Although traveling overseas will provide you with a variety of new skills, extra cash, and, most importantly, a gratifying experience that will impress prospective employers, nonetheless, while you’re working in a foreign country, the last thing on your mind is what will happen if you become sick. Thus, whether it is a twisted ankle, a bad case of malaria, or a broken tooth, you need to know that you’ll get the help you need when you need it. Whether for a brief period or a long stay, It is important to protect yourself with working abroad travel insurance. If you want to know more, this guide is for you.
Working Abroad Insurance and Its Coverage
Typically, when working overseas, you should look for a comprehensive travel insurance package that will cover you for the duration of your stay. Considering things like health and medical aid, as well as emergency assistance. This shows how paramount it is for you to have a coverage plan in place However, it is worth noting that some insurance firms provide coverage that covers working overseas.
On the contrary, the travel insurance plan usually lasts up to 15 months. However, it can be extended to a maximum of 18 months. The complete policy, on the other hand, also includes a 24-hour emergency help service in the event of an emergency or sad condition beyond the injured worker’s control.
Manual labor and volunteer activities are included under travel insurance for working abroad. Likewise, hand tools must be used, and the work must be done on the ground level. As part of the standard, the policy also covers non-manual occupations.
However, you can work anywhere in Europe with a comprehensive travel insurance package for working abroad. You can also work in countries other than Europe. The policy, however, does not cover employment or labor in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada, Japan, or the Caribbean.
Travel Insurance for Working Abroad
If you’re going on a trip abroad, be sure you have adequate travel insurance before you leave. And if you already have one, check your travel insurance coverage to see what it covers, such as medical care and travel disruption, as well as any planned activities like adventure sports. If you’re looking for a new policy, make sure to look at how it addresses these difficulties.
However, If you do not have adequate insurance before traveling, you may be responsible for unexpected costs, such as medical treatment, which might cost thousands of pounds.
Furthermore, if you’re traveling abroad and want to work there, be sure you have travel insurance with a working abroad policy. One that covers you at work. Notably, many policies do not, as they are solely designed to cover leisure trips and will not compensate you if you are injured while on the job.
In addition, most insurance plans will also cover light farm or farming labor such as harvesting fruit and vegetables on a normal basis. Nevertheless, it is reasonably easy to acquire working travel insurance for offices and clerical work or work in pubs and restaurants.
It is however important to know that when working abroad, travel insurance is far more difficult to come across. Especially one that covers factory work, construction, and dealing with machinery or tools. As well as, intensive agricultural labor with tractors, agricultural equipment, and other apparatus, or wildlife biology
But to be able to enjoy your time away with the confidence that you’re covered for any accidental mishaps, insure yourself with travel insurance for working abroad.
Major Benefits of Having Travel Insurance for Working Abroad
Travel Insurance for working abroad is not only available to UK nationals but also to EU citizens. Residents of the European Union (EU), as well as the European Economic Area (EEA), can also use the working abroad policy.
However, even while you’re away from home, you’re still in safe hands because working abroad packages include medical coverage. It also covers pre-existing medical and health problems.
On the contrary, you will have protection with the normal working abroad insurance coverage. This is if your pre-existing ailment falls within the policy’s “no screen conditions.” Nevertheless, you must pay an extra fee and attend the ASUA Medical Examination. And because it complies with its policy criteria, make sure to report any pre-existing health conditions as well as medical concerns. It is, however, worth noting that failing to do so could lead to the cancellation of your travel insurance policy.
In addition, the working abroad insurance policy also covers dangerous pursuits as well as aquatic activities.
What Working Abroad Travel Insurance Covers
Typically, comprehensive travel insurance for working abroad policies will help fill in any coverage gaps and also provide the following key benefits:
#1. Travel Interruption
Generally, for specific reasons for having to cut a trip short, like illness or injury that requires you to return home, travel insurance will provide coverage. Likewise, other factors, such as inclement weather or natural calamities, could also get coverage. However, like with cancellation insurance, fully comprehend the policy and understand what it covers and what it does not.
#2. 24/7 Emergency Assistance
This service provides translation services as well as medical or hospital referrals.
#3. Trip Cancellation
Typically, particular reasons for the cancellation of a trip, including illness or injury before departure, will be covered by the plans. However, it could also provide cover for other factors, including a family member’s death or unexpected natural calamities. Nevertheless, make sure you carefully read the policy’s tiny print to understand what is and isn’t covered.
#4. Luggage compensation
All the more, if any of your possessions or suitcases is lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed, some plans will reimburse you or give you compensation
#5. Medical Expenses
Plans cover you if you get sick or hurt while you’re overseas, plus repatriation fees. However, make sure you tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical issues, or it may lead to the cancellation of your coverage.
#6. Personal Liability
This insurance plan will provide you with coverage if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property.
#7. Emergency Medical Coverage
#8. Emergency Medical Evacuation
What to Look Out for When Choosing to Work Abroad Travel Insurance
Choosing the best travel insurance coverage might be a bit difficult, considering you might want the cheapest of all the options. However, this may leave you disappointed if you need to file a claim.
Rather, focus on the amounts supplied and the qualities of the service rendered for crucial categories like the following while evaluating policy options:
Medical Expense
Don’t economize on this because medical bills can pile up rapidly. However, according to the Money Advice Service. You are advised to look for insurance with at least £1 million coverage for travel in Europe and £2 million or more for travel to the United States. Also, ensure that your policy covers repatriation as well.
Personal liability cover/legal fees
This will protect you if you injure or damage someone’s property by mistake. In this instance, the Money Advice Service suggests looking for plans with a minimum value of £2 million or higher.
The Excess
Typically, this is the amount you will have to contribute to a claim. Before you decide on agreeing to a high excess, consider how much you can truly afford to pay. Likewise, you should at the same time verify if the excess is per person or policy if your coverage is for a couple or a family. In addition, check to see if your policy has different excess amounts for different things.
Loss Possession/luggage
By all means, make sure you verify how much the policy allows you to claim for various items like missing luggage and cash. This is because you don’t want to only be finding out when you are submitting a claim that the provided amounts are significantly lesser than what you need. Also, check to see if there’s a single item restriction. And also, which is the maximum amount you can claim for a single item regardless of the overall limit.
Cancellation
At this point, make sure the compensation for this is equivalent to or greater than the amount you paid for your trip.
Scheduled airline failure
This cover will safeguard you financially if your travel agency or airline goes out of business. This is something to think about if you’re not traveling as part of an ATOL-protected holiday trip.
Cover for delay
Normally, after delaying you for a particular amount of time, usually 12 hours, financial compensation for delays kicks in.
Coverage for missed departure
This will recompense you if you miss your airline, train, boat, or other modes of transportation due to no fault of your own. However, be sure your transportation is included, though. At the same time, have it in mind that you might need to prove that you give enough time for your journey. Or maybe you broke down on your way to the airport. Nevertheless, this is for your claim to be successful, so take note and make sure you keep evidence.
NOTE: Generally, these amounts will range between businesses, and some insurance carriers provide policies in tiers (commonly referred to as bronze, silver, and gold) with varying levels of coverage depending on which one of them you select.
Long Stay Working Abroad Travel Insurance
Typically, If you’re going on a long journey, you’ll need travel insurance that covers the entire trip. Long-term travel insurance protects you when you go on a journey that lasts longer than a week.
Long-term travel insurance protects you and your things during long-term journeys such as gap year experiences and globe cruises. At the same time, it can be anyone of working age taking an extended break from their normal life to embark on an adventure abroad.
Long-term travel insurance is a type of coverage that covers you while traveling for an extended period. Most regular travel insurance policies only cover vacations of up to 31 days. However, some single-trip policies may cover a stay of up to three months. Long-term travel insurance on the other hand covers travels of up to 18 months in length.
However, the sort of coverage you require is determined by your age, the length of time you intend to be gone, and the location of your trip.
Nevertheless, the different policy types include:
- Backpacker 6
- Over-50s long-stay travel insurance
- Over-70s long-stay travel insurance
Benefits of Long Stay Travel Insurance
Some of the benefits this cover provides include:
- Coverage for trips of up to 18 months (depending on your age and destination of choice).
- Availability of European and Worldwide options.
- Up to a maximum duration of 21 days per trip for two home returns.
- Standard coverage for working, such as bar work and teaching.
- Automatic cover for a wide range of adventure sports and hazardous activities with further policy extensions are all available.
- Basic cover includes emergency medical expenses, repatriation, personal liability, legal expenses, as well as personal accident.
- Couples and families getting discounts.
- Available cover for lost or stolen possession or gadgets such as smartphones, tablets, cameras, and more.
Who is Long Stay Travel Insurance Suitable For?
Normally, anyone can benefit from long-stay travel insurance. So it’s suitable for everyone.
However, long-stay travelers include individuals who are going on a gap year backpacking throughout Asia. Those working in Australia for a year, Interrailing around Europe all summer, teaching. Also, those that are just volunteering in Africa for 6 months. Spending a semester in the United States, and the list goes on.
FAQs
Can you buy travel insurance when you're already abroad UK?
Yes, you can. With World Nomads, you can buy travel insurance from almost anywhere in the world and manage your policy online. If your policy has expired, do not worry. You can still extend your coverage but a 48-hour waiting period applies.
Can I buy travel insurance during my trip?Can I buy travel insurance after departure?
Yes, you can but only with a few insurance companies. Finding travel insurance when you’re already traveling is challenging. … While most companies don’t allow you to buy travel insurance after departure, there are a few reliable insurers that do.
Can you backdate travel insurance?
If your existing cover has already expired, you can usually purchase a new one, but there may be a period of time before you can make a claim on the new one. This is to prevent travelers from backdating policies to cover an incident that has already occurred.
Does travel insurance increase closer to departure date?
Unlike other aspects of your travel experience like airfares or hotel-room rates, the price of travel insurance doesn’t increase the closer you get to your travel date. There’s no financial penalty if you wait to buy travel insurance (except for those bonus coverages, of course).
