Gap Year Insurance Tips

Emergency Medical Expenses covers Emergency treatment and gets you home if necessary.  Make sure you have this cover, if nothing else.

If you have a medical condition(s), do tell the Insurance Company. They may decline any claim if you don’t. Check the amount insured for cancellation is enough. Some Gap Year trips can cost a lot more than the cover provides.

Check you have cover for an airline going bust and for what can happen if the Foreign & Commonwealth Office warns travellers to not go to a country.

Get a policy that provides Personal Liability cover, just in case you accidentally harm someone or something and make sure it does not exclude harming a travelling companion under the Personal Liability section. In addition, make sure that covers trip accommodation.

Get Gap Year insurance that covers working/volunteering and watch the small print as some will cover working but not if being paid, and some cover work but exclude many types of job.

Pick the highest grouping of the sports or activity you think you might do or choose a Gap Year Policy that covers all unplanned sports and activities.

Check how much kit you’ve got, and then check the cover provided under personal effects. Many items can be excluded, especially electrical items e.g. laptops, cameras etc.

Buy Gap Year and Backpacker Insurance when you book your flight/trip so you are immediately covered if you have to cancel due to illness.

Take two copies of your insurance documents. Leave one at home, take one with you and maybe scan into an internet document safe.

For parents. A family annual multi-trip policy is for short trips, usually holidays and under 31 days at any one time. Children have to be under 18 and many have travel restrictions.