For many international trips, especially to Schengen countries, travel insurance is a visa requirement, which is exactly why most people buy the cheapest policy that satisfies the paperwork and never check what it actually covers. That's a mistake, since the gap between a bare-minimum policy and a genuinely useful one is significant.
What a Solid International Travel Policy Covers
- Emergency medical treatment: hospitalization, doctor consultations, and emergency medical evacuation abroad, typically the largest and most important cover, since foreign medical costs, particularly in the US and Europe, can run into lakhs for even a moderate hospitalization.
- Trip cancellation and interruption: reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable costs (flights, hotels, tours) if you must cancel or cut short the trip for a covered reason, illness, a family emergency, or specific listed events.
- Baggage loss or delay: compensation if checked baggage is lost, damaged, or significantly delayed by the airline, usually with a per-item and total sub-limit.
- Flight delay cover: a fixed payout if your flight is delayed beyond a specified number of hours, regardless of whether you incur additional costs.
- Passport loss assistance: costs associated with obtaining an emergency travel document if your passport is lost or stolen abroad.
- Personal liability: covers you if you accidentally cause injury or property damage to a third party while traveling.
Sum Insured: The Number That Actually Matters for Visa Applications
Schengen visa applications specifically require a minimum medical cover of €30,000 (roughly ₹27 lakh at typical exchange rates). US-bound travelers should consider meaningfully higher medical cover given how expensive US healthcare is, a single hospitalization for a serious issue can run well past $50,000. Don't just meet the minimum required for the visa, size the medical cover to what treatment would actually cost at your destination.
What's Commonly Excluded
- Pre-existing medical conditions, unless specifically declared and covered (often at an additional premium) at the time of purchase. Undisclosed pre-existing conditions are among the most common reasons medical claims get denied.
- Adventure sports, skiing, scuba diving, bungee jumping, and similar activities usually require a specific add-on, they're not covered under a standard policy.
- Travel against government advisories: trips to regions under an active travel advisory from the Indian government are typically excluded.
- Alcohol or substance-related incidents, same exclusion pattern as motor insurance.
- Cancellations for reasons not explicitly listed in the policy, a simple change of plans isn't covered, it must be for a listed covered reason.
Single Trip vs Annual Multi-Trip Policies
If you travel internationally more than 2 to 3 times a year, an annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper overall than buying single-trip cover each time, and removes the risk of forgetting to buy cover before a last-minute trip. Check the maximum trip duration allowed per trip under the annual plan, most cap individual trips at 30 to 45 days even under an annual policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel insurance mandatory for a Schengen visa?
Yes, a minimum medical cover of €30,000 is a mandatory documentary requirement for a Schengen visa application, applicable across all Schengen member countries.
Does travel insurance cover COVID-19 or other pandemic-related illness abroad?
Most current policies do include COVID-19 related medical treatment as a covered illness, similar to other unforeseen medical emergencies, but confirm this specifically since coverage terms have evolved and vary by insurer.
Can I buy travel insurance after I've already left for my trip?
No, travel insurance must be purchased before departure. Some insurers allow purchase up to the day of departure, but none allow retroactive purchase once the trip has begun.
Planning an international trip? Get a free quote, we compare medical cover, exclusions and pricing across insurers before you travel.
