Gap year insurance 'is complex and needs to be planned early'
Published On 25 January 2008
Young people heading off on gap years need to carefully consider their individual needs before applying for insurance, an industry expert has said.A spokesperson for STA Travel explained that there was no "one-size-fits all" approach to gap year insurance and that it was vital that every person carefully considered what activities they would be doing while away.
What's more, she said that "every travel insurance policy is different", which made it even more important that young people took the time to explore the different options before making a decision.
"It is important for a customer to assess their needs when it comes to travel insurance, for instance assessing the overall value of the items they are travelling with," she said.
"Are they taking any particularly expensive items which they will require cover for? Are they going to a country which has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK? Will they be working while abroad? How long is their holiday and is there a chance they would need a policy they could extend if they choose to lengthen their trip?
"There is a huge amount to consider when looking at travel insurance…there is no 'one-size-fits all' with travel insurance. Each passenger and each trip is unique."
Finally, the expert said that travellers should always consult the Foreign and Commonwealth office to check on the security situation in any countries they plan to visit.
