Summary of this article
More countries now mandate travel health insurance to cover medical emergencies abroad.
Travellers should prioritise coverage adequacy over cheap premiums or visa compliance.
Always disclose pre-existing conditions and ensure coverage includes evacuation.
Rising global healthcare costs make travel insurance essential, not optional.
For many years, travel health insurance sat low on the list of trip priorities, something travellers bought only when required for visas. That attitude is being tested as more destinations, from Schengen countries to Cuba and Qatar, insist on proof of medical coverage. The intent isn’t to create more paperwork, but to ensure visitors can handle emergencies without depending on the host nation’s health system.
A Post-Pandemic Reality
The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the rapid escalation of medical costs abroad. Since then, travel health insurance has been pulled into sharper focus by governments and travellers alike. Meet Kapadia, head of travel insurance at Policybazaar, says the pandemic shifted perceptions. “It reminded people that health emergencies overseas can happen suddenly and the costs can be overwhelming,” he notes.
Rising healthcare prices, more frequent natural disasters, and uncertain global conditions have made even short trips potentially unpredictable. Meanwhile, countries have grown wary of shouldering unpaid medical bills from foreign tourists. As Hari Radhakrishnan, expert, Insurance Brokers Association of India (IBAI), explains, “Travellers may manage day-to-day costs but not large hospital bills, and that can delay or deny treatment. Mandatory insurance ensures minimum financial preparedness.”
The Fine Print Problem
Even as awareness grows, experts point out that travellers often focus on price rather than protection. Many low-cost plans have strict caps on hospitalisation, exclude pre-existing conditions, or lack evacuation and repatriation benefits. The cheapest policy might satisfy visa rules but not provide meaningful help in a crisis.
Another recurring issue is non-disclosure. Travellers who fail to declare existing medical conditions risk rejected claims. Radhakrishnan notes that a cover amount that looks sufficient on paper—say US$50,000—might be inadequate in high-cost destinations like the US or Canada.
Beyond Rules And Requirements
Comprehensive plans today include additional benefits such as trip cancellation, baggage loss, or even coverage for passport theft, but these should be seen as secondary. The real concern is adequacy—whether the coverage can realistically meet the costs of treatment and evacuation in the countries visited.
Kapadia adds that the real takeaway for travellers is not to view insurance as an obligation but as part of responsible planning: knowing what you’re covered for, what isn’t included, and what limits apply.
The spread of mandatory travel health insurance reflects a changing travel environment, not a sales pitch. It’s a reaction to rising medical costs and the growing financial strain of emergencies abroad. For travellers, it’s less about buying protection and more about understanding the risks of being underprepared in unfamiliar systems.
