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Top Ten Tips - plus One on Gap Year and Backpacker Insurance
20/08/2009
Emergency MedicalExpenses
Most GapYear Travel Insurance covers Emergency Medical Expenses, getting home(Repatriation) and ambulance costs. TheForeign Commonwealth Office cannot help you in emergency medical situations.
Tip 1 - This is the most important cover, don’t leave home without it, it cancost £100,000’s in extreme circumstances.
Medical Conditions
What if youhave a medical condition(s)
Tip 2 - Don’tbe frightened in telling the Insurance Company. Most of the time they will agree to cover this, sometimes theymay ask for extra premium, but at least you know you are covered. If you don’t tell them, any claim relatingto that condition may not be paid, or in some cases any unrelated claim may notbe paid.
Cancellation – by you
If youcan’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 backfrom the Tour Organiser etc.
Tip 3 - Check the amount insured (sums Insured) is enough, some Gap Year tripscan cost a lot more than the amount Travel Insurance policies provide. If your trip costs more, ask the Insurer ifthe sums insured can be extended or look around.
Cancellation – byAirline or Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO)
If yourairline goes bust or the FCO has recommended not to travel to the destinationyou have booked, some travel insurance polices will cover these cancellations,many won’t.
Tip 4 - Check the policy you buy does, this is veryimportant in the current climate.
Personal Liability
Whathappens if you swing round and accidently knock someone into the road, they arehit by a passing car and badly injured? - you can get sued. Travel insurance will pay for the amountthey sue (if successful) plus legal costs.
Tip 5 - Geta policy that does not exclude you accidently injuring a travelling companion(it can happen) and also covers tripaccommodation.
Working orVolunteering on your travels
If you areinjured at work people seem to think the employer will pay. They won’t, unlessit 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 printas some will cover working but not if being paid and some will only covercertain types of working.
Sports and Activities
Most GapYear and Backpacker Insurance policies have a lengthy list of sports andactivities, the problem is second guessing what you are going to do.
Tips 7 – Many Insurances provide groupedactivities, if that is the case pick the highest grouping that you think youmight do or choose a Gap Year Policy that covers all unplanned (not bookedbefore leaving home) sports andactivities.
Kit – all your stuff
Some of thecheaper policies do not cover your personal belongings/effects, which is fineif that’s your choice, If you are not taking much with you and the value is lowthat’s probably a good choice.
Tip 8 – Take a look at everything you are taking with you and check that thepolicy you buy covers them (if you want them covered). Be aware that many policies won’t coveriPods, cameras, laptops etc.
When to buy
You can buyTravel Insurance any time before you leave on your travels.
Tip 9 – It is more beneficial to buy insurance justafter you book your travels, so that you are covered if you have to cancel (seetip 3).
Insurance Documents
Once youhave purchased your insurance you must keep the documents somewhere safe andaccessible.
Tip 10 - Take twocopies, leave one at home and take one with you. You can also scan into an internet document safe or your e-mailaccount, so you can access it over the internet, just in case you loose thepaper copy.
Family Annual Policy
So your dadsays don’t worry we’ve got an annual multi-trip (AMT) travel insurance for thewhole family
Tip Plus one! - for parents. This typeof policy is for short trips, and is normally for up to 31 days any one triponly. Also to be considered a childunder an AMT policy usually they must be under 18 or under 21 and in full timeeducation.
Also annual multi trip policies may not provide the covernecessary for gap year or backpacker activities.
