Travel Insurance

All volunteers must obtain comprehensive travel insurance prior to departure. Below is some information to help you with this.

When you have arranged your insurance and flight please complete the online forms on the website by going to INFORMATION CENTRE. Then we can arrange your airport pickup..

Why do I need travel insurance?
The amount of time and money you have invested in your overseas experience should be backed up with comprehensive travel insurance. Without wishing to put a damper on going overseas it is important to be realistic about things that could go wrong and costs involved e.g. non-refundable airline tickets, lost baggage or accidents. Insurance gives you backup and peace of mind.

Insurance cover varies considerably between policies. Prices also vary widely depending on the extent of cover and length of your trip. Below is a brief description of the different types of travel insurance options available:

Cancellation
Some policies will cover you for cancellation due to unforeseen events such as illness, injury or death suffered by the insured/travelling partner or a member of the insured's immediate family. Check the small print for what this section covers.

Delay
Compensation is paid if your departure is delayed beyond a set number of hours. The amount of
compensation depends upon the length of the delay experienced.

Personal Accident
Amounts of money are paid on death or permanent disability, or following the loss of an eye or limb. Weekly benefits are sometimes paid for temporary disablement. Check what the policy covers in terms of high-risk activities such as white-water rafting or climbing.

Personal Liability
This covers your legal liability for injury or damage to others and their property.

Medical Expenses
Policies pay for treatment, additional accommodation/travel expenses arising from sickness or injury and for expenses incurred in returning home because of illness, injury, or death of a friend, relative or business associate. When purchasing insurance you must disclose full details of any permanent or recurring illness. Some policies will cover these pre-existing conditions but won’t pay for continuing or routine treatment or if you travel against medical advice. If you suffer from an existing illness you must tell the insurance company. Insurers may want a doctor’s note certifying that you are fit to travel.

Generally any medical problem that arises within 60 days prior to purchasing the policy is not covered; however, there are some exceptions to this.

Personal Belongings
Luggage and articles worn or carried are covered against loss or damage. Losses must be reported to the police within 24 hours and you must obtain a police report. There is usually a limit of £200/US$400 for any one item. Valuable items are usually also subject to a limit. Remember that you may well have cover under an “All Risks” extension to your household policy for some valuable articles. It is worth making a detailed list as you pack of exactly what you are taking. Keep receipts for any new purchases you are taking with you in case you need to make a claim.
 
Emergency Medical Evacuation
In an emergency situation a doctor may confirm that you must be evacuated for medical treatment to the nearest medical centre or to your country of origin, due to a physical injury or sickness. This
insurance is highly recommended for people who are going to remote areas for extended periods of time. For example, if you fall and are injured while trekking in the mountains, you might need to be evacuated by private helicopter, then by airplane, which can get quite expensive. Emergency medical evacuation back to your country of origin without insurance can easily cost about US$35,000.

With Emergency Medical Evacuation cover you are issued with a telephone number you or friends can call to access English-speaking doctors. They will then take over your case working with local doctors to determine if you can be treated where you are or if you need to be repatriated. Make sure you keep the telephone number with you at all times. All volunteers must have this cover.

Legal Costs
Some policies pay legal costs to help you to pursue compensation for damages following personal injury or death.

Insurance Companies
Many travel agents can arrange insurance for you when you are booking your flight so do ask what they can offer. Make sure the policy is comprehensive. This may not be the cheapest insurance available as the travel agent probably earns a commission. There are plenty of insurance companies to chose from so do shop around. Read the small print carefully before purchasing any insurance and make sure the policy you're buying covers the countries you will be travelling to AND the activities you plan to undertake.

Your policy MUST cover:
1. Light work such as manual building work.
2. Medical repatriation to your country of residence.

Top Tips
• Buying only the cover you really need can significantly reduce costs, but shop around to compare prices.
• Make sure you read the fine print on all policies to compare what each company is offering and you know exactly what you're buying especially with regard to excluded high-risk activities.
• Many insurers provide 24-hour emergency service and telephone advice lines. Take this with you as well as policy. It is a good idea to leave the telephone number and a photocopy of all forms with a reliable parent or friend in case you lose your copy.
• You will be required to pay for medical services in cash at the time received and then claim for reimbursement with the insurance company using their forms. Remember to keep all receipts and records of treatment/consultations, as you will need them to support your claim.
• Some ‘working holidays’ insurance policies cover manual work.