Getting Sick While Traveling by Air: Insurance Tips

Posted on: Jul 9, 2025 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Getting Sick While Traveling by Air: Insurance Tips

Medical insurance is one of the most important travel requirements. You must have a good health insurance plan when you go abroad, as it can shield you against several health issues. Medical insurance is a very important component of travel insurance, and a lot of countries won't even issue a visa unless you have travel insurance. Whether you get sick after you visit a place or you get sick en route, your policy coverage can help. Take a look at this article to know how medical insurance for travel can help if you get sick mid-air.

Ways to benefit from medical insurance for travel if you fall sick mid-air

You need to understand the scope of coverage to get the most out of it if you start feeling unwell while you are in a plane. Here are some handy pointers:

1. Cancel the other flights

If it is a small discomfort or injury that you face while mid-air, the crew will help you. If there is a doctor on board, you can expect assistance from them as well. Once taken care of, you can continue with your journey without any hiccups. However, if you feel very unwell or suffer a very serious injury on board, you will have to be rushed to the hospital as soon as you land. In such a scenario, the remaining trip would have to be cancelled, which would include cancelling all the other flight tickets. This is an expensive affair, but your medical insurance for travel will take care of it.

2. Cancel the hotel reservations

Similarly, a cancelled trip will lead to hotel cancellations as well. A lot of reservations are non-refundable, and you stand to lose a lot of money in such cases. Get medical insurance for travel, and it will solve this issue effortlessly.

3. Get coverage for medical care as soon as you land

If you sustain a severe injury on board or have a major illness like cardiac arrest, which requires hospitalisation, your insurance cover will take care of it. From the ambulance cost to the hospital charges, you will get compensated for all the expenses. This is one of the main reasons why you should choose medical insurance for travel. Healthcare expenses, especially in foreign countries, are very expensive, and paying out of your pocket can be troublesome. Have travel insurance so that you don't have to worry about any financial challenges.

4. Get tickets for a return flight

The insurance provider will reschedule your trip and put you on a return flight once you recover. This is yet another beneficial feature of medical insurance for travel, and a big reason why you must opt for a good policy before you commence your trip.

5. Repatriation expenses, if needed

If, unfortunately, you lose your life due to a health emergency mid-air, the insurance company will pay the repatriation expenses. Repatriation means bringing the marital remains back to the policyholder’s residence if he or she dies abroad. This is a helpful feature, as arranging for repatriation can be a difficult task for your family, so having the insurer’s support helps a lot.

It is crucial to be aware of your benefits. Read our blog on All You Need to Know about Travel Insurance for Flight Journey and stay well-informed.

Tips to choose the best medical insurance for travel

While there are some excellent travel insurance plans with wholesome medical coverage these days, you need to be careful about the specific plan you choose. Here are some tips to help you find the best plan:

1. Get enough coverage

It is vital to get enough coverage before you leave for your trip. Do not be conservative when choosing the coverage amount, or do not buy medical insurance for travel only as a formality. No one anticipates trouble, and you never imagine you could fall ill mid-air. However, these things do happen, and you need to be suitably covered. Therefore, when choosing a travel insurance plan, assess your requirements, keep your pre-existing illnesses in mind and then choose a plan that offers proper protection.

2. Keep the cost in mind

While you would surely want the highest and best possible medical insurance for travel coverage, you need to keep the cost factor in mind. Going abroad is an expensive affair, so you need to budget for all the expenses, including travel insurance. This is an important point to remember, as you need to find the best possible cover at a reasonable rate. So do your research and get the best option.

3. Choose the insurer with care

The Indian insurance sector is growing beautifully, and as a result, you have some top-rated insurance providers like HDFC Ergo offering excellent travel insurance plans. When you go shopping for travel insurance, you must choose the plan from a reputable insurer. Do not base your judgment only on the cost of the policy, as the cheapest plan may not deliver when needed. Do your research and look for an insurer that has a healthy claim settlement ratio, a good customer support cell and has a good online presence. These factors will help you in the long run.

4. Look for add-on covers

You need to get some add-on covers along with the basic travel insurance plan. Add-on covers are available at an extra cost, but they increase the value of the coverage. See what the available add-ons are and choose the best ones after assessing your needs and requirements.

5. Look for multi-trip travel insurance

You can opt for a multi-trip travel insurance if you are a frequent traveller. This will ensure continued coverage, and you will also save some money in the process. Explore the multi-trip travel insurance plans and get the most suitable option from the best insurance provider.

The final word

Insurance is needed at every step of life. So, do not ignore travel insurance when planning a trip. Apart from the usual travel-related covers, the policy will also offer invaluable medical insurance coverage, which is something that you cannot travel without. As you can see from the points mentioned above, medical insurance for travel offers several beneficial covers, which protect your health and your finances. Keep all the points mentioned above in mind and choose the best travel insurance plan with good medical coverage. Get the plan from a reliable insurance provider, choose the suitable riders and get the protection you need to have a safe and satisfying foreign trip.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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