Long-stay travel insurance – How to find the best one

Long stay travel insurance is the best one to take out if you’re traveling for more than 3 months.

18:01 13 February 2013

Travel insuranceis definitely a must when you’re going on a holiday. This protects you from any unforeseen incident that can ruin your holiday. For example, if you lose your baggage, or in case you need emergency medical assistance while you’re abroad, it’s comforting to know that you have a policy that will cover all your expenses.

Regular travel insurance usually covers just 3 months of travelling. If you intend to extend your holiday to see the world or to spend more time with your family abroad, getting a long-stay travel insurance is definitely a must.

Here are some tips on how you can find the best one:

•    Know what you need. Long-stay travel insurance policies are definitely not created equal. Some offer more coverage than the others. Before you go ahead and call any insurance company, ensure that you know exactly what you’re looking for. You would want to get coverage for cancelled or delayed flights and loss baggage.

You would also want to get protection should the travel agency you used to book your holiday with goes out of business. If you’re over 50, getting comprehensive medical insurance that will cover pre-existing condition is also non-negotiable.

•    Get quotes. Get in touch with as many insurance companies as possible and get their quotes. Don’t worry as you can do this for free. It may take some of your time but this will help you see all your options.

•    Looks for ways to save. You don’t need to burn a hole in your pocket when taking out long-stay travel insurance. You can save some money by (1) taking out the policy from your current insurance company as they will most likely to give you discount for your loyalty and (2) by taking out some coverage that you don’t need.