Updated: 11/26/21 | 26. novembra 2021
I’m a backpacker at heart. even after traveling the world for over a decade, I still love to travel cheap, prioritizing experiences over fancy accommodation and transportation. I still love staying at hostels, meeting locals, and sampling as many local delicacies as I can.
Contrary to popular belief, being a backpacker is not about pinching every penny — it’s about finding value. If you want to have a genuine and authentic trip without breaking the bank you need to spend your money wisely.
And when it comes to backpacking around the world, one of the wisest choices you can make is to purchase travel insurance.
I know, travel insurance seems like just another expense that will chip away at your budget. I used to think that too.
But it also has the potential to save you thousands of dollars should something go wrong on your trip.
And after traveling around the world for over twelve years, I can confidently tell you this: things will go wrong.
To help you stay safe on your next trip, here is everything you need to know about buying insurance as a backpacker.
Obsah
Why Do Backpackers need Insurance?
What Does travel insurance NOT Cover?
The best Backpacker insurance Companies
Why Do Backpackers need Insurance?
The reason you need to buy travel insurance is because accidents happen. regardless of whether you’re at home or abroad, things go wrong. At home, you likely have access to medical care and reliable medical facilities.
On the road, that isn’t always the case.
While serious injuries are rare, they do happen. and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. but insurance isn’t just for medical emergencies. It also covers a lot of incidents that are much more common than you think!
Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect your backpacker insurance to cover:
Medical emergencies (surgery hospitalization fees, medical evacuation)
Flight delays and cancellations
Trip cancellations (due to injury or a death in the family)
Emergency evacuation (due to injury or natural disaster)
Dental emergencies
Lost or stolen baggage
Damaged or stolen gear/electronics
Death overseas
While it’s unpleasant to spend time dwelling on these things, the truth is, you need to be prepared for the worst. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use your insurance plan, but if you need to, you want to make sure you have the coverage you need.
I’ve had my bags stolen, I’ve needed to go to the hospital overseas, and I was even stabbed while traveling in South America.
I didn’t plan for any of these things to happen. but when they did, I was glad I had insurance to help me get reimbursed as well as to help me navigate the confusion that comes with having an emergency abroad.
I know, as a backpacker you like to keep costs low. insurance isn’t free, after all, which makes it seem like a burdensome and unnecessary expense.
But it’s much better to pay a few bucks a day than risk losing your life savings should an emergency occur while you don’t have coverage.
What Does travel insurance NOT Cover?
While most travel emergencies and injuries are covered by travel insurance, it’s important to know what is not covered by your plan. knowledge is power, after all.
For reference, most backpacker insurance policies do not cover:
Accidents sustained while participating in extreme adventure activities. These often include hang-gliding, paragliding, or bungee jumping
Alcohol- and drug-related incidents
Carelessness or negligence
Pre-existing conditions or general check-ups
Stolen cash
If civil unrest makes your destination unsafe but your government hasn’t called for an evacuation, you probably won’t qualify for evacuation (unless you have more advanced coverage from a company like Medjet)
Changing your mind about your trip or unfriending or breaking up with your travel partner will disqualify you from trip-cancellation coverage
Pre-existing medical conditions don’t qualify for most trip cancellation plans unless otherwise stipulated
If your visa to a destination is refused you won’t be reimbursed if you decide to cancel your trip
The best Backpacker insurance Companies
To help you stay safe on your next trip, here are some suggested companies that provide affordable insurance for backpackers:
Náš najlepší výber: bezpečnostné krídlo
Safety Wing is a new insurance company, started by Norwegian digital nomads based in California. They cater to budget travelers and remote workers, offering bare-bones plans for a super affordable price.
They are best choice for long-term travelers as you can renew your plan while abroad and their $250 USD deductible keeps your monthly fee low. While their coverage isn’t as comprehensive as other companies, it covers the most important stuff, making them a good choice for travelers on a tight budget.
Here’s a quick overview of safety Wing:
Super affordable plans (with a deductible)Can purchase plans while abroad
Nároky je možné podať online
Policies start at $40 USD per month (plus a $250 USD deductible).
Click here to get a quote from safety Wing!
World Nomads travel Insurance
World Nomads plans are comprehensive and great for both long-term travelers as well as anyone heading out on a shorter vacation. It’s easy to read (and understand) their policies and see what’s covered — and what isn’t.
World Nomads is perfect for adventurous backpackers who plan to do activities like hiking, kayaking, or even some extreme sports like bungee jumping or rock climbing. With over 100 different activities covered, world Nomads is the best choice for the active backpacker. They also include some coverage for COVID too.
To help you learn more about world Nomads, here’s a quick overview of their coverage:
Pohotovostné lekárske a zubné pokrytie
Pokrytie pre zrušenie výletu, oneskorenia a prerušenia
Ochrana batožiny
Núdzová evakuácia (pre lekárske mimoriadne udalosti a nelekárske mimoriadne udalosti, ako sú prírodné katastrofy)
Lekárska doprava
24/7 pomoc zákazníkom
COVID-19 coverage
Coverage up to age 69 (depending on where you live)
Policies start at $120 USD per month.
Click here to get a quote from world Nomads!
Insure My Trip
Insure My trip helps you compare insurance plans and prices so you can purchase the plan that’s best for you and your budget. You can compare plans from over 20 different insurance providers, with plenty of budget-friendly options available for backpackers.
And they are the go-to company for older backpackers as well since many travel insurance companies won’t cover travelers over 65. Insure My trip provides comparisons from insurance companies that cover older travelers, making them the best option for retirees and other senior adventurers.
Here’s a quick overview of Insure My Trip:
Guaranteed low prices
Coverage for senior travelers over 65
“Anytime Advocates” ask the insurer to give your claim a second look if you think it was unfairly denied
Since Insure My trip is a policy aggregator, they don’t sell their own policies. However, they pull policies from 23 different companies and guarantee you won’t find the same policy elsewhere for less money!
Click here to get a quote from Insure My Trip!
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After backpacking around the world for over a decade, I never leave home without travel insurance. I’ve experienced first-hand how helpful it can be. It’s saved me thousands of dollars over the years — as well as countless headaches too.
Not only that, but buying travel insurance provides peace of mind. It gives you and your family a safety net in case things go wrong. Whether you’re island-hopping in Thailand or getting off the beaten path in Eastern Europe, travel insurance will be there when you need it.
Being a backpacker is all about having amazing, memorable travel experiences all without breaking the bank. and there’s no better way to insulate yourself from expensive (and unnecessary) costs than by buying travel insurance (Remember safety Wing is our top pick.
How to travel the world on $50 a Day
My new York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off the beaten path, save money, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”
Click here to learn more and start reading it today!
Book Your Trip: Logistical tips and Tricks
Zarezervujte si svoj let
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Zarezervujte si ubytovanie
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
SafetyWing (best for everyone)
Zaistite moju cestu (pre tých nad 70 rokov)
Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.