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Planning an extended trip soon? Long-term travel medical and transportation coverage is perfect for travelers embarking on long-term trips needing medical and travel related protection.
Naturally, insurance for long haul travel isnāt compulsory for every voyager, specifically if trips exceed three months. However, extended stay travel protection proves helpful for anybody studying overseas, working abroad temporarily, taking a gap year, or simply touring for an extended period.
When I first relocated to the US, I wasnāt certain if I would stay indefinitely, so I obtained a long-term travel medical insurance plan from Heymondo, recognizing that it would preserve funds and provide coverage if any healthcare emergencies occurred. It was precisely what I required at the time.
As soon as I decided to reside in the US permanently, I switched to medical insurance with greater coverage beyond emergency circumstances since insurance for longer travel is not suitable for expats wanting regular healthcare.
If insurance plans intended for those who remain somewhere longer than normal are what you need, keep reading, because we have looked at the best long-duration travel protection packages (Heymondo, World Nomads, Travelex, and SafetyWing) and can assist you in selecting which of these is best for your trip.
- What is long-term travel medical insurance?
- Comparison of coverage options for long-term travel insurance
- Long-term travel coverage cost assessment
- Most enduring long-haul travel insurance corporations
Table of Contents
What is long-term travel insurance?
Long-haul travel protection is protection for anybody taking a long-haul excursion who requirements restorative costs and experience identified with inclusion. Any excursion that keeps going a least of 90 days and a most extreme of one or two years (contingent upon the long remain travel protection organization) is considered a long haul excursion.
Insurance for lengthy travel provides medical and travel related protection for incidents like emergency clinical care, journey delays, baggage loss, and repatriation similar to other travel insurance. However, it is not suitable for anyone permanently living abroad especially as it only covers emergency medical expenses but not routine medical care.
Long-term travel insurance vs. annual, multi-trip travel insurance
So, is long-duration travel protection comparable to yearly, multi-trip travel coverage? While they may sound alike, insurance for extended travel and annual travel protection are totally different.
Long-term travel coverage insures for extended trips lasting three months or more, while annual travel insurance protects multiple shorter excursions occurring within one year. With annual travel insurance, trips are limited to 30-90 days, so itās not a suitable choice if your trip will exceed that duration. Annual travel insurance is also only helpful if youāll be taking at least four or more trips annually.
If undertaking a single, long-term trip or multiple visits within a year lasting over 90 days, extended-stay travel insurance is best suited to you.
Who is insurance for long-term travel for?
There are several factors you might need insurance for long-term travel. You might be taking an extended trip, working abroad, embarking on a gap year, or more. Below are the most common and useful factors for acquiring travel insurance for long-term travel:
Travel insurance for extended or long-term trips
If youāre about to embark on a lengthy trip lasting at minimum three months, you will certainly want coverage for medical emergencies via travel insurance.
Extended-duration travel insurance will prove to be the most cost-effective option for your trip, especially if you donāt plan on returning to your home country before 90 days have passed. If you plan on going back home before 90 days have elapsed, then annual, multi-trip travel insurance may serve you better.
Extended remain travel insurance for working overseas
Working abroad for an extended period of time comes with risks, as it is possible to require emergency medical care while overseas. Having insurance coverage for healthcare when laboring internationally is therefore essential.
Be sure to list your home country, not the country where you will work temporarily, as your place of residence when purchasing travel insurance. Otherwise, you will not be covered since long-term travel policies typically do not offer coverage in your designated home nation.
Travel insurance for expats
While using long-term travel insurance as insurance for those living abroad may seem like a good idea, long-stay travel coverage is not intended for expats. Long-stay travel insurance only takes care of emergency medical costs, so it does not work for someone who permanently lives overseas and will require routine healthcare checks and appointments.
In addition, whichever nation you relocate to will currently be your place of residence. Insurance for long-term travel generally does not offer coverage in your designated country of residence, so you may not be eligible for coverage anyway.
Long-term travel medical insurance for students overseas
Itās incredibly exciting to study abroad, but accidents and mishaps can and do happen, so avoid paying for emergency medical expenses and replacing stolen valuables with your own money by obtaining extended-stay travel insurance.
Having long-term travel insurance coverage will be especially useful if you plan on taking weekend trips to other countries that are close to the country where you are studying abroad; you can still receive the same coverage for those smaller trips (just make sure to select worldwide coverage or, if youāll just be traveling in Europe, Europe/EU coverage).
Insurance for long trips around the world
Fulfilling the dream of an extended trip around the globe, it is simple to ensure your long-term worldwide travel insurance will cover all destinations. Selecting “worldwide” or “around the world” coverage for your extended international travel protection means avoiding separate policies in each country and protection for impromptu stops while traveling globally.
One-way Travel Insurance for an Extended Journey abroad
If you intend to dedicate an entire calendar year to global travel, travel protection for prolonged journeys overseas is precisely what you require. Youāll benefit from worldwide emergency medical care, so you can receive treatment if you become injured or fall sick, as well as travel-related coverage for lost luggage and trip delays.
I recommend obtaining a one-way travel protection plan from Heymondo or SafetyWing as both companies allow you to renew your plan from month to month. Therefore, if you ultimately return home sooner than anticipated, you wonāt lose out on any funds.
Coverage for nomadic individuals
With remote work increasing, traveling globally while working is now more feasible. However, purchasing digital nomad travel insurance is imperative before departing. Coverage should include electronics like laptops and tablets crucial for remote work, replacing these items if lost or stolen abroad. Additionally, choose worldwide coverage to freely explore bucket list destinations anywhere internationally while insured.
Long-stay travel insurance coverage comparison
There can be many factors to keep in mind when obtaining long-term travel insurance, but coverage is undoubtedly the most critical aspect to consider when selecting the long-stay travel protection one wishes to purchase.
Below, youāll find a long-duration travel protection comparison that shows you the differences in coverage among the Heymondo, World Nomads, Travelex, and SafetyWing plans.
If traveling through the Golden Circle within two days, the best approach is to spend both nights in a hotel near Strokkur. This allows viewing the sunrise over the geyser and taking excursions like touring the Langjƶkull glacier or rafting down the HvĆtĆ” river, as well as visiting Gullfoss and the Kerid Crater.
|
Coverage for Emergency Medical Expenses |
$250,000 |
$100,000 |
$50,000 |
$250,000 |
|
Deductible |
$100 |
$0 |
$0 |
$250 |
|
Upfront Payment for Medical Expenses |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
COVID coverage |
Screening, treatment, and isolation |
Treatment and
isolation |
Treatment and isolation |
Screening, treatment, and isolation |
|
Medical Evacuation and Repatriation |
$500,000 |
$300,000 |
$500,000 |
$100,000 |
|
Trip Cancellation |
Optional |
100% of trip cost up to $2,500 |
100% of insured trip cost up to $50,000 |
ā |
|
Trip Delay |
$450 |
$500 ($250/day) |
$2,000 ($250/day) |
$200 ($100/day) |
|
Baggage Loss |
$1,700 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
$3,000 |
|
COMPARISON OF LONG-TERM TRAVEL INSURANCE COVERAGE |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
Comparison of long-term travel insurance prices
If you want a better idea of how much long-term travel insurance costs based on the length of your trip and/or the specific coverage you choose, below is a chart comparing the prices of 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 8-month, and 1-year long-term travel insurance as well as the prices of long-stay travel insurance, annual multi-trip travel insurance, and cancellation insurance.
The cost of long-term travel insurance will be impacted by several different factors, including your age, nationality, and state of residence (if you live in the US).
To provide an idea of how much insurance for extended travel expenses, I`ve utilized the example of a 30-year-old American citizen residing in Pennsylvania needing global coverage to generate quotes for this long-stay travel medical price analysis.
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Types of travel insurance/length |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Coverage for Emergency Medical Expenses |
$250,000 |
$100,000 |
$50,000 |
$250,000 |
|
Insurance for a 1-month trip |
$126.99 |
$212.55 |
$105 |
$82.20 |
|
3-month travel insurance |
$319.30 |
$496.30 |
$321 |
$246.60 |
|
6-month travel insurance |
$525.30 |
$904.69 |
$403 |
$493.20 |
|
8-month travel insurance |
$663.30 |
$1,271.69 |
$403 |
$657.60 |
|
One-year travel protection |
$938.30 |
$1,809.38 |
$404 |
$997.36 |
|
Long-stay travel insurance |
Purchase for 3 months, with the option to renew as many times as wanted for up to 8 months at once |
You can buy up to 6 months at once |
You can buy up to a year at once |
You can buy up to a year at once or renew every 4 weeks |
|
Annual travel protection for multiple trips |
$197.96 |
ā |
ā |
ā |
|
Cancellation coverage |
$91.87 (for 1-year trip, worldwide coverage) |
Included |
Included |
ā |
|
LONG-TERM TRAVEL INSURANCE PRICE COMPARISON |
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Best long-term travel insurance
As is evident from the charts above, each of the four long-term travel medical plans I examined has its own advantages.
Heymondo provides the highest coverage for emergency medical expenses, plus itās the only insurance for long-term travel that pays your medical costs upfront, so you do not need to submit a claim after your trip to get reimbursed. I will mention, though, that itās not the most inexpensive long-haul travel insurance and it does have a deductible of $100 for emergency medical expenses. Still, I do think it is the best long-term travel medical insurance if you want ease and practicality.
SafetyWingās Nomad Insurance also provides very good coverage, however their deductible for emergency medical expenses is $250. In spite of this minor disadvantage, SafetyWing stands out as the optimal insurance for digital nomads since you can sign up for a plan and it will automatically be renewed every four weeks.
Travelex, on the contrary, has the most affordable travel medical insurance for lengthy trips (for journeys of six months or extended). For shorter excursions, there are other, less expensive possibilities. Travelexās plan has no deductible, but its emergency healthcare coverage is also quite restricted, so I would think carefully before embarking on an extended trip with such a small amount of protection.
Finally, World Nomads delivers the top gap year travel medical insurance. While the emergency healthcare expense coverage is perhaps a bit modest, it is still higher than Travelex`s medical coverage. Medical costs do not carry a deductible, but you will need to personally pay upfront and subsequently file a claim to get reimbursed if you get urgent medical treatment.
As you can see, the best long-stay travel protection for you will depend on your needs and type of trip, so keep reading to learn more about each plan.
1. Heymondo, the best long-term travel medical insurance
In my view, Heymondo provides the finest long-term travel medical insurance since its Top package offers the maximum amount of emergency healthcare costs and evacuation and repatriation coverage. It`s also one of the only types of travel insurance with COVID protection that pays for COVID testing recommended by a physician. Moreover, you may conveniently lengthen your plan from two weeks to eight months anytime you desire.
Best of all, you wonāt have to worry about waiting to get reimbursed for medical costs since Heymondo pays your medical expenses directly and upfront for you, removing the hassle of the claim-filing process. Heymondo also makes it easy to customize your insurance for long-term travel to fit your needs since you can add optional electronic and/or adventure sports coverage to your plan.
As you wander throughout its cobbled roadways, check out the homes along the harbor, the Portal Vell, as well as the Church of Nuestra SeƱora del Consuelo. After a brief respite in the square, head to the Mirador de los Cronistas and Casa Cervantes to admire the oceanic scenery. Since you`ll be near the port, consider taking a boat ride which will enable you to see the magnificent coastline and enjoy a barbecue meal aboard. Just be certain to make reservations in advance as Altea is a popular destination for travelers during the summer months.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
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The
If seeking reasonably priced long-term travel insurance, Heymondo is ideal; its plans already offer good value for the price, plus you can save an added 5% on their coverage with the discounted link below.
Heymondo is also the most excellent travel protection firm for individual journeys. We currently have their travel coverage and have utilized their assistance application more than once. Heymondo has ever been available to assist us when things go amiss during our trips.
2. World Nomads, the best gap year travel insurance
If you seek a luxurious beach resort in Spain,Secrets Lanzarote Resort & Spa is an ideal selection. It is situated close to the beach in Puerto Calero, one of the best places to visit in Lanzarote.
The standard plan covers adventure sports and activities, allowing participants to try activities like hiking, ice fishing, hockey, horseback riding while still protected from accidents and injuries. In addition, solid overall coverage is provided for emergency medical expenses, evacuation, repatriation, trip cancellation, trip delay, and lost baggage.
Even better, one would face zero deductible for their medical expenditures, so no individual would have to pay out of their own pocket towards healthcare invoices. However, World Nomadsā lengthy travel insurance has the maximum price out of all the options that were considered, so if an individual wants to conserve a large amount of capital and gain comparable or superior protection, Heymondo may function more optimally for that person.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
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3. Travelex, the best travel insurance for long-term travel
Travelexās Travel Select insurance providing long-term medical coverage has a lesser amount of emergency health care than the other insurance plans I have compared, and I personally wouldnāt feel safe traveling with such a low amount of medical protection on an extended trip. However, Travelex remains a viable choice if youāre touring on a budget for over six months because itās truly cost-effective (and has a $0 deductible for healthcare costs)!
Travel-related protection is another account since Travelex has the maximum amount of trip cancellation and trip delay protection of all the plans I evaluated. Itās the best plan to select if you foresee experiencing any travel troubles. Youāll also take pleasure in great baggage loss and evacuation and repatriation protection.
If you would prefer better medical coverage for a similar cost, Heymondo is the best choice.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
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4. SafetyWing, the best insurance for digital nomads
SafetyWingās Nomad Insurance lives up to its name by offering the best insurance for digital nomads. Not only does Nomad Insurance provide inexpensive long-stay travel insurance, but it also offers high amounts of medical and baggage loss coverage.
Additionally, you have the option to have your insurance automatically renew itself every 28 days. Automatic renewal will save you time and money; guarantee you donāt forget to renew so youāre constantly covered; and offer you added flexibility if you havenāt decided when to conclude your trip yet. Simply select a start date (but not an end date) when purchasing Nomad Insurance and keep renewing until you want to return home, at which point you can select an end date.
Nothing is impeccable, however, sadly, SafetyWing`s Nomad Protection is no special case. There`s a $250 deductible for restorative expenses, which implies you`ll need to pay $250 out of pocket for restorative treatment before SafetyWing will cover restorative costs for you.
SafetyWing lacks trip cancellation coverage, which can be very useful if you have to cancel a trip due to weather, illness, injury, or many other reasons. For a lower deductible, go with Heymondo instead, and if trip cancellation coverage is important to you, choose World Nomads or Travelex.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
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What does long-term travel insurance cover?
The highly recommended travel insurance for long-term travel will generally cover the following types:
- Coverage for emergency medical expenses: This type of coverage is probably the most important as well as the coverage one is most likely to need while traveling. Accidents, injuries, and illnesses can occur at any time, so having coverage for emergency medical expenses will ensure that you donāt have to pay out of pocket for hospitalization or medical transportation.
- Evacuation and repatriation: Hopefully, youāll never require evacuation and repatriation coverage, but it is beneficial to have. Insurance for extended travel that includes evacuation and repatriation will pay transportation costs to move you from a remote location to the nearest hospital or returning you to your home country should serious illness or injury occur.
- Travel delay: Regrettably, travel does not always progress smoothly; your flight could be postponed because of inclement weather or an airline issue. If that does arise, extended-stay travel securityās trip delay coverage will pay for costs, such as meals and lodging, that are incurred because of a several-hour delay.
- Luggage loss: Even when you take steps to keep your belongings safe, thereās still a possibility an airline might misplace or damage your bags, or a thief could take your purse. In any case, long-term travel insurance with coverage for lost baggage will reimburse you for any valuables that are lost or damaged, so you wonāt have to replace them with your own money.
Is long-term travel insurance worth it?
Ultimately, yes, long-term travel protection is worth it for prolonged trips, working abroad temporarily, and taking a gap year. Itās also a great substitute for insurance for international students. In all of these scenarios, coverage for long-term travel will ensure that you receive the medical- and travel-related coverage necessary without having to break the bank.
As shown in the long-term travel insurance comparison chart above, Heymondo offers the finest medical coverage regarding emergency medical costs and evacuation and repatriation services. It delivers the highest sum designated for emergency medical expenditure and evacuation and repatriation coverage.
Heymondoās extended-stay travel protection also provides the convenient flexibility of being able to renew your policy for periods from two weeks to eight months, which is perfect if you havenāt yet decided when youāll finish your trip. To top it all off, you can even get 5% off their insurance just for being a Capture the Atlas reader.
If traveling for more than six months and seeking the most affordable extended travel insurance, then Travelex could be a better option. Just be cognizant of their planās lower limit for medical coverage.
If you have any questions about long term travel medical protection, feel free to comment below and I will happily provide assistance.
