Why Non-Medical Travel Claims Are Rising Faster Than Medical Emergencies

Travel insurance has long been synonymous with overseas medical emergencies. Medical coverage continues to remain a critical component of travel protection, but did you know that nowadays travellers are much more likely to encounter a travel mishap than a medical issue while on their trip?

Global travel assistance and insurance provider company Asego’s travel claims experience across multiple portfolios reveal that today non-medical claims represent close to 70–75 per cent of all reported travel claims, and have far exceeded medical-related claims. Travelers are increasingly facing risks such as operational disruption, logistical nightmares and monetary losses.

“Today’s travellers are taking more complex trips than ever before with more flight connections, transit airports, hotel bookings, visas, ground transfers, cruise packages, tours and pre-booked activities. As travel itineraries become more interconnected, the number of potential points of disruption naturally increases. Add to this the impact of adverse weather events, geopolitical tensions, airspace restrictions, strikes, and airline operational challenges, and the likelihood of travel plans being affected has risen considerably,” says Dev Karvat, Founder & CEO, Asego.

As a result, trip cancellations, interruptions, curtailments, and delays have emerged as the largest contributors to non-medical claims. More often than not, travellers find themselves having to change, delay or cancel their trips for reasons beyond their control, causing them financial hardship. “Since the last fiscal year, we have recorded over 5,500 claims related to trip cancellation, interruption, and curtailment, while trip delay claims exceeded 3,500. These figures highlight the growing exposure travellers face to disruptions that can derail even the most carefully planned journeys,” says Karvat.

Flight delays, in particular, have become a major pain point globally. While they may not result in medical emergencies, they frequently trigger a chain reaction of missed connections, additional accommodation costs, loss of prepaid bookings, and unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.

“During the same period, flight delay claims crossed 500, underscoring the growing relevance of coverage for disruptions arising from operational issues, adverse weather conditions, airline-related challenges, and unforeseen personal circumstances. For many travellers, these disruptions can have an immediate financial impact, making protection against such contingencies more relevant than ever,” says Karvat.

Baggage-related incidents are another area witnessing a steady rise in claims. While permanent baggage loss often attracts greater attention, delayed baggage remains a far more frequent issue for travellers. During the same period, more than 3,000 delayed baggage claims were recorded compared to over 200 baggage loss claims. While the majority of delayed bags are returned to travellers within a few days, passengers still experience out-of-pocket expenses when purchasing clothes, toiletries, medications, and other sundries. Many travelers face inconvenience, especially early on in their travels. The trend also reflects a larger change in travellers’ needs. As travellers spend more on trips, they are looking for solutions that protect them from not only financial losses but also against inconveniences they may experience while travelling.

Travel is also becoming more expensive. International vacations, cruises, destination weddings, adventure travel, and long-haul trips now come with high non-refundable costs. As travellers commit larger amounts of money upfront, there is a growing need to protect these investments against unforeseen disruptions, making cancellation and interruption benefits increasingly valuable.

“While non-medical claims are becoming more frequent, this should not be interpreted as a decline in medical risks. Medical emergencies remain among the most severe and financially consequential incidents that can occur while travelling. However, from a frequency standpoint, non-medical disruptions are occurring far more often, driven by the evolving realities of global travel,” says Karvat.

The broader takeaway is that travel protection today extends well beyond medical coverage. It is increasingly about safeguarding the entire travel experience - from the moment a trip is booked until the traveller safely returns home. As travel continues to become more dynamic, interconnected, and expensive, protection against non-medical disruptions is emerging as an equally important pillar of comprehensive travel coverage.