How Much International Travel Insurance Cover Should Indians Buy in ₹

International travel can expose Indian travellers to expenses that are difficult to anticipate from home, especially when illness, accidents, or disruptions demand quick decisions in an unfamiliar system, and unfamiliar rules apply. The right cover is not about selecting the biggest number on a comparison table. It is about choosing rupee limits that fit the destination, trip duration, and personal risk profile, even when comparing policies through travel insurance online.

This article explains how to size cover in ₹ across medical treatment, evacuation support, trip disruption, and liability for Indians.

Start With Emergency Medical Cover

Emergency medical expenses often determine the overall sum insured because treatment abroad can escalate quickly. A sensible rupee approach is to weigh destination cost levels and the length of stay. For shorter leisure trips, ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore is often considered as a starting band for emergency medical cover.

For longer stays, higher-cost destinations, senior travellers, or travellers disclosing medical history, ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore may offer more headroom. The aim is to choose a sum insured that can absorb unexpected hospitalisation without being reduced by tight caps.

• Match cover to destination costs and duration
• Choose higher limits for seniors and longer stays
• Avoid tight caps that shrink hospital payouts

Keep Evacuation and Repatriation In the Same Band

Evacuation and repatriation can cost more than treatment when specialised transport, medical supervision, or transfers are required. These benefits are commonly included with overseas travel insurance, yet limits can vary widely.

If evacuation costs exceed the medical sum insured, a gap may arise when facilities are unsuitable or when the assistance team advises a medically guided return to India. Many travellers, therefore, look for evacuation and repatriation limits in the same rupee band as medical cover.

• Match evacuation limits to medical cover level.
• Avoid gaps when rapid transfer is needed.
• Prefer equal bands for return support.

Size Trip Disruption Cover to Real Exposure

Trip cancellation and curtailment cover works best when it reflects money that could actually be lost. A straightforward rupee method is to total non-refundable prepayments linked to the trip and set the cancellation limit close to that amount.

Selecting a much higher limit may increase premiums without improving recovery, while selecting a limit that is too low can leave a shortfall during a covered disruption. Minimum delay thresholds and reporting timelines should be reviewed, as they affect whether a claim becomes payable.

• Match cancellation cover to non-refundable trip costs.
• Avoid over-insuring; premiums rise without extra value.
• Check delay thresholds and reporting timelines carefully.

Read Sub-Limits, Deductibles, and Claims Rules

A high headline sum insured may still deliver weaker protection if sub-limits or co-payments reduce what is payable for hospital costs, follow-up care, or medicines. Deductibles matter because they shift the first portion of loss back to the traveller, and that amount should be manageable at short notice.

Claims mechanics deserve equal attention: some plans rely on reimbursement after payment, while others facilitate cashless treatment through assistance partners. Notification timelines and document requirements should be verified.

• Sub-limits can quietly reduce real claim payouts.
• Deductibles decide what must be paid upfront.
• Claims, timelines, and paperwork often affect approvals.

Do Not Overlook Liability and Personal Accident Benefits

Personal liability cover may help when a traveller is held responsible for accidental injury to a third party or for property damage. Since legal exposure can be significant, liability limits are often assessed alongside medical cover rather than treated as a token add-on.

A planning band of ₹25 lakh to ₹1 crore is commonly considered, with higher limits for longer stays. Personal accident benefits may also be included and should be reviewed for definitions, exclusions, and whether a claim is payable.

• Liability claims can become costly, unexpectedly fast
• Higher limits suit longer stays and varied activities
• Check definitions, exclusions, and payout conditions carefully

Conclusion

A sensible rupee cover amount starts with medical and evacuation limits that match the destination and duration, then aligns disruption and liability benefits to real exposure. ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore can suit many trips, while ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore may fit higher-risk profiles. The final choice should prioritise usable protection by checking caps, deductibles, and policy wording.