Backpacker Travel Insurance

Why choose Backpacker Travel Insurance

If you’re backpacking round the world, on a gap year, or just taking an extended trip to explore new surroundings, it’s worth looking at all your travel insurance options. Here’s why it’s worth looking at a specialist backpacker insurance policy...

Insurers typically offer a choice between single-trip and annual multi-trip policies. Annual multi-trip policies are usually not an option for backpacker travel as there’s a maximum number of days you can spend outside the UK per trip. Single Trip policies can cover long trip durations, but the longer the policy, the less cost effective they might be - especially if you’re on a strict travel budget.

That’s where backpacker travel insurance comes in. Often covering longer trips (insurefor.com’s Backpacker insurance can cover up to 18 months abroad) these policies can offer better value by concentrating your cover where you need it most. This is usually done by offering high levels of cover for medical costs, lost bags and cancellation and reducing cover for things that may not be as important to you when you’re backpacking.

For example, backpacker insurance will typically offer less cover for lost or stolen cash - as you’re less likely to be travelling with lots of loose currency and more likely to choose safer ways to access your money, such as by credit or currency card.

But your travel insurance shouldn’t skimp on cover. Take a look at some of insurefor.com’s policy benefits below.

What does insurefor.com Backpacker Travel Insurance cover?

When you’re on a round the world ticket, you’ll want to know that you’ve got all the bases covered -from losing your bags to emergency dental treatment. Our Backpacker travel insurance policy covers you for more than just the basics, with high levels of cover you can rely on. Here are a few of the benefits:

Gap year Travel Insurance and beyond…

Backpacker travel insurance isn’t just for under 21’s. You can take out an insurefore.com Backpacker policy at any age between 18 and 49. So they’re a great option whether you’re on a gap year, taking a sabbatical from your career or working abroad.

Roam, if you want to

You’ve probably put a lot of thought into planning each leg of your trip. With travel insurance, you’ll need to choose the right geographic region for your itinerary. Take a look at the options:

• Worldwide, including USA, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico - Choose this option and there’s no itinerary you need to stick to - you’re free to explore! Covering the traditional round-the-world trip, as well as single destinations (why not spend the whole year on a beach in Thailand?) Spend as much or as little time exploring each country as you like.
• Worldwide, excluding USA, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico - This costs a bit less. Insurers know that medical claims from USA, Canada and Mexico can be amongst the highest in the world. So, if you’re not intending to travel to these countries, we can pass that saving on to you.
• Australia and New Zealand - A great option if you’re planning a trip on a working visa, planning some excursions and taking time to experience these countries as a local. Cover in Europe is included for stopovers or a multi-destination trip.
• Europe - the classic European tour, by Interrail, campervan, plane or ferry - It doesn’t matter how you get around, this cover gives you flexibility with cover including Russia as well as a short hop over the Med to Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco too, if you have time!

Working abroad on Gap Year

If you’re planning to work during your gap year, it’s worth making sure your travel insurance covers you while you’re in the workplace. With an insurefor.com Backpacker policy, you’ll be covered while you’re at work, provided you’re not taking part in manual labour involving tools or machinery, or working at a height over 2 metres. So you’ll be covered if you’re planning to pick up some bar work or utilising your nursing skills abroad.

You’d be covered under all sections of your policy except for personal liability - which protects you if you cause an injury to someone else. That’s because this is usually covered by your employer’s insurance. It’s worth checking with them to make sure they have the right cover in place.

Backpacker insurance for sports and activities

Thrills and spills are something that many world travellers look forward. If you’re planning a bungee jump or hoping to get your PADI certificate for scuba diving while you’re away, remember to check what’s covered by your travel insurance.

insurefor.com Backpacker policies automatically include cover for over 50 sports and activities, including trekking up to 4,000 metres altitude, scuba diving up to 18 meters, white water rafting up to grade 3*, safari, paddle boarding*, surfing* bungee jumping**

If you’re planning a ski trip while you’re away, add optional winter sports cover to your policy before you go. This will cover you for skiing and snowboarding (including off-piste within ski patrol guidelines) and a host of other snowy pursuits - such as snowmobiling* sledging, snow shoe walking and cross country ski.

* No personal liability cover
** No personal accident cover

For a full rundown of what’s covered, take a look at the policy booklet here or view our FAQs.

Backpacking with medical conditions

When you get a quote for travel insurance, you’ll be asked whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions. With an insurefor.com policy, this gives you access to access medical screening - a series of tailored questions about your condition which determines whether we can cover you for it while you’re away.

Including cover for a medical condition wherever possible means you’ll be covered for anything related to it while you’re away. So there’s no worry about medical bills. Whether it’s asthma, an allergy or if you take prescribed medication, it’s worth letting us know.

No matter where you are in the world, you can also access emergency medical assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with our cover. Our multi-lingual medical assistance team can make things easier for you in an emergency by liaising with the medical staff who are treating you. They can also make payments if your claim is covered, and help arrange repatriation back to the UK if needed - including flights accompanied by a medic.