Having travel insurance has become an extremely essential thing in today’s time. Especially when it comes to traveling abroad, it is very important to have “travel insurance” for your safety. Anyone traveling abroad may face sudden illness, accidents, flight cancellations, or baggage loss.
But if you have a travel insurance policy, it helps to compensate for the financial losses caused by such unexpected incidents. To be specific, travel insurance is mandatory for the Schengen visa process in Europe. Accordingly, I have gathered some information about the travel insurance plans of Tata AIG, ICICI Lombard, Reliance, HDFC ERGO, and Bajaj Finance, which I will share with you through this article.
Table of Contents
Why Travel Insurance is Non-Negotiable for International Trips
- Medical emergency treatment and hospitalization expenses
- Personal accident insurance, medical assistance, and evacuation (return to home country in case of injury)
- Ticket cancellation/delay compensation if the flight is canceled or delayed
- Loss or delay of checked-in baggage, as well as theft of baggage
- Expenses for obtaining a new passport if lost
- Personal liability coverage for damage to third-party property or persons during travel
- Special allowance in case of airplane hijacking (Hijack distress allowance)
- Emergency cash facility in case of need for urgent cash
The above-mentioned coverages make your travel financially secure. Now let’s look at the features of the travel insurance plans considered excellent for Indians traveling abroad from five reputed companies — Tata AIG, ICICI Lombard, Reliance, HDFC ERGO, and Bajaj Finance. Each company’s travel insurance is known for its coverage, special features, and benefits.
Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans for Indians Traveling Abroad
TATA AIG Travel Insurance
TATA AIG is known as a leading insurance provider in India. Their TATA AIG Travel Insurance plans offer comprehensive protection to customers traveling abroad. TATA AIG’s international travel insurance includes all aspects like medical emergency treatment, illness or accidents, damage to travel baggage, flight cancellations/delays, loss of passport, etc.
Their Travel Guard plan also includes coverage for dental treatment expenses, legal assistance, and hijacking. TATA AIG plans are valid in more than 190 countries and fulfill the necessary conditions for visa processes.
Notably, no medical examination is required for purchasing these policies. High sum insured options are also available — some plans can offer coverage up to USD $1,000,000 (approximately ₹7.5 crore). TATA AIG provides 24×7 emergency assistance and fast claim settlement, giving peace of mind during travel.
ICICI Lombard Travel Insurance
ICICI Lombard’s travel insurance is known for its quick service and comprehensive coverage. Their international travel insurance policies cover expenses if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip midway. The insurance also covers financial losses due to factors like flight cancellations/delays, hotel booking cancellations, etc.
These plans include basic coverage like medical emergencies, hospitalization, baggage delay/loss, passport loss, and ICICI Lombard also offers some unique options. For example, pre-existing disease cover is available as an optional add-on, providing limited protection for the sudden deterioration of pre-existing illnesses.
Additionally, adventure sports cover is available as an extra — if you plan to engage in activities like skydiving or skiing during your trip, you can insure those risks through this add-on.
ICICI Lombard travel insurance provides worldwide cashless hospitalization services, meaning you don’t have to pay out of pocket if admitted to a hospital. 24×7 customer support, a wide global network, and instant online policy issuance make ICICI Lombard travel insurance a popular option for travelers.
Reliance Travel Insurance
Reliance General Insurance’s travel insurance products are specially designed to meet the needs of various travelers. Their international travel insurance plans provide coverage for both medical and non-medical (travel-related) expenses.
Some features of their policy include — the convenience of getting insurance without any medical tests for travelers up to 90 years of age, meaning senior citizens can also easily get coverage. Additionally, if a traveler up to the age of 70 has a known pre-existing illness, there is life-threatening pre-existing cover available in case the illness poses a life risk during the trip.
Reliance travel insurance covers not only health-related emergency expenses but also other travel-related risks — for example, flight delays/cancellations, missed connections, total loss of baggage, passport loss, etc. Moreover, if a burglary happens at your home during the trip, that is also covered under this plan.
There is a special Student Travel Plan for students, which offers benefits like reimbursement of educational fees and sponsor protection if studies are interrupted or if the sponsor passes away. Reliance’s various plans come in Standard, Gold, Platinum, etc., categories, and plans can be selected based on the traveler’s age, destination country (e.g., special plans for Schengen countries), and type of trip. Their claim settlement ratio is also satisfactory (86.3% claims settled in FY 2023-24), which has built customer trust.
HDFC ERGO Travel Insurance
HDFC ERGO General Insurance’s travel insurance is extremely popular and reliable in India. Their international travel insurance policies are designed considering various types of travelers — solo business travelers, families on vacation, or students going for foreign education.
Through these insurance plans, the following protection is mainly provided: medical expenses due to sudden illness or accidents abroad, sum insured for accidental death or permanent disability, delay or loss of checked-in baggage, daily allowance for daily hospital expenses, personal liability claims, etc.
Additionally, assistance is provided if the passport or important documents are lost during the trip. A key feature of HDFC ERGO travel insurance is access to cashless treatment at over 100,000 hospitals worldwide, making it easy to avail medical services in any country.
No medical tests are required for these policies, and 24×7 customer service and claim assistance are provided. Annual multi-trip plans are available for frequent travelers, eliminating the need to purchase insurance for each trip.
Talking about coverage limits, HDFC ERGO offers various plans that come in Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, etc., categories — some plans provide medical coverage starting from USD $50,000 up to $500,000, while higher-level plans offer up to $1,000,000 coverage. Overall, due to comprehensive features and reliable service, HDFC ERGO travel insurance is a first choice for many.
Bajaj Finance Travel Insurance
Bajaj Finance/Bajaj Allianz’s travel insurance plans are available in various categories to meet the needs of different types of travelers. Bajaj Allianz is the general insurance partner of Bajaj Finance, and their travel insurance plans include all basic coverage.
Plans like Travel Companion and Travel Prime provide protection for medical emergencies and treatment, travel delays, dental treatment expenses, compensation for lost baggage, expenses for lost passports, personal accidents and disabilities, hijack allowance, and personal liability.
Bajaj’s plans are available for individuals, families, students, senior citizens, and corporates. A notable point is that Bajaj has special plans for senior travelers as well Travel Prime Age (for age group 61-70) and Travel Prime Super Age (for age group 71-90) these plans cover the health risks of elderly travelers.
The Super Age plan provides unique benefits like dental pain relief treatment, allowance during hijack situations, travel delays, and even a golfer’s hole-in-one award for golfers, along with coverage for personal accidents and medical emergencies. Bajaj Allianz also offers emergency cash advances to help travelers during emergencies, such as in case of wallet theft or running out of money abroad.
Through Bajaj’s Travel Ace modular plans, coverage ranging from USD $50,000 to $500,000 can be chosen, which includes all aspects like medical emergencies, trip cancellations/curtailment, baggage delay, missed flights, legal expenses, etc. With comprehensive options and a reliable global service network, Bajaj Finance (Allianz) travel insurance is also considered a safe choice for travel.
Quick Comparison: Travel Insurance for International Trips
| Insurance Provider | Max Medical Cover (USD) | Trip Cancellation Cover | Pre-existing Illness Cover | Adventure Sports Cover | Notable Features & Add-ons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TATA AIG | Up to $1,000,000 | Yes | Emergency medical only (life-threatening) | Not standard | Visa-compliant plans; No medical test required; 24×7 global assistance; Covers baggage, passport loss, etc. |
| ICICI Lombard | Up to $500,000 | Yes | Yes (Add-on cover available) | Yes (Adventure sports add-on) | Worldwide cashless hospitals; Trip interruption & cancellation cover included; Optional cruise-specific cover. |
| HDFC ERGO | Up to $1,000,000 | Yes | No (coverage for pre-existing not standard) | Not standard | 1 lakh+ network hospitals worldwide; Multi-trip annual plans; No health check-up needed; Baggage & passport loss cover. |
| Reliance General | Up to $500,000 | Yes | Yes (Emergencies <70 yrs) | Not standard | No medical test up to 90 yrs; Variants for Schengen, Asia, etc; Covers home burglary & compassionate visit. |
| Bajaj Finance (Allianz) | Up to $500,000 | Yes | No (usually excluded) | Not standard (some sport injuries add-on) | Widest range of plans (individual, family, student, senior); Senior citizen plans up to 90 yrs; Unique covers like hijack allowance, golfer’s hole-in-one. |
All the above companies provide basic coverage like medical emergencies, loss of baggage and documents, trip cancellations/delays, etc., in all their plans. However, the various plans and their terms of each company may differ. Read the detailed terms and conditions carefully before purchasing a plan.
| Insurance Company | Official Website |
|---|---|
| TATA AIG | www.tataaig.com |
| ICICI Lombard | www.icicilombard.com |
| HDFC ERGO | www.hdfcergo.com |
| Reliance General | www.reliancegeneral.co.in |
| Bajaj Allianz | www.bajajallianz.com |
Conclusion
The five companies mentioned above are reliable and provide comprehensive protection in the field of travel insurance. Which plan is best depends largely on your personal needs.
If you want higher coverage amounts (e.g., when traveling to the USA/Europe), consider the plans from TATA AIG or HDFC ERGO that offer coverage up to $1 million.
All plans provide basic protection for trip cancellations/delays and other non-medical losses. However, ICICI Lombard leads in this regard — their policy clearly includes ticket cancellations/trip interruption cover.
If traveling with senior citizens, look at plans from Bajaj Allianz (Bajaj Finance) or Reliance — which offer coverage for travelers up to 85-90 years of age, along with special plans. These plans conveniently cover hospital expenses and other facilities for the elderly.
For student travelers, TATA AIG, Bajaj Allianz, and Reliance all have special student travel insurance that covers reimbursement of fees if studies are interrupted, protection for the sponsor’s death/accident, and other essential protection for students.
If you are considering adventure tourism (e.g., scuba diving, paragliding), ICICI Lombard’s adventure sports cover add-on can be useful. Some other companies may also offer such coverage at extra charges, but make sure to verify before purchasing.
While price is important when choosing travel insurance, don’t just look at low premiums. Consider the scope of coverage, included protections, sum insured, service quality, and claim settlement capability. It is beneficial to compare all plans on platforms like PolicyWala or other reliable comparison platforms before purchasing a policy. Most importantly — purchasing travel insurance before leaving for international travel will be a wise decision for the safety of yourself and your family. Having the right travel insurance policy reduces uncertainty during the trip, allowing you to enjoy your travel worry-free.
