What travel insurance is for
Travel insurance covers the costs that can ruin a trip: a medical emergency abroad, a cancelled booking, lost luggage or a long delay. The best policy is not the cheapest one but the one whose medical limit, exclusions and claims process fit your trip. This guide is general information, so always read the policy wording; it is what counts, not the marketing page.
What a policy usually covers
Most policies combine several covers. Check which ones are included and the limit of each.
- Emergency medical treatment and, in better policies, medical repatriation.
- Trip cancellation and interruption for listed reasons such as illness or a family emergency.
- Baggage loss, theft and delay, usually with per-item limits.
- Travel delay and missed connections, often after a minimum waiting time.
- Personal liability or legal support
The five checks that matter
Compare these across policies instead of comparing only the price.
- Medical limit: higher is better, especially for the United States and other expensive healthcare systems.
- Exclusions: look for adventure sports, pre-existing conditions, alcohol-related incidents and travel to areas with government warnings.
- Excess or deductible: the amount you pay before the insurer pays.
- Cancellation reasons: many policies cover only specific causes, not a change of mind.
Do you already have some cover?
Some cover may already come from other sources, but it rarely covers everything.
- In the EU and some other countries, the European Health Insurance Card gives access to state healthcare at the same cost as locals, but it does not cover private care, repatriation or cancellation.
- Premium bank cards can include travel insurance; check the limit, how the cover is activated and whether the trip must be paid with that card.
- Annual policies can be cheaper if you travel several times a year.
- Pandemics, civil unrest, or travel bans
- Cancellation benefits often require purchase within 10–14 days of your first trip deposit.
Buy at the right time and compare providers
Buy soon after your first non-refundable booking, so cancellation cover starts early. Compare providers using the same dates, destination and activities.
- See Klook insuranceSponsoredCompare travel insurance options from Klook.
- See Ekta insuranceSponsoredCheck coverage and prices from Ekta.