Travel Medical Insurance: What You Need to Know Before You Go

When you leave India for a trip abroad, travel medical insurance, a type of coverage that pays for emergency health care while you’re outside your home country. It’s not just a recommendation—it’s often a visa requirement, and always a smart move. Also known as international health insurance, it kicks in when your regular Indian health plan stops at the border. Most Indian health policies don’t cover you overseas, and hospitals abroad won’t treat you without proof you can pay. A broken ankle in Thailand, a heart palpitation in Dubai, or food poisoning in Turkey—these aren’t rare. They happen. And without insurance, you’re looking at bills that can hit ₹5 lakh or more in a single day.

Travel medical insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. It includes emergency medical care, immediate treatment for accidents or sudden illnesses like infections, heart attacks, or allergic reactions, medical evacuation, the cost of flying you back to India or to a better-equipped hospital if local care isn’t enough, and sometimes repatriation of remains, what happens if the worst occurs. Some plans even cover pre-existing conditions if you disclose them upfront. But many travelers skip the fine print—only to regret it when they’re stuck in a foreign ER with no way to pay.

India has one of the highest numbers of outbound travelers in Asia. Every year, millions fly to the US, UK, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. But only a fraction carry proper medical coverage. Why? Because they think, "It won’t happen to me." Or they assume their credit card’s free travel insurance is enough. It’s not. Most card-based plans have low limits, exclude high-risk activities, and don’t cover pre-existing conditions. If you’re over 60, diabetic, or have a history of surgery, you need a plan built for you—not a generic one.

What you’ll find here are real stories, clear comparisons, and no-fluff guides on how to pick the right policy. You’ll learn what’s actually covered (and what’s not), how to file a claim from abroad, and which insurers Indian travelers trust. We’ve pulled insights from people who’ve been there—people who got sick overseas, paid out of pocket, and wish they’d known better. This isn’t about scare tactics. It’s about making sure you’re ready, not reckless.