Accidents do happen, which is why you should purchase travel insurance. Things go wrong anywhere, whether you’re at home or abroad. You probably have access to medical treatment and dependable medical facilities at home.
Serious injuries are uncommon, but they do happen. Furthermore, it is usually preferable to be safe than than sorry. Insurance, on the other hand, isn’t exclusively for medical emergencies. It also includes a number of events that are far more prevalent than you might believe!
Here’s a quick rundown of what your backpacker insurance should cover:
While it may be difficult to spend time thinking about these things, you must be prepared for the worst. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use your insurance, but if you do, you’ll want to be sure you have adequate coverage.
My baggage have been stolen, I’ve had to go to the hospital while traveling abroad, and I’ve even been stabbed while traveling in South America.
None of these things were part of my strategy. But when they did, I was grateful I had insurance to assist me in getting compensated as well as navigating the uncertainty that comes with having an emergency while traveling abroad.
I understand that as a traveller, you prefer to keep your expenses minimal. After all, insurance isn’t free, making it appear like an onerous and unneeded investment.
However, it is far preferable to pay a few dollars a day than to risk losing your life savings if an emergency occurs while you are uninsured.
What Does Travel Insurance NOT Cover?
While most travel emergencies and injuries are covered by travel insurance, it’s crucial to understand what your plan doesn’t cover. After all, knowledge is power.
- Accidents that occur as a result of high adventure activities. Hang gliding, paragliding, and bungee leaping are common examples.
- If civil upheaval makes your destination risky but your government hasn’t ordered an evacuation, you’re unlikely to qualify (unless you have more advanced coverage from a company like Medjet)
- You will be disqualified from trip cancellation coverage if you change your mind about your trip, unfriend or split up with your travel companion.
- Unless otherwise stated, pre-existing medical issues do not qualify for most trip cancellation insurance.
- If you decide to cancel your trip after your visa to a country is denied, you will not be compensated.
The Best Backpacker Insurance Companies
Here are several firms that provide affordable insurance for backpackers to help you remain safe on your next trip:
Safety Wing is a new insurance firm founded in California by Norwegian digital nomads. They target to budget travelers and remote employees by providing bare-bones plans at a low cost.
They’re the greatest option for long-term travelers since you can renew your plan while you’re on the road, and their $250 deductible keeps your monthly premium low. While its coverage isn’t as extensive as that of other providers, it covers the essentials, making them an excellent alternative for budget travelers.
World Nomads’ plans are comprehensive, making them ideal for both long-term travelers and those planning a short holiday. It’s simple to read (and comprehend) their policies and determine what is and isn’t covered.
World Nomads is ideal for active backpackers planning to participate in activities such as hiking, kayaking, or even extreme sports such as bungee jumping or rock climbing. World Nomads is the greatest choice for the active backpacker, with over 100 different activities covered. They also feature some COVID protection.
Here’s a quick overview of World Nomads’ coverage to help you learn more:
- Evacuation in case of emergency (for medical emergencies and non-medical emergencies such as natural disasters)
Insure My Trip assists you in comparing insurance plans and rates so that you may select the best plan for you and your budget. Over 20 different insurance providers are available to compare, with plenty of budget-friendly solutions for travellers.
They’re also the go-to business for older travellers, as many travel insurance companies won’t cover anyone over the age of 65. Insure My Trip compares insurance quotes from providers that cover senior travelers, making it the best alternative for retirees and other senior adventurers.
- If you believe your claim was refused unfairly, “Anytime Advocates” will ask the insurer to reconsider it.
Insure My Trip does not offer its own plans because it is a policy aggregator. They do, however, pull plans from 23 different firms and guarantee that you won’t find the identical insurance at a lower price anywhere else!
After more than a decade of travelling throughout the world, I never leave home without travel insurance. I’ve seen firsthand how beneficial it can be. It’s saved me hundreds of dollars and countless headaches over the years.
Furthermore, purchasing travel insurance gives you piece of mind. It provides a safety net for you and your family in the event that something goes wrong. Travel insurance will be there for you when you need it, whether you’re island hopping in Thailand or going off the main route in Eastern Europe.
Being a backpacker is all about experiencing incredible, life-changing travel experiences on a budget. And obtaining travel insurance (Remember Safety Wing is our top option) is the best way to protect yourself against pricey (and unneeded) charges.
How to Travel the World on $50 a Day
My New York Times best-selling paperback book to world travel will show you how to master the art of travel so you can venture off the main route, save money, and have a more memorable trip. It’s your A to Z planning guide, dubbed the “bible for budget travelers” by the BBC.
What is the difference between backpacker insurance and multi trip?
With so many different policies to choose from, it might be difficult to pick the best one for your trip. Backpacker insurance (also known as long stay insurance) is unique in that it covers people who are traveling to multiple destinations for a period of time ranging from one to 24 months (depending on the provider). Unlike ‘Annual’ or Multi Trip policies, which have a maximum trip duration of 31 days and require each trip to begin and end in the UK, this policy allows you to be flexible. Backpacker insurance covers cancellation, curtailment, emergency medical care, repatriation, personal belongings, and activities. So, if you wish to go throughout the world, this is the policy for you.
Is World Nomads travel insurance legit?
The costs in the left column correspond to the Standard Plan, while the prices in the right column correspond to the Explorer Plan, which has higher coverage limits.
MEDICAL COVERAGE
World Nomads offers coverage of up to $100,000 USD, while its more expensive insurance will cover you for more. If you’re doing extremely insane things that could result in significant injury, having a lot of coverage limitations is vital. Alternatively, if you become extremely ill. (However, I find that $100,000 in coverage is more than plenty for my needs.)
Its insurance also cover medical expenses as well as those associated to medical evacuation or repatriation if you’re wounded in an accident. For example, if you break your leg while hiking in the woods, your coverage should cover your transportation to the hospital, which World Nomads does. You may even be deported back to your native country if the situation merits it (not every injury or emergency will warrant this, however).
EMERGENCY DENTAL TREATMENT
World Nomads also covers emergency dental treatment in the event of an accident while on the road.
This can include things like an unanticipated infection, a fractured tooth, or an accident that causes you to injure your mouth or jaw. It excludes any optional dental work, such as exams and cleanings (or things that can wait until you get back home).
TRIP CANCELLATION, INTERRUPTION, OR DELAY
Trip interruption insurance protects you if you have to cancel your holiday due to illness or injury, or if you need to return home owing to a death in the family (it has to be your immediate family, however).
If you’re delayed on a trip, such as if a flight is canceled due to poor weather, travel delay coverage will pay your expenses. Additional expenses are covered on a one-time basis if you are delayed for six hours or more on route to or from your trip owing to a designated hazard (as explained in the policy).
ONE CALL: 24-HOUR ASSISTANCE SERVICES
The program will assist you in finding nearby doctors, dentists, and medical facilities. They can also arrange and pay for appropriate transportation to a suitable hospital, treatment center, or home, including an escort if necessary. When traveling, store this number in your phone so it’s easy to find if you need it.
WHAT’S NOT COVERED
- Accidents resulting from extreme adventure sports such as hang gliding, paragliding, or bungee jumping (unless you pay extra).
- If the problem occurred as a result of your recklessness (how “reckless” is defined is left to the corporation), you will not be paid.
- Pre-existing conditions or routine examinations If you have diabetes and need additional insulin, for example, you will not be covered. You’re also not covered if you want to see a doctor for a general checkup.
- You’re definitely out of luck as well if civil upheaval makes your destination insecure but your government hasn’t ordered an evacuation.
World Nomads and COVID-19
When it comes to COVID, World Nomads does pay some medical costs. Here’s what they have to say about it:
If you contract COVID-19 while traveling, these benefits may include emergency medical, emergency medical evacuation, trip delay, and trip interruption coverage. Trip cancellation coverage may also be available for non-refundable pre-paid travel expenses such as flights, hotels, and excursions…
Make sure you read the fine print in your plan because there are a lot of exceptions and restrictions, and you’ll want complete transparency from your provider.
World Nomads, like every other insurance business, experienced troubles with COVID-19. A lot of travelers learned the hard way that pandemics were not covered by any insurance company. This sparked a response online, as well as a slew of unfavorable reviews.
The truth is that no one saw it coming, and corporations were bombarded with refund requests from millions of customers. The entire industry was thrown into disarray. Everyone was affected in some way.
They made some blunders, which is unsurprising. Fortunately, they’re working on a number of technical and systemic changes to ensure that individuals get paid faster, that they can submit claims online more easily (even if they only register a guest account), and that customer assistance is handled more quickly. I had a long discussion with them about it, and they are now aware of their issues.
Consumers use review sites to vent their frustrations, not to express gratitude. It’s nearly always a story about how a firm cheated them. While this is sometimes true (no company is perfect 100 percent of the time and it’s not just small businesses; I’ve had friends struggle to receive a refund from Expedia, for example), most of the time it’s because someone didn’t read the fine print.
However, as you can see from the examples above, there are a lot of satisfied consumers. I continue to have faith in the company and believe that, after raising service issues with them as a result of COVID, they will emerge stronger than before.
PROS AND CONS OF WORLD NOMADS
- Limited coverage for gear and gadgets (the Explorer plan covers up to $3,000 in total and $1,500 per item, whereas the Standard plan only covers $1,000 in total and $500 per item).
Because World Nomads is a global business, they utilize various underwriters in each country, the cost of their policies varies according on your age, destinations, and where you’re from. The longer a policy is with World Nomads, the less it costs per month.
You can only acquire policies for up to 180 days due to COVID-19. A one-month policy costs around $120 USD on average. While this is more expensive than some of the other options, it includes coverage (and service) that others do not.
My Experience Using World Nomads
You can extend your insurance policy online in addition to purchasing it (even if you’re already traveling). Furthermore, as someone who is often on the go and hopping from nation to country, the option to just photograph and upload all of my paperwork and receipts is quite convenient. Furthermore, the entire claims process can be completed online.
I’ve had to enlist the help of World Nomads on two occasions. The first time was when my stuff was lost by South African Airlines on the way back from Africa. I called World Nomads to see what I could do now that I knew I had coverage. They said I’d have to wait and see if the airline would compensate me first. They would compensate me if the airline did not reimburse me within 90 days. (Travel insurance is designed to make you whole, not to ensure a profit.)
The procedure was straightforward. I listed what I had in my bag and its estimated value on an internet form. I turned in the paperwork proving that I had requested a refund from the airline. Then I sat and waited.
Fortunately, the airline reimbursed me, so I didn’t need World Nomads, but I learnt from this experience that if you have all of your documentation and proof, World Nomads makes filing a claim a breeze.
Another time, in Argentina, I was experiencing anxiety and was concerned that it was a sign of something more serious. Someone seemed to be stamping on my chest. I went to the site, received the phone number for the call center, and dialed the number. They gathered my information and symptoms and provided me with a list of emergency doctors. They were friendly, quick, and got me an appointment with a doctor right immediately. I was really pleased with the service and am certain that if something does go wrong, they would respond fast.
While I’ve never had to submit a claim for compensation, a lot of readers have. Here’s what they had to say about the process:
BE SURE TO READ YOUR POLICY
Every insurance company has a bad reputation on the internet. This happens when a traveler fails to read the policy’s wording and assumes something is covered when it isn’t. It is critical that you read all of the requirements for filing a claim.
In fact, you should read your entire policy. Seriously. It’s awful, but it’s the only way to find out what’s covered and what isn’t! Call World Nomads if you have any questions. They are quite clear in their explanations of their policies. Their webpage lists local phone numbers.
Before I leave on any trip, I photograph my luggage and its contents so that I have a time-stamped snapshot of me and my belongings. If anything is stolen, you must make a police report since firms will require it as evidence of ownership. Keep all of your paperwork and receipts if you become ill. It will be easier to get compensated if you have more information and documents.
Making a claim is a time-consuming, complicated, and slow process. This isn’t a complete guide to filing a claim, but it will help you avoid the most typical problems if you keep the above ideas in mind.
Also, if your claim is denied, make sure to follow up. Request additional information and submit your documents again. Insurance firms operate in a profit-driven environment. In your request for review, be forceful (but respectful). Make sure you cross all of your t’s and dot all of your i’s. A disallowed claim is usually due to a technical issue, so double-check and triple-check your documentation before submitting them.
World Nomads is one of the best insurance businesses available, particularly for long-term or backpacking travel insurance. It’s a firm run by and for travelers, with hundreds of other travel companies and writers recommending it, and it’s significantly less expensive than other insurance providers.
Travel insurance is simply a few dollars a day (your policy price will vary depending on the length of your trip and where you are from), and it’s a no-brainer at that price. While there are many cheaper travel insurance providers out there, the devil is always in the details, and they usually have limited coverage limits, don’t allow you to renew on the go, or have poor reimbursement rates. When it comes to insurance, you get what you pay for. To be covered, pay a few additional cents every day.
Many people don’t acquire travel insurance because they believe “nothing bad will happen to me.” “I’ll be alright!” says the narrator.
There is no such thing as Superman. Until you’re not, you’re healthy. Trip delays and troubles, accidents, health care, theft, and other issues are all covered by insurance. I’ve been driving for more than fifteen years and can assure you that accidents will occur. It’s beneficial to have a corporation that is always on your side. I’ve never regretted choosing World Nomads as my insurance provider.
What travel insurance does not cover?
Baggage delay, damage, and loss plans do not cover all of your belongings. Glasses, hearing aids, dental bridges, tickets, passports, keys, cash, and cell phones are all common travel insurance exclusions. These things are sometimes covered, but only up to a particular cost limit, so if you have several expensive electronic items (such as a laptop, tablet, and mobile phone), you may not have enough coverage to cover the loss of all of them.
Is Allianz a good travel insurance?
Allianz Travel Insurance is a subsidiary of Allianz, a global conglomerate with over 140,000 workers spread across five continents. Allianz insures approximately 80 million people throughout the world. The company has been in operation for almost a century. In reality, the Wright Brothers’ maiden flight was insured by Allianz in 1903. Allianz is now accredited by the Better Business Bureau, earning an A+ rating. It has an A+ financial rating from A.M. Best.
Allianz has a variety of plans to choose from, including those for regular travelers. If you travel for business, for example, a yearly plan that covers both medical and lost baggage charges for all of your trips during the year can be worthwhile.
Allianz was honored in 2013 for its TravelSmart smartphone app, which connects travelers to certified hospitals in more than 120 countries. Travelers can also use the app to check flight updates, seek international emergency assistance, and access their policy while on the road.
How much should you pay for travel insurance?
Because travel insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all, the cost and terms of a plan will differ. However, knowing pricing principles might help you plan your travel insurance purchase.
In general, a plan should cost between 4% and 10% of your entire pre-paid, non-refundable travel cost. For example, if you paid $5,000 for a vacation, the travel insurance coverage accessible to you will likely cost between $250 and $500, depending on the conditions.
When should you start your travel insurance?
Travel insurance should be purchased as soon as your vacation is confirmed. This is because it’s possible that you’ll need to cancel your trip after you’ve booked it but before you’ve departed. For instance, you could be injured or ill and unable to travel.
Is multi-trip travel insurance cheaper than single trip?
In recent years, an increasing number of consumers have chosen annual travel insurance. Single trip plans accounted for 62 percent of all policies sold in 2006. By 2016, the figure had decreased to just 21%.
Many individuals believe that multi-trip insurance is less expensive if you travel more than once a year. But it isn’t quite that straightforward. In some cases, single-trip insurance may be less expensive.
For example, if you’re going on a ski vacation in Canada and a relaxing city break in Paris, you’ll need completely different levels of insurance for the two excursions. A skiing vacation would necessitate global insurance with winter sports coverage. If you bought an annual coverage, it would be quite expensive surely not worth it merely to cover your short trip to France. Getting two single-trip plans might be the better option.
The good news is that you won’t have to guess; you can compare travel insurance rates for your vacations, both annual and single trip, and see how they stack up.
Does World Nomads have a deductible?
- While traveling as a “ticketed passenger on a licensed common carrier,” you can get $10,000 in accidental death insurance.
- Through Travel Guard Canada, World Nomads provides global emergency assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Even if you are not in your home country, you can purchase Worlds Nomads insurance once you have begun your journey. This could come in handy if you’re going on an emergency trip and didn’t have time to set up travel insurance before departing.
Is GeoBlue legit?
Yes. GeoBlue, a Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee, is a well-known travel medical insurance provider that has been providing foreign health insurance since 1997. A.M. Best, an insurance rating company, gave the company a good financial grade, while the Better Business Bureau gave it an A+ rating.