Updated on - 15 May 2026
Travelling to new or unexplored places is both thrilling and expensive. Trips, especially those taken overseas, can be full of surprises, some pleasant while some could be nerve-wracking. This is why it is very important to secure your trip with insurance before you board that flight.
Today, many insurance companies offer customised plans to suit your specific needs. Here's what you need to know about them.
About Travel Insurance
Buying travel insurance for your trip helps you cover unpleasant situations that may arise on an international trip by compensating you financially for your losses. These include passport loss, flight cancellations or delays, hotel extensions due to lockdowns, medical emergencies, COVID-related emergencies, and more.
Different Types of Travel Insurance
Based on your travel frequency, the insurer provides you with an option to choose between single-trip and multi-trip insurance.
Single-Trip Travel Insurance
A single trip travel insurance policy is an international insurance policy that only covers one trip. The policy's coverage begins the day your flight takes off and ends when you return home from your trip.
Multi-Trip Insurance
Multi trip travel insurance is a type of plan suited for frequent travellers. The policy covers multiple journeys to the same or different destinations up to a certain number of days.
Some insurers may also offer specialised plans for students, senior citizens, business travellers, and family travel.
Benefits of Travel Insurance
A trip insurance policy offers numerous advantages. A few of them are detailed below:
1. Medical and COVID-19 Cover
It may cover emergency medical treatment expenses incurred during the trip. Certain insurance policies may cover hospital stays if you get sick with COVID-19. They might also pay for quarantine expenses and cover trip delays or disruptions because of COVID-19. It all depends on what your policy says and where you are going.
2. Baggage Cover
Trip insurance may provide compensation for baggage-related issues such as loss, theft, or delay.
For example:
- If baggage is lost or stolen, the policy may reimburse essential purchases such as clothing, medicines, and toiletries.
- In case of baggage delay, the insurer may compensate for emergency purchases until the luggage is returned.
Coverage limits and waiting periods for baggage claims differ between insurers.
3. Medical Cover
Insurance can help cover emergency medical expenses incurred during a trip abroad. Some Indian health insurance plans have features like reimbursement alternatives, limited foreign coverage, and global treatment benefits.
Travel insurance may cover:
- emergency medical treatment
- accidental injuries
- hospitalisation expenses
- emergency medical evacuation
- repatriation expenses
Some plans may also include compassionate visit coverage if a close family member needs to travel due to the insured traveller’s hospitalisation.
4. Journey-Related Cover
Trip insurance may compensate for financial losses arising from:
- trip delays
- missed connections
- trip cancellation
- trip interruption
- flight delays
- emergency accommodation expenses
Coverage applies only for situations explicitly listed in the policy wording and within applicable limits.
Conclusion
Always purchase a travel policy before kickstarting your vacation or business trip. It protects you financially while allowing you to fully enjoy your trip. It is also advisable to check whether cashless hospitalisation support is available at your travel destination through the insurer’s assistance network.
FAQs
1. Is insurance mandatory for international trips?
Not necessarily, no. Not all countries require trip insurance to get a visa.
Some may just strongly encourage you to buy it for financial protection during emergencies.
2. Who should buy trip insurance?
Anyone travelling domestically or internationally can benefit from insurance coverage.
3. Can I buy insurance after booking my trip?
Yes. You can usually buy insurance after your bookings are confirmed, ideally before departure.
4. What should you consider before choosing a travel insurer?
Examine the sub-limits, exclusions, and coverage provided by various insurance policies. The claim settlement procedure, customer service, medical coverage limits, destination-specific restrictions, and the availability of plans for individuals, families, students, or senior citizens should all be reviewed. Additionally, pay close attention to the requirements for claim documents, exclusions, and waiting periods.
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. Please read the sales brochure/policy wordings carefully for detailed information about on risk factors, terms, conditions and exclusions. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.