Backpackers Travel Insurance Cover for Gap Year Takers
Backpackers who travel on a budget often run the risk of being involved in accidents or having problems during their holiday or trip. So it’s important that you get the right backpackers travel insurance rather than relying on mum and dad to bail you out when things go wrong.
Most travel insurance policies are broadly speaking pretty much the same, they all include cover for things like cancellation, travel delays, lost luggage and medical expenses, but it’s important to check the levels of cover included in any policy when you compare travel insurance quotes which you are likely to get when researching all the elements of your gap year trip.
Sports Travel Insurance and Cover for Hazardous Activities
Think about the activities you’ll be doing in advance? Maybe you are going to try your hand at scuba diving of give kitesurfing a whirl. If you are going to hire a motorbike then make sure the travel insurance includes the right cover. The important thing is to remember that insurance cover always varies between different companies so don’t just go on price when buying your policy and, if you are the adventurous type, give some thought to the merits of a sports travel insurance policy to include all those activities.
Single Article Limits and Insurance for Valuables
Long gone are the days when backpackers left home with three pairs of pants, a clean few t-shirts and a good book. These days, we are being asked to insure all manner of things and especially digital cameras, i-pods and even laptops. So yet again, our advice is to always check the limits of the travel insurance before you pack your personal belongings into dad’s old rucksack and head off overseas on what should, for most gappies and backpackers, be the adventure of a lifetime.
Most travel insurance policies have a “single article limit” and this is the limit on the value of any individual item. For example, a camera and its lens would normally be considered one item and the maximum you could claim might be limited to £300 in total, which is not much good if you are taking an expensive SLR with you.
Telling Mum and Dad about Your Insurance
And one final note, remember to tell somebody who you are insured with and maybe leave a copy of the policy with them at home. Carry the details with you whilst you are away and if you do have any problems you’ll need to phone the emergency assistance service included on your policy. They are trained to react to all manner of emergencies, and certainly here at World First, there is nothing much that will surprise us and because we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week you can call us whenever you like, even at 4am on Christmas day.
Pre-Existing Conditions and Medical Travel Insurance
Especially important when buying travel insurance, and for many backpackers it will be the first time they have ever bought cover for a holiday, is to declare all pre-existing medical conditions. Medical travel insurance is a specialist area, but even if you have asthma it should be declared. If in doubt – declare it. Anything that you have prescribed medication for from the Doctor needs to be advised to your insurancer company.
Our Gap year Survival Guide on the blog and Facebook
We’d like to hear any stories that you have about your gap year trip. Check out our Gap Year Survival Guide and the facebook page where we have posted a number of videos from the FCO Know Before You Go Campaign and some stories from other backpackers.
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