Indians sure are a travel happy lot. Each month, over 50 Lakh passengers fly across the length and breadth of the country according to industry estimates by domestic airlines. A staggering number by any stretch of imagination, it simply serves to amplify the perspective when we consider the percentage of these passengers that avail of insurance. A similar tale would unfold across the major rail as well road transport networks.

Unfortunately, insurance is still viewed with equal does of incredulity and a false sense of security. Most people on the outside would be forgiven for attributing this behaviour to the collective reluctance to spend even a single Rupee extra than what is deemed necessary. Dig deeper however and one realizes that it also a perception problem that travel insurance in India seems to be suffering from.

It was the airline industry and the turbulence that it suffered in the past year that proved to be the catalyst that brought travel insurance into focus. As flights were suspended and cancelled without warning or explanations, many travellers realized that it was not just the ticket money they lost out on. With certain airlines in doldrums and limited seat availability, fares shot up and went through the roof. The passenger group that had purchased travel insurance that covered such interruptions were the ones that escaped with the least damage. Experts are therefore hopeful that more and more passengers should opt for travel insurance across transportation networks in the times to come.

The conditions surrounding overseas travel insurance are quite the domestic scenario. Insurance is a mandatory requirement for overseas travel. However, collective ignorance and lethargy rears its ugly head even out here. Considering that it is mandatory to be insured when travelling overseas, few travellers pay more than a cursory glance to the terms and conditions of their insurance policy. Many prefer to opt for the lowest rates or go with whatever is the first option that’s made available to them.

But a good travel insurance policy should be able to throw a net of sorts and help in extricating them out of many a situation. Sample situations where quality insurance cover can come handy would be:

1. Loss/Theft of Passport: While most international destinations are high on safety for tourists, it could happen that one may lose their passport, either to theft or due to oversight. In such cases, adequate insurance would mean that the cost of getting a new passport is covered for
2. Missing Baggage: Though direct flights are the preferred choice for passengers, one may not always be able to opt for them. This could be due to availability or budgetary constraints. Stopovers and connecting flights are sometimes responsible for baggage going missing. While the emotional damages may be impossible to cover up, at least the monetary impact may be lessened or done away with
3. Disrupted Flights: Airport unrests, flash strikes, weather conditions and other such elements can and do lead to flight disruptions. While airlines do try and do what they can to assist and accommodate passengers in such instances, it is always nice to have the backing of an insurance policy that can cover the extra costs
4. Dental and Medical Assistance: Dental and medical treatments are excessively expensive in many a country overseas. Having appropriate medical cover helps go a long way in paying the bills in a hassle-free manner and at a wallet friendly price
5. Legal Costs: In some unfortunate instances, due to unfamiliarity of local customs and cultural differences, one may find themselves on the wrong side of the law when travelling overseas. Access to quality legal assistance in such instances can make a world of difference in such cases. Another reason why one needs to have adequate overseas travel insurance that can cover even such rare emergencies

Thus, the selection of overseas travel insurance is not something that must be taken for granted – a fact that is recognized by some of the more frequent international travellers. At the end of the day, the insurance cover is the best ally one can have at a time when they are without their usual support systems. A truism that industry experts hope shall come to be given its true importance by travellers in the years to come…