Whether you are a travel enthusiast looking to explore India for its diverse landscapes, rich culture and bustling cities or someone who is just travelling to a relative’s house on the other side of India, there is one common concern many Indians have for their trip.
This ranges from trip delays and waiting hours to missed connections, lost checked-in baggage, accidents, and unexpected medical emergencies. While travellers with health insurance can avoid additional expenses arising from medical risks and accidents, that is not the case for trip-related risks such as trip cancellation or missed connections.
This is why travellers are recommended to get domestic travel insurance to secure their trips from these risks and travel with confidence and peace of mind to explore the serene backwaters of Kerala, the bustling streets of Mumbai, or the historical monuments of Delhi.
What is Domestic Travel Insurance?
A travel insurance policy is a risk management tool that financially protects a policyholder from various risks when travelling. These risks can range from medical to non-medical trip-related risks and vary in severity and frequency with the specific coverages offered by the insurer listed in the policy document.
Domestic travel insurance is a type of travel insurance which specifically covers individuals going on a domestic trip within the same country. While not quite as common or comprehensive as international travel insurance, travellers opting for domestic travel insurance India can definitely secure their trip and themselves from several different risks and travel freely with peace of mind.
Why is Health and Medical Coverage Crucial During Domestic Travel?
While travellers with comprehensive health insurance from a leading insurance provider like Niva Bupa do not have to worry about getting separate travel insurance with health and medical coverage when travelling within India, others with limitations in locations might. This is not just due to the unpredictable nature of health risks, the potential for accidents, pre-existing diseases, or the impact of environmental factors such as water, climate, food, etc.
Not only this, but while India has one of the cheaper healthcare systems compared to many other countries, it is still relatively high compared to Indians’ earnings and expenses, thus requiring careful planning and consideration.
What are Some Key Differences in Domestic Travel Insurance?
When choosing travel insurance for domestic travel, an individual typically has two options. One can get basic coverage in the form of trip protection offered when purchasing flight tickets or comprehensive domestic travel insurance from a dedicated insurance provider.
Here are some of the key differences between domestic travel insurance, trip insurance and health insurance with regard to health and medical coverage:
| Scope | Comprehensive Travel Insurance | Trip Protection | Health Insurance |
| Extent of coverage | A comprehensive domestic travel insurance India policy covers several different medical and non-medical travel risks. | Trip protection typically offers basic coverage for trip delays, cancellations, missed connections, and personal accidents. | A comprehensive health insurance policy offers financial protection for medical expenses borne by the policyholder, including several chronic illnesses and pre-existing diseases. |
| Cost of the policy | The policy is more expensive than trip protection, but it is still cost-effective because it offers many more benefits. | The cost of the policy is relatively low, requiring very minimal investment in getting the policy, if any. | The cost of a health insurance policy varies greatly depending on the specific policy and insurer opted for. Still, as it covers the policyholder for the entire year and not just the trip duration, the cost might be higher than regular travel insurance. |
| Specific health and medical coverage | Travel insurance offers a daily cash allowance, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation to the home city, and other benefits that are usually not offered with health insurance. | Trip protection typically offers no health or medical coverage unless specifically mentioned. | Health insurance covers most health-related risks that can result in medical expenses during hospitalisation. This includes pre-existing conditions, chronic illnesses, medical emergencies, personal and personal accidents. |
Health and medical coverage are critical components of domestic travel insurance for Indian travellers. From hospitalisation expenses to emergency medical evacuation, having the right coverage ensures you are protected against unforeseen health issues, allowing you to travel confidently and with peace of mind.
While travellers with comprehensive health insurance can deal with several medical risks and issues even when travelling, depending on the traveller’s specific needs, it might be necessary to get travel insurance with medical coverage.
So secure your trip with domestic travel insurance India and travel with confidence and peace of mind anywhere in India.