Credit Card Travel Insurance in India

Suppose Rakesh from Delhi booked a family trip to Manali using his credit card. Everything was ready—flights, hotel bookings, and even the itinerary. But just two days before the trip, his daughter fell sick. He had to cancel the trip, and he was worried about losing all the money he had spent.

Surprisingly, Rakesh got most of his money back. His credit card had travel insurance, and it helped cover the cancellation costs. He didn’t even know this benefit existed!

This is just one example of how credit card travel insurance can be a big help.

What Is Credit Card Travel Insurance?

In India, many credit cards—especially those meant for travel or premium users—come with a free travel insurance feature. You don’t need to pay extra to get it. If you use your credit card to book things like flight tickets, hotel rooms, or travel packages, this insurance is automatically applied. It’s like a built-in protection that comes with your card.

This insurance helps you if something goes wrong while you’re traveling. For example, it might cover you if your flight gets canceled, your luggage is lost, or there’s a medical emergency during your trip.

What Does It Cover?

Here are some common things that credit card travel insurance in India can cover:

Trip Cancellation: If you have to cancel your trip at the last minute because of something serious—like if you get sick or a close family member passes away—travel insurance might give you back the money you already spent on things like flight tickets or hotel bookings that can’t be refunded.
Flight Delays: If your flight is delayed for several hours, the insurance can help pay for things you need while you wait, such as meals, a taxi ride, or even a hotel room if you need to stay overnight.
Lost or Delayed Baggage: If the airline loses your luggage or it doesn’t arrive on time, insurance may give you money to buy basic items like clothes, toothpaste, or soap until your bag shows up.
Medical Emergencies Abroad: If you get hurt or sick while traveling outside India, some credit cards include travel insurance that can help pay for hospital stays or doctor visits abroad.
Travel Accidents: If something really serious happens—like a bad accident or death while traveling—the insurance may give financial support to your family.

Example from Real Life

Let’s say Neha books a trip from Mumbai to Singapore using her credit card. When she arrives, her checked-in bag doesn’t show up. She waits, but the airline says it may take two days. Luckily, her credit card has baggage delay cover.

She files a claim, shows her boarding pass and luggage receipt, and receives money to buy clothes and daily use items. That’s the power of credit card travel insurance.

Do All Credit Cards Offer This?

Not all credit cards come with travel insurance. It usually depends on the type of card you have. Most basic credit cards don’t offer this feature.

Travel insurance is more common with high-end or travel-related credit cards. For example:

HDFC Bank (e.g., Infinia, Regalia)
Axis Bank (e.g., Magnus, Vistara Infinite)
SBI Card (e.g., SBI ELITE, SBI Prime)

Even if a card offers travel insurance, the coverage can be different from card to card—some may cover flight delays, others may cover lost luggage, or medical emergencies.

So, it's always a good idea to read your card’s benefits guide or visit your bank’s website to know what exactly is included.

How to Use It (Step-by-Step)

If something goes wrong during your trip — like lost baggage, a flight delay, or a medical emergency — and you want to use your credit card’s travel insurance, here’s what to do:

Make sure you used your credit card to book the trip: The insurance only works if you used that card to pay for your flight or travel. If you used another method (like cash or debit card), you might not be covered.
Contact customer support or check your bank’s website: Call the number on the back of your credit card or visit your bank’s official website. Ask them which insurance company handles the travel cover (e.g., ICICI Lombard, TATA AIG, etc.), and how to file a claim.
Gather all important documents: You’ll need to collect and submit certain proof, depending on the situation. These can include:
- Your flight tickets and boarding passes
- Hospital bills or medical reports (if you were sick or injured)
- Lost baggage or delay reports from the airline
- Any payment receipts or proof of the issue
Submit your claim online or by email: Once you have the documents ready, submit your claim either through the insurance company’s website or via email, as instructed by the bank or insurer.
Wait for approval and payout: The company will check your claim. If everything is okay, they will approve it and send you the money. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how complicated the case is.

Important Tips

Always use your credit card to book tickets or hotel stays if you want the insurance to apply.
Keep all bills, tickets, and receipts safe during your trip.
Read the terms and conditions of your card’s travel insurance. Some things (like pre-existing diseases or extreme sports) may not be covered.

Bottom Line

Credit card travel insurance is a hidden benefit that most people in India don’t know about. But it can save you a lot of money and stress if something unexpected happens during your trip. So next time you’re booking a vacation or business trip, ask yourself:

Is my credit card giving me free travel insurance?

If yes, you’re not just traveling—you’re traveling smart.