More and more students are deciding to take time off after university before heading into the world of full time work. The number of gap-year students has risen dramatically over the last few years and given the fact that travel is often a great way to improve your CV to potential employers, it is often now being seen as a necessity.
What is also necessary is the right kind of travel insurance. Countless numbers of students head out on interesting trips and holidays to destinations they have never visited equipped with nothing more than their backpack, some money, their trusty mobile phone, MP3 players and credit cards-never thinking about what could happen if they lost all of those. It does happen and there is nothing worse than losing all those items in a foreign country with no one to turn to get any kind of compensation or redress.
Many travellers neglect insurance, but it can be tremendously important, providing peace of mind for you and for your family back home. Most policies provide cover for your baggage, medical expenses and cancellation, making sure you have the help you need when you need it most. When buying a policy, check with your insurer that it covers you for any extra activities you may participate in, e.g. bungee jumping, white water rafting.
Once this necessary box has been ticked, then think about what your imaginative adventure means in insurance terms. Certain countries will be considered undesirable when it comes to insurance companies. These are usually those mentioned by the Foreign Office as not suitable for travel, so if you are likely to visit a potentially hostile country then check the guidelines of the insurance company before you go.
As a student, gap year travellers are often money conscious and will always go for the cheaper insurance option. Don’t. Cheaper covers might be more desirable for the budget-conscious traveller, but the insurance company can offset this by charging a higher excess. More importantly, cheaper insurance could also include less cover for specific events, so always go for something that covers every eventuality, rather than just going for a policy because it is cheap.
Taking a break from your studies can mean switching off your academic brain but not your common-sense one. Check every policy carefully and be sure of your programme before you leave so you are covered for every eventuality. If you feel it is likely you may decide to ski or go scuba diving (or even take up golf) for part of your trip make sure you have adequate cover before you leave.
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