Travel Insurance Checklist: 12 Checks Before You Fly

The most important item on any travel insurance checklist is overseas medical cover that matches your destination: at least €30,000 for Schengen countries (a visa requirement) and much higher, often US$2,50,000 or more, for the USA. After that, check how the policy treats pre-existing conditions, whether cashless hospital treatment is available abroad, the deductibles, and exclusions such as adventure sports and alcohol. Everything else, from baggage delay to passport loss, is useful but secondary.

The checklist below is current as of October 2026. Policies vary, so read the wording, not just the summary.

The 12-point checklist

1. Medical cover by destination

Rough guidance used by many travellers and advisers (not a regulatory requirement, except Schengen):

For older travellers or long trips, err higher. The premium rises much less steeply than the cover.

2. Visa rules

For a Schengen visa, the policy must, as of October 2026:

• Provide at least €30,000 of medical cover
• Cover emergency treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation, including of mortal remains
• Be valid in all Schengen states for the entire stay

Some other countries also require or strongly expect proof of insurance. Check the embassy or consulate website rather than an agent's summary.

3. Pre-existing conditions

Standard travel policies exclude treatment of known conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. Many include a limited cover for a life-threatening emergency linked to them. If you or an older parent has such a condition:

• Declare it on the proposal; non-disclosure can void the entire claim
• Ask for the PED emergency sub-limit in writing
• Consider plans that offer extended PED cover at higher premium

Your Indian health policy generally does not pay for treatment abroad unless it has a specific global or overseas benefit. See the health insurance checklist.

4. Cashless vs reimbursement abroad

Cashless treatment needs the insurer's assistance partner to guarantee payment to the foreign hospital. Save the 24x7 assistance number and email offline. If the hospital is outside the network or the case is not pre-approved, you may have to pay and claim later.

Worked example: a hospital visit in the USA

Ramesh, 62, falls ill in New York and is admitted for 3 days. His policy has US$2,50,000 medical cover with a US$250 deductible per claim and cashless treatment through the insurer's assistance partner. Assume ₹88 per US dollar (illustrative exchange rate).

Now suppose he had bought a cheaper policy with only US$50,000 of cover. The bill is still within the limit, but a second admission or an air ambulance home (which can cost tens of thousands of dollars more) would exceed it.

If the hospital refuses cashless and Ramesh pays on a credit card for reimbursement later, any unpaid balance after the card's due date starts attracting interest at typical rates of 3% to 4% a month. A ₹33 lakh bill would usually exceed his card limit anyway, which is why cashless matters. Estimate the cost of carrying a balance with the credit card interest calculator.

5. Trip cancellation and baggage

• Trip cancellation: pays the non-refundable part of bookings if you cancel for a listed reason, such as hospitalisation or death of a family member. Visa rejection may or may not be included.
• Trip interruption and delay: small fixed amounts for delays over a set number of hours.
• Checked baggage loss: per-item and total limits; depreciation may apply to older items.
• Baggage delay: reimburses essentials bought while waiting, typically a small sum.

Keep airline Property Irregularity Reports, receipts and boarding passes; claims fail without them.

6. What travel insurance usually does not cover

• Treatment you travelled abroad to receive
• Injuries under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Hazardous sports unless an adventure add-on is bought
• Pregnancy-related care beyond a set number of weeks
• Losses from leaving baggage unattended
• Travel to countries under government travel advisories against travel

Single-trip vs annual multi-trip

Paying for the trip and using cards abroad

How you pay abroad affects costs too. See forex card vs credit card vs debit card and whether to pay in rupees or local currency abroad.

What to do if something goes wrong abroad

1. Call the assistance number first for any hospitalisation, unless it is a life-threatening emergency; ask for a case number.
2. Get documents on the spot: medical reports, itemised bills, prescriptions, police reports for theft, and airline reports for baggage.
3. Inform the insurer within the deadline in the policy, often within a set number of days.
4. Keep copies of passport, visa and tickets, along with the policy schedule, in your email and phone.
5. Submit the claim with everything in one go after you return, and keep a record of every email.

Buy the policy soon after booking, not at the airport. Trip cancellation cover usually starts from the purchase date, so a policy bought a week before departure will not help if you fall ill a month earlier and cancel.

GST, tax and complaints as of October 2026

• GST: the 0% GST exemption from 22 September 2025 covers individual life and health insurance policies; travel insurance is generally still charged 18% GST. Check the premium break-up on your quote.
• Tax deduction: travel insurance premiums generally do not qualify under Section 126 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (old Section 80D).
• Complaints: if a claim is rejected or delayed, write to the insurer's Grievance Redressal Officer, then escalate through IRDAI's Bima Bharosa portal and the Insurance Ombudsman (for disputes up to ₹50 lakh). See insurance claim rejected reasons.

Key takeaways

• Buy medical cover that matches the destination: at least €30,000 for Schengen and much higher for the USA.
• Declare pre-existing conditions and check the emergency sub-limit.
• Save the 24x7 assistance number; cashless treatment avoids huge upfront bills.
• Read the deductible, evacuation cover and exclusions before price.
• Keep receipts and reports for every claim; travel insurance generally carries 18% GST as of October 2026.