Tips for Comparing Long Stay Travel Insurance Policies

If you're going out of the country for an extended period of time, you probably have a checklist of all of the things that you have to do in order to make sure that your trip goes off without a hitch.

From the very beginning of your plans, like choosing where to go, to the nitty-gritty like reading through the travel requirements and regulations.

Now, you've come to an important milestone in the lead-up to your long journey overseas: and that's how to protect yourself. One of the best ways to protect yourself while abroad is to purchase long-stay travel insurance.

During your long-stay travel insurance search, you've likely found travel insurance policies that differ in name, duration, and guarantees. This is because there isn't a global, across-industry definition of "long-stay travel insurance".

Here at Insurte, we define it as any travel insurance policy with a duration of more than 90 days.

There are many options on the market to choose from, so how do you know which one is the right one for you? The best way to do that is to understand your needs and compare policies. In this guide, we'll tell you what you should ask yourself, look out for, and do to make the most educated, empowered decision when it comes to your health and wellness.

Why is it important to compare long-stay travel insurance?

While sometimes purchasing travel insurance feels like just a formality (like when it's required for a visa application, for instance), it is so much more than that.

If an emergency occurs while you're traveling internationally, a fun day can quickly turn into an overwhelming one. One of the best parts of traveling is experiencing a different culture, but in the moment of an emergency, this can suddenly feel like a barrier between you and the critical treatment that you need.

Comparing and contrasting travel insurance policies helps you make the best decision for your unique situation.

How to compare long-stay travel insurance

What many travelers may not know is that long-stay travel insurance has evolved with the times. While in the past, taking out insurance of any kind seemed like a hassle, nowadays it has been greatly simplified...which includes comparing policies.

Travel insurance policies for long trips abroad can be compared online using free comparison tools.

With Insurte's free online travel insurance comparison tool, you can quickly add a few details about your trip and then compare your options apples to apples.

Below are some of the key details to look for when you're comparing your choices.

How to set yourself up for success

Before you start to review policies, it helps to be as prepared as possible. If you're using Insurte's comparison tool, you'll need to know:

• Which country or countries you're traveling to
• Your travel dates
• How many people need coverage (if it's just you, or you and your family, for example)
• The age of each traveler needing coverage

Make sure your details are accurate

Once you have your details ready, double-check their accuracy before exploring policies. If you enter the wrong country or the incorrect dates, the long-stay travel insurance options may not be the right one(s) for your needs.

Ensure you understand any insurance requirements

One more thing you should do before you begin comparing policies is make sure you understand any insurance requirements: for a visa application for example.

In some cases, someone may have prompted you to purchase a long stay travel insurance policy. In addition to visa application(s), this could be a university, a job, a specific country's entry requirements, or something else.

If you're getting a policy to meet a requirement, it's extremely important to check if your long stay policy has to meet any specific standards. This could include coverage amounts, certain guarantees, validity, and more.

Use a powerful online comparison tool

Once you've prepared your information, it's time to start comparing. Nowadays, using an online travel insurance comparison tool is the best way to compare and contrast policy options.

What to look for in an online insurance comparison tool

This is all fine and well, but how do you know the comparison tool is good?

A good online insurance comparison tool should be quick, easy, and intuitive. You should be able to quickly access information about insurance policies without giving a laundry list of personal information.

It should be very easy to tell what is covered and what isn't covered, as well as how much the policy is going to cost.

If you're not sure, Insurte's comparison tool is a trusted option.

Read the policy details

Once comparing, you should start by reading each policy's specific details and weighing them based on your needs. Whether it's requirements set by a visa application or by yourself. Examples are what you'd like to be covered for, whether or not there are deductibles, etc.

Make sure to pay specific attention to:

What each insurance policy covers

Look at the list of guarantees. Make sure that the guarantees include what you want/need. Some travelers care more about guarantees surrounding emergency medical coverage, while others want to ensure assistance for risks like lost or stolen passports.

Exclusions and conditions

It's important to not only look at the guarantees, but also the who, what, where, when, and why of said guarantees. In the terms and conditions, you will be able to review any conditions surrounding assistance, coverage, and support.

Guarantees can have several exclusions or conditions, so make sure you understand what those are before you pay for a plan.

When shopping for travel insurance policies, whether they're for short trips or longterm travel, you'll have access to something called an IPID before you finalize your purchase.

The IPID is a summary of the policy written in a way that is easier to understand, even for those who have a limited working knowledge of travel insurance. If you want to have a global picture, you need to read the terms and conditions (and we recommend it).

You should be able to easily find the IPID while you're comparing policies.

Review the claim process carefully

When comparing long stay travel insurance, look at what you can expect from the claim process. Should a hiccup or emergency happen while you're overseas, you'll be glad you already know what to do.

Check to see how a claim has to be made and when it has to be made, such as at the time of an incident and before receiving assistance or treatment.

Following the specific claim process is crucial because failing to do so may result in your event not being covered. This is why it's essential that you really understand the claim process of the travel insurance policy that you end up choosing.

Compare maximum trip durations

For long stay travel insurance specifically, check to see if your policy has maximum trip durations. Some travel insurance policies may only cover you for a maximum period of time (such as 120 days, for instance).

Others may offer 365-day coverage but have limitations as to how you can use that coverage. For example, you may have coverage for any trip you take in the following 365 days but have maximums for each individual trip.

Make sure you can be covered for the entire duration of your time abroad to ensure you're protected throughout.

Compare the provider's health care network

Choosing an insurer with a large global healthcare network is a must when traveling internationally.

Some travel insurance companies, like Insurte, only offer strong insurance providers with large networks, meaning you will be able to find the care you need, when and where you need it.

Compare ease of purchase

Travel insurance has evolved for the modern traveler with digital options like Insurte, but it's always best to consider ease of purchase when deciding which insurance is right for you.

With Insurte, you can get customized travel insurance in minutes - entirely online.

Compare the "bang for your buck"

Once you understand what each policy has to offer, what the exclusions and conditions are, and you're sure they can cover you for the duration of your journey, the last piece of the puzzle is to compare the "bang for your buck", or, the value.

Which policy's price point is in your budget but also has the conditions that you care about and/or need? Once you've answered this question, you'll have narrowed down the best possible options for your unique situation.

How to choose the best long-stay insurance coverage for you

The answer to this question isn't black and white. The best long-stay travel insurance for you might not be the best for someone else because it all depends on what your needs are and what is most important to you.

Having the most information possible to make the most educated decision is the most fool-proof way to choose the best long-stay travel insurance. When you understand the terms and conditions, what you need and what you don't, and how your specific policy functions in real time, you'll be able to confidently make a decision about your health and well-being abroad.

FAQs: Comparing long stay travel insurance