The West Bengal government’s ruling alliance on Thursday announced a raft of pre-poll sops, including a ₹5 lakh travel insurance boost for senior citizens aged 70 and above. Finance Minister Amit Mitra declared the policy will cover medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and baggage loss during outbound travels from October 1, 2026.
But the announcement blurred lines with another opposition front-led push in Kerala, where Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal stated on March 29 that Kerala’s Kerala TravelSafe+ Scheme would see premiums slashed by 40% for domestic and 35% for international trips from May 1, 2026.
In response, West Bengal’s All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) unveiled its plan at a press conference in Park Circus Maidan on March 30. “We held consultations with leading insurers like ICICI Lombard and Bajaj Allianz,” said TMC MP Derek O’Brien. The government will anchor the scheme through a ₹25 crore fund drawn from welfare revenues, with private insurers handling claims.
And this isn’t the first time IRDAI has nudged insurers toward senior-specific products. In a July 2025 consultation paper, IRDAI proposed capping mandatory travel insurance costs at 1.5% of ticket value for travellers above 65. Most top insurers like HDFC Ergo and Tata AIG already adhere to this guideline, records show.
The West Bengal government has set a hard November 15, 2026 deadline for insurers to finalise tie-ups. By then, they must certify that all referral hospitals in Singapore, Dubai, and Bangkok cover pre-existing conditions up to ₹50,000 without co-pay for TMC cardholders.
In contrast, Kerala’s scheme targets budget travellers. Balagopal cited data from the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation: “Over 2.1 lakh Keralites aged 60+ made 4.3 lakh domestic trips in 2025, up 12.5% from 2024.” The state has roped in Reliance General and SBI General, with a ₹10 crore corpus for claims settlement within 30 days.
The IRDAI’s July 2025 guidelines also mandate that insurers must cover COVID-19-related hospitalisation and post-COVID therapies for senior travellers across all plans. “This is a game-changer for retirees who travel frequently,” said Dr. S.P. Sharma, principal director of the Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management.
Meanwhile, domestic carriers have started aligning. IndiGo’s subsidiary, RaxConnect, will integrate the West Bengal policy into its app starting October 2026, offering passengers a one-click insurance toggle during booking. The airline operates 74 non-stop flights weekly from Kolkata to destinations like Bangkok, Singapore, and Dubai.
But West Bengal’s move faces legal scrutiny. The Calcutta High Court on April 2, 2026, stayed a similar annuity-based health scheme, questioning whether a state can mandate private insurer participation. The next hearing is slated for April 14, 2026, before Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam.
In related news, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on March 28, 2026 inaugurated its Phase IV-A line, linking Janakpuri West to R.K. Ashram Marg, cutting travel time by 18 minutes. This expansion indirectly boosts senior traveller mobility, easing access to airports.
For travellers, the changes mean real savings. A senior citizen buying a 14-day UK holiday package on April 5, 2026, from MakeMyTrip could pay as low as ₹3,840 for a ₹5 lakh medical cover, down from ₹5,400 in 2024, thanks to IRDAI’s cap.
Kerala’s model also factors in regional needs. The state’s ₹10 crore corpus will cover rescue evacuations for elderly pilgrims visiting Sabarimala, where 1.3 lakh senior devotees arrived in January 2026 alone.
Critics argue that selective state schemes create a two-tier system. “The Centre needs a national travel insurance rulebook,” said retired Air India pilot A.K. Khanna. “Otherwise, affordability depends on where you live.”
The TMC’s targeted welfare approach mirrors its ₹500 monthly pension hike for widows and differently-abled citizens, announced the same week. The hike, effective April 1, 2026, adds ₹150 to existing payouts.
As of April 3, 2026, 12 states have written to IRDAI seeking similar travel insurance subsidies. Tamil Nadu cited data showing 5.2 lakh senior citizens made 9.8 lakh trips in 2025, a 15% jump from 2024.
For insurers, the flurry of state-led schemes signals a new revenue pool. ICICI Lombard’s fourth-quarter results for FY26 showed a 23% rise in travel insurance premiums, reaching ₹185 crore, driven largely by senior travellers.
To qualify under West Bengal’s scheme, applicants must submit Aadhaar and proof of age, verified via DigiLocker by November 1, 2026. Delayed submissions will incur a ₹200 admin fee.
Kerala’s portal will open on May 1, 2026, with a cap of 50,000 applicants per month. Citizens can apply via the Kerala Financial Corporation’s website with a ₹100 processing fee.
The IRDAI’s July 2025 guidelines remain voluntary but set the tone for future rules. The regulator has asked all insurers to submit revised product filings by June 30, 2026.
