Getting Insured for Long Trips
Key Takeaway
Travel insurance covers 3 major risks: health/repatriation (the most important), civil liability, luggage/cancellation. For a long stay, aim for a contract with a minimum health ceiling of €200,000 and COVID inclusion. Expect to pay €30 to €60/month depending on age and destination.
Insurance During Your Long Trip
One thing to know: When you pay for your plane ticket with a Visa card, you are covered abroad for 3 months under certain limits. If you want to stay longer in a country, it is therefore necessary to take out insurance that will cover you during your trip. During my year in Australia, I took out a one-year insurance policy to cover me in case of trouble or accident; you can never be too careful when you know a doctor’s appointment costs two to three times more abroad or if you are hospitalized or have an accident, hospital fees can amount to several thousand euros.
I actually have a friend who broke his ankle in Australia during a soccer match I organized, and another who had a digestive problem. They had to stay several days in the hospital and if they hadn’t had travel insurance, they probably both would have had to return to France. However, sometimes you have to advance the costs if they do not exceed a certain amount.
In my personal case: before leaving, I took out insurance that covered me in all the countries I was going to travel to for 400 euros per year. Fortunately or unfortunately for me, I did not get sick.
My Experience
A friend broke his ankle mountain biking in Thailand: surgery, 4 days in hospital, medical repatriation to France. Total billed: €28,000. Without insurance, he would have had to sell his apartment. With his Chapka contract, he paid nothing.
You really need to look at the insurance details as much as possible, because there are different options for each insurance. It’s really important. For some insurances, you have to advance the costs, others don’t cover all risks, etc.
Did You Know?
In the United States, a simple emergency room visit can cost $2,000 USD, a hospital stay several tens of thousands. No travel insurance at €50/month really covers this risk without a high ceiling.
It is sometimes mandatory to take out insurance when you do a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) in Canada, for example.
Advantages
- Essential health coverage outside Europe
- Medical repatriation covered
- Trip cancellation covered
- Civil liability if you cause damage
- Lost or stolen luggage compensated (often partially)
Weaknesses
- Compensation delays sometimes long
- Many exclusions (extreme sports, old pandemics)
- Advance payments sometimes necessary
- Compare ceilings before signing
- Not always necessary for a short stay in Europe
The usefulness of insurance during your trip
The classic trap to avoid
Never settle for the insurance provided by your bank card (Visa Premier, Mastercard Gold) for a long trip. The limits are often low (barely €11,000 for medical expenses), and assistance abroad is limited. For 6 months or a round-the-world trip, a dedicated contract is essential.
- Taking out insurance means paying for something that might save you a lot more money later. If you need to be repatriated or if you go to the hospital.
- Being protected from certain risks such as baggage insurance or being covered when you do sports.
- Not paying a deductible (depends on the type of travel insurance you take)
- You are covered in most of the countries you will visit (list varies depending on the insurer)
- I have a friend who took out insurance before leaving where he is covered in case of cancellation of the plane ticket and he was right because he had appendicitis ten days before leaving. So he canceled his ticket to take it again later; without this insurance, he would have paid twice for his plane ticket.
- There is coverage depending on the insurer for extreme sports, such as diving, jet skiing, motorcycling, paragliding, etc.
Of course, there are many other advantages; you never know what might happen to us during our trip. Travel insurance is an investment in any case because you will have a freer mind.
Other readings that follow the same logic: our feedback on health advice and which sets the tone, the practical guide on Chapka Direct for concrete details, and finally good and bad encounters if you want to extend the reflection.
And you, do you take travel insurance during a short or long stay?
Is the bank card insurance enough?
For a short stay in Europe, yes. For a long trip outside Europe or a round-the-world trip, no: limits are too low and there are many exclusions.
What is the best travel insurance?
Chapka, ACS, and April are the 3 most recognized. Compare according to your destination and duration.
How much does travel insurance cost?
Between €30 and €80 per month depending on age, duration, and destination. For 1 year round-the-world, about €450-600.
| Insurance | Profile | Estimated price |
|---|---|---|
| Chapka Cap Aventure | Long stay, round the world | ~€45/month |
| ACS True Traveller | Backpackers, young people | ~€35/month |
| April International | Family, retirees | ~€55/month |
| Allianz Travel | Short stay | ~€30/week |
