How to be a well insured backpacker?

How to be a well insured backpacker?
well insured backpackerYou have decided to set off on the roads of the world, bag on your back… what an adventure! But before the big departure, some administrative procedures are necessary, such as taking out travel insurance. It’s not the most exhilarating part of the preparations, but it’s a must! So to be a well-insured backpacker and enjoy your trip with a light mind, here are the most important coverages and the points to pay attention to when choosing your travel insurance.

Medical fees

Obviously, the most important guarantee of travel insurance for a backpacker is covering your health costs abroad. Your insurance should cover you for medical emergencies, but also for non-urgent care, such as seeing a doctor for a cold or the flu, or buying medicine from a pharmacy on a doctor's prescription. So remember to check this point!

In most cases, it will be up to you to advance your health care costs and then apply for reimbursement from your insurance. However, in some cases, it is possible to request direct care, which saves you having to pay for your care out of pocket. So remember to find out about the conditions for requesting support. With the Globe Traveler contract, for example, a request for reimbursement is opened in the event of hospitalization for more than 24 hours. If you stay in the emergency room for a few hours, this therefore does not count as hospitalization and does not allow direct treatment. You will therefore have to pay for your treatment and then apply for reimbursement.

In order to be a well-insured backpacker, it is important to check your travel insurance limit! Indeed, travel insurance contracts have a maximum amount to cover your costs (150,000 euros for Globe Partner, up to 500,000 euros for Globe Traveler, for example). This limit must be high enough to meet your needs. Certain treatments in particular may also be subject to a lower limit, for example dental treatment in most offers. Avoid unpleasant surprises and find out beforehand!

Finally, a very important point (even THE most important) and to read carefully the general conditions of the contract, in particular the exclusions. Yes, it's not the most fun part of preparing for your trip, but it is essential! All insurance contracts have exclusions, that is, care that they will not cover. It's up to you to read it before you travel, it can avoid very unpleasant surprises! For example, most travel insurance does not cover ailments prior to taking out the contract, such as long-term illnesses. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, do not hesitate to speak with your insurer so that they can advise you on the most suitable solution.

Repatriation Assistance

Travel insurance for a backpacker is also there to deal with very big problems. We don't like to think about it, but it can happen: an illness that cannot be cured abroad or a serious accident that ends your trip, or worse, a death. In this kind of case, travel insurance covers your repatriation to your country of origin, and this can be very reassuring for you and for your family who are far from you. Repatriation can take many forms, from a simple economy class plane ticket to a dedicated medical plane, depending on your needs and your state of health. The cost of this emergency trip can reach heights: several tens of thousands of euros, so it is better to have insurance!

Repatriation assistance is therefore essential for any backpacker, and must absolutely be included in the travel insurance contract you have chosen.

Other assistance guarantees

Repatriation assistance is not the only guarantee of assistance included in your backpacker travel insurance. There are other less important guarantees that are useful in difficult situations.

If your medical condition requires you to be hospitalized for several days and you are alone abroad, your insurance may pay for the trip to a member of your family to stay at your bedside. The number of days of hospitalization, the nights covered as well as the total amount of this guarantee differs according to the offers.

Another guarantee covers your return to your country of origin in the event of the death of a member of your immediate family. Please note, the definition of close family depends on the contracts, as well as the return conditions. So remember to look at this clause.

Finally, another guarantee of assistance that is very useful when you have a taste for adventure.