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Volunteer travel insurance

Volunteer travel insurance can provide the specialist cover you need when volunteering abroad. If you're ready, you can start comparing quotes now. Or, just keep reading to learn more about volunteer travel insurance.

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Do I need travel insurance for volunteering?

This depends on who you’re volunteering with.

Some organisations might ask you to buy it before you fly out. Others might not.

You might also need it to get a visa for certain countries, so check if this is the case for your destination before applying for one.

Even if you don’t need it, travel insurance can come in handy while you’re volunteering. It can take some of the stress out of already stressful situations. For example, if you fall ill abroad, lose your baggage on your flight or get stranded at the airport if your flights are cancelled.

What does volunteering travel insurance cover?

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It usually covers:

Volunteering with animals

A volunteer travel insurance policy typically covers work with most animals. But if you’re going to be volunteering with wild animals, you might need to get a specialist policy.

Volunteer work including manual labour

This is usually covered, but 'high-risk' work might not be. If this is the case, you may need to take out additional cover.

Cancellations, delays, and curtailment

This applies if airlines or hotels cancel your flights or accommodation. It also covers you if you need to cancel your trip or come home early for an unexpected reason.

Medical and repatriation costs

If you need medical treatment while traveling, or need to be flown back to the UK for treatment, you're typically covered.

Baggage cover

If they're lost, stolen or damaged during your trip. 

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It usually excludes:

Incidents that occur under the influence

You won’t be able to claim for illness, injury, or death while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Illegal or malicious acts

If you partake in illegal or malicious behaviour, such as breaking the law, you won’t be able to make a claim.

Travelling against FCDO advice

You're not covered if the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to a certain region or area and you go anyway.

Changing your mind

If you don’t go on your volunteering trip because you’ve decided you no longer want to go.

Known events

If something like a natural disaster this occurs before you buy your policy and you still travel, you won't be covered.

What our travel insurance expert says

“Volunteering can be rewarding. But things like flight cancellations or medical emergencies can happen unexpectedly. That’s why having travel insurance is important. It helps cover you when things go wrong, so you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind.

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert
Travel insurance expert Confused.com logo

What type of travel insurance should I get if I’m volunteering?

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Single trip travel insurance

These policies cover you for a single trip to a single location. They’re designed for shorter term holidays, so if you’re volunteering overseas for a few weeks, and then returning back home, a single trip policy might be all you need.

Could be good for: Short volunteering trips.

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Annual travel insurance

These policies cover you for multiple trips over a 12 month period. Some will cover you for an unlimited number of trips in that time. Others might only cover you for a set number. Each trip can normally last up to 31 days, though this can differ between providers too.

Could be good for: Multiple volunteer trips

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Backpacker travel insurance

Also known as gap year travel insurance, these policies cover you for longer trips of up to 18 months. They usually cover you for travel to regions rather than countries. This means you may be covered to travel around all of Asia on a single policy, for example. 

Could be good for: Longer volunteering trips. 

Can I extend my insurance if I decide to stay longer?

In most cases, yes!

If you’re loving your time abroad, but your policy is coming to an end, just get in touch with your insurance provider and ask to extend your cover.

They’ll be happy to help. 

Top tip: You don’t have to stay with the same provider. If your volunteering travel insurance is coming to an end, why not compare quotes and take out a new policy instead? You might just find a better deal!

What add-ons can I get with my volunteer travel insurance?

Travel insurance add-ons let you customise your cover to suit your needs. Here’s a few that might come in handy:

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Adventure travel insurance

Risky activities like rock climbing, or even long-distance cycling, might not be covered by your travel insurance. If you’ll be getting the adrenaline pumping between your volunteering duties, this add-on could ensure you’re fully covered.

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Gadget insurance

Adds in an extra level of protection for your tech. This could give you things like a higher claim limit to cover those extra-special electricals, or might allow you to claim for a wider series of scenarios that could damage your gadgets. 

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Winter sports cover

Covers you for snow sports like skiing and snowboarding. Standard travel insurance policies won’t cover this. So if you’re taking to the slopes on your volunteering trip - whether as a ski instructor or just for fun, this add-on could help.

Do I still need cover if my organisation has employers' liability insurance?

The organisation you're volunteeing for might have something known as employers' liability insurance.

This could cover you for injuries you pick up while working for them.

But to get reimbursed for the cost of any treatment you needed, you'd have to take your employer to court. If you were successful, you'd then be awarded compensation.

This isn’t the same as travel insurance. With the right policy, you can claim for medical treatment costs if you fall ill or are injured abroad - whether this is during your time volunteering or not.

The process should be more straightforward too. If your policy provides this cover, all you need to do is contact your insurer and claim for the cost of the treatment.

Can I get volunteer travel insurance if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

You can get volunteer travel insurance if you have pre-existing health conditions. But you’ll need to make sure that you declare them during your quote process.

Not all providers may be willing to offer you travel cover if you've got a pre-existing condition. And if you do find a travel insurer that offers cover, it might be more expensive.

It’s important to declare any pre-existing conditions you have. If you don’t make your provider aware, you’ll run the risk of invalidating your cover. This means that if you need treatment for it while you’re abroad, your insurer may not pay the expenses.

If you have a serious medical condition, you may need more tailored cover. MoneyHelper has a directory of providers who may be able to help.

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