Gap Year Insurance
So how do you choose the best policy for you? Once you have decided where to travel to, how long you are going for, and what you will be doing then consider which travel insurance policy would work for you.
Different levels of cover have different prices, but a UK backpacker can get pretty comprehensive cover for Australia and New Zealand for 12 months for a couple of hundred pounds.
Independent travellers have different insurance requirements to your average tourist or holidaymaker. You may be working abroad, travelling across various continents for longer periods of time and trying out some bungee jumping or white water rafting, so you need to make sure that the policy you choose covers you for these activities.
Gap Year Insurance
ACE Insurance
Travel insurance designed specifically for gap years.
Find out more Visit their website
Navigator Travel Insurance
Great value travel insurance specifically for gap year backpackers and independent travellers.
Find out more Visit their website
Insurance checklist
We asked travel insurance experts Navigator Travel, who are very experienced in gap year travel insurance policies, some frequently asked questions about backpacker travel insurance:
- How much should I expect to pay for travel insurance on my year out? Our backpacker policies start at £205 for a 12 month duration, but come in durations from 2-15 months, approximately pro-rata.
- What will a policy cover me for? Even the basic policy covers £5 million Medical Expenses, which is more than enough. Baggage and Cancellation cover on the basic policy are both £1000.
- Can't I just use my parents' family travel insurance policy? Your parents' family policy will cover short trips, but not extended durations. On some family policies, you need to travel together and are not covered if you travel separately.
- Why does it cost more to get insured to travel to the USA and Canada? The very high costs of medical treatment in the USA and Canada and the Caribbean means that you will be charged a higher rate if you are travelling to those regions. However on our long stay policies, you are not charged the higher rate unless USA, Canada or the Caribbean are your principal destinations, in other words, you can have stopovers there, but pay the lower rate.
- How easy is it to make a claim? You need to obtain a police report within 24 hours of the theft, then obtain a claim form, complete it and submit it to the claims office with any requested documentation.
- What about if I have to go to hospital? If the costs look like being high, you (or the hospital) would call the 24 hour emergency number. You can then be treated, and the bills will go straight to the claims office. You are expected to settle small bills locally and claim the amounts back later.
So as you can see, travel insurance isn't massively expensive, it covers you for all kinds of eventualities and destinations, and doesn't have to be complicated. Use the companies on this page to find the best travel insurance policy for your trip. They will be used to dealing with the requirements of backpackers and working holiday visa holders. Don't forget to sort your visas out for your trip too.
