LONG STAY TRAVEL INSURANCE: Best Long Stay Travel Insurance for You

Insurance coverage for long stay travel protects you from theft, accident, illness or any other unforeseen circumstance that may arise during your stay abroad. Travelling, as we know, is another way of learning. We get more knowledge and exposure travelling and exploring other locations. 

In some cases, you find yourself needing to stay longer than expected because of personal reasons or simply because the task has not been achieved, thus, extending your stay. In such a situation, you need insurance to cover whatever misfortune you might experience over the extended period. This is where long stay travel insurance comes into play

If you’re purchasing insurance coverage for long-stay travel, studying or working abroad or for other reasons, this article is for you. This guide would enlighten you on the best long stay annual travel insurance coverage that you would need

Overview

Long term insurance is primarily intended for travellers aged 18 to 75 who plan to travel abroad for an extended period of time. In addition to your age, long term insurance can range from 1 to 18 months in length, depending on your destination, and will appeal to students, backpackers, gap year travellers, those working voluntarily for a charity abroad, and those taking a well-deserved leave.

The length of your planned trip is an important factor to consider when purchasing long-term insurance. According to statistics, the longer the journey, the more likely something disruptive will occur. A big change in your plans could cost you more money because long trips and vacations are usually more expensive than short trips. That’s why most people who don’t buy insurance for weekend getaways or even five-to-seven-day trips think about getting it for trips that last two weeks, two months, or even longer.

There are also some important things to think about when planning a long-term trip that most people don’t think about. When planning a short-term trip of a few weeks or less, a typical comprehensive policy or medical insurance product might be enough. But if you’re going on a long-term trip of 3 months to a year or more, you might need more insurance. Those are the kinds of things that long-term travel insurance can help with.

Understanding Long Stay Travel Insurance?

Long stay insurance provides cover for a long term journey – commonly for holidays where you’ll be between three and 18 months. Of course, long-term insurance isn’t mandatory for every traveller, especially if you don’t take travels longer than three months. Long stay travel insurance, on the other hand, is for anyone who is studying abroad, working abroad momentarily, taking a gap year, or merely travelling for a longer length of time.

Long-term trip insurance, like other types of insurance, covers emergency medical care, journey disruptions, luggage loss, and deportation. It is not suitable for people who live abroad, as it only covers emergency medical expenditures and not routine medical care.

So, when planning a long stay trip, you’ll need insurance that covers your entire stay. 

What is Covered by Long-Stay Travel Insurance?

The best long-stay travel insurance will usually contain the following forms of coverage.

• Long stay travel insurance for people working abroad, such as bartending and teaching, etc.
• Covers a variety of adventure sports and hazardous activities automatically, with additional extensions available for any that are not covered.
• Emergency medical expenses, including repatriation, personal liability, legal fees, and personal accident are all covered under the basic policy.
• Couples and families receive discounts.
• Coverage for lost or stolen electronics such as smartphones, tablets, cameras, and other devices is provided.

Who Needs Long Stay Trip Insurance?

Like I earlier said, there are various reasons why you could require long stay trip insurance. You could be going on a long journey, working abroad, taking a gap year, or doing something else. The following are the most typical and useful reasons for purchasing long-term trip insurance:

#1. Long stay travel insurance for working abroad 

Are you planning to work from another country for a longer but temporary period of time? Working abroad necessitates having long stay travel insurance, as it is extremely likely that you may require emergency medical care at some point during your stay.

Remember to list your home country as your home country, not the place where you will be working temporarily. Otherwise, you will lose coverage because long-term trip insurance typically does not cover you in your specified country of residence.

#2. Insurance for digital nomads

With so many jobs now shifting to work from home, it’s easier than ever to work remotely from anywhere in the world. If you have the opportunity to travel the world while working, seize it, but make sure you have digital nomad trip coverage first.

You’ll want your insurance to cover electronics (laptop, tablet, etc.) so you can readily replace these critical pieces of technology for working remotely if you lose them. Furthermore, if you want to visit a lot of countries on your travel bucket list, choose global coverage so that you have the freedom and insurance coverage to go wherever you want.

#3. Expat travel insurance

It may seem like a good idea to get long-term trip insurance when you move to a new country, but ex-pats don’t need it. Long-term trip insurance only pays for emergency medical costs, which makes it useless for people who live in another country and need regular medical care and check-ups.

Furthermore, any country you relocate to will now be your place of residence. Long-term trip insurance normally does not give coverage in your designated country of residence, so you may not be eligible for coverage in the first place.

#4. One-way travel insurance

The best gap year insurance is one-way travel insurance. If you intend to spend a full year exploring the world, insurance for long journeys abroad is essential. You’ll have access to global emergency medical coverage, which will allow you to receive care if you become unwell while travelling, as well as travel-related coverage for baggage loss and trip delays.

Get a one-way trip insurance plan from Heymondo or SafetyWing, both of which allow you to renew your plan on a monthly basis. That way, if you arrive home unexpectedly early, you won’t be out of pocket.

#5. Long stay trip insurance for students 

It’s thrilling to study abroad, but accidents and catastrophes sometimes happen, so buy long-stay travel coverage to avoid paying for emergency medical expenditures and replacing lost belongings with your own money.

As a student studying abroad, long-term trip insurance will be very important. You can still get the same coverage for weekend trips to other countries near where you are studying; just make sure to choose worldwide coverage or Europe/EU coverage if you’re only going to be in Europe or the rest of the world.

#6. Insurance for a round-the-world journey

Many people’s dreams include taking long-term travel throughout the world. If you are fortunate enough to be able to realise your ambition, it’s simple to ensure that your long term trip insurance worldwide will cover you anywhere you wish to go.

When purchasing your long-stay insurance, make sure you select “global” or “around the world” coverage. You won’t have to get individual long-term trip insurance coverage for each country you visit this way. The best part is that you’ll be covered for any sudden pauses you make while exploring the world.

#7. Long-term trip insurance for longer stays

If you’re planning a vacation that will last at least three months, you should absolutely get travel insurance, especially for emergency medical bills.

Long-term travel insurance will be the most cost-effective alternative for your trip, particularly if you do not want to return to your home country until 90 days have passed. If you intend to return home before the 90-day period has finished, annual, multi-trip trip insurance may be more beneficial.

Long Stay Annual Travel Insurance 

Is long-term travel insurance the same as multi-trip travel insurance, you might ask. Long-term travel insurance and annual travel insurance may appear to be the same thing, but they are not.

While long-stay travel insurance covers travel lasting three months or longer, annual travel insurance covers many shorter trips that occur within one year. 

Annual travel insurance is a sort of travel insurance that covers all of your long stay journeys throughout a calendar year. Every year, you can go on any number of trips, but there is a maximum number of days each trip will cover (30, 45, 60, or 90 days, depending on the long-stay annual travel insurance you choose).

Also, annual travel insurance is only useful if you plan on taking at least four trips each year. Long-stay travel insurance, on the other hand, is the best option if you are going on a single, long-stay journey or if you are taking many trips within a year that will last more than 90 days.

The 365 days covered by your annual travel insurance policy will begin from the start date of your first trip, so you can easily purchase long stay yearly travel insurance as soon as you begin planning a trip.

When you move from your home country to your next one, the day counter starts over again. That doesn’t mean you can’t go on a trip that lasts longer than the number of days in your policy; it only means that you’ll only get coverage for the number of days in your policy that you have.

Who Needs Long Stay Annual Travel Insurance?

The following types of travellers frequently find that acquiring long-stay annual travel insurance is best for the benefits:

• Travel fanatics who take every opportunity to travel.
• Couples in long-distance relationships who visit one other frequently.
• Members of the sales staff who travel visiting clients or attend trade exhibits in foreign countries.
• Athletes competing in international competitions.
• Members of organisations that attend events on a regular basis throughout the year.

• Photographers, international journalists, travel bloggers, and others are also among those who participate.
• International students, expatriates, or international workers who return home every two months or more.

Annual travel insurance can save you a lot of money if you’re an ex-pat, international worker, or student. You should bear in mind, though, that you will need to return home to prolong your coverage from time to time. Instead, you might want to consider purchasing long-term travel insurance.

To put it another way, don’t intend on using annual travel insurance to take a gap year and explore the world or to work overseas and not return home for a long period.

Best Long Stay Travel Insurance

#1. Heymondo ( Best long-stay travel medical insurance)

According to customer evaluations, Heymondo is the best long-stay travel medical insurance because its Top plan covers the most emergency medical bills, as well as evacuation and repatriation. It’s also one of the few types of travel insurance with COVID coverage that includes doctor-ordered COVID testing. Furthermore, you may easily extend your plan for any length of time between two and eight months at any time.

However, Heymondo’s Top approach has several drawbacks. Medical expenses include a $100 deductible, which means you’ll have to pay $100 toward any medical fees before Heymondo would cover the remainder.

For low-cost long-term travel insurance, Heymondo is an excellent choice; its plans already offer excellent value for money, and you can save an additional 5% by using the discount link.

Pros:

• You don’t have to file a claim because your medical bills are paid directly and upfront.
• Provides extensive coverage across all medical-related sectors.
• Emergency Medical Expenses and Evacuation and Repatriation are covered to the greatest extent possible.

• Coverage of electronic or adventure sports is an option.
• It is reasonably priced, especially given the scope of its coverage.
• Coverage that can be easily extended
• Coverage of COVID-19

Cons:

• Medical charges are subject to a $100 deductible.
• Separate cancellation insurance must be obtained.

#2. Travelex

Travel insurance is a different situation, as Travelex boasts the most trip cancellation and delay coverage of any of the plans. If you expect to have any travel issues, this is the best option to go with. You’ll also be covered for baggage loss, evacuation, and repatriation.

If you’d want to have additional medical coverage for a similar price, Heymondo is still the best long-term travel insurance option.

Pros:

• Overall coverage is excellent in all travel-related coverage categories.
• Coverage for Evacuation and Repatriation is adequate.
• Medical bills have no deductible.
• Coverage of COVID-19

Cons:

• Emergency Medical Expenses coverage is extremely limited.
• To get reimbursed for medical expenses, you must submit a claim.
• For a lower cost, you can obtain equivalent or better coverage.

#3. SafetyWing (Best long stay travel insurance for digital nomads)

The best insurance for digital nomads is SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance, which lives true to its name. Nomad Insurance is not only low-cost long-term travel insurance, but it also offers the most medical and baggage loss coverage. Besides this, you have the option of renewing your insurance automatically every 28 days. 

Automatic renewal saves time and money, ensures you’re constantly insured and gives you more freedom if you haven’t decided when to end your trip. When you get Nomad Insurance, simply choose a start date (but not an end date) Then keep renewing until you’re ready to return home, at which point you can choose an end date.

Unfortunately, nothing is perfect, and SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is no exception. Medical bills have a $250 deductible, which means you must pay $250 in cash before SafetyWing can cover it.

Furthermore, not only does SafetyWing not cover trip cancellation due to weather, illness, injury, or other causes, but it also does not cover trip interruption. Pick Heymondo for a lower deductible and World Nomads or Travelex for trip cancellation coverage.

#4.  WorldNomads

If you’re taking a gap year, you’re definitely looking to get out of your comfort zone and have a whole new experience. In that scenario, World Nomads is the best long-term travel insurance for spending a year living and working abroad and exploring new things.

Its Standard plan covers adventurous sports and activities. So you can go trekking, ice fishing, hockey, or horseback riding and still be protected. You’ll also get comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, evacuation and repatriation, trip cancellation, delay, and baggage loss.

Its Standard plan covers adventurous sports and activities. So you can go trekking, ice fishing, hockey, or horseback riding and still be protected. You’ll also get comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, evacuation and repatriation, trip cancellation, delay, and baggage loss.

If that’s not good enough, there is no deductible for medical expenses, which means that you won’t have to pay anything for your medical bills out of your own pocket. However, World Nomads’ long-term travel insurance is the most expensive. If you want to save a lot of money while still getting the same or more coverage, Heymondo may be a better choice.

Pros:

• The standard plan offers coverage for Adventure Sports and Activities.
• Excellent coverage across the board in all categories of travel and medical insurance.
• Medical expenses are not deductible.
• Coverage of COVID-19

Cons:

• The most expensive long-term travel insurance policy available
• To get reimbursed for medical expenses, you must submit a claim.
• Can obtain comparable or superior coverage at a more affordable price

Conclusion

Finally, long-stay travel insurance is worthwhile for lengthy travels, temporary working abroad, studying abroad, and taking a gap year. In any of these situations, long-term travel insurance will make sure that you get the medical and travel-related coverage you need without having to spend a lot of money.

When planning a long-term trip, there are numerous factors to consider. If you’re considering purchasing long term trip insurance, be careful to inquire about evacuation services, accidental death and dismemberment coverage. Also, inquire whether your policy covers brief excursions home during your intended vacation. When discussing trip insurance options with a provider, you may find it useful to refer to this list of questions.

FAQ’s Long Stay Travel Insurance