Does Travel Insurance Cover War

Is War Covered by Indian Travel Insurance Policies?

The short answer is no. All travel insurance policies strictly exclude losses due to war or war-like situations.

Standard travel insurance is designed for personal emergencies that are beyond your control (such as falling sick or getting mugged) rather than global crises. In almost every Indian travel insurance policy, 'War and War-like Operations' are listed under general exclusions.

This is because war is considered a Force Majeure, an event so unpredictable and large that it is beyond the control of any company. Be it civil unrest or a formal declaration of war, if your flight is cancelled because the airspace is closed due to the conflict, your insurer is unlikely to pay for the ticket.

Force Majeure and Proximate Cause Rule

In terms of Indian travel insurance policies, Force Majeure refers to extraordinary events. These include natural disasters or wars — incidents that are beyond human control. Since these events are unpredictable, massive and often hard to scale damages, insurers treat them as legal grounds to waive their standard liability.

To know if your claim is valid during such a crisis, insurers apply the 'Proximate Cause' rule. They look for the direct, strongest trigger of your loss instead of the events that followed. Consider these different scenarios:

• Scenario AYour flight was cancelled because of a missile strike in the region (Claim will be rejected)
• Scenario BYour flight was delayed because of a technical fault, even if there was a war nearby (Claim will be accepted)
• Scenario CYour passport is stolen in a foreign city where a conflict is happening elsewhere in the country (Claim will be accepted)

To put it simply, your travel insurance policy will not cover any loss if it is caused directly or indirectly by war.

What Will Travel Insurance Not Cover in a War Situation?

If a conflict breaks out during your trip, you should be aware of the scope of coverage. Here is what your travel insurance won't cover during a war:

• Missed ConnectionsIf your first flight is rerouted to avoid a war zone and you miss your second flight
• Hotel CostsExpenses for staying extra nights in a city while waiting for a safe flight home
• Medical Injuries from WarMost travel health insurance won't cover any injuries sustained due to military action or terrorism-related events

What is Still Covered by Travel Insurance During a War

The good news is that your travel insurance doesn't become completely void in case of a war. You will still be protected for the following:

• Non-War Medical EmergenciesIf you fall ill or have an accident while abroad, you are still covered for hospitalisation.
• Baggage LossIf the airline loses your suitcase during a regular flight and it is not related to war-related airport shutdowns, you can still claim it.
• Accidental Death & DisabilityYour policy will still cover standard accidents) such as a car crash) that have nothing to do with the conflict.
• Personal LiabilityIf you accidentally break something in your hotel or injure someone, your insurance will still cover you.

Conclusion

Travel insurance is certainly a safety net, but it is not an all-access pass. Since travel insurance provides limited coverage during war-related cancellations, your first line of defence is the airline you have booked your journey with. Under aviation rules, if an airline cancels a flight for certain reasons, it is usually obligated to offer you a full refund or rebooking to an alternative route. However, they are not liable to pay for any consequential losses you may face, such as prepaid hotel expenses. Most importantly, you must read the terms and conditions of your flight booking and your travel insurance so you know your rights.