Comparing Travel Insurance for Extended Vacations

Extended travel insurance is not offered by all insurers, and those that do offer various options. Comparing policies-and the fine print-is essential to get the coverage you need.

You may be thinking that you are already covered for overseas travel by your current health insurance or through your credit card. Provisions may exist, but there may also be multiple conditions and exclusions. Check the policy carefully. Chances are that you will want to protect yourself with additional travel insurance.

Regular travel insurance covers shorter trips. Depending on the insurer, the length of time covered varies greatly – from 15 days to 180 days. Travel insurance for extended vacations usually covers trips of up to 18 months. Coverage also varies depending on your country of residence. An important tip is if you currently have private or public health insurance, ascertain how long you can be absent without losing your coverage.

Available options in travel insurance vary by policy and travel insurance vendor. The ones you choose affect your premiums. For instance, removing coverage for loss of baggage decreases the cost. Adding coverage for adventure activities increases the cost. Rates become more cost-efficient for groups or families traveling together. Some policies have different premiums depending on age: Older people may pay more; children may be free.

Travel insurance vendors that specialize in long-stay travel insurance may offer packages for certain types of extended vacations. One common category is winter sports. Policies to cover skiing or adventure trips contain provisions for medical treatment, the loss of equipment, and the higher risk of delays caused by weather. Another category is business. If you work overseas, long-term travel insurance can cover things such as the loss of your computer or the loss of cash, something that most standard travel policies don’t cover.

With long-term travel insurance, keep these things in mind. If you return early, you most likely won’t get a refund on the remaining time of your policy. If you travel to places that your government declares unsafe, your policy most likely won’t cover you there. If you decide to engage in extreme activities during your extended vacation, you may not be covered unless you paid for the extra protection before you departed.

Long-term travel insurance covers the special needs of travelers on extended vacations. Because there are so many travel insurance vendors offering so many options, comparing policies is essential. Pay particular attention to the provisions for emergency medical treatment. Exclusions and details about pre-existing medical conditions will definitely apply.