Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
“Almost all policies have an excess attached to different sections of cover. That amount is
deducted from the claim, normally for each person covered and for each relevant section
of the policy. If you make a number of claims whilst you are travelling this can add up so
think about taking out an excess waiver so that you have to contribute nothing. It may cost
a little more but could save you a small fortune.”
You'll also need to let your insurers know about any existing medical conditions before
you head off: “If you don't declare a pre-existing condition, the entire policy will probably
be invalidated. If you are in any doubt, talk to the insurer before you buy . Note also
that, if you have an existing injury that is exacerbated by a second accident while you are
travelling, cover for this may also be excluded.”
What to do if you get an emergency call to come
home
We all hope there'll be no family crises while we're away on our gap but it does occasion-
ally happen that someone close is taken seriously ill, or even dies, and then all you can
think about is getting home as quickly as possible.
We've talked to a couple of insurers about this and they reinforce our advice to always read
the policy carefully before you set off on your travels.
Generally speaking, your gap-year travel policy ceases once you return home, but some
insurers offer extra cover for one extra trip home (or more, up to four, but the price rises
with each one) without your policy lapsing. In a backpacker/adventure policy of three to 18
months, one home return is in the region of £5 and four would be around £24 extra on your
policy.
Most insurers are used to dealing with sudden early returns and have a 24-hour emergency
assistance company to help you through the whole process.
You need to let them know anyway so you can set the ball rolling for claiming for the cost
and they can deal with getting you from your gap location to the airport, or, if you have
one, you can use the help of your placement provider's in-country reps, or even a combin-
ation of the two, so you don't have to deal with transport hassles when all you can think
about is getting home quickly.
However, there are often restrictions. First off, your family emergency has to affect an im-
mediate relative - so husband, wife, mum, dad, grandparents, sisters and brothers, children,
grandchildren - but not aunts, uncles and other extended family. It has to be serious injury,
illness or death of a relative - family feuds and divorces do not count!
If you have home return extra on your policy you're covered for one extra flight home;
you're not covered for an additional flight back to resume your gap. But, if you have a
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