Do You Really Need Travel Insurance?
Is travel insurance worth it? Here’s an honest, practical guide on when you need travel insurance, what it covers, and why skipping it could cost you more than your flight ticket.
When it comes to travel, we suddenly become very optimistic. Why to spend extra on insurance? We are sure nothing is going to go wrong.
But airports lose luggage. Flights get cancelled. Hospitals abroad are expensive.
And health is unpredictable.
When It’s Absolutely Non-Negotiable
Some countries actually require insurance for visa approval. But even when they don’t, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have it. Especially when it is:
✔️ International travel
✔️ Countries with high healthcare costs
✔️ Adventure activities (trekking, skiing, scuba diving)
✔️ Senior citizens
✔️ Pre-existing conditions (disclose honestly)
What Travel Insurance Actually Covers (That We Ignore)
Most people think it’s just about medical emergencies. It’s not.
Depending on the policy, it can cover:
• Emergency hospitalisation abroad
• Medical evacuation (which can cost lakhs internationally)
• Trip cancellations
• Lost baggage
• Passport loss
• Flight delays
• Personal liability
It's important to remember that your regular medical insurance probably doesn't cover you outside your country. And here’s something many people don’t realise: A single emergency room visit abroad can cost more than your entire trip.
Which Travel Insurance Should You Buy?
Buy from well known companies, even if their premium might be slightly higher. It becomes easier when you want to settle your claims.
Do read the fine print of your policy, no matter through which channel you purchased your policy. Understand the terms, conditions and exclusions. Talk to a customer care executive if you have any doubts
What should you remember about claims?
While we are happy that we have insurance, we forget to comply with the requirements for claims. Remember, all claims are settled only on the basis of receipts and actuals. For example, if your baggage is delayed and it is covered for $100, then you have to spend that amount on eligible items (usually toiletries and clothes) and retain the receipts. If a flight is delayed or cancelled, you need proof of the same from the airlines, so try to get it from the counter at the airport itself.
Basically, read the terms and conditions of the insurance company and make sure you have the details.
Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT ever submit false bills or make duplicate claims. For example, if you get compensation for a particular bill from the airlines, do not submit the same bill to the insurance company (we submit scanned copies on email, so it is easy to claim for the same bill multiple times). Not only it is unethical, but it is possible that the insurance company would cross check with the airline and you would be liable for legal action and black listed.
In conclusion:
If you are travelling abroad, never skip insurance. And if you need to claim insurance, keep all original receipts and proof- and never do anything unethical ☺️
Happy travels
-Yogi
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