Maybe you've put a pause on your career to see the world. Or maybe you've just completed your studies and you're ready for a break. Whatever the reason for going on a gap year adventure abroad, we're sure the last thing you want on your mind is insurance.
But, finding the right level of cover for your backpacking trip could take just 2 minutes of your time. And if you're ready, you can start comparing quotes now. If you want to learn more before you do that, read on. We've covered everything you need to know about gap year travel insurance.
Gap year travel insurance is worth considering when you book your trip, because it could help you financially if things go wrong.
Picture this: you're trekking through a rainforest and suddenly you get a nasty bug bite. With travel insurance, you could be covered for medical treatment and evacuation if needed.
Alternatively, imagine you're walking through a bustling street market and suddenly your bag gets stolen. Or, you make it to the airport, only to discover that your flight has been cancelled due to extreme weather.
There's plenty of things that can go wrong while abroad. But, with travel insurance for your gap year, your policy could help cover the costs if the unexpected happens. Phew!
It's key to remember that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) aren't replacements for travel insurance.
Both provide state healthcare at the price citizens pay in certain European countries. But, without insurance, you could be left with extra costs to pay. For example, if you need to come home for medical treatment, it could cost thousands of pounds without the appropriate policy in place. Travel insurance could help cover some of these costs.
Exactly what's covered by gap year insurance will vary between insurers and policies. It'll also depend on your personal circumstances. But, gap year policies typically offer slightly different cover to standard travel insurance. Here's what could be covered or excluded:
You could get gap year travel insurance from £113.93*. But the price depends on the type of trip you're planning to go on, as well as your personal circumstances.
Being away from home for an extended period of time can raise the risk of needing to make a claim. The cost of medical treatment can also be more expensive in different countries.
To help get you the best gap year travel insurance quote, there's a few things your insurer could take into account. These could affect the price of your policy, and include things like:
*The cheapest policy for a European backpacker trip based on 1 adult aged 30, with no previous medical conditions travelling for 1 year. Based on Confused.com data, correct as of June 2024.
"Amid the excitement of going on a gap year adventure, it's easy to forget about the importance of travel insurance.
But with the appropriate policy in place, you could be covered financially if things go wrong. For example, if you need emergency medical treatment, or if your travel tour was cancelled unexpectedly."
1Correct as of October 2024
Your policy may offer cover for a variety of sports and adventure activities. This is because gap year insurance often includes cover for certain high-risk activities that standard travel insurance doesn't.
But, to ensure that you'll get the right cover for your year abroad, it's a good idea to give the policy a good read before choosing it.
That way, you'll know whether you may need to take out optional add-ons, like activity cover.
Winter sports aren't usually covered by standard travel insurance. But this doesn't mean that you need to pass-up an opportunity to hit the slopes!
If you want to ski or snowboard during your gap year abroad, you might need to get an optional add-on, like ski insurance.
This depends on your provider, so read the terms and conditions to see which you may need.
We offer customer support from our team in Cardiff. If you need any help during the quote process, we'll be there for you. Just visit our contact page to get in touch.
All the travel insurance companies that we work with are regulated by the FCA, too. This means that we follow strict guidelines to make sure that you get the best policy for your personal needs, and you're treated with fairness.
We have a strong security and privacy policy set up, and we promise to look after your personal details. In other words? We've got your back.
We're not owned by any insurance companies, so the prices you see are the most affordable based on the information you've provided.
Means you can get one policy that covers everyone, rather than buying individual policies.
Includes cover for any cancellations, green fees you've paid upfront and specialist cover for your clubs. <style> </style>
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