Why bother
A single ICU night in Bali costs ₹1.5L+. Ladakh helicopter evacuation: ₹5L+. A cancelled honeymoon due to illness: variable. Insurance at ₹800–₹3,000 buys real protection.
Look for these (not all policies have them)
- Medical evacuation + repatriation — not just "hospital expenses". Reads as "medical evacuation".
- High-altitude cover (above 3,000m). Many policies cap at 2,500m — useless for Ladakh.
- Adventure sports cover — scuba, skiing, trekking all listed explicitly.
- Trip cancellation for medical reasons — at least 50% of paid amount.
- Personal liability — $500K+ is standard abroad.
- COVID cover, still a real concern.
Providers we trust for international trips
- HDFC ERGO — broad cover, quick claims.
- ICICI Lombard — good for families.
- Tata AIG — adventure-sports-friendly.
Claim reality
Save every receipt, keep a PDF of the policy on your phone, and tell the insurer within 24h of an incident. Claims under ₹50,000 usually process in 15–30 days.
For domestic / Himalayan trips
IRDAI-regulated domestic policies are cheaper but usually exclude altitude-related issues. Read the exclusions page carefully.
Need help choosing for a specific trip? Contact us.
