Long Term Travel Insurance in 2018
Is travel insurance even necessary?
I’ve asked myself the same question many times. Especially as I’m a long term traveller and expenses like these add up.
However, when it comes down to it – I don’t buy travel insurance for my own ends.
I buy it for the peace of mind of the people who care about me – I stress my mother out enough already!
Don’t forget to insure your valuables! And, if you’re like me, you may have left home some time ago and found your travel insurance is about to expire.Not only do you have to pay out a wedge of cash, but you have to find someone who is willing to insure you! That’s not as easy as it sounds when you have been away for over a year or more.
| Company | Countries serviced | |
|---|---|---|
| World Nomads Top Pick | Worldwide | Check price |
What’s so important about travel insurance?
Travel insurance can provide you with medical coverage in case you get injured, sick, lose your bag, you have to come home if a family member dies, if your flight gets cancelled, or if something you own gets stolen.
Essentially, it’s a multi-purpose emergency of insurance coverage, that is a staple for travel. The goal is to have it in case something happens, but hopefully you never have to use it. Since it only costs a few dollars or less per day, it’s strongly recommended that you obtain this kind of coverage before you take a trip in or out of your country.
Some friends of mine were glad they invested in travel insurance when these things happened to them.
- A friend of mine was in the Amazon when he fell of a boat and he had travel coverage that took care of his expenses.
- Another friend was traveling and her father died. She had to fly home. Her travel insurance covered her.
Travel insurance is there to ensure you don’t lose money when you’re traveling or away from home, especially in another country. Look for a travel insurance provider that has a good reputation for taking care of their insured to feel confident about investing in their coverage.
Let’s face it, most health insurance plans aren’t designed to help you when you travel abroad. It’s useless to you in other countries. Credit cards offer some coverage, but they are extremely limited and aren’t designed to work like a comprehensive travel insurance plan. You don’t know what can happen when you’re traveling overseas and abroad, but travel insurance can help protect against the unexpected.
Not only have I had friends who were covered and glad they had travel insurance, I’ve also had friends who had things happen and weren’t covered. For instance, my friend had a laptop stolen, but failed to obtain travel insurance, so she had to buy a new one using her own money.
What’s The Best Long Term Travel Insurance?
Many insurers don’t cover long term travellers such as backpackers and digital nomads – and the one’s that do charge a high premium.
I found World Nomads.
They are affordable and more importantly, they provide good cover.
In my opinion, this is the best travel insurance for Digital Nomads or other long term travellers. I still personally use them to this day.
You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you’ve left home. Travel insurance from WorldNomads.com is available to people from over 150 countries.
It’s designed for adventurous travellers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities.
Why is World Nomads the best long term insurance?
- Backed by specialist insurers and global assistance partners
- Buy Online, even if you’ve already left home
- Extend and claim online while travelling
- Covers a range of adventure sports and activities
- Give a little back and support a community development project
It’s easy to get a quote, just fill out the form below and they will give you an instant figure that you can save for later or buy immediately if you wish.
7 things you should know about them
- Trusted reliable underwriters
WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurers who provide you with great cover, 24 hour emergency assistance and the highest levels of support and claims management when you need it most. - Value for money with the cover you need
WorldNomads.com provides cover for what’s important for travellers from over 150 countries. By focusing on what you need and leaving out what you don’t, World Nomads prices are some of the most competitive online. - Flexibility when you need it most
Had a change of plans? You can extend your policy or claim online while you are still away. You can even buy a World Nomads policy if you’re already traveling. - Cover for a range of adventure activities
From skiing & snowboarding in New Zealand to whitewater rafting in Colorado, WorldNomads.com covers a range of adventure activities, giving you peace of mind to get the most from your travels. - World Nomads keeps you travelling safely
All WorldNomads.com members have access to up-to-date travel safety alerts, as well as travel safety advice and tips online through the World Nomads Travel Safety Hub - More than just great value travel insurance
All WorldNomads.com members can learn the local lingo through a series of iPod & iPhone Language Guides and can stay in touch with family and friends with an online travel journal. - Commitment to exceptional customer service
We want to make sure you get the most from WorldNomads.com. You can find out more about why travel insurance is important for your trip. If you have any questions about your travel insurance or travel safety in general, please contact World Nomads directly.
Long Term Travel Insurance – Buyers Guide
The trouble with travel insurance is that it’s complicated, making it confusing and difficult to understand. Here is a breakdown of travel coverage to help you better understand what it is and how it works.
The insurance business is a billion-dollar industry. Therefore, there a several options for travel insurance out there from which to choose. Besides the fact that every provider wants to be involved in this niche, they all have a brain-bending number of features, making it more overwhelming, challenging and confusing. Then there’s the fine print that makes you realise that certain plans aren’t as good as they look on the surface.
- Look for a high coverage limit for medical expenses. Up to $100,000 is a good amount, though there are those policies that will cover higher amounts to a maximum of $1,000,000 which you would not be likely to need. Whatever you do, avoid going with a cheap policy that only covers $20,000 in medical expenses because even a broken leg can reach and go beyond that limit before you even get the full care you need. A minimum of $100,000 is prudent.
- Get coverage for emergency evacuation and care, which is different and separate from medical coverage. What does this coverage do? If you get injured, this coverage helps cover your evacuation to a medical center or hospital. It also covers you in case you are involved in a natural disaster. This portion of the coverage should cover up to $300,000. Evacuation should also cover from the medical center or hospital to your home country. It’s usually in the standard policy with evacuation coverage, but make sure you confirm it.
Besides these two major coverages, here is what to look for in the best policy.
- Coverage for most countries over the globe
- Coverage for electronics, which usually has a low limit of $500, but you can supplement that amount with additional coverage in case you have high-end equipment like a professional camera
- Coverage for 24-hour emergency services and aid
- Coverage for damaged, stolen, or lost possessions such as documents, cameras, laptops (essential if you’re a digital nomad!), jewelry, baggage, and the like
- Coverage for unforeseen illness and injury
- Coverage for financial protection in case a company you’re using goes bankrupt and you’re stuck out of the country
- Coverage for cancellations like flights, hotel bookings, and other accommodations
What’s Not Covered?
It’s just as important to know what isn’t covered as what is and can be covered through travel insurance.
- Accidents caused from partaking in extreme adventures or sports like paragliding, bungee jumping, zip lining, hang gliding, and such unless you’re willing to pay extra for that kind of coverage.
- Most travel insurance providers won’t cover you if you cause an injury on the road, also known as third-party liability.
- Most policies won’t cover drug or alcohol related accidents.
- Carelessness in baggage handling is usually not covered.
- You won’t get reimbursed if something happened to you due to your own recklessness, which is defined by each insurance provider.
- General check-ups and pre-existing conditions aren’t covered.
- If you have a pre-existing condition like diabetes and you need an insulin refill, you’re not covered.
What about health and medical insurance?
The medical coverage you pay for with travel insurance is related to coverage for emergencies and is not a replacement for your regular healthcare policy. Many people buy travel insurance thinking it will cover them for regular medical expenses, but that’s not true. Think of travel insurance as accident insurance coverage, because essentially, that is what it is. It’s designed to protect you in an emergency or to get you home quickly if necessary.
A global health plan is a different kind of program you can ask about if you require coverage beyond accident cover for a holiday or trip outside your country.
There are plenty of insurance companies that provide travel insurance coverage. Research them, read reviews and ratings, and carefully examine and ask questions about what is and isn’t covered when you purchase travel insurance.
Don’t fail to get travel insurance just because you think nothing will happen, because that’s how my friends got hit in their bank accounts. Travel insurance helps millions of people who travel abroad and is well worth the money compared to what it could cost if an emergency occurs and you have to pay for it out of your own pocket.
