What is 90-day travel insurance?
Key takeaways
You can get travel insurance for a 90-day trip, but the type of policy available will depend on your insurer and circumstances
With MoneySuperMarket you can compare single-trip cover or choose backpacker insurance for one longer trip of up to 18 months
Check the maximum trip length as well as medical, cancellation and baggage cover, as limits can vary between policies
Can I get travel insurance for 90 days?
Yes, you can get travel insurance for a trip lasting 90 days - but 90-day travel insurance is not necessarily a separate type of policy. Depending on your insurer, your three-month trip can be covered by:
A single-trip policy with a long enough maximum trip length
Long-stay or backpacker insurance designed for extended trips
Which quotes are available will depend on details such as your trip dates, destination, age and medical history. Single-trip policies have their own maximum trip lengths, while backpackers option is designed for extended trips and can cover one trip for up to 18 months.
What type of travel insurance do I need for 90 days?
For one 90-day trip, you may be able to choose between single-trip and backpacker or long-stay cover. Annual multi-trip insurance is designed for several trips during the year and usually has a limit on how long each individual trip can last.
Policy type | Can it cover 90 days? | When should I consider it? |
|---|---|---|
Single trip | Yes, if the insurer's maximum trip length is at least 90 days | You're taking one extended holiday and can find a policy that covers the full duration |
Backpackers | Yes | You're taking one longer trip, possibly across several destinations |
Annual multi-trip | Only if the policy allows individual trips of 90 days | You're taking several holidays during the year and have checked the per-trip limit |
You may also see backpackers insurance described as long-stay, extended-trip or gap-year insurance. Backpacker insurance isn't only for young travellers or people carrying backpacks, although age limits can be more restrictive than with standard travel insurance.
What does 90-day travel insurance cover?
A policy covering a 90-day trip can provide the same main types of protection as standard travel insurance, although the exact limits and exclusions will depend on the policy you choose. Cover can include:
Emergency medical treatment and repatriation if you become ill or are injured abroad
Cancellation and curtailment if you have to cancel or cut your trip short for a reason covered by the policy
Travel disruption and delays for certain problems affecting your journey
Baggage and belongings if your possessions are lost, stolen or damaged, subject to policy limits
Personal liability if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property
Check the amount of cover you'll get as well as whether the type of cover itself is included, as a three-month trip can involve higher prepaid costs or more belongings than a shorter holiday.
What's not covered by 90-day travel insurance?
Not every problem that happens during your trip will be covered, and common travel insurance exclusions can include:
Undeclared medical conditions that the insurer asked you to disclose
Destinations excluded by your policy, including travel against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice
High-risk sports and activities such as winteror watersports, unless your policy includes the right cover
Incidents linked to alcohol or non-prescribed drugs, depending on your policy wording
Unattended belongings or other situations where you haven't taken reasonable care
Trips lasting longer than the policy limit
Read any available policy documents before buying, particularly if your plans include sports, working, volunteeringor several destinations.
Can I visit several countries during my 90-day trip?
Yes, you can get cover for a 90-day trip that visits several countries, but every destination needs to fall within the geographical area covered by your policy. Travel insurance is commonly sold for areas such as Europe, worldwide excluding the USA, Canada and the Caribbean, or worldwideincluding those destinations.
Check every country on your itinerary, including places you're only visiting briefly, and make sure your plans line up with any current Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice.
How much does 90-day travel insurance cost?
The cost of travel insurance for 90 days will depend on your circumstances and the policy you choose, as there isn't one fixed price for three months of cover. Insurers can take into account factors including:
Your age
Your medical history
Where you're travelling
How long you're away
The activities you're planning
The amount and type of cover you choose
Any optional extras
Longer trips can cost more to insure because you're covered for a greater period, while destinations with higher healthcare costs can also increase your overall price.
What should I compare when choosing 90-day travel insurance?
You should make sure your policy covers your whole trip first, then check what parts of your trip need specific protection and how much you'll need in terms of cover limits.
Maximum trip length
Your policy needs to cover every day you're away, as cover will usually stop as soon as you exceed your insurer’s stated limit.
Medical and repatriation cover
Medical treatment abroad can be expensive, and without enough cover you could face significant out-of-pocket costs or be responsible for getting home yourself.
Cancellation cover
Your limit should reflect the non-refundable cost of your trip so you're protected if you have to cancel before you go.
Baggage cover
Check the overall and single-item limits for your belongings so you’re not underinsured if luggage is lost, stolen or damaged.
Destinations covered
Every country on your itinerary needs to be included, as travelling outside the covered area can invalidate your policy.
Pre-existing conditions
You will need to declare any pre-existing medical conditions, otherwise related claims are likely to be refused.
Activities and sports
Some activities need extra or specialist cover, so check you're protected if you plan anything beyond standard sightseeing.
Excess
This is the amount you may need to pay towards a claim, which can affect how much you actually receive back.
Age limits
These can vary, particularly for long-stay or backpacker policies, and may restrict which policies you can buy.
Returning to the UK
Some long-stay policies allow temporary trips home, while ordinary single-trip cover normally ends when you return, which can affect ongoing protection.
Extensions
Check what happens if you decide or need to stay longer, as not all policies allow you to extend cover once you’re already abroad.
Can older travellers get 90-day travel insurance?
Yes, but your choice of policy may become more limited as you get older. There is no maximum age for travel insurance, but insurers can set their own age restrictions, and long-stay and backpacker policies often have lower upper-age limits than standard travel insurance.
If backpacker cover isn't available because of your age, you may still be able to find:
A single-trip policy that allows a 90-day stay
Travel insurance designed for older travellers
Specialist cover if you also have medical conditions
Can I get 90-day travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes, you may be able to get cover for a 90-day trip if you have a pre-existing medical condition, but you need to declare any conditions the insurer asks about when you apply. Depending on your health, insurers may:
Cover your condition as part of the policy
Charge more for cover
Apply particular terms or exclusions
Decline to cover the condition
If mainstream insurers cannot provide suitable cover, you may need a specialist travel insurer.
Frequently asked questions
Does annual travel insurance cover a 90-day trip?
Not necessarily - annual multi-trip insurance lasts for 12 months, but each holiday covered by the policy normally has its own maximum length.
These individual trip limits are typically around 31 days, although some policies may allow 45 or 60 days with an upgrade. A 90-day trip therefore won't automatically be covered just because you have an annual policy.
What happens if my trip lasts longer than 90 days?
Choose a policy with a maximum trip duration that covers your full planned stat, and don't rely on being able to extend a shorter policy after your've already left.
If your're going away for longer that three months, a long-stay or backpacker policy may provide cover for six months, 12 months or up to around 18 months, depending on the insurere
Can I extend my travel insurance while I'm abroad?
Possibly - some insurers may let you extend your cover while you're away, while others may require a new policy or won't allow an extension at all.
If your plans change, contact your insurer before your existing cover expires - and be sure to check any maximum trip-length rules and whether extending your trip affects the rest of your cover.
Can I return to the UK during a 90-day trip?
It depends on your policy - a standard single-trip policy will normally end when you return home. Some backpacker or long-stay policies allow temporary visits back to the UK without ending the whole policy, but limits can apply to how often you return and how long you stay.
Check your policy wording if you know you may need to come home during your trip.
Can I work or volunteer during a 90-day trip?
Possibly, but standard travel insurance may not always cover work or volunteering. Some long-stay and backpacker policies can cover lower-risk work, volunteering or casual jobs, but the activities allowed vary between insurers.
More hazardous or manual work may need specialist insurance - tell your insurer what you plan to do before you buy the policy.
Do I still need travel insurance if I have a GHIC?
Yes, a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) can give you access to some state-provided healthcare in eligible countries, but it isn't a replacement for travel insurance. It doesn't provide the same protection for costs such as repatriation, cancellation, travel disruption or lost belongings.
Can I buy 90-day travel insurance after I've already left the UK?
You may find specialist insurers that offer cover after you've started travelling, but MoneySuperMarket does not currently offer this through our standard travel insurance comparison journey. It's better to arrange your policy before you leave and ideally soon after booking, so any eligible cancellation cover can start before your trip.
Do I need to check my home insurance if I'm away for 90 days?
Yes, if your home will be empty for most or all of your trip. Home insurance policies can restrict how long a property can be left continuously unoccupied, so check your policy before leaving for an extended period - you may need to tell your home insurer or arrange specialist unoccupied-home cover.
Author
Mehdi Punjwani
Insurance specialist
Mehdi is a financial writer and editor with over six years of experience in personal finance. He has written for organisations and publications including Equifax, The AA, and USAToday, covering a...
