Volunteer travel insurance

Do I need travel insurance for volunteering?

In some circumstances, the organisation you're volunteering with might stipulate that you need insurance. But even if they don't, holiday insurance is important if you're planning to volunteer. If you fall ill, lose your baggage, or your flights are cancelled, insurance can help cover you.

Do I need volunteer travel insurance if the organisation has employers' liability insurance?

The organisation you're volunteering with might have something called employers' liability insurance. This isn't the same as travel insurance. It's designed to cover your employer if you're injured while working. This means that to get reimbursed for any treatment you need, you'd have to take your employer to court. If you were successful, you'd then be awarded compensation.

Travel insurance can cover you for medical costs, as well as other situations, like lost luggage or travel disruption. So, it's worth having travel insurance for volunteering even if your employer has liability insurance.

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

This will depend on your provider. In some cases, your insurer will be happy to extend your policy. Just make sure you contact them before your insurance expires.

If you're unable to extend your current policy, you might be able to find a new policy. But, this can be difficult and expensive.