we use: if you take three or more foreign trips a year, price an annual policy first. It also saves you from forgetting to buy cover on a short work trip.
| Point | Single trip | Multi-trip (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | One trip, exact dates | All trips in 12 months |
| Each trip length | Full trip, up to 180 days with many insurers | Capped, often 30 to 60 days per trip |
| Premium | Lower for one trip | Higher, but often cheaper than 3 single trips |
| Age limit | Wider, seniors usually accepted | Often up to 60 or 70 years |
| Suits | Holidays, family visits, one-off travel | Frequent business travellers |
Students going abroad
Student cover is a different product
Many foreign universities ask for proof of health cover before enrolment. A student policy runs for one or two years, renews while you study, and is built around that requirement.
- Medical cover sized to the university's minimum, which can be US$ 100,000 or more in some countries
- Study interruption: fees refunded if illness forces you to drop a semester
- Sponsor protection: remaining fees paid if the parent paying for studies dies
- Compassionate visit: a family member's ticket if you are hospitalised for a long stay
Send us the university's insurance requirement letter. We check whether an Indian student policy meets it, or whether the university plan is compulsory, before you pay twice.
How much to buy
A rough cover guide by destination
Medical costs vary hugely by country. These are starting points we use in conversations, not insurer rules. Some countries set a legal minimum for visa holders; check the embassy's current list.
US$ 50,000Short trips to most of Asia and the Gulf
€ 30,000 or moreSchengen countries, often a visa condition
US$ 100,000 to 250,000Long stays, seniors, and higher-cost countries
US$ 500,000North America, where one surgery can cross six figures
Visa and cover requirements are rules as of 2026, check current rules with the embassy before you buy.
If something happens
Claim steps while you are still abroad
- Call the assistance number first. It is on the policy. For a hospital admission, the insurer or its partner sets up cashless treatment where it can.
- Collect papers on the spot. Hospital bills and reports, airline delay letter, baggage report, police report for theft. These are hard to get once you are home.
- Inform within the time limit. Most policies need notice within a set number of days. Late intimation is a common reason for a cut in the claim.
- Send us the papers. We help you fill the claim form, follow up with the insurer and explain any deduction in writing.
Five mistakes we see before trips
- Buying after reaching the airport lounge, then realising the policy starts only from booking date for cancellation cover
- Relying on the free cover that comes with a credit card, which may have a low medical limit and need the full ticket booked on that card
- Choosing cover end date as the return flight date, then extending the stay by a week
- Not declaring an existing condition to save a few hundred rupees
- Assuming your Indian health policy works abroad; most do not, or only for planned treatment
Questions
Travel insurance FAQ
Wordings differ by insurer. Always read the policy document for the exact limits and exclusions.
How much does travel insurance cost?
For a healthy adult on a one-week trip, a few hundred to a couple of thousand rupees, depending on destination and cover amount. Premiums rise with age, trip length and North American cover. Seniors above 70 can pay several times more.
Can I buy a policy after I have left the country?
Generally no. Most insurers sell travel cover only before departure from India. Some allow an extension if you buy before the original policy ends, so ask early if your stay may get longer.
Is travel insurance compulsory?
For some destinations it is a visa condition, Schengen countries being the best-known case with a minimum of €30,000 medical cover. For others it is optional, but medical bills abroad make it worth having. Rules as of 2026, check current rules.
Does it cover COVID or other infections?
Many policies now treat it like any other illness during the trip, up to the medical limit. Quarantine costs and cancellation due to infection vary a lot. We point out the exact clause before you buy.
Is domestic travel cover worth it?
Usually not for medical needs if you already hold a health policy, which works across the country. A domestic travel add-on can still help with trip cancellation and baggage on an expensive holiday package.
Do you charge for helping me choose?
No separate fee. Insurance is bought through partner insurers and the premium you pay is the insurer's published premium.
Travel cover quote
Tell us the trip. We send options on WhatsApp.
Three or four quotes from partner insurers, compared on medical limit, sub-limits and exclusions, not only price.
Related
Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. Benefits, limits and exclusions vary by insurer and plan; the policy wording decides every claim.