1 Year Travel Insurance: Read This Before You Purchase

If you plan to be traveling for a year, whether it's multiple trips between home and overseas or non-stop, there are a few things you need to know before you purchase travel insurance.

Thanks to innovative Insurtech companies (like Insurte 🙌🏻) travel insurance is easier to buy than ever. However, it's still important to take the time to understand what you're buying, what your policy covers, how it works, and what is excluded.

Not only is it important to do that - it's important to do it before you make your final purchase decision and the payment goes through.

In this guide, we will talk about what you need to look for in a 1 year travel insurance policy. With over 14 years in the travel sector, we've written this piece to help you make the most educated decision regarding your health and well-being while abroad.

Let's go!

Can you get 1 year travel insurance?

Absolutely! While all travel insurance policies have maximums, it is completely possible to find plans that provide coverage for up to 365 days.

When looking at 1 year policies, there are a few things you should look for specifically when it comes to the one you're interested in. Let's take a look at what exactly those are.

Per-trip maximums

Even if a travel insurance policy says that it provides 365-day coverage, it doesn't mean you're covered every time you're traveling.

Some policies can offer 365-day coverage but have what's called a "per-trip maximum". This means that anytime you are traveling, you may run into a maximum, meaning you are no longer covered - even if you have a 1 year policy.

For example, a policy that offers 365-day coverage may have a per trip maximum of 99 days. This means that once you've hit 99 days for a single trip, you are no longer covered.

Policies with 365-day coverage and per-trip maximums are designed for frequent travelers, but not necessarily the long-haul ones.

If you're planning to take multiple shorter trips throughout the year, per-trip maximums may not matter to you. But if you're planning to spend the majority of the year away from home, it's something to watch out for.

Destinations

While it's called "travel insurance", it doesn't mean you're covered every time you travel.

Travel insurance covers you in specific places (typically countries). When you're looking at a 1 year policy, it's important to look at where it covers you.

Some policies are geared more towards European travel, for example. This is great if you're only planning to travel in a handful of covered European countries. But what if you want to explore places a little bit off the beaten track? Or on another continent? What if you want the flexibility to go wherever your heart takes you?

That's where worldwide coverage comes into play. Some companies, like Mutuaide through Insurte, offer plans with worldwide coverage.

Which policy suits you depends on the type of traveler you are, your travel plans, and the flexibility you'd like to have.

Visa requirements

While it doesn't apply to everyone, if you're getting 1 year travel insurance in order to meet a visa application requirement, it's extremely important that you find a compliant policy.

Different countries have different visa application processes and requirements, especially for long stays. If travel insurance is required, you will typically be told this during the application process, including what criteria your travel insurance needs to meet.

Make sure you check that the policy you're interested in meets any emergency cost minimums and emergency care guarantees (such as repatriation or hospitalization), and that it's valid in the country you're seeking a visa for.

The claim process

Before finalizing your decision, familiarize yourself with the company's claim process.

Different insurance companies and providers may have varying claim processes. You want to choose a company with a transparent claim process that is easy to navigate during emergencies.

The terms and conditions

While it's not necessarily light reading, you should always read the terms and conditions before you decide on the best 1 year travel insurance for your journey(s) ahead.

The terms and conditions are there to tell you the ins and outs of the policy, from what you're covered for and how to what exclusions apply to each guarantee, as well as what counts as qualifying events.

A plan may look perfect out the gate, but the terms and conditions could reveal that you're not exactly covered when you thought you'd be.

Ease of purchase

The plan you choose should be easy to purchase. Some companies, like Insurte, offer travel insurance 100% online. Long gone are the days of in-person appointments and sheets and sheets of physical papers.

In minutes you can find a policy that applies to your situation, compare and contract details (don't forget about the terms and conditions!), and then pay and receive your insurance certificate via email.

We truly are living in the future 👾

What is the best 1 year travel insurance?

The best 1 year travel insurance is the one that meets your needs.

With that said, there is one that rises to the top time and time again, and that's Mutuaide.

Mutuaide, when purchased through Insurte (due to its unique terms), provides 365-day coverage. Keep an eye out, though, as some policies have per-trip maximums (though some do not!).

With comprehensive coverage and a wide medical safety net, Mutuaide covers you for €100,000 in emergency medical costs, including medical evacuation, repatriation (including in the really unfortunate event of death abroad), and hospitalization relating to your emergency. Unlike some travel insurance policies, Covid-19 and all epidemics are covered.

You're also covered for search and rescue costs (if you have some hikes planned, for example), legal assistance, advance of bail abroad, legal fees abroad, assistance for lost/stolen passports and papers, and more.

Mutuaide is a great option for all travelers as their policies provide worldwide coverage (in a general sense; there are some exclusions, such as war zones).

While Mutuaide is the best option for the 1 year travelers, don't forget to look at:

• Per-trip maximums
• Worldwide exclusions
• Visa requirements (if applicable)
• The claim process
• Ther terms and conditions

The purchasing process through Insurte is fast, easy, and will get you covered so you can stop thinking about policies and start thinking about the journey ahead.

FAQs: 1 year travel insurance