What is volunteer travel insurance?
We do not currently show quotes for specialised volunteer travel insurance at MoneySuperMarket, but some of our travel insurers may cover volunteering as standard or as an add-on.
Key takeaways
Volunteer travel insurance is a type of travel insurance designed specifically for individuals participating in volunteer work abroad
Standard insurance might not cover you for volunteer activities
Volunteer travel insurance can provide cover for medical bills, lost luggage, and trip cancellation
What is volunteer travel insurance?
Volunteer travel insurance is a type of travel insurance that covers people doing voluntary work in a different country. It’s a type of specialised insurance that still covers all the basics — like medical cover, baggage cover, and cancellation cover — but also covers specific aspects of your volunteer work that standard insurance might not, such as cover for manual work.
How does volunteer travel insurance differ from standard travel insurance?
Volunteer travel insurance will usually cover all of the things that a standard insurance policy would, but with some added extras:
Standard travel insurance | Volunteer travel insurance |
|---|---|
Trip cancellation | Trip cancellation |
Delayed departure | Delayed departure |
Medical expenses | Medical expenses |
Lost and damaged belongings | Lost and damaged belongings |
Repatriation | Repatriation |
Adventure activities | |
Volunteer-specific activities, like manual labour, construction and working with animals | |
Travel to challenging or remote areas | |
Trips over 30 days |
Remember that every policy is different, so you should always check the details of your specific policy terms to be clear on what it includes.
Do I need volunteer travel insurance?
If you are participating in voluntary work while abroad, volunteer travel insurance is usually a good option. Engaging in volunteer work, particularly in developing regions or areas with limited infrastructure, inherently involves certain risks.
Volunteer travel insurance gives you:
Peace of mind: Volunteers often operate in environments that may be unfamiliar, or have limited access to advanced medical facilities compared to their home countries. Knowing you are covered allows you to fully immerse yourself in your volunteer work, confident that you have a safety net in place.
Protection from injury and illness: Specific volunteer tasks (whether construction, medical aid, or conservation) can increase the risk of injury or exposure to illness. Volunteer travel insurance ensures you’re protected, even if engaging in high-risk activities.
Financial protection: A medical emergency or sudden trip cancellation could result in thousands of pounds in out-of-pocket expenses. For example, the average cost of an emergency medical evacuation from a remote location can range from £25,000 to over £150,000, depending on the distance and medical resources required.
Volunteering is sometimes already included in certain types of insurance such as backpacker insurance, or available as an add-on. If you have an existing policy, such as an annual multi-trip policy for a gap year, or a backpacker policy you should check to see if you’re already covered for volunteering activities.
What does volunteer travel insurance cover?
Volunteer travel insurance policies are designed to offer a broad spectrum of cover to protect travellers. While specific benefits can vary between providers, most comprehensive policies include several key components.
What’s usually included
Medical emergencies and evacuation
This is often the cornerstone of any travel insurance policy. It covers emergency medical treatment, emergency medical evacuation to your home country, and repatriation of remains in the event of death.
Trip cancellation or interruption
Volunteer travel insurance reimburses non-refundable expenses (e.g., flights, accommodation, program fees) if you must cancel your trip before departure due to covered reasons such as sudden illness, injury, or a family emergency, or if your trip is interrupted.
Personal liability
Accidents can happen, and you could unintentionally cause injury to another person or damage to their property. Personal liability insurance covers legal expenses and damages — for example, if you accidentally damage equipment at your volunteer site.
Baggage loss or delay
Volunteer travel insurance can reimburse you for the value of your belongings if your luggage is permanently lost, stolen, or damaged during your trip, and provide an allowance to purchase essential items (like toiletries and a change of clothes) if your checked luggage is delayed.
Adventure activities
Many volunteer programs involve activities that fall outside typical tourist itineraries, some of which might be considered high-risk, like hiking or snorkelling. Many volunteer insurance policies will cover a limited list of high-risk activities.
Longer trips
Unlike most standard insurance, volunteer travel insurance will usually cover you for trips lasting longer than 30 days.
What’s usually not included
Extreme or dangerous activities
Although volunteer travel insurance policies will generally cover more extreme or dangerous activities than a standard insurance policy, they may still have exclusions. For activities such as zip-lining, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, or scuba diving, you might need to purchase an extreme sports add-on to ensure you are covered for any incidents that occur while participating.
Pre-existing medical conditions
Most volunteer travel insurance policies won’t cover pre-existing medical conditions as standard. Check your policy, and consider an add-on if necessary. Remember that you should always disclose pre-existing medical conditions to prevent voiding your insurance.
Travel against official advice
Your insurance usually won’t pay out if you travel to a country against UK government advice. You can check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) website to see what countries are excluded.
Drugs and alcohol
If an incident happens while you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol this won’t usually be covered by your policy.
How much does volunteer travel insurance cost?
The cost and scope of a volunteer travel insurance policy varies, and is shaped by several factors including:
Destination
The country or region where you will be volunteering plays a critical role.
Healthcare costs: Destinations with high healthcare costs (e.g. USA, Canada) will generally lead to higher premiums for medical cover.
Risk level: Regions with political instability, higher crime rates, or prevalent health risks (e.g. malaria zones) may also result in increased premiums due to higher perceived risk.
Infrastructure: Areas with limited medical infrastructure may necessitate higher evacuation cover, impacting policy cost.
Type of volunteer work
The nature of your volunteer activities can influence the policy's risk assessment.
Low-risk activities: Office work, teaching, or administrative tasks are generally considered lower risk, and so will be cheaper.
High-risk activities: Construction, working with heavy machinery, medical procedures, or activities involving wildlife may result in higher premiums due to increased potential for injury.
Duration of trip
The length of your volunteer engagement directly affects the premium. Policies are typically priced on a per-day basis, so a 6-month volunteer trip will cost more than a 2-week trip, as the period of exposure to potential risks is longer.
Age of traveller
Age is a significant factor in insurance pricing. Older travellers often face higher premiums due to the increased statistical likelihood of medical claims. Conversely, younger travellers may find more affordable rates.
Pre-existing medical conditions
Any health conditions you had prior to purchasing the insurance can impact cover.
How do I choose the right volunteer travel insurance for my trip?
When choosing travel insurance you should:
Assess your needs
Before looking at policies, clearly define what you require.
Review your itinerary: List all countries you will visit, including any layovers.
Detail volunteer activities: Precisely describe the work you will be doing. Will it involve manual labour, working with vulnerable populations, or adventure activities?
Evaluate personal health: Consider your current health status and any pre-existing medical conditions.
Calculate trip costs: Tally all non-refundable expenses, such as flights, volunteering fees, and deposits, to determine the necessary cancellation cover.
Compare policies
Do not settle for the first policy you encounter. Shop around and compare offerings. Consider:
Cover limits: Pay close attention to the maximum cover amounts for emergency medical expenses, evacuation, and trip cancellation.
Excess: Understand how much you will have to pay out-of-pocket before the insurance kicks in. A lower excess generally means higher premiums.
Provider reputation: Research customer reviews and the insurer's claims process efficiency.
Emergency assistance services: Check if the policy includes 24/7 emergency assistance, which can be invaluable when abroad.
Check for exclusions
Equally important as what is covered is what is not covered. Exclusions can significantly impact your ability to make a claim.
Looking for travel insurance?
While we can't help you find specialised volunteer travel insurance, we can help you find a great deal on standard travel insurance or backpacker travel insurance. In some instances, these policies will include volunteering, or offer it as an add-on.
By answering a few simple questions about you and the cover you need, we will fetch you quotes from the top UK travel insurance providers for your policy. With policies listed cheapest to most expensive, you can browse at your leisure to find a policy that gives you everything you need for the best possible price.
Because it isn't guaranteed that standard travel insurance will cover volunteer work, it's important that you read the terms of your insurance before you choose your policy so you don't miss out on vital protection while you're volunteering abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Is volunteer travel insurance mandatory?
Having volunteer travel insurance is not legally mandated, but many reputable volunteer organisations require their participants to have adequate travel insurance. Even if not mandatory, volunteer travel insurance is recommended as a crucial safeguard against unforeseen circumstances and significant financial burden.
Does my regular travel insurance cover volunteering?
In most cases, no. You should check your policy to see what it includes.
Are all countries covered in volunteer travel insurance?
It’s unlikely that all countries will be covered by your travel insurance. When you take out travel insurance, you will typically be given the option to choose from Europe-only or worldwide cover.
But bear in mind that even with worldwide cover, not all countries will be covered. Most basic travel insurance policies won't cover travel to any countries that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against travelling to.
For example, you're unlikely to be covered by most travel insurance policies if you're volunteering in a war zone, after a natural disaster, or in a country in a state of political unrest. Always check the terms and conditions of your volunteer travel insurance before you buy, as well as before you set off for good measure.
If you do intend to volunteer in a country that the FCDO has advised against travel to, it is still possible to get travel insurance cover with a high-risk travel insurance policy. This specialised insurance will likely have different terms from a standard policy, so you should check your documents carefully to understand your cover.
Can I get cover for high-risk volunteer activities?
Yes, but it may require taking out an add-on. Standard volunteer travel insurance policies may exclude certain high-risk activities (e.g., construction at heights, working with large animals, certain adventure sports). You may need to purchase an add-on or a specialised policy that explicitly covers these activities. Always disclose your exact volunteer duties to the insurer to ensure you have appropriate cover.
What if my volunteer trip is extended?
Many volunteer travel insurance policies offer the option to extend your cover period while you are still abroad, provided you request the extension before your original policy expires. Some may require you to be in good health at the time of the extension request. Contact your insurance provider as soon as you anticipate an extension to understand their specific procedures and any associated costs.
Do I need volunteer travel insurance if the organisation has employers' liability insurance?
You’ll still need travel insurance if your organisation has employers’ liability cover, and in many instances volunteer travel insurance is still a sensible choice.
Some volunteer organisations will have employers’ liability cover, which protects you financially if you hurt or injure someone or damage the organisation’s property. However, this won’t cover many things that standard or volunteer travel insurance would, like trip cancellation or most medical care. It’s therefore advisable to also take out a suitable insurance policy, regardless of the organisation’s insurance status.
Does backpackers insurance cover me for volunteer work?
Because many people choose to volunteer during a backpacking trip or gap year, some backpacker insurance policies will cover you for certain volunteering activities. Always check your policy, and consider add-ons or purchasing specialised insurance if the cover is insufficient for your activities.
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Katie Bishop
Insurance writer
Katie Bishop is an author and journalist with a decade of writing and editing experience. She has previously worked as an economics editor at Oxford University Press, and her business and finance...
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Beth Leslie
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Beth is an experienced writer and editor who specialises in financial and economic content. She is currently the Senior Insurance Content Editor for MoneySuperMarket. Beth is passionate about making...
