Travel protection for overseas journeys can include financial coverage against specified risks as well as assistance services that help travellers deal with disruptions during a trip.
While travel insurance typically covers medical emergencies, baggage loss, trip cancellations and other specified events, additional services can include baggage tracking, airport lounge access during eligible flight delays, digital medical consultations and international connectivity.
Indian nationals recorded 32.83 million overseas departures in 2025, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
However, nearly 82% of Indian outbound travellers do not opt for travel protection, according to industry estimates cited by Dev Karvat, Founder and CEO of Asego. Around 2% of insured travellers make a claim, he said.
What does travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance provides financial protection against specified risks during a trip. The coverage and limits vary across insurers and policies. Common benefits include:
- Overseas medical expenses: Covers eligible medical treatment and hospitalisation costs arising from illness or injury during a trip.
- Emergency medical evacuation: Covers eligible expenses for transporting an insured person to an appropriate medical facility or back home in specified circumstances.
- Trip cancellation or interruption: Provides compensation for specified non-refundable travel expenses if a trip is cancelled or cut short due to a covered reason.
- Flight delays: Some policies provide compensation or specified benefits if a flight is delayed beyond a stipulated period.
- Baggage loss or delay: Covers eligible losses arising from permanently lost checked-in baggage or provides compensation for essential purchases when baggage is delayed.
- Loss of passport: Some policies cover specified expenses associated with obtaining a replacement passport while overseas.
All benefits are subject to policy limits, exclusions and claim conditions.
What do travel assistance services offer?
Travel assistance services provide practical support during a journey. These may be bundled with an insurance policy, offered as additional benefits or sold separately, depending on the provider.
Some of the services available include:
- Baggage tracking: Helps travellers track delayed or misplaced luggage.
- Airport lounge access: Provides access to participating airport lounges during eligible flight delays, subject to conditions.
- Digital medical consultations: Enables travellers to access medical guidance through online consultations.
- International eSIM connectivity: Provides mobile connectivity while travelling overseas.
- Cybersecurity services: Includes features such as dark web monitoring and data-breach alerts.
- Lost-item recovery: Provides assistance in locating and recovering misplaced belongings.
- Geopolitical travel alerts: Offers updates about developments that could affect travel to particular destinations.
Karvat said travel protection offerings are extending beyond medical reimbursement and conventional insurance benefits to include assistance throughout the journey.
According to him, more than 20,000 travellers opted for value-added services, including baggage tracking and airport lounge access during eligible flight delays, in the last quarter.
Travel insurance vs travel assistance: What is the difference?
The key distinction is that travel insurance provides financial coverage for specified events, while assistance services offer support or access to services during a journey.
For instance, baggage tracking can help locate delayed luggage, but compensation for permanently lost baggage would depend on the insurance policy. Similarly, airport lounge access during a flight delay is an assistance benefit and does not necessarily involve an insurance claim.
According to Karvat, the value of travel protection should be assessed not only through claims settled but also through the assistance available to travellers during their journeys.
What should travellers check before purchasing travel protection?
Travellers should examine insurance coverage limits, overseas medical expenses, emergency evacuation provisions, trip cancellation conditions, baggage-related benefits and policy exclusions.
For assistance services, they should check whether a benefit is included in the policy or requires separate payment, along with applicable usage limits and eligibility conditions.
For example, airport lounge access may be subject to a minimum flight-delay period and availability at participating airports. Similarly, digital medical consultations, eSIM connectivity and cybersecurity services may have specific conditions.
NOTE TO READERS
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Readers should consult certified experts before making any investment decisions.