The Iyer family in Bengaluru does this every summer. Two parents, two school-age kids, one annual ten day holiday somewhere outside India. This year it is Switzerland. The flight tickets are booked, the Schengen visa is in process, the kids have a new pair of trekking shoes each. Then the father pauses on the last screen of his flight booking. There is a checkbox asking if he wants to add travel insurance. He has seen this checkbox many times. Every time, he has clicked past it, telling himself the family is healthy and the trip is short.
This time he stops because his neighbour just came back from a torn ligament in Zurich. The bill alone was higher than the entire holiday budget. The insurance bill, by contrast, would have been about the cost of one airport meal.
This guide is for travellers exactly at that pause. It explains what travel insurance actually does for an Indian passport holder going abroad in 2026, compares the four most commonly bought general insurers in India, decodes what the small print really means at senior ages and during pregnancy, and shows how to add a policy in one click when you book your flight at HappyFares.
TL;DR Bake-Off
Bajaj Allianz, Tata AIG, ICICI Lombard, Reliance General and IFFCO-Tokio all issue Schengen-compliant Indian travel insurance with 30,000 euro medical cover. Bajaj and Tata are the most widely chosen for student and family Europe trips, ICICI Lombard for business travel, Reliance and IFFCO-Tokio for budget-conscious short trips. Senior cover and pregnancy clauses differ significantly. The simplest fix is to add the policy at HappyFares flight checkout, so dates, names and trip length match the ticket automatically.
Why Travel Insurance Matters for Indian Travellers in 2026
Three forces are pushing more Indian travellers to take travel insurance seriously in 2026.
First, foreign hospital costs have not fallen since the pandemic. A simple emergency room visit in Switzerland, the United States, Singapore or the United Kingdom can run into lakhs of rupees in equivalent local currency, before any procedure is performed. A serious accident with a few days of intensive care can exceed crores. No average Indian household budget absorbs that kind of shock from a personal savings account.
Second, visa regimes are tighter. Schengen consulates expect to see a 30,000 euro medical policy from an IRDAI-licensed Indian insurer or international equivalent. Some other countries demand proof of cover at the immigration counter, and a few will refuse boarding to passengers without it. The cost of forgetting can be a denied entry, with a flight ticket already partly used.
Third, weather and operational disruption to air travel is no longer rare. Long delays, last-minute cancellations and missed connections happen often enough that flight delay benefits, missed connection cover and trip interruption riders translate into real claims, not theoretical ones. explains what to do operationally when a flight is cancelled, and explains your refund and rebooking rights from airlines under Indian and EU regulations.
Travel insurance does not replace any of those rights. It supplements them with cash benefits and medical cover that airlines do not pay.
Bajaj Allianz Travel Insurance Generic Overview
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company is one of the largest general insurers in India and has a long-established travel insurance product line. It is widely distributed through agents, banks, online aggregators and direct online sales, and is commonly chosen by Indian students travelling abroad for higher studies, families taking long Europe holidays and small business owners on extended foreign trips.
The headline product family covers single-trip individual, single-trip family floater, annual multi-trip, student travel and senior citizen plans. Plans are typically priced by destination zone, with separate zones for Asia excluding Japan, Asia including Japan, worldwide excluding the United States and Canada, and worldwide including the United States and Canada. The higher the medical cost zone, the higher the premium for the same sum insured.
Common features in the Bajaj Allianz international travel insurance line include emergency medical and hospitalisation cover, repatriation of remains, trip cancellation and interruption, baggage loss and delay, flight delay benefits, personal accident cover, personal liability and passport loss assistance. Senior citizen plans extend cover to higher ages with separate underwriting. Pre-existing disease cover is offered as an inbuilt benefit or extension with case-to-case underwriting.
Bajaj Allianz also offers domestic travel insurance for travel within India, covering medical expenses, personal accident, baggage delay and flight delay on internal flights. For a deeper comparison of how insurance interacts with refundable and non-refundable flight tickets, see .
For Indian travellers comparing options, Bajaj Allianz is typically perceived as a wide-network choice with a strong assistance partner ecosystem. Premiums vary by plan, sum insured, age band and trip duration. As with any insurer, the actual experience depends more on how well you choose the plan and how cleanly you submit a claim than on the brand alone.
Tata AIG Travel Insurance Generic Overview
Tata AIG General Insurance is a joint venture between the Tata Group and AIG, and has been active in travel insurance since the early 2000s. It is frequently chosen by Indian travellers heading to the United States and Canada, by students at North American universities and by working professionals on long business trips, in part because of the AIG global assistance network.
The Tata AIG international travel insurance line includes individual plans, family plans, annual multi-trip plans, student plans, senior citizen plans and corporate plans. Schengen-compliant plans with 30,000 euro medical cover are clearly labelled and are commonly bought for Europe trips from India.
Typical inclusions are emergency medical and hospitalisation, dental relief, repatriation of mortal remains, trip cancellation and interruption, baggage loss and delay, flight delay, missed connection, personal accident and personal liability. Add-on covers include adventure sports, home contents during travel and rental car deductible reimbursement. Sub-limits apply for items such as outpatient dental, prescription drugs and emergency cash assistance.
Senior citizen plans on Tata AIG go up to higher ages with sub-limits on hospitalisation and ICU expenses. Pre-existing disease cover is typically limited to life-threatening emergencies of declared conditions, with separate caps. The student plan family includes compassionate visit, sponsor protection, study interruption and bail bond cover for university students at North American institutions.
Because Tata AIG distributes both directly online and through aggregators, premium quotes are easy to compare. For Indian senior travellers planning a long Europe stay, especially with documentation, Tata AIG is one of the commonly shortlisted insurers along with Bajaj Allianz.
ICICI Lombard Travel Insurance Generic Overview
ICICI Lombard General Insurance is one of the largest private general insurers in India. Its travel insurance line is widely sold through the ICICI Bank network, through aggregators and through direct online distribution. It is particularly popular with Indian business travellers and bank customers who already hold ICICI credit cards or current accounts.
The ICICI Lombard travel portfolio includes single-trip individual, single-trip family, annual multi-trip, student, senior citizen, and domestic travel plans. International plans are zoned by destination, with separate variants for the United States and Canada. Schengen-compliant variants are clearly marked.
Standard features include emergency medical and hospitalisation expenses, daily cash allowance in hospital, dental treatment for accidents, repatriation, trip cancellation, trip curtailment, missed connection, baggage loss and delay, passport loss, personal accident, personal liability and home burglary insurance during the trip in some variants. Add-ons include adventure sports cover and upgraded baggage limits.
For business travellers, ICICI Lombard plans are often chosen because of integrated online claim intimation, mobile app workflows and a perception of fast cashless approval through tied hospitals abroad. Premium varies by sum insured, age and zone, and group corporate plans are common for organisations with regular outbound travel.
ICICI Lombard senior citizen travel plans extend cover beyond age 70 with sub-limits and pre-existing condition disclosures. Pregnancy clauses follow industry practice, generally excluding routine pregnancy and limiting complication cover to a specific week of pregnancy.
Reliance General and IFFCO-Tokio Travel Insurance
Beyond the top three names, Reliance General Insurance and IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance are commonly bought by Indian travellers who want a no-frills, price-sensitive policy for short trips, particularly to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and selected European destinations.
Reliance General offers a travel insurance suite covering medical expenses, repatriation, baggage loss and delay, flight delay, trip cancellation and interruption, personal accident and personal liability. Plans are differentiated by zone and sum insured. The brand is widely available through aggregators and digital insurance platforms, with quick online issuance.
IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance, a joint venture between IFFCO and Tokio Marine, offers similar standard cover with strong appeal in tier-two and tier-three Indian cities thanks to the IFFCO distribution network. Plans cover overseas medical expenses, repatriation, trip delays, baggage loss and personal accident, with student and senior variants.
Both insurers can issue Schengen-compliant policies and personal cover for visa applications. They typically cap pre-existing disease cover narrowly, exclude adventure sports without add-ons, and apply standard pregnancy exclusions beyond a stated week. For travellers on a tight budget making a single short trip, Reliance General and IFFCO-Tokio are commonly considered alongside Bajaj Allianz, Tata AIG and ICICI Lombard.
Coverage Breakdown: What Travel Insurance Actually Covers
It helps to look past brand names and at the underlying cover components. Most Indian international travel insurance plans, across insurers, share a common structure.
Emergency medical and hospitalisation: The headline cover. Pays in-patient and out-patient medical expenses incurred abroad due to sudden illness or accident, up to the sum insured, after the policyholder pays any deductible. The deductible is the small first amount you pay yourself before insurance kicks in, often around 100 US dollars or its equivalent.
Repatriation of mortal remains and emergency evacuation: Pays for medical transport and, in worst-case scenarios, repatriation of remains to India. This is the cover families value most after a serious accident, because the logistics and cost are otherwise punishing.
Trip cancellation and interruption: Pays for non-refundable trip costs if the trip is cancelled or cut short due to specified covered events, such as serious illness, death of a family member, or in some cases natural disaster. Visa rejection cover is offered as a separate, narrow benefit and depends on the policy wording.
Baggage loss and delay: Pays a sum for checked-in baggage lost by the airline, and a smaller sum if baggage is delayed beyond a stated number of hours.
Flight delay and missed connection: Pays a fixed amount per block of hours of delay beyond a deductible delay period, and pays additional costs of catching up with the itinerary if you miss a connection due to a covered cause.
Passport loss assistance: Reimburses fees for obtaining an emergency travel document and getting back to India in case the passport is stolen or lost.
Personal accident: A lump sum benefit in case of accidental death or permanent disability during the trip.
Personal liability: Pays a sum if you are held legally liable for accidental damage to third-party property or injury to a third party during the trip.
Some plans add hijack distress allowance, hospital cash benefit, bail bond, study interruption and home burglary cover. The specific list and limits vary by plan. The discipline is to read the policy schedule on the day of issue, not the brochure.
Senior Citizen Travel Insurance Caps and Clauses (Age 70 Plus)
Travel insurance for senior citizens is where the small print really matters. Across all major Indian insurers, including Bajaj Allianz, Tata AIG, ICICI Lombard, Reliance General and IFFCO-Tokio, the senior segment behaves differently from the general adult segment in four ways.
First, sub-limits apply. Even if the headline sum insured is a large number, hospitalisation per day, ICU expenses, ambulance, dental and other items are capped to lower amounts for senior travellers. A 100,000 US dollar sum insured plan may translate to a much smaller practical exposure once sub-limits are read carefully.
Second, pre-existing disease cover is narrowed and conditional on declaration. Senior travellers are commonly required to fill a medical proposal form. Non-disclosure of a known condition is one of the most common reasons claims are denied at the time of settlement, even when the loss was unrelated.
Third, premium loadings rise sharply by age band. The same plan typically costs significantly more for an 80-year-old than for a 65-year-old. This is normal underwriting, not predatory pricing, and is the reason senior citizen plans are sold as a separate product family.
Fourth, claim management for senior travellers benefits from cashless networks. Choosing an insurer with a wider cashless tie-up at hospitals in the destination country, especially in Europe and Southeast Asia, can be the difference between a smooth treatment and a long reimbursement battle.
For Indian families filing a Schengen visa for elderly parents, the combination of travel insurance and proof of return intent matters together. walks through the senior-specific documentation, including how the insurance plan is presented.
Pregnancy and the 28-Week Exclusion Generic
Pregnant Indian travellers should approach travel insurance with caution and full disclosure. The general industry practice across Indian insurers is to exclude routine pregnancy, normal childbirth and post-natal care from standard travel insurance. Complications of pregnancy, defined narrowly as life-threatening medical emergencies, may be covered under emergency medical expenses, but typically only up to a stated week of pregnancy. The cut-off week varies, but a common range is between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy.
Practical implications:
First, if you are pregnant, declare it on the proposal form. Non-disclosure creates a basis to deny any pregnancy-related claim, even if the underlying issue would otherwise have been covered.
Second, plan travel around the cut-off. Most airlines also restrict travel after a certain week of pregnancy, and insurance cover often ends earlier than the airline cut-off. Layer the two rules and choose the earlier one.
Third, ask the insurer in writing for the exact pregnancy clause. Insurers can confirm in an email what the cut-off week is and what counts as a complication. Keep that email with the policy document.
Fourth, do not assume that newborn cover exists. If a baby is born abroad during the policy period, treatment for the newborn is typically not covered under the mother’s travel policy. A separate health insurance arrangement is required.
Pregnancy is one of the areas where general travel insurance is simply not the right product beyond the cut-off week. For long-term stays abroad in late pregnancy, a destination-country health insurance or hospital pre-payment plan may be necessary.
Adventure Sports Add-On
Indian travellers in 2026 are doing more adventure activities abroad than ever before. Skiing in the European Alps, scuba diving in Southeast Asia, paragliding in Nepal, bungee jumping in New Zealand, mountaineering in Africa, motorcycle touring in the United States. Standard travel insurance plans exclude these activities. An adventure sports add-on is essential and must be selected at the time of buying the policy.
What the add-on typically includes:
- Skiing and snowboarding at recognised ski resorts
- Recreational scuba diving up to a stated depth, often around 30 metres, with a licensed dive operator
- Trekking up to a stated altitude, commonly around 4,500 metres above sea level
- White-water rafting on grade-rated rivers
- Paragliding, parasailing and tandem skydiving with licensed operators
What is usually still excluded even with the add-on:
- Professional or competitive participation, including paid contests and sponsored events
- Mountaineering above the stated altitude limit
- Diving beyond the stated depth or without certification
- Motor racing of any kind
- Activities undertaken under the influence of alcohol or drugs
The adventure sports add-on is a small additional premium relative to the trip cost. The discipline is to declare the activity at purchase, follow operator safety procedures, retain the operator’s licence number and incident report after any accident, and submit them with the claim.
Schengen 30,000 Euro Requirement for Indian Travellers
The Schengen visa application from India requires proof of travel medical insurance with minimum cover of 30,000 euros for medical emergencies and repatriation, valid in all Schengen countries for the entire stay. This is a baseline that all major Indian insurers cover under their Schengen-compliant plans.
Key points to check on the policy document:
- The sum insured displayed in euros, not only in US dollars or Indian rupees
- The territorial scope including all Schengen countries by name or by reference to the Schengen area
- The validity dates covering the entire intended visit, with a small buffer at both ends
- The mention of medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
- The mention of multiple-entry validity if applicable
For travellers planning longer Europe stays, family visits or study trips, choosing a higher sum insured than the minimum is sensible. Hospital bills in Switzerland, Germany and France can easily exceed 30,000 euros for a serious accident. The premium difference between 30,000 euros and 100,000 euros of cover is generally modest relative to the protection gained.
For the full visa workflow, including documents and timelines, see . For senior applicants, the additional documentation and insurance considerations are covered in . If your trip combines Europe with a stop in the United Kingdom, the next section explains how the UK Immigration Health Surcharge interacts with travel insurance.
UK Immigration Health Surcharge versus Travel Insurance
Indian travellers heading to the United Kingdom often get confused between the Immigration Health Surcharge paid as part of certain long-stay visa applications and a private travel insurance policy. They are not substitutes.
The Immigration Health Surcharge applies to non-visitor visa categories, typically work, study and family visas longer than six months. It grants access to the National Health Service during the validity of the visa. It does not cover trip cancellation, baggage loss, flight delay, repatriation back to India for non-medical reasons or treatment outside the NHS in private facilities. It does not apply to tourists or short-stay business visitors at all.
Short-stay UK visitors should still buy a travel insurance policy from an Indian insurer, with cover for medical expenses, baggage, trip interruption and personal accident. The cost of NHS treatment to a visitor without entitlement is officially chargeable and can be substantial.
Long-stay UK residents on a paid Immigration Health Surcharge should consider a top-up policy for the gaps the surcharge does not address, particularly trip cancellation, baggage and travel during periodic visits back to India and to other countries.
For the UK visa application workflow from India, see .
Best Travel Insurance Plan by Traveller Profile
There is no universal best plan. The right plan depends on who you are, where you are going and how long you will stay.
Indian family with school-age children on a 7 to 14 day Europe holiday: A Schengen-compliant family floater plan with 50,000 to 100,000 euros sum insured, including baggage delay, trip cancellation and flight delay benefits. Bajaj Allianz, Tata AIG and ICICI Lombard family floater variants are commonly chosen.
Indian student going abroad for higher studies in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom or Australia: A student travel plan with annual cover, study interruption, compassionate visit and sponsor protection. Tata AIG and Bajaj Allianz student plans are commonly chosen. University-mandated insurance plans may also be required at enrolment.
Indian senior citizen visiting children abroad: A senior citizen plan up to age 85 or 90 with pre-existing disease cover, high hospitalisation sub-limits and personal accident cover. ICICI Lombard, Bajaj Allianz and Tata AIG senior plans are commonly compared.
Indian business traveller on multiple short trips a year: An annual multi-trip plan with worldwide cover including the United States and Canada, with each trip limited to a stated duration. ICICI Lombard and Tata AIG annual plans are common choices.
Indian solo traveller on a short Southeast Asia trip: A short-duration single-trip plan with Asia zone cover, modest sum insured and basic medical and baggage cover. Reliance General and IFFCO-Tokio short-trip plans are commonly considered alongside Bajaj Allianz.
Indian adventure traveller heading for skiing, diving or trekking: A plan with an adventure sports add-on declared at purchase, plus high medical cover. Any of the five insurers can provide this if the add-on is enabled at issuance.
For domestic price comparison and route ideas to start with, covers ways to get the underlying ticket price down before insurance is even discussed.
Add Travel Insurance at HappyFares Checkout
HappyFares is built around flight bookings. We do not pretend to be a hotel marketplace, a holiday package operator or a generic super app. We help you find the right flight and add the small set of products that genuinely change a trip outcome. Travel insurance is one of them.
Here is how the in-checkout flow works.
Step 1: Search and select your flight on HappyFares. Choose the route, dates, cabin and travellers as usual.
Step 2: Review the fare and ancillaries. Once you are on the review page with the fare confirmed, an optional travel insurance add-on is presented along with seat selection, meal selection and baggage. The insurance shows the underwriting insurer name, the premium and the headline cover.
Step 3: Tick the box and confirm. If you tick the insurance add-on, the policy is issued for the same passenger names, travel dates and trip duration as the ticket. No re-entry of details.
Step 4: Pay once. The flight fare, taxes, ancillaries and insurance premium are billed together, with the insurance line itemised on your receipt.
Step 5: Receive the documents. You receive the e-ticket and the insurance policy document at the same email address, with claim helpline numbers and policy schedule attached. If a Schengen consulate or immigration counter asks for proof of cover, you can show the policy from the same inbox as your ticket.
Two things to understand about this flow.
First, the insurance contract is between you and the underwriting insurer, not between you and HappyFares. HappyFares is the facilitator. Policy queries, endorsements and claims go directly to the insurer using the helpline in the policy document.
Second, you are not forced to buy. The checkbox is optional. If you already have an annual multi-trip policy or credit card cover that you trust, you can simply skip the add-on and proceed with the flight.
For travellers comparing the in-checkout add-on with a separately purchased policy, the in-checkout option is built for convenience and matched dates. A standalone policy may offer more granular customisation. Both are valid choices. For deeper analysis of refundable tickets versus cancellation insurance specifically, see .
Claim Process and What to Keep Ready
The single biggest reason travel insurance claims get delayed in India is incomplete documentation. The smoothest claims share four habits.
First, intimation is early. Call the insurer or third-party administrator helpline from the destination, as soon as a medical or baggage event occurs. The number is on the policy schedule. The earlier the intimation, the easier cashless or reimbursement coordination becomes.
Second, original documents are preserved. For medical claims, keep all prescriptions, medical reports, hospital bills, payment receipts, discharge summary and any insurance claim forms in their original form. For baggage claims, keep the Property Irregularity Report from the airline, baggage tags, boarding passes and any receipts for emergency purchases. For theft, keep the local police complaint with the report number.
Third, passport entry and exit stamps are captured. Insurers need to verify the dates of foreign stay against the policy period. Copies of the passport bio-page and the relevant stamps are commonly requested.
Fourth, claim submission is within the time limit. Many policies require submission within 30 days from return to India. Late submission can be a basis for delay or rejection.
For complex events such as cancelled flights, missed connections and last-minute disruption, explains the operational steps and what evidence to capture in the moment.
How IRDAI Supervises Travel Insurance in India
Travel insurance in India is regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India under the general health and miscellaneous insurance frameworks. The regulator sets baseline requirements on product disclosure, claim settlement processes, grievance redressal and policyholder protection. Specific operating details evolve over time, and the regulator periodically issues guidance to standardise practices across insurers.
For travellers, the practical takeaway is to:
- Buy only from IRDAI-registered insurance companies, directly or through licensed intermediaries
- Verify the insurer’s licence and product schedule before purchase
- Use the IRDAI Integrated Grievance Management System if a claim is unreasonably denied or delayed and the insurer’s internal grievance process has been exhausted
- Treat the policy wording as the binding document, ahead of brochures and marketing pages
HappyFares is a flight booking platform and not an insurance company. Travel insurance presented at HappyFares checkout is underwritten by an IRDAI-registered general insurance company. The names listed in this guide, including Bajaj Allianz, Tata AIG, ICICI Lombard, Reliance General and IFFCO-Tokio, are independent insurers with their own licences and product approvals.
Common Mistakes Indian Travellers Make with Travel Insurance
Patterns repeat across thousands of trips. The most common avoidable mistakes are:
Buying the cheapest plan without reading sub-limits. Two plans at similar premiums can have very different exposure once sub-limits on hospitalisation, ICU and dental are read. The headline sum insured is not the practical cover.
Buying at the last minute. Buying insurance the night before departure means events that occurred earlier, such as the death of a family member or an illness in the days before the trip, may not be covered for trip cancellation purposes. Buying with the flight ticket is the cleaner habit.
Not declaring pre-existing conditions. Diabetes, hypertension and cardiac history are common in Indian senior travellers. Non-disclosure to save a few rupees of premium is the single fastest way to get a large claim denied.
Not declaring adventure activities. Skiing, diving, paragliding, trekking above altitude limits are all known to be excluded from standard plans. Travellers who do not enable the add-on and then suffer an accident discover the exclusion only at the claim stage.
Assuming credit card cover is enough. Complimentary credit card travel cover has narrow conditions, low sum insured and tight trip duration limits. It is rarely a substitute for a dedicated Schengen-compliant plan for a family of four.
Confusing the airline refund and the insurance claim. Cancellation by the airline is handled by the airline under aviation rules. Cancellation by the insured for medical or family reasons is handled by insurance. The two routes are separate and the documents required are different. explains the airline side.
Throwing away the small reports. The Property Irregularity Report from the airline counter, the police complaint number for theft, the doctor’s prescription from the destination clinic. These look unimportant in the moment and decide claims in the back office.
Putting It All Together
Travel insurance in 2026 is not a luxury for Indian travellers going abroad. It is a basic line item in the trip budget, like the visa fee or the airport transfer. The difference between a well-bought plan and a casually clicked plan is measured not in premium but in what happens at the hospital counter in Zurich, Singapore or Toronto.
The framework for a thoughtful buyer is simple:
- Decide the trip, the destination and the duration. This sets the zone and the sum insured.
- Decide the traveller profile. Family, senior, student, solo, business. This sets the plan family.
- Compare two or three insurers from Bajaj Allianz, Tata AIG, ICICI Lombard, Reliance General and IFFCO-Tokio. Look at headline cover, sub-limits, pre-existing disease cover, pregnancy clause and adventure sports add-on.
- Declare honestly on the proposal form. Pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, planned activities, prior claims.
- Buy with the flight ticket, not the night before. Use the HappyFares in-checkout add-on if the offered insurer and cover match your needs.
- Save the policy schedule with the e-ticket. Carry one printed copy in the cabin bag.
The Iyer family in the opening of this guide ticked the box on their next booking. The premium was modest. The trip went smoothly. The insurance was not used. That is the best outcome of all, and the entire point of buying it.
Book Your Flight and Add Travel Insurance on HappyFares
The fastest way to apply everything in this guide is to start with your flight. Search the route on HappyFares, choose the fare and travellers, and on the review screen tick the optional travel insurance add-on aligned to your destination and dates. One payment, one inbox, one set of documents.
Useful next reads on HappyFares:
- for refund and rebooking rules from airlines under Indian and EU regulations
- for the choice between refundable fares and cancellation cover
- for operational steps when an airline cancels at the airport
- for the full Schengen workflow including insurance documentation
- for elderly applicant considerations
- for the UK visa workflow and the Immigration Health Surcharge
- for ways to reduce the underlying flight cost
Disclaimer
HappyFares is a flight booking platform. Travel insurance products referenced in this guide are underwritten and serviced by IRDAI-registered general insurance companies, namely Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, Tata AIG General Insurance, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, Reliance General Insurance and IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance, among others, and not by HappyFares. HappyFares facilitates purchase of policies issued by licensed insurers as part of the flight checkout experience.
This article is general information for Indian travellers and does not constitute insurance advice, financial advice, legal advice or a substitute for the binding policy wording of the underwriting insurer. Coverage, limits, exclusions, claim processes, premiums, sub-limits, age bands and product names referenced here are described in general terms and are subject to the actual schedule and wording issued by the insurer at the time of purchase. Always read the policy schedule, prospectus and conditions before buying a policy.
For binding details of any product mentioned, refer to the insurer’s official policy documents or speak to an IRDAI-licensed insurance agent or broker. For grievance redressal beyond the insurer’s internal process, refer to the IRDAI Integrated Grievance Management System.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel insurance mandatory for international trips from India in 2026?
Travel insurance is not legally mandatory for Indian passport holders generally, but several destinations require it. Schengen countries require a minimum medical cover of 30,000 euros for visa issuance, and a few other countries demand proof of cover at the immigration counter. Even where not mandatory, foreign hospital costs make insurance a routine purchase for most Indian travellers.
Which is the best travel insurance company in India for 2026?
There is no single best insurer. Bajaj Allianz, Tata AIG and ICICI Lombard are widely chosen for student and Schengen travel, while Reliance General and IFFCO-Tokio are commonly chosen for shorter price-sensitive trips. The right plan depends on age, destination, duration, pre-existing conditions and activities.
What does travel insurance typically cover in India?
Standard plans usually include emergency medical and hospitalisation expenses abroad, medical evacuation and repatriation, trip cancellation and interruption, baggage loss and delay, passport loss assistance, flight delay benefits, personal accident cover and personal liability. Add-ons include adventure sports and rental car deductible reimbursement.
Does travel insurance cover flight cancellation by the airline?
Cancellation by the airline is generally handled by the airline refund obligation under aviation rules, not by travel insurance. Travel insurance trip cancellation covers cancellation by the insured for named perils such as illness, death of a family member or natural disaster. Flight delay benefits pay a fixed amount per block of hours of delay.
What is the maximum age limit for travel insurance from Indian insurers?
Most Indian travel insurers offer cover up to age 70 on standard plans, with senior citizen plans extending to ages 80, 85 or higher subject to underwriting. Sub-limits on hospitalisation, ICU and pre-existing disease apply for senior travellers, and premium loadings rise with age.
Does Indian travel insurance cover Covid-19 or new pandemic illnesses?
Following IRDAI guidance, most general travel insurance plans treat Covid-19 like any other infectious illness up to the medical sum insured. New pandemics or new variants may attract waiting periods or temporary exclusions depending on global health declarations and the insurer’s policy wording.
Does travel insurance cover pregnancy and childbirth abroad?
Routine pregnancy and normal childbirth are generally excluded. Complications of pregnancy may be covered as emergency medical, typically only up to a stated week of pregnancy, commonly in the 24 to 28 week range. Female travellers should declare pregnancy at purchase and confirm the cut-off in writing.
Are adventure sports covered under standard travel insurance?
Standard plans usually exclude adventure sports such as skiing, scuba diving, paragliding, bungee jumping, mountaineering and motor racing. Most insurers offer an adventure sports add-on for an extra premium that must be declared at purchase. Professional and competitive participation is excluded even with the add-on.
What is the minimum coverage required for a Schengen visa from India?
The Schengen visa requires travel medical insurance with a minimum cover of 30,000 euros for medical emergencies and repatriation, valid in all Schengen countries for the entire duration of the visit. All major Indian insurers issue Schengen-compliant policies with these features clearly mentioned.
Is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge a substitute for travel insurance?
No. The UK Immigration Health Surcharge gives long-stay visa holders access to the National Health Service, but does not cover short-term visitors, trip cancellation, baggage loss or repatriation back to India. Tourists and short-stay visitors should still buy a private travel insurance policy.
Can I buy travel insurance after my flight is already booked?
Yes, travel insurance can be bought any time before departure, but trip cancellation cover only triggers from the date of issue. Buying the night before departure leaves prior events uncovered. Buying at the same time as the flight ticket, including via the HappyFares in-checkout add-on, is the cleaner workflow.
How do I claim travel insurance for a medical emergency abroad?
Call the insurer or third-party administrator helpline listed on the policy as soon as possible. For cashless treatment, the insurer coordinates directly with the network hospital. For reimbursement, retain all medical reports, prescriptions, bills, payment receipts, discharge summary and passport entry-exit stamps, then submit within the policy time limit, commonly 30 days from return.
What is the typical claim settlement time for travel insurance in India?
Cashless overseas decisions are commonly communicated within hours during the trip. Reimbursement claims typically target a few weeks after complete documents are submitted. Complex claims involving large medical bills or repatriation can take longer, subject to IRDAI guidance on turnaround time in general terms.
Does travel insurance cover pre-existing diseases?
Standard plans cover only emergency life-threatening exacerbation of declared pre-existing conditions, often capped at a portion of the sum insured. Comprehensive and senior citizen plans may offer wider pre-existing disease cover with separate sub-limits. Always disclose conditions on the proposal form to avoid claim denial.
Are dental treatments covered under travel insurance?
Only emergency dental treatment for the relief of acute pain caused by accident or sudden onset is typically covered, usually with a low sub-limit. Routine dental work, cosmetic dentistry and dental tourism are excluded.
Does travel insurance cover baggage loss and theft?
Checked-in baggage loss by an airline is covered up to a stated total sum, with per-bag and per-item sub-limits. Cash, jewellery and high-value electronics are typically excluded or capped. File a Property Irregularity Report at the airline counter for loss and a police complaint for theft before submitting the claim.
Can I buy a single annual multi-trip travel insurance policy?
Yes. Most major Indian insurers offer annual multi-trip plans suitable for frequent business and leisure travellers. The policy covers unlimited trips in the policy year, each subject to a maximum duration commonly between 30 and 60 days.
Is travel insurance required for domestic travel within India?
Domestic travel insurance is optional and not legally required. It can still be useful for trip cancellation, flight delay, missed connection, baggage loss and personal accident cover. Travellers with comprehensive health insurance may find limited additional value in domestic travel insurance.
How does adding travel insurance at HappyFares checkout work?
After choosing your flight at HappyFares, the checkout shows an optional travel insurance add-on aligned to your trip dates, destination and traveller age. The insurer name, premium and headline cover are displayed before payment. The policy issues for the same passenger names and trip window as the ticket.
Can I cancel travel insurance and get a refund?
Travel insurance policies typically allow cancellation with a refund only if the trip has not started, the visa is rejected with supporting documents, or the policy has not been used for a claim. Refund timelines and quantum follow the policy wording, often with a small administrative deduction.
Is travel insurance from credit cards enough for international travel?
Complimentary credit card travel cover is often limited in scope and trip duration. It can suffice for short business trips, but for Schengen visas, long study trips, senior travellers or family holidays, a dedicated IRDAI-licensed travel insurance plan is usually recommended.
Does HappyFares sell travel insurance directly?
HappyFares sells flight bookings and facilitates travel insurance through tie-ups with IRDAI-registered insurance companies. The insurance contract is between the traveller and the underwriting insurer. For policy queries and claims, contact the insurer using the helpline in the policy document.
Last updated: 21 May 2026. HappyFares is a flight booking platform. Insurance policies are underwritten and serviced by IRDAI-registered general insurance companies. This article is general information and not insurance, financial or legal advice. Always read the policy wording and consult an IRDAI-licensed insurance agent before purchase.
