India is a melting pot of cultural, historical, spiritual and culinary experiences. It’s the land that gave us Bollywood, spicy curries, yoga and some of the world’s best cricket players.
The south-east nation is home to architectural gems like the Taj Mahal and the pink city of Jaipur, plus natural wonders like the Himalayas. The list goes on!
Whatever calls you to this unique destination, taking out travel insurance for India is a must to protect yourself financially against the unexpected, so you can enjoy your trip with better peace of mind.
Could you afford medical treatment in India if you broke your foot falling out of a rickshaw? How about the cost of replacing everything that was in the suitcase lost in transit from Mumbai to New Delhi? Could you afford to pay for new flights home if you need to get home quickly and your original carrier can’t accommodate you?
The unexpected can happen anywhere and at any time, whether you’re at home or abroad. Travel insurance is designed to provide financial protection against mishaps, injuries and accidents on your journey from the moment you leave your house to when you return.
While travel insurance for India isn’t mandatory, it may improve your peace of mind on your holiday.
India has a high crime rate including thefts, scams, robberies and assaults on foreign nationals. Now, this is not to say that this will happen to you or that you will run into any trouble, but it’s always best to be prepared just in case.
You should always be on the lookout for pickpockets near popular attractions and any suspicious activity; this is especially important for unsuspecting tourists who may be at a higher risk of being fleeced.
Common scams in India include, but are not limited to:
We recommend that travellers look into a comprehensive travel insurance policy that offers coverage for theft of cash, and stolen, lost or damaged luggage or personal property.
In 2018, India accounted for 11% of car accident related deaths in the world; this is in part due to the country’s lack of law enforcement, road rules, transport infrastructure, and notoriously poor traffic conditions.1
Cars often share the roads with pedestrians, carts, cattle and other livestock. It’s also not uncommon to encounter vehicles travelling in the wrong direction without warning or cars driving at night without headlights.
If you were to be involved in a car accident, your rental car company would most likely charge you an excess to cover the cost of repairs for your hire car. Generally, comprehensive travel insurance for India can cover your rental car excess and most overseas medical expenses in case of injury.
The quality of healthcare services in India will vary depending on where you go. You may receive an adequate standard of treatment in hospitals in most major cities, but healthcare facilities in rural areas can be limited and often aren’t up to date with modern-day standards and practices.
So, if you were to suffer a serious illness or injury, chances are you would require hospitalisation or medical evacuation. These costs could set you back tens of thousands of dollars without travel insurance.
That’s why it’s important to choose a policy that provides unlimited or comprehensive coverage for overseas medical expenses or evacuation.
Typically, you’ll have the choice between single-trip and annual cover travel insurance. Single-trip policies cover one trip, and potentially layovers, until you return to your home in Australia. An annual or multi-trip policy generally covers any number of overseas trips taken within a year – handy for frequent travellers.
Your annual cover travel insurance policy will stipulate what the maximum trip length is for any one journey. Typically, most policies under annual multi-trip cover will set the maximum length for each individual trip to between 15-90 days.
On the other hand, single trips typically have a maximum trip length of 12 months. It’s important to ensure that your longest trip doesn’t exceed the policy’s stipulated maximum trip length.
Travel insurance for India can come in different levels of cover ranging from basic to comprehensive. A top-tier policy will typically offer cover for:
You should always read your policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for limits of cover, policy terms, conditions and exclusions.
You should consider several factors before deciding whether to take out travel insurance to India from Australia, including:
Travel insurance for India can come with a set of general exclusions. Generally, travel insurance doesn’t provide cover for:
If you’re travelling to India, you should check-in regularly with Smartraveller; they will activate a crisis page if there’s a situation that could affect Australians. If you need urgent help, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre.
You can also receive advice, alerts and up-to-date information on over 170 countries by signing up to the Smartraveller’s free email and SMS service. Remember, however, that registering with Smartraveller doesn’t guarantee you consular assistance if you get into trouble in another country. See the Consular Services Charter for more information.
If you’re travelling to India as an Australian national, you should make sure your passport is in good condition and valid for at least six months from your date of arrival in India.
Australian citizens also require a valid visa for entry into India. The easiest way to get an Indian visa is to apply for an e-tourist visa online at least four days before your departure. E-tourist visas are valid for up to 60 days. If you plan to stay longer, you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa extension in person.
Travelling to a developing nation like India means you could be exposed to infectious diseases. So, before you head off on your trip, make sure you’re up-to-date on all your vaccinations. Consult a doctor or visit a travel health clinic a month before departure for the most up to date information.
The following vaccines may be recommended for your trip to India:
You may also want to pack medication for traveller’s diarrhoea in case you consume contaminated food or water. Check with your doctor to be sure that such medication is suitable for you.
Remember that while you may be an Australian national, you’ll be subject to India’s local laws and penalties when you enter the country. So, do your research on local laws and customs before you travel to avoid trouble.
Some illegal activities in India include:
India also has a strict social code of dress and behaviour. If in doubt, always dress conservatively and take care not to offend or provoke anyone. You should also be aware that physical contact between men and women in public is frowned upon.
Find out more about travel insurance for Asia.
Looking for travel insurance to cover your trip to India? Our free comparison tool can help you compare a range of policies from leading brands based on your preferred level of cover, policy benefits and excess amount – the amount you pay your insurer when you make a claim.
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