India, Feb. 26 -- Travelling outside India is exciting, yet a well-planned itinerary can unravel because of a sudden illness, a missed connection, or a misplaced passport. That is where a well-chosen policy does the heavy lifting.

Some countries insist on proof of cover during visa processing, while many leave it to your judgment. The smarter question is not whether the embassy really asks for it, but whether you can afford disruption or clinic bills in an unfamiliar system away from home.

Embassies and consulates set their own entry conditions, and several ask for travel insurance that spans medical care and repatriation. Even where it is not mandatory, healthcare can be costly for visitors, and assistance can be hard to access.

A goo...