Going on a gap year adventure after sitting your final exams is the epitome of freedom – but you must make sure you get your travel insurance in order before you go. This is what you need to know…
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Travel Insurance is the most important purchase you will make.
Paying for medical help overseas can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds – money that you (or your parents) will have to find if you don’t have travel insurance – or if you have inadequate travel insurance. Remember, you may be refused medical treatment if you can’t prove how you will cover those costs!
Don’t rely on EHIC cards.
The European Health insurance Card has limited use. The validity of the card varies from country to country, and only entitles the holder to access the same level of care as a resident of that country. Unlike the UK, most EU countries require insurance to cover the excess costs of medical treatment – which you will be liable to pay too even if you have an EHIC. Travel insurance is designed to help recover those costs.
Losing your passport is more expensive (and time consuming) than you might think.
Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) cost £100, they can take several days to obtain, and you will need to find the money to get to and from your nearest British consulate or embassy. On top of this you may need to arrange for a police report and get passport photos done. Don’t forget that you may also have to pay to replace any visas too AND you will need to get your passport replaced – which can cost in the region of £200 from overseas! As if that wasn’t enough to ruin a perfectly good adventure expenses can spiral if you need to rearrange holiday plans. This is why the gov.uk website recommends that travellers take out comprehensive travel insurance. Travel insurance is there to help recoup the costs involved in replacing lost or stolen belongings, including passports
Look for a policy that allows you to extend cover while you are already travelling.
You are about to go on the biggest adventure of your life, and who knows where it might take you! The last thing you’d want is to have to come home because your travel insurance says you have to. Many travel insurance policies require that you get back home within a year, or return to the UK to extend it. We offer longstay backpacker insurance that can be extended even while you are still travelling so you can go where your wanderlust takes you!
These are the sorts of things that travel insurance can help with:
- Cancelled flights.
- Lost or stolen luggage.
- Medical help.
- Emergency medical care and repatriation.
- Lost or stolen passport.
- Lost or stolen bank cards and holiday money.
- If your operator goes bankrupt.
- If you need to cancel your trip due to illness.
- If your trip is disrupted due to natural disasters or terrorism.
Travel Insurance can also cover you if you are the one to cause damage or injury!
If you are involved in an incident that causes injury to another person, or damage to property you run the risk of being sued. Comprehensive travel insurance can minimise the cost to you, including the cost of legal proceedings.
To arrange Gap Year Travel Insurance, for yourself or your child, get in touch with us on 01892 833338.