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Comprehensive vs. Basic Travel Insurance: What’s the Real Difference?

Team AckoOct 31, 2025

There is no doubt that getting ready for a vacation, be it a short weekend trip or an extended foreign travel, is always thrilling. But before you end up packing your bags, there is one crucial question to answer: what type of travel insurance will I need? You might have come across a choice of "basic cover" or "comprehensive cover" when booking holidays or flights. But what do these mean, and how do you choose between the two? Read on to find out.

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Contents

What is Basic Travel Insurance?
What is Comprehensive Travel Insurance?
Differences Between Basic and Comprehensive Insurance
Which One Do You Need?
Final Words
Frequently Asked Questions

What is Basic Travel Insurance?

A basic travel insurance policy is the entry-level option. It's designed to cover the most typical travel issues without breaking the bank.

It includes coverage of:

Medical emergencies – If you fall ill or get injured while travelling, it pays for hospital charges.
Flight delays or connection failure – Some policies provide a small amount of money if your flight is delayed.
Personal accident – Covers you if you are seriously hurt or worse while you are away.
Delayed or lost baggage – If your bag is stolen, lost, or late, you receive some money to assist.

What is Comprehensive Travel Insurance?

Comprehensive Travel Insurance protects nearly everything that can possibly go wrong on your holiday, from falling ill to needing to cancel your trip.

It comes with everything standard cover does, along with the following:

Trip cancellation or disruption – If you must cancel your trip due to sickness, a family crisis, or other reason covered under this insurance, it reimburses your advance payments.
Lost or stolen passports and documents – Covers the additional cost of replacing valuable documents while overseas.
Emergency medical evacuation—This covers transport to the nearest hospital or back to India for treatment.
Adventure sports coverage—Certain policies cover you while you engage in activities such as skiing, scuba diving, or trekking.
Home protection during travel – Some policies provide coverage for damage or theft at your home during your absence.

ACKO allows you to easily compare and review plans online, allowing you to select the cover that best suits your trip. This will leave you and your home secure and hassle-free wherever you travel.

Differences Between Basic and Comprehensive Insurance

Here’s a simple comparison to help you understand the differences:

Feature	Basic Travel Insurance	Comprehensive Travel Insurance
Coverage	Limited, focuses on medical emergencies and baggage	Extensive coverage, covers trip cancellations, medical, baggage, delays, and more
Trip Cancellation	Usually not included	Included for covered reasons
Medical Limits	Lower coverage may be insufficient for overseas emergencies	Higher limits, often enough for serious illnesses or hospitalisation abroad
Adventure Sports	Usually not included	Optional or included, depending on the plan
Duration	Short-term only, often up to 30 days	Can cover longer trips or multiple trips in a year
Home Cover	Not covered	Optional coverage for home while away
Emergency Evacuation	Sometimes limited	Usually included
Baggage & Documents	Fixed small payouts	Higher payouts and additional benefits
Visa Acceptance	Sometimes not accepted for a visa	Accepted for most visas, including Schengen, UK, and Canada

Which One Do You Need?

It all depends on your type of trip, destination, and budget. Here's a brief guide that will help you decide:

• Short domestic trips or low-budget travel: Basic travel insurance may suffice, especially if you're only worried about medical issues or delayed luggage.

• International travel or costly trips: Comprehensive travel insurance is the better option, which includes trip cancellations, expensive medical bills, and emergencies overseas.

• High-risk or adventure activities: The best choice is comprehensive policies with an add-on for adventure sports.

• Family vacations: Comprehensive plans tend to cover all family members under a single policy, which is easy.

• Frequent visitors: Opt for annual comprehensive or multi-trip plans for constant peace of mind.

Final Words

Basic travel insurance is cheap and easy to get, and it works fine for short weekend trips. But if you’re going abroad, consider comprehensive travel insurance. It costs more, but it protects you in many more situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is basic insurance sufficient for overseas travel?

No. Basic coverage might not cover high medical expenses or overseas trip cancellations.

Does comprehensive trip insurance cover adventure activities?

Most policies have optional add-ons for activities such as trekking, skiing, or scuba diving.

Is comprehensive travel insurance accepted for visa renewal?

Yes, most comprehensive policies from reputable insurers are accepted for visas.

How much does basic trip insurance cost?

It usually costs a few hundred to a couple of thousand rupees for short trips.

How much does comprehensive travel insurance cost?

Premiums vary based on trip value, duration, destination, and traveller age, but it offers much wider coverage.

Does basic overseas insurance cover lost passports?

Usually not. Comprehensive plans often include passport and travel document replacement.

Should families buy one policy or individual policies?

Comprehensive family plans are convenient and often cheaper than buying separate policies for each member.

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.