Top 5 Travel Insurance Providers for Backpackers
Compare Backpacking Travel Insurance Companies At a Glance
We asked for online quotes for our leading travel insurance coverage companies so you can see just how much protection expenses. The chart listed below consists of quotes for a 25-year-old backpacker from New York taking a three-week journey to Mexico, with an overall journey cost of $2,500. Quotes are for basic prepares with travel medical insurance coverage, journey cancellation protection and more. We likewise consisted of special protection choices, consisting of cancel for any factor or CFAR protection.
AIG Travel Guard
- CFAR protection: Add-on available with particular strategies
If you’re trying to find a travel insurance coverage for backpacking as a family, AIG Travel Guard strategies consist of protection for one kid under age 17 with the rate for a paying grownup. The Deluxe Plan provides top-level medical evacuation and health care protection as much as $100,000, while
the Preferred Plan includes as much as $50,000 for travel medical expenses.
If you are on a budget plan throughout long-lasting backpacking journeys, the Essential Plan covers the essentials, with 24/7 emergency situation support and healthcare protection as much as $15,000. The Pack N’ Go Plan is available if you prepare a journey eleventh hour and don’t require cancellation protection.
Add-On Options
AIG Travel Guard offers a variety of add-ons depending upon your picked strategy. Some examples consist of:
- Cancel for any factor (CFAR) protection
- Rental vehicle damage protection
- Security evacuations and disturbances package
- Adventure sports package
- Medical package
- Wedding package
- Pet package
- Baggage bundle
Cost
Based on the quote we asked for a 25-year-old backpacker taking a trip to Spain for 20 days on a $3,000 journey, the Essential Plan would cost $134.
To learn more: AIG Travel Guard travel insurance coverage evaluation
IMG Travel Insurance
- CFAR protection: Add-on available with iTravelGuaranteed Travel LX Plan
From rafting to sky diving and bungee leaping, severe sports fans can benefit from IMG’s iTravelGuaranteed Travel Sport Plan. It consists of sports equipment rental repayment and natural catastrophe evacuation protection.
For long backpacking journeys, the most budget-friendly alternative is the iTravelGuaranteed Travel Lite Plan, that includes advantages for journey cancellation, travel hold-ups and emergency situation medical support. You can likewise select more detailed choices with the iTravelGuaranteed Travel SE and iTravelGuaranteed Travel LX strategies.
Add-On Options
IMG provides the following add-ons with the iTravelGuaranteed Travel LX strategy:
- Interrupt for any factor (IFAR) protection (as much as 75% of journey expenses)
- CFAR protection (as much as 75% of the journey expenses)
Cost
Based on our quote, the iTravelGuaranteed Travel Lite Plan would cost $83 for a 25-year-old tourist backpacking around Spain for a 20-day journey worth $3,000.
To learn more: IMG travel insurance coverage evaluation
AIlianz Global Assistance
- CFAR protection: Add-on available with particular strategies
Allianz provides a variety of budget-friendly prepare for backpackers, consisting of the AllTrips Basic Plan, a multi-trip policy with year-long security. Or, if you’re mostly trying to find medical insurance and have a versatile travel plan with very little pre-paid costs, you can save money with the OneTrip Emergency Medical Plan. It just covers post-departure advantages, consisting of unforeseen occasions after your journey starts.
While Allianz likewise offers detailed insurance plan, budget plan tourists might choose the OneTrip Basic prepare for budget-friendly, well-rounded protection.
Add-On Options
Allianz Global offers the following add-on choices, which you can include depending upon your strategy:
- CFAR protection
- OneTrip Rental Car Protector
- Terrorism Extension cover
- Required to Work cover
Cost
Based on our quote, the OneTrip Basic Plan would cost $91 for a 25-year-old backpacker taking a 20-day journey to Spain for $3,000.
To learn more: Allianz Global Insurance travel insurance coverage evaluation
Travelex Insurance
- CFAR protection: Add-on available with the Travel Select Plan
You can select from 3 strategies with Travelex Insurance: Travel Basic, Travel Select and Travel America. Travel Basic is an economical alternative for backpackers with enough protection. Five optional upgrades are available with the more detailed Travel Select Plan, with a $50,000 limitation for emergency situation medical expenses.
If you are preparing to backpack around the U.S., the Travel America strategy offers emergency situation medical costs and repayment for canceled occasions, such as ski resort closures.
Add-On Options
Travelex provides a range of add-on choices, depending upon the strategy you pick. Upgrades consist of:
- CFAR protection
- Car rental crash
- Adventure sports protection
- Additional medical protection
- Flight unexpected death and dismemberment
Cost
Based on our quote procedure, the Travel Basic Plan costs $87 for a 25-year-old tourist on a 20-day journey to Spain worth $3,000.
To learn more: Travelex travel insurance coverage evaluation
World Nomads
- CFAR protection: Not available
Whether you enjoy Alpine snowboarding or rock climbing, World Nomads is a popular option for daring backpackers. Its 2 policies, the Standard Plan and Explorer Plan, cover over 200 experience activities and sports. The primary distinction in between the strategies is the Explorer Plan provides greater protection limitations.
Add-On Options
World Nomads provides rental car damage protection with the Explorer Plan.
Cost
We pulled quotes for both prepare for a 25-year-old backpacker taking a 20-day journey to Spain. You might anticipate to pay $96 for the Standard Plan and $180 for the Explorer Plan.
Key Features To Look For in Backpacker Travel Insurance
Backpacker travel insurance coverage goes through your specific requirements. According to the U.S. Department of State, the federal government does not cover medical costs overseas. Therefore, the company advises travel medical emergency situation insurance coverage, particularly if you’re taking part in experience activities. However, not all travel insurance provider cover experience sports.
Trip disruption insurance coverage can help you get ready for possible cancellations and flight hold-ups, providing repayment of pre-paid expenses if disturbances happen for a covered factor. Emergency evacuation protection is necessary in case of natural catastrophes or civil discontent, particularly if you intend on adventuring in backwoods. Ensuring your policy provides luggage and personal impacts protection likewise provides a monetary safeguard for lost or taken valuables, consisting of sporting equipment.
While you might have the ability to discover basic travel insurance coverage with these functions, the advantage limitations might differ. It’s likewise crucial to note that not all policies cover experience sports equipment or medical costs. Make sure to search for a strategy with this protection if you intend on including sporting occasions to your backpacking journey.
Factors To Consider When Choosing the Best Insurance
Everyone’s various, so picking the very best insurance coverage for your backpacking journey indicates considering your personal requirements. Ask yourself the following concerns as you think about travel insurance plan:
- Does the travel insurance coverage cover all the locations you wish to check out?
- How long is your backpacking journey and if required, does the policy fit long-lasting travel?
- Does the policy consist of enough medical protection for possible health concerns or involvement in sports?
- Are there appropriate protection limitations for luggage, equipment and high-value equipment?
- Does the policy adequately cover missed out on activities and flight cancellations?
- Do you need protection for a pre-existing condition and if so, does the policy consist of a waiver?
If you are preparing a long-lasting backpacking journey, take note of the duration of your travel insurance coverage. For example, if you look for a multi-trip strategy with 6 months versus a year of protection. And if you prepare to travel around the world, make certain your policy includes your desired locations.
It likewise assists to examine the protection you already have prior to buying a policy. For example, your charge card might consist of rental car protection or other types of travel insurance coverage.
What Does Travel Insurance Not Cover?
Most travel insurance coverage prepares cover medical emergency situations, journey cancellations and hold-ups, and luggage loss or theft. However, many policies don’t cover the following:
- Alcohol and drug-related occurrences
- Extreme sports such as cliff diving
- Non-emergency situation medical treatment
- Flexibility in journey cancelation, such as altering your mind about flights or locations
- Incidents due to neglect
Some companies might provide add-on protection for severe sports, non-emergency medical treatment and cancellation versatility (CFAR protection).
Travel Tips for Comparing Backpacker Insurance
Before purchasing travel insurance coverage, it’s important to look around, compare costs and check out client evaluations. We recommend acquiring online quotes from a minimum of 3 companies prior to picking a policy.
Once you’ve discovered a couple of choices that fit your protection requirements and budget plan, checked out the policy files to make sure the protection is ideal for you. Look for any exemptions or limitations that might affect your protection, such as an absence of experience sports security. If you don’t comprehend something, talk to the company straight prior to making your choice.
Is Backpacking Travel Insurance Worth It?
Backpacking is frequently an experience of a life time, however it is likewise a financial investment. Safeguarding your pre-paid and nonrefundable expenses, together with having monetary safeguard for unexpected medical emergency situations, can help you take pleasure in a hassle-free journey.
Ultimately, it depends on you to choose if backpacking travel insurance coverage deserves it. If you’re preparing to launch into experience activities, leading companies such as World Nomads, IMG and Travelex provide additional protection. You can likewise select a basic strategy from Allianz or pick AIG Travel Guard if you require protection for a kid. Regardless of your option, each of our leading companies can supply budget-friendly choices with enough protection for backpackers.
Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Travel Insurance Companies for Backpacking Trips
Our group surveyed lots of travel insurance coverage companies and developed a scoring system to evaluate each business’s quality and service. We connected for sample quotes, both over the phone and on the web, to replicate a genuine client experience. Here are the aspects that represent our company evaluations:
- Plan accessibility (20%): We searched for insurance providers with a range of strategies and the capability to personalize the policy with upgrades.
- Coverage (40%): Among the advantages scored were medical costs, medical and nonmedical evacuation, COVID-19 protection, pre-existing condition exemption waivers, “cancel for any reason” protection, journey disruption, travel hold-up time requirements, luggage hold-up time requirements, luggage repayment and monetary default of a travel provider. Special factor to consider was offered to business providing special add-ons, such as severe sports protection, protection for business equipment and animal protection.
- Customer service and assistance (30%): We searched for signs that a business is well-prepared to react to client requirements. Companies with a recognized worldwide resource network, a 24/7 emergency situation hotline, robust mobile apps and benefits like concierge and translation services scored greater.
- Reputation (10%): We gauge track record by assessing customer evaluations, third-party monetary strength and client experience rankings, particularly from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
*AM Best rankings are precise since June 2023.
Nicole Leigh West is a knowledgeable way of life reporter and author for publications consisting of Wanderlust, TripSmart and Vacations & Travel. Along with strolling the world and penning fiction books, Nicole works for World Words as a sub-editor and author.
Tori Addison is an editor who has actually operated in the digital marketing market for over 5 years. Her experience consists of interactions and marketing operate in the not-for-profit, governmental and scholastic sectors. A reporter by trade, she began her profession covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work consisted of protection of regional and state budget plans, federal monetary policies and healthcare legislation.