The Real Reason You Should Never Travel Abroad Without Insurance

I once paid ₹56,000 for an X-ray in Switzerland. Not for surgery. Not for a hospital stay. Just an X-ray. That was the day I truly understood how expensive a medical emergency can be when you're travelling abroad.

Many people think travel insurance is meant for delayed flights or lost baggage. Those benefits are useful, but they're not the real reason I recommend buying it.

The recent boat tragedy off Vietnam, where Indian tourists lost their lives, is a heartbreaking reminder of why travel insurance matters. No insurance policy can replace a loved one. No claim can heal a family's loss. But after the headlines fade, another reality begins.

Families suddenly have to deal with hospitals in a foreign country, local authorities, embassies, airlines, and in the worst situations, the repatriation of mortal remains. All of this comes while they're trying to process unimaginable grief.

On top of the emotional burden comes the financial one. This is where travel insurance quietly does what it was designed to do.

Its real value lies in the situations we all hope never happen:

Emergency hospitalization overseas.

Medical evacuation when specialised treatment is needed.

Repatriation of mortal remains.

24×7 emergency assistance to help families navigate an unfamiliar country.

After spending more than two decades in the insurance industry, I've learnt that insurance is not about expecting the worst. It's about making sure your family has one less thing to worry about if the worst does happen.

We insure our phones, our cars, and sometimes even our holidays. But when we travel overseas, the most important thing to protect is ourselves.

Sometimes, the best insurance policy is the one you hope you never have to use.

Travel responsibly. Travel insured.