Insurance for backpacking

Data collected by MoneySuperMarket between January and April 2019, accurate as of July 2019

Common backpacker insurance exclusions

While backpacker insurance may be the most suitable type of policy for your trip, there will be various exclusions where the insurer won’t pay out. These can include:

• If you don’t follow advice from any official authorities such as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the World Health Organisation concerning preventative measures like vaccines or anti-malaria pills
• If you act maliciously or take part in illegal activity
• If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol (though this may exclude prescription drugs given to you by a doctor)
• If you have left possessions unattended or unsecured when they were lost, damaged or stolen – check if your insurer requires a certain level of security for your items when you’re away, such as special locks
• If you haven’t answered any of your insurer’s questions accurately – including information about possessions or medical conditions
• If you aren’t enjoying your journey and want to end it early

These can vary depending on the insurer and the coverage you take out, which makes it crucial to check the key facts and documents before selecting a policy.

How to claim when you’re abroad

If you need to make a claim while you’re backpacking across the globe, there are a few things you can do to make the process as smooth as possible. Most of all, be sure to keep your policy documents at hand, either as a paper copy or online.

When you claim:

• Speak to local authorities, if relevant. If you were the victim of a crime, you might have to tell the police and get a report within 24 hours for some insurers to cover your claim, for example
• Contact your insurer, which may have a 24/7 contact number so you can make a claim as soon as possible – in some cases there may be a deadline of 31 days for it to be accepted. You could also be given a number to call for medical emergencies before going to the hospital or doctor to ensure your treatment can be covered
• Keep the evidence, as Insurers are likely to request evidence to support your claim, such as a police report with a reference number, medical forms from a hospital or GP or receipts to prove ownership of items lost or stolen

Top tips for buying backpacker insurance

When you’re looking for the best deal on backpacker travel insurance, here’s what to consider:

• Activities: Make sure your planned activities are included in the policy, and not listed as exclusions – and see if you can bolt on extra cover if you need
• Possessions: Review the policy’s price limit for single items and consider taking out extra cover for valuables that exceed that value
• Cash: Find out how much your insurer will reimburse you for if your cash is stolen, and limit the amount you carry to no more than what you’re insured for
• Destinations: Make sure everywhere you plan to visit is included on your policy
• Medical cover: Many people don’t think about checking whether mental health is included – but if you have to cancel your trip as a result of a pre-existing mental health issue like depression, your insurer may be required to know about the condition beforehand
• Customer support: Find out if you’ll be able to contact customer support 24/7 while you’re away, as you never know when you’ll hit a speedbump on your travels
• Changes of plans: Will the insurer cover you if you change your plans, by extending your trip or visiting more countries?
• Excess: It may be wise to choose a policy with a lower excess, since you may have to claim on your travel insurance multiple times

Compare backpacker insurance quotes

When you know exactly what cover you need, comparing backpacker insurance quotes is a great way to find the right deal for you. With MoneySuperMarket you’ll be able to see all the important details, from the activities you’ll be covered for while you’re away to your maximum excess payments and the policy’s Defaqto customer rating.

When you find a policy you’re interested in, you can click on more details and see the variations of that particular insurance. This allows you to compare the different levels of backpacker insurance to see how much the cover changes if you were to upgrade the policy.

You may be tempted to plump for the cheapest backpacker insurance, and for some people that will certainly be the best option. However, it’s more important that you compare by features rather than cost, as being under-insured or falling foul of exclusions can ruin a trip of a lifetime.

And when you’re considering the excess level, you should weigh up whether choosing a higher excess to save a few pounds now is the most economical decision – if you have to claim, it could cost you much more than any saving.