Travel Insurance for India
Travelling to India for a much-needed holiday? Compare your travel insurance options with Savvy.
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Whether you’re planning to soak up the majesty of the Taj Mahal or embrace the bright lights and the buzz of Mumbai, it’s always important to have peace of mind when you’re travelling to India. If you’re searching for the right travel insurance cover for your next international journey, Savvy can point you in the right direction.
By comparing with us, you can find a policy which offers you the right protection, whether your flights are delayed, your luggage goes missing or you fall ill while overseas. We provide instant quotes from our partners, so you can consider their pros and cons and compare the cost of each policy. Before you take off overseas, compare your travel insurance options with Savvy today.
Do I need travel insurance for a holiday to India?
You don’t necessarily ‘need’ travel insurance if you’re taking a trip to India. However, it’s strongly recommended that you purchase a policy before you jet off to soak up the Bollywood culture and indulge in some spicy curries.
While India can be a mecca of history and culture, it also comes with its fair share of risks, which is why it’s essential to compare with Savvy and get the best travel insurance for your holiday.
If you’re taking a trip to South Asia to experience all of what India has to offer, some of the incidentals to watch out for include:
- Terrorist attacks: several active terrorism organisations operate within India, with the associated threat level remaining relatively high across the country. Religious sites, markets, festivals and beaches are often seen as popular targets and spots for Australian tourists.
- Theft of belongings: make sure you keep a scanned copy of your passport, visa and airline tickets safely tucked away, as the risk of pickpocketing is still considerably high in India.
- Political rallies: demonstrations, strikes and rallies are frequent across much of the country, which can turn violent if they’re around election time. Do your best to avoid them and monitor local media before and after your departure.
- Malaria and dengue fever: these diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes and can sometimes prove fatal. Usually, you’re most at risk if you’re travelling through the northeastern parts of the country. Be sure to check in with your GP, who may be able to prescribe some antimalarial tablets before you depart.
- Delhi belly: to avoid getting struck down by Delhi belly or other water-borne diseases, remember to only drink bottled water, even when brushing your teeth, and avoid eating raw or undercooked meals, including salads and unwashed vegetables. It pays to be particularly vigilant if you’re trying out local street food.
- Typhoid fever: it’s a good idea to get a vaccination against typhoid fever before you jump on a plane to India. This potentially fatal illness is caused by consuming food contaminated by faeces.
What’s covered by my travel insurance for my holiday to India?
Depending on the policy and level of protection, travel insurance can help if you become ill or injured while travelling, lose your things, or suffer airline cancellations or delays. Some travel insurance benefits are:
- Overseas medical bills: in India, medical bills can reach thousands of dollars, so travel insurance can save you a significant amount of money if you’re hurt or sick and need treatment.
- Evacuation or repatriation: if you're critically ill and your insurance company's physicians say you need to return home, they'll pay for your evacuation and repatriation. This includes if you need to leave ship on a trip, which may cost up to $100,000 without insurance.
- Cancellation: many travel insurance carriers may refund pre-paid deposits on hotels, flights, or excursions if you cancel your trip due to a covered occurrence. Illness, injury, or a sick or dying family member are among the valid reasons for cancelling a trip.
- Lost, stolen or damaged bags: most insurance providers will compensate or replace lost, stolen, or damaged baggage up to an agreed claim amount, which can reach up to $15,000.
- Individual items: taking a phone or laptop on your overseas or domestic getaway? Many insurance plans offer sub-limits for lost, damaged, or stolen property. For example, some may cover up to $750 in lost or damaged jewellery and $3,000 in laptops and cameras.
- Travel delays: most travel insurance cover hotel, food, and other expenses if your flight is delayed longer than 24 hours. This includes delayed luggage owing to a delayed airliner.
- Personal liability: legal issues abroad may be costly. If you're held directly accountable for damage or injury, your insurance company may pay up to $5 million.
- Accidental death: if you die overseas in a covered accident, your insurance company can repatriate your remains. They may pay up to $25,000 for funeral or cremation fees.
- Optional extras: rock climbing or motorcycling on holiday? Most travel insurance plans don't cover these activities automatically, but offer supplementary coverage for an added premium.
However, most travel insurance companies won’t cover you for the following incidentals:
- Unapproved pre-existing medical conditions, such as mental illness
- Lost possessions left unattended
- Breaking local laws and road rules
- Accidents caused by drug or alcohol use
- Travelling to a country against Australian government advice
- Travelling for medical tourismÂ
What factors should I consider before buying travel insurance for a trip to India?
It might be difficult to figure out which policy provides the most beneficial coverage for your next trip to India. However, by comparing with Savvy, you may be able to make the experience of searching for the perfect policy a whole lot easier.
Premium cost
It is, of course, in your best interest to keep your insurance premium costs to a minimum. To avoid overpaying for your travel insurance, it is crucial to shop around and get the best possible policy at a price that works for you.
The type of policy you need
Numerous options exist for travel insurance, whether you're looking for single-trip, annual or one-way cover, so it’s important to consider your travel requirements. For example, if you’ll be taking multiple international trips across the year, an annual policy may be more suited to you than single-trip. Take a look at your itinerary, think about how often you’ll be flying and compare it with Savvy so you can get the best insurance for your trip.
What you’re doing in India
Carefully consider which insurance company provides the greatest value and level of protection if you’re looking to partake in high-risk pursuits before signing up. If you’re planning to hit the slopes at the Gulmarg ski resort, scuba dive in the Bay of Bengal or trek in the Himalayas, make sure you get a policy that covers you.
Claim limits
In most cases, the amount you may claim from your overseas travel insurance policy will be capped. Check if these limits are enough for your trip and the items you want to take with you by doing a side-by-side comparison of several brands with Savvy.
Inclusions and exclusions
When searching for the best international policy for your trip to India, make sure you opt for a policy that best suits your needs. Before settling on one choice, do your homework and weigh what's included and what isn't. For example, a pre-existing condition you suffer from may not be automatically included under one policy, while it could be covered by a competitor.
Types of travel insurance
Why compare travel insurance with Savvy?
Reputable insurance partners
Fast and convenient online process
You can complete the quote, comparison and purchase process online through Savvy quickly and easily.
Competitive quote costs
Regardless of the type of insurance you’re looking for, we can help you compare between competitive quotes.
Top tips for saving on your travel insurance to India
Combine policies
You can get group policies from providers covering you, your partner, your extended family, and even your grandchildren. Most providers allow you to include up to 25 people under the same policies, which, if the costs are divided among the travellers, can save you money.
Consider increasing your excess
You can pay less for your travel insurance by increasing the excess you're willing to pay if you need to file a claim. A higher excess can help you save money in the long term, but it shouldn't be so high that it causes you financial hardship to pay it.
Only pay for what you need
There's no point paying for cover you're not going to use on your holiday. Before you purchase a policy, read the PDS and make sure you aren’t paying extra for add-ons such as rental car hire or cruise coverage if you don't have any intentions of either hiring a car or sailing across the seas.
Compare your travel insurance options
Using Savvy to help you decide lets you easily see which provider gives you the best coverage for the lowest price. You can compare policies side by side so you can weigh what's included, what's not included, the price of your premium, and any other essential factors.
Frequently asked questions about travel insurance for India
Helpful travel insurance guides
Explore your travel insurance options for your next destination
Disclaimer:
We do not compare all travel insurance brands currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and does not consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.
Savvy earns a commission from our partners each time a customer buys a travel insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via their websites.
Before purchasing your policy, we recommend you refer to the provider’s PDS for any further information on the terms, inclusions and exclusions.
