Why do you need Gap Year Travel Insurance?
The number one reason for travel insurance is to pay for emergency medical expenses if you are sick or injured on your Gap Year abroad, there have been many incidents where people with no insurance have paid thousands of pounds in medical costs and to get them home.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office say they get more referrals for help from Gap Year travellers than any other type due to not being insured and the help overseas Embassies can give is limited. This help consists of making contact with home and ‘holding your hand’. No monetary help can be offered.
There are many other reasons to buy insurance such as loss of luggage and passport, cancellation of your trip, bereavement travel costs and so on.
Do’s
- Buy a good quality Gap Year Travel Insurance covering Emergency Medical expenses, treatment and one that will get you home if required
- Check it covers also any sports/activities that you may do
- Check if you are working (even if being paid) is covered (if applicable)
- Advise Insurers of pre existing medical conditions
- Check that the flight is covered if the airline goes bust
- Find out if the insurance company covers cancellation - if a Travel Warning is issued for a country you are about to visit
- Choose a policy that covers legal expenses for wrongful arrest
- Make copies of all important documents and numbers and leave a set at home or scan these into a computer and email them to yourself
Dont’s
- Go uninsured (25% don’t insure - shocking)
- Rely on your parent’s annual family travel insurance, it may not cover you
- Buy a normal tourist policy - choose one designed for the Gap Year traveller
- Skimp on cover - get this wrong and you put your (or your parents) assets at risk, it’s cheaper to buy insurance than pay for the consequences later
We suggest you check out the following:-
Mindthegapyear.com
Bunac
Walkabout Insurance
Skisure Insurance