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How much travel insurance coverage do I need?
Team AckoJan 12, 2026
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The amount of travel insurance coverage you need mostly depends on different factors such as destination, health, duration of trip, age and the overall cost of the trip. Ideally, your travel insurance coverage must be enough for handling any medical emergency in a foreign country, along with protecting you from non-refundable expenses.
For most travellers, a $100,000 travel insurance plan is better than a $50,000 plan because it offers better financial protection for only a minor increase in premium. This is especially important when going to places with high medical costs, like the US or Canada.
So, read more to understand how much travel insurance coverage do you need to have a hassle-free trip.
Contents
Key Factors Determining How Much Travel Insurance Coverage You Need
Several factors, including your destination, itinerary, health condition, and duration of stay, influence the choice of coverage for travel insurance in India. Here are the key aspects to consider:
Destination-Based Coverage
The cost of healthcare differs greatly among different countries. As an example, you can have medical treatment at relatively cheaper costs in locations such as Thailand, Malaysia, or Mexico. A $50,000 sum insured can be adequate in those instances when travelling is short and low-risk.
Nonetheless, medical expenses in other countries like the United States, Canada, Japan and some parts of Europe are very high. Travelling to these destinations generally warrants a minimum of $100,000 in medical coverage, with some travellers opting for $250,000 or more for added peace of mind.
There are also destinations where there is a mandatory medical cover requirement. For instance, to visit any of the 29 Schengen countries, they need a minimum of €30,000 in medical insurance to issue a visa.
Your Age and Health Condition
Your coverage needs are highly influenced by age and prior health conditions. Elderly tourists are at more risk of medical complications, particularly on extended trips.
The senior travellers must buy coverage with at least $100,000 of medical coverage.
Younger, healthy travellers may consider a $50,000 plan for short trips to low-risk destinations, depending on trip duration and activities.
The pre-existing conditions should ensure that they take a higher cover limit or policies that can cover them well
Emergency Medical Evacuation Cost
Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation can cost a lot of money, especially if you are going to a remote, mountainous, or underdeveloped area. These costs can quickly add up to tens of thousands of dollars.
Choosing a higher sum insured protects you from unexpected evacuation costs and covers the return of remains, which is often included in high-coverage plans.
Duration of Stay
Longer trips increase the risk of catching multiple diseases and medical complications due to constant changes in the surrounding climate and fatigue. Hence, buying a high coverage sum insured or more can help assure complete financial safety.
Activities You Are Planning To Do
Your itinerary also plays a major role in deciding coverage limits.
Leisure sightseeing and city travel may be adequately covered under a $50,000 plan.
Adventure activities or physically demanding experiences increase risk and make a $100,000 or higher sum insured a safer choice.
Note that most standard policies exclude adventure sports unless you purchase a dedicated add-on.
Enjoy a 100% digital claim process and ensure financial safety up to the maximum limit of your travel health insurance with ACKO. Click here to choose your plan and secure your trip at affordable rates.
How Much Sum Insured Should Be Enough?
No matter how carefully you plan your trip, a single medical emergency can make a $50,000 sum insured insufficient. Here is how to decide:
$50,000: If you are a young person going on a small and safe trip to a place where the climate is not very harsh. You can opt for a $50,000 sum insured in your travel insurance.
$1,00,000: If you are going on an adventurous trip that includes fun adventures. It is recommended to opt for a travel plan $100k insurance coverage.
$250,000: In case you are thinking about an open-ended adventure that includes fun activities and adventure sports. Choosing a high coverage travel insurance of $250,000 sum insured or above is the right choice.
$500,000: A $500,000 sum insured is advised for adventurous or open-ended travel that includes activities like hiking or bungee jumping in order to cover increased medical risks and emergency treatment expenses overseas.
Coverage Areas You Should Consider Beyond Medical Expenses
Your international travel insurance should cover more than just medical expenses. It should also cover other risks, such as:
If you have to cancel or change your trip, your coverage should cover all of your non-refundable costs.
Standard plans usually pay between $1,000 and $1,500 for lost or delayed luggage, depending on the policy terms and conditions.
In terms of personal liability, coverage usually ranges between $100,000 and $250,000, protecting you against accidental injury or property damage caused to third parties.
How Do Insurers Provide Travel Insurance Policies With Different Sum Insured Values?
There are many ways in which insurance companies might offer different high coverage travel insurance policies to you. Here is a detailed list of a few of them.
Tiered Plans: Insurers offer different high coverage insurance policies and offer them as pre-set packages with different sum insured levels for their customers’ safety. For example, ACKO provides a Basic and a Comfort tier package in travel insurance.
Customisable Plans: Some plans allow you to choose a base policy and enhance coverage through add-ons or higher limits for specific benefits such as medical expenses or baggage protection.
The Bottom Line
Understanding how much travel insurance coverage do you need is critical, and it should be based on your destination, age, health, trip duration, and planned activities. Selecting broader protection provides more financial stability against high medical bills and unforeseen crises, even while reduced coverage can be appropriate for brief, low-risk travels. More thorough coverage offers peace of mind for travellers with complex itineraries or increased risk exposure. Before making a purchase, always carefully read the policy's terms, inclusions, and limitations.
Plan your journey with confidence by choosing ACKO Travel Insurance, which offers flexible coverage options, quick digital policy issuance, and reliable support, helping you stay protected against unexpected travel-related expenses abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you mean by “sum insured” in travel insurance?
The sum insured refers to the maximum amount that the insurer will reimburse you for any losses or medical expenses within a policy year. It is mostly applicable to health, motor, travel and home insurance policies.
Why is buying high coverage travel insurance important?
Buying a travel insurance policy with a high sum insured offers extended financial safety in case you need emergency medical assistance and hospitalisation. Moreover, the high sum insured helps to make sure you do not have to pay high out-of-pocket expenses.
What factors help to determine which travel insurance plan you should buy?
Multiple factors, such as your health condition, age, destination and travel activity, help to assess the risks associated with it and decide the type of insurance you should buy.
What are the various types of sum insured in travel insurance?
There are basically 4 options in the sum insured for travel insurance. They include $50,000, $100,000, $250,000 and $500,000 as sum insured.
Does travel insurance with a $100,000 sum insured cover adventure sports?
No, you have to buy an adventure sports add-on to get coverage for these risks.
Is $500,000 travel coverage enough for an international trip?
Yes, $500,000 in travel coverage is generally considered sufficient and often recommended by travel insurers when you are planning an international trip, especially to countries like the US, Canada, and Switzerland, where the medical and overall trip cost is significantly high.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet, and is subject to changes. Please check the policy document for cancellation reasons, and terms and conditions of the policy.
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