Top Ten Tips - plus One! on Gap Year and Backpacker Insurance

Aug. 20, 2009 - PRLog -- Provided by Mind the Gap Year

Emergency Medical Expenses

Most Gap Year Travel Insurance covers Emergency Medical Expenses, getting home (Repatriation) and ambulance costs.  The Foreign Commonwealth Office cannot help you in emergency medical situations.

Tip 1 - This is the most important cover, don’t leave home without it, it can cost £100,000’s in extreme circumstances.

Medical Conditions

What if you have a medical condition(s)

Tip 2 - Don’t be frightened in telling the Insurance Company.  Most of the time they will agree to cover this, sometimes they may ask for extra premium, but at least you know you are covered.  If you don’t tell them, any claim relating to that condition may not be paid, or in some cases any unrelated claim may not be paid.

Cancellation – by you

If you can’t go on your trip at the last minute because you are sick or injured, insurance will pay for your flight and any other cost that you may not get back from the Tour Organiser etc.

Tip 3 - Check the amount insured (sums Insured) is enough, some Gap Year trips can cost a lot more than the amount Travel Insurance policies provide.  If your trip costs more, ask the Insurer if the sums insured can be extended or look around.

Cancellation – by Airline or Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO)

If your airline goes bust or the FCO has recommended not to travel to the destination you have booked, some travel insurance polices will cover these cancellations, many won’t.

Tip 4 - Check the policy you buy does, this is very important in the current climate.

Personal Liability

What happens if you swing round and accidently knock someone into the road, they are hit by a passing car and badly injured? - you can get sued.  Travel insurance will pay for the amount they sue (if successful) plus legal costs.

Tip 5 - Get a policy that does not exclude you accidently injuring a travelling companion (it can happen) and also covers trip accommodation.

Working or Volunteering on your travels

If you are injured at work people seem to think the employer will pay. They won’t, unless it was their fault. You will have to prove this which can take years.

Tip 6 - Buy a Gap Year insurance that covers working and watch the small print as some will cover working but not if being paid and some will only cover certain types of working.

Sports and Activities

Most Gap Year and Backpacker Insurance policies have a lengthy list of sports and activities, the problem is second guessing what you are going to do.

Tips 7 – Many Insurances provide grouped activities, if that is the case pick the highest grouping that you think you might do or choose a Gap Year Policy that covers all unplanned (not booked before leaving home) sports and activities.

Kit – all your stuff

Some of the cheaper policies do not cover your personal belongings/effects, which is fine if that’s your choice, If you are not taking much with you and the value is low that’s probably a good choice.

Tip 8 – Take a look at everything you are taking with you and check that the policy you buy covers them (if you want them covered).  Be aware that many policies won’t cover iPods, camera’s, laptops etc.

When to buy

You can buy Travel Insurance any time before you leave on your travels.

Tip 9 – It is more beneficial to buy insurance just after you book your travels, so that you are covered if you have to cancel (see tip 3).

Insurance Documents

Once you have purchased your insurance you must keep the documents somewhere safe and accessible.

Tip 10 - Take two copies, leave one at home and take one with you.  You can also scan into an internet document safe or your e-mail account, so you can access it over the internet, just in case you loose the paper copy.

Family Annual Policy

So your dad says don’t worry we’ve got an annual multi-trip (AMT) travel insurance for the whole family

Tip Plus one!  - for parents. This type of policy is for short trips, and is normally for up to 31 days any one trip only.  Also to be considered a child under an AMT policy usually they must be under 18 or under 21 and in full time education.  

Also annual multi trip policies may not provide the cover necessary for gap year or backpacker activities.

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Gap Year & Backpacker Travel Insurance Company - specialising in the safety, security & preparation of a Gap Year trip, including travel advice, interpretation service and electronic document safe. Backpacker Insurance covers working, voluntary & paid