As travel risks grow, Indian tourists face calls for better insurance protection

In such cases, the real question is not whether a traveller has insurance, but whether the policy is actually designed to cover unusual disruptions, from cancelled flights and emergency evacuation to steep medical costs abroad.

Before travelling, these are five important insurance clauses and features that you need to pay close attention to.

The War Exclusion Clause Could Leave You Uncovered

One of the most important things to check is the War Exclusion Clause, which exists in most travel insurance policies.

This clause generally means that costs arising from war-related situations are not covered by the insurance. This can include:

• Flight cancellations caused by war or conflict
• Government-imposed travel bans
• Extended hotel stays because travellers are unable to leave the country
• A similar situation was seen in the Gulf region a few months ago, when several travellers found themselves stranded due to war-related disruptions.

The clause also excludes medical expenses linked to war-related violence or injuries. This means that even hospital costs may not be covered if the injury is connected to conflict situations.

Indian travellers, especially those planning expensive trips, should compare policies that either do not include this exclusion or allow the clause to be removed for additional coverage.

Look for ‘Safe Evacuation Due to Political Risks’

Some travel insurance policies offer an important feature called “Safe Evacuation Due to Political Risks.”

This becomes relevant during emergencies such as war, political unrest, or sudden instability in the country you are travelling to. During recent disruptions in the Gulf, many travellers found themselves stuck while airfares surged sharply.

Policies with this benefit can cover:

• Emergency transportation costs
• Flight tickets to a safer location
• Return travel expenses back to India
• Travellers should consider adding this clause, particularly when travelling to destinations facing geopolitical uncertainty.

Do Not Compromise on Medical Coverage

Medical expenses abroad can be extremely expensive, making adequate health coverage essential.

Travellers are advised to consider medical coverage of at least USD 250,000, instead of opting for a basic insurance amount of around ₹50 lakh simply because it appears sufficient at first glance.

Hospital bills in countries such as the US, UK, Europe and several other destinations can escalate rapidly, making higher medical protection important.

Check for Hidden Sub-Limits

Another important aspect often overlooked is sub-limits within travel insurance policies.

Many plans place limits on how much can be reimbursed under specific categories of expenses. In practical terms, this means a traveller may assume full coverage exists, only to realise later that reimbursement is capped far below the actual expense incurred during an emergency.

Before buying a policy

• Check whether expense categories have reimbursement caps
• Ensure those limits are practical and sufficient
• Prefer a “No Sub-limits” plan, where recoverable amounts are not unreasonably restricted
• Frequent Travellers May Save More with Annual Plans

For Indian travellers taking more than three international trips a year, buying insurance separately for every trip may not be the most economical option.

In many cases, an annual travel coverage plan works out cheaper than purchasing a fresh insurance policy before every journey. Frequent flyers may therefore benefit from comparing annual plans instead of repeated single-trip purchases.