The short answer
Travel cover is a policy that can pay for things that go wrong on a trip, such as emergency medical care, cancellations, delays and lost baggage. For older travellers, the part that matters most is the small print: what the policy excludes, how it treats existing medical conditions, and whether there are limits for age. We give general information only and no medical advice. Read the policy wording before you buy, and ask the insurer to confirm anything that is unclear in writing.
Key terms in plain English
- Exclusion: something the policy will not pay for.
- Existing condition: a health matter that was there before you bought the policy. Policies treat these differently, and you must answer questions about them honestly.
- Excess: the part of a claim you pay yourself.
- Assistance line: the number to call when something goes wrong, so the insurer can arrange care.
What to read before you buy
- Who is covered. Some policies set limits for age, or ask extra questions above a certain age. Read the wording rather than assuming.
- Existing conditions. Check what you must declare, and what happens if something is missing. Honest answers protect the claim.
- Medical limits and evacuation. Check the limits and whether the cover pays for getting home if needed.
- Cancellation and delay. Check what counts as a reason to claim and what proof is needed.
- Activities. Check whether anything you plan, such as a long walk or a day trip, is excluded.
- Claims. Find out how to claim, what to keep, and who to call first.
Who regulates insurance
In India, insurers and their products are regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Check that an insurer is authorised before you pay, and keep the policy documents in your vault. Cover bought abroad is regulated by that country’s authority.
Checklist
- To do: Read the exclusions and the existing-condition wording, from start to finish
- To do: Answer every health question honestly, for every traveller
- To do: Check the limits for medical care and for getting home
- To do: Check what you must do before you claim, and who to call
- To do: Save the policy certificate and the assistance number in your vault and on paper
- To do: Check that your cover starts before you leave home and ends after you return
- To do: Ask a doctor, not us, whether anything needs to be arranged before travelling
Common mistakes
- Buying on price alone. A cheaper policy may exclude what you need.
- Leaving out a condition. It can undo a claim later.
- Assuming a card or a family member’s cover is enough. Read what it actually covers.
- Not carrying the number. Keep it on paper and on a phone.
- Forgetting to tell the insurer when plans change.
Things that change
Policies, limits and exclusions change from year to year, and insurers update their products. Read the wording for the policy you are buying now, not the one a friend bought last time.
Verify before you act
For the regulator, see the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India. For what a visitor can expect from a destination’s public health service, see official pages such as Visiting or moving to England (NHS) and Health requirements (Home Affairs). They are not a substitute for cover. For advice on your health, speak to a doctor.