Backpacker Insurance: 5 Tips To Help You Choose The Right Policy
So you've decided to save up your beans and go backpacking? Good decision! A backpacking trip around the world can be the experience of a lifetime; it's amazing how it can broaden your horizons and make you think in so many different ways about things.
But there is an element of the unknown about any backpacking trip. What if I catch one of those nasty tropical illnesses? What if I fall ill in the middle of nowhere? What if I need to get home in a hurry? What if my backpack gets stolen?
The answer to relieve these natural fears is to take out a comprehensive backpacker insurance policy. Dozens of insurers now produce policies specifically tailored for the budget traveller, but which one should you choose? Cost is a factor for many, but it's often given preference over quality of cover, which can be a mistake. Unfortunately, it's vital to read the smallprint of any policy you plan to buy, however boring it may be. Here are some pointers on how to evaluate each policy and make sure you choose the right one.
Check the single item limit for stolen/lost items
On most backpacker policies, if you bring along an expensive item like an SLR camera and it gets pinched, don't expect to be reimbursed for it in full. The single item limit on most policies is $150 or under. If you're planning on bringing a whole load of expensive gear with you, make sure you choose a company that can insure high-value items for an extra premium.
See whether it includes "risky" sports activities
On a backpacking trip it's popular to undertake all manner of "risky" activities, such as white-water rafting, bungee jumping and parachuting. If you plan to go wild with such things, you might want to look for a policy that covers such sports; some of the latest do, and very comprehensively at that.
Working around the world? Check your cover
Most straight-up backpacker insurance policies will not include cover if you plan to work. Check carefully before buying if this is what you plan to do. If you want work cover as well, you'd be better getting off a specific Gap Year policy that is more tailored to cover such things.
Ensure it covers you for stupidity...
Personal liability is an important cover to have, particularly in the more litigious countries such as the US. In the unlikely event you get sued through some fault of your actions, it should cover you against damages.
Cancellation Cover
Check the smallprint for what cancellation cover the policy provides. If you have to cut your trip short due to matters back home or for other reasons, you want to be sure you can recoup any costs you have already laid out.
Choosing a backpacker insurance policy is not as simple as just picking the cheapest on the market. It's really important to pick through the smallprint, and ensure you're buying one that caters to your needs as a backpacker. Being fully covered means you can sit back and enjoy your dream trip without any niggling worries in your mind.
Brian Meadows is a seasoned budget traveller who informs backpackers young and old on backpacker policies such as those offered by Downunder Insurance.
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