Updated on 30 Dec 2025
Travelling to another country is an exciting experience. However, falling sick or getting injured during your trip can quickly turn your adventure into a stressful situation. Medical treatment abroad can be expensive, especially in countries like the United States, those in Europe or Australia. Even a routine doctor’s visit may come with a high price tag, while hospital stays or surgeries can cost thousands. That’s why having travel medical insurance is important.
Let us understand how travel medical insurance works and how it can help you if you become unwell abroad.
What is travel medical insurance?
Travel medical insurance is a kind of travel insurance policy that covers medical expenses while you are travelling in a foreign country. It protects you from the high costs of healthcare if you fall ill or meet with an accident during your trip.
When you buy travel medical insurance, you pay a small amount called a premium. In return, the insurance company agrees to pay for certain medical expenses if you need treatment while you are abroad. This can include doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries and even emergency evacuation to your home country if needed.
Key benefits of travel medical insurance
Here are some of the main benefits of travel medical insurance:
1. Covers medical expenses
If you get sick or hurt while on your trip, your travel medical insurance will cover the cost of treatment. This includes things like consultation fees, medicine costs, hospital charges and even surgeries if required. This helps you avoid spending a huge amount from your own pocket.
2. Emergency medical evacuation
In serious cases, you may need to be taken to a different hospital or even flown back to India for better treatment. This process is called medical evacuation and can be very costly. Travel medical insurance usually covers this cost.
3. Cashless treatment at network hospitals
Many travel insurance providers have a network of hospitals in different countries. If you go to one of these hospitals, you may get treatment without paying anything at that time. The insurance company will take care of the bill directly with the hospital. This is called cashless treatment.
4. 24/7 assistance services
Most insurance plans offer a helpline that you can call anytime. If you need help finding a hospital, arranging transport or understanding what to do in an emergency, they can guide you.
What medical emergencies are covered abroad?
Travel medical insurance usually covers a wide range of situations. These may include:
- Sudden illness, like fever, food poisoning or infection
- Accidents like fractures, burns or injuries
- Emergency surgeries like appendix removal
- Emergency dental treatment due to injury
- Hospitalisation due to serious medical problems
- Ambulance charges
- Medical evacuation to a better hospital or back to India
- Repatriation of remains in case of death abroad (in worst-case scenarios)
Before you buy a policy, it is important to read the details and know exactly what is covered. Different insurance plans may have different features. Whether you choose single-trip travel insurance or a longer plan, most policies will cover these kinds of emergencies.
Exclusions under travel medical insurance
There is a limit up to which you can receive coverage under this policy. There are certain medical conditions that the policy would not cover, but it varies from one insurance provider to another. Some common exclusions are:
Coverage for pre-existing diseases varies among insurers, as some insurance providers may provide coverage with conditions or at a high premium. Some insurance companies will verify your past medical records to check if the condition was present during the last one year. You may get coverage for pre-existing conditions if you buy the policy within a month after you book your trip. Some insurers allow a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver if you buy the policy within 14 days of booking your trip.
- Alcohol, drug or other substance abuse
If you fall sick or get injured due to consumption of alcohol, drugs or other types of intoxicating substances, then your treatment or hospitalisation costs would not be covered by the insurer.
If you get injured due to participation in a risky activity or sports such as mountain or rock climbing, skydiving, parasailing, bungee jumping, rowing etc. your health insurance cover abroad will not pay for your hospitalisation expenses. If you plan to travel specifically for adventure sports, there are separate policies to cover them.
Travel medical insurance typically excludes the following:
- Routine medical examinations such as vaccinations or immunisations
- Surgery or treatment related to cosmetology, plastic surgery, obesity or weight-loss treatment and intestinal bypass surgery
- Organ or tissue transplants
- Expenses for corrective devices such as eyeglasses or contact lenses
Conclusion
Travel medical insurance is very helpful when you are going to another country. If you get sick or injured during your trip, it can protect you from high medical costs. Healthcare in many countries is very expensive, and even a small treatment can cost a lot of money.
Before you travel, it’s a good idea to buy a policy that suits your needs. If you're not sure which travel insurance to choose or need help understanding your options, don’t worry. You can get simple, helpful advice by filling out the form on this page. We’ll guide you in finding the right cover for your trip.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the topic featured in the article. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.