Monday, February 11, 2008

Backpackers Insurance

In a recent poll on backpackers.com 4 out of 5 backpackers said that they take out travel insurance when they travel.

But every insurance company seems to offer something different, and every insurance company seems to take a different approach. So with the rather wide and baffling variety of insurance policies out there, it can sometimes be hard to pick the one thats going to give you the best deal.

Knowing how hard you guys save, trying to make each hard-earned cent go just that little bit further, a number of Insurers have focussed their efforts on developing travel insurance products that are specifically geared towards the independent traveler. Good news right? Remember, at the same time, these companies need to make money, and so they need the total premium they earn to always exceed the amount in total claims they pay out. For this reason, you should always check the small print.

Naturally, buying travel insurance direct and cutting out the travel agent or tour operator can bring the price down substantially, as these middlemen tend to earn high commissions.

Here are a few things that you should check up on before buying a backpacker travel insurance policy:

¥ Are the Insurers accessible? Make sure there's a 24/7 medical emergency helpline, as this means you are always close to help, whenever you need it.

¥ Does it cater for working holidays? If you plan on working overseas, make sure that there is cover in place for the type of work you're likely to do, such as bar work, nursing, fruit picking, an office job etc.

¥ Are most adventure activities covered? Check to see if your policy covers EVERY sort of sports and activities you're likely to do, like bungee jumping, scuba diving and even tandem skydiving Ð the kind of spontaneous leaps we often don't plan but end up taking when traveling.

¥ Is there cover for terrorist acts? Terrorism knows no boundaries, and attacks can happen at any time, with innocent bystanders getting caught in the fray. In a situation like that, far away from home, it's essential to have backup. Make sure you have full medical cover in the event of such an attack.
In a recent poll on backpackers.com 4 out of 5 backpackers said that they take out travel insurance when they travel.

But every insurance company seems to offer something different, and every insurance company seems to take a different approach. So with the rather wide and baffling variety of insurance policies out there, it can sometimes be hard to pick the one thats going to give you the best deal.

Knowing how hard you guys save, trying to make each hard-earned cent go just that little bit further, a number of Insurers have focussed their efforts on developing travel insurance products that are specifically geared towards the independent traveler. Good news right? Remember, at the same time, these companies need to make money, and so they need the total premium they earn to always exceed the amount in total claims they pay out. For this reason, you should always check the small print.

Naturally, buying travel insurance direct and cutting out the travel agent or tour operator can bring the price down substantially, as these middlemen tend to earn high commissions.

Here are a few things that you should check up on before buying a backpacker travel insurance policy:

¥ Are the Insurers accessible? Make sure there's a 24/7 medical emergency helpline, as this means you are always close to help, whenever you need it.

¥ Does it cater for working holidays? If you plan on working overseas, make sure that there is cover in place for the type of work you're likely to do, such as bar work, nursing, fruit picking, an office job etc.

¥ Are most adventure activities covered? Check to see if your policy covers EVERY sort of sports and activities you're likely to do, like bungee jumping, scuba diving and even tandem skydiving Ð the kind of spontaneous leaps we often don't plan but end up taking when traveling.

¥ Is there cover for terrorist acts? Terrorism knows no boundaries, and attacks can happen at any time, with innocent bystanders getting caught in the fray. In a situation like that, far away from home, it's essential to have backup. Make sure you have full medical cover in the event of such an attack.