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Volunteering abroad travel insurance

Traveling is often a gratifying and life-enriching experience. But traveling abroad to volunteer can be a profound life experience you’ll never forget. Whether it’s for environmental conservation activities, human rights work, or an animal welfare cause, there are numerous fulfilling and valuable volunteer opportunities available around the world. Volunteering abroad is a great way to visit a country for a longer period of time. It can place you at the heart of local communities so you can get a real sense of what life is like in another culture while helping in a meaningful way.

As with any travel opportunity, purchasing travel insurance before you volunteer abroad is essential. Your volunteer trip may be much longer than a regular vacation, and your travel details or itinerary may be less certain, so you’ll want to take this into account when deciding which insurance provider to buy a travel insurance policy from.

Top opportunities for volunteering abroad

Conservation work

If you’re passionate about wildlife and the environment, then working in a reforestation project or regenerative farming initiative may be a perfect fit for you.

Animal sanctuaries

Whether you want to work with large mammals, reptiles, or birds, there are all kinds of animal care opportunities available around the world.

Working with children

If you’re passionate about education and childcare, then working with children on early education initiatives may be the right choice for you.

Home building

If you are practical and interested in renovation and building projects, then perhaps you can apply your passion for construction into a volunteer opportunity abroad that can directly help other people.

What does volunteering abroad insurance cover?

Flexible travel insurance is perfect for travelers heading off to volunteer abroad. Because if and when unanticipated events happen while you’re away, your volunteering abroad travel insurance policy can help protect the hard-earned money you’ve spent on the trip. And if you are taken ill or injured in an accident, it can help get you the medical treatment you might need.

Keep in mind that when you stay abroad for an extended period of time, there is a higher likelihood that you might need to seek medical treatment, be it for something serious or minor. In these situations, you can’t necessarily rely on your private health insurance from your home country. So you need to be sure your travel insurance for volunteering abroad provides ample medical coverage that can provide reimbursement for any medical expenses you may incur while abroad. Some policies may even provide a hotline that will help you locate a medical practitioner in an emergency.

Volunteering abroad travel insurance policies should include a few key coverages:

  • Trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay: despite the best-laid plans, sometimes things go wrong when you’re traveling. Volunteering abroad travel insurance protects you if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip unexpectedly, or if your trip is delayed as a result of a wide range of reasons
  • Lost, stolen or delayed baggage: when traveling in planes, trains, buses, and automobiles, lost, stolen or delayed baggage can become an unfortunate reality. Your travel insurance ensures you can reimburse the cost of your most important belongings, without having to go home early
  • Travel medical coverage: in case you are taken ill or get injured while traveling you will have coverage for medical expenses and medical emergencies. After all, your regular private health insurance may not cover you when you’re traveling outside the country
  • Emergency medical evacuation: if you get seriously ill or injured during your time away, local medical facilities may not be adequate to treat your condition. That’s when emergency evacuation coverage comes in — it can pay for medical transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility, or, if necessary, to your home. An air ambulance can easily cost $100,000, so you can see how important this coverage can be

What is not covered?

As usual with travel insurance, you will not be covered for any pre-existing medical conditions or ongoing medical care you need to seek while volunteering abroad. However, travelers with pre-existing conditions may be able to get coverage with many travel insurance plans. Companaies may offer a pre-existing medical condition waiver for customers who meet certain purchase requirements, such as buying the policy within a certain time frame, such as 15 days of initial trip deposit and insuring the full trip cost.

Your travel insurance for volunteering abroad can provide you with coverage for any unforeseen, emergency medical treatment you may need to seek while in a foreign country. If you do experience an emergency, remember to call the battleface 24/7 travel assistance hotline as soon as you can — the experts there can offer guidance to help in just about any situation.

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KENTUCKY: 

Application: Any person who knowingly and with intent to defraud any insurance company or other person files an application for insurance containing any materially false information or conceals, for the purpose of misleading, information concerning any fact material thereto commits a fraudulent insurance act, which is a crime.

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Application: Any person who includes any false or misleading information on an application for an insurance policy is subject to criminal and civil penalties.

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OHIO: Any person who, with intent to defraud or knowing that he is facilitating a fraud against an insurer, submits an application or files a claim containing a false or deceptive statement is guilty of insurance fraud.

OKLAHOMA: Any person who knowingly, and with intent to injure, defraud or deceive any insurer, makes any claim for the proceeds of an insurance policy containing any false, incomplete or misleading information is guilty of a felony.

OREGON: IMPORTANT NOTE: Any person who knowingly presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss or benefit or knowingly presents false information in an application for insurance may be guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in prison.

TENNESSEE: It is a crime to knowingly provide false, incomplete or misleading information to an insurance company for the purpose of defrauding the company. Penalties include imprisonment, fines and denial of insurance benefit.

TEXAS: Any person who knowingly presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss is guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in state prison. 

VIRGINIA: It is a crime to knowingly provide false, incomplete or misleading information to an insurance company for the purpose of defrauding the company. Penalties include imprisonment, fines and denial of insurance benefits. 

WASHINGTON: It is a crime to knowingly provide false, incomplete or misleading information to an insurance company for the purpose of defrauding the company. Penalties include imprisonment, fines and denial of insurance benefits.

NEW YORK*:  Any person who knowingly and with intent to defraud any insurance company or other person files an application for insurance or statement of claim containing any materially false information, or conceals for the purpose of misleading, information concerning any fact material thereto, commits a fraudulent insurance act, which is a crime, and shall also be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars and the stated value of the claim for each such violation.

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION

Pre-Existing Medical Condition means an illness, disease, or other condition during the 180 day period immediately prior to the date Your coverage is effective :
  1. received or received a recommendation for a test, examination, or medical treatment for a condition which first manifested itself, worsened or became acute, or had symptoms which would have prompted a reasonable person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment; or
  2. took or received a prescription for drugs or medicine. Item (2) of this definition does not apply to a condition which is treated or controlled solely through the taking of prescription drugs or medicine and remains treated or controlled without any adjustment or change in the required prescription throughout the 180 day period before coverage is effective under this policy.
  3. required a change in prescribed medication. Change in prescribed medication means the dosage or frequency of a medication has been reduced, increased, stopped and/or new medications have been prescribed due to the worsening of an underlying condition that is being treated with the medication, unless the change is:
    1. between a brand name and a generic medication with comparable dosage; or
    2. an adjustment to insulin or anti-coagulant dosage.
If you, or someone you are traveling with, has a Pre-Existing Medical Condition, you can still buy a policy from us but there is no cover for any claim arising directly or indirectly from that condition.

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION

Any Medical Condition that, within the last 12 months, required any:

  • surgery, inpatient or outpatient treatment, referrals or investigations of any sort. This includes being on any waiting list, taking any prescription medication, tablets or required medical treatment (This will not apply to common colds, flu or contraceptive medication);
  • medical advice or treatment for any respiratory condition relating to the lungs or breathing;
  • medical advice or treatment for any heart, stroke or diabetic condition;

Hypertension or high cholesterol controlled by 1 prescription drug only and where the dosage has not been changed within the last 12 months will not be considered a pre-existing medical condition

Coverages Available:

*not all coverages are available in all states
Travel Protection Benefits Limits
Trip Cancellation 100% of trip cost (up to a maximum of $20,000)
Single Occupancy Up to trip cost
Cancel for Any Reason Up to 75% of trip cost Up to 50% of trip costs in FL(CFAR not available to NY residents)
Trip Interruption 150% of trip cost
Delay Package
Trip Delay
Maximum $200 per day up to $2,500
Missed Connection Maximum of $1,000 per covered trip
Baggage Package – Excess
Baggage and Personal Effects $2,500 $100 Deductible
Baggage Delay $100 per day up to a maximum of $500
Travel Medical Package – Excess AK, CO, ID, ND, NH – Primary
Travel Medical Expense – Adventure sports included $100,000 $50,000 in NH $50 Deductible
Emergency Dental $750
Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains Up to $500,000
Up to $1,000,000 in NH
Accidental Death & Dismemberment $100,000 or $250,000 or $500,000
Pet Medical Package
Pet Medical Expense Up to $2,000 $100 Deductible
Pet Return Up to $500
Rental Vehicle Damage – Primary Up to $35,000 per rented vehicle- Primary $250 Deductible for loss greater than $2,000
Vacation Rental Damage $1,500 or $3,000 or $5,000

Travel Medical Insurance

Some benefits are subject to an excess (aka, the deductible, or what you have to pay before we pay), as stated in the Policy Schedule, and are per Policy Period.

Benefits Limits
Cancellation and Curtailment 5,000
Emergency Medical Expenses, Evacuation and Repatriation of Mortal Remains 10,000,000 (excess 250 or 50)
Hospital Benefit 25 per day, maximum 100
Personal Accident up to 250,000
Baggage Loss or Delay up to 5,000 (excess 250 or 50)
Personal Money and Passport, limited to 250 in respect of cash 500 (excess 250 or 50)
Personal Liability 500,000
Travel Delay 500
Optional Benefits Limits
Business Extension up to 1,000 (excess 100)
Winter Sports (Ski Equipment) up to 750 (excess 50 or 100)

Travel Medical Insurance

Some benefits are subject to an excess (aka, the deductible, or what you have to pay before we pay), as stated in the Policy Schedule, and are per Policy Period.

Benefits Limits
Trip Interruption 2,000
Medical and Emergency Expenses 10,000,000 (excess 250)
Hospital Benefit 25 per day, maximum 100
Personal Accident 50,000 as standard, optional increase up to 250,000
Baggage Loss or Delay 2,000 as standard, optional increase up to 10,000
Personal Money and Passport 500 (excess 250) *** Limited to 250 in respect of cash
Personal Liability 500,000
Optional Benefits Limits
Business Extension up to 1,000 (excess 100)
Winter Sports (Ski Equipment) up to 750 (excess 50 per person, 100 per family)

Travel Medical Insurance

Some benefits are subject to an excess (aka, the deductible, or what you have to pay before we pay), as stated in the Policy Schedule, and are per Policy Period.

Benefits Limits
Cancellation up to $20,000
Trip Interruption $1,000
Medical and Emergency Expenses $5,000,000 (deductible $250)
Hospital Benefit $25 per day, maximum $100
Personal Accident up to $50,000
Baggage $2,000 (deductible $250)
Personal Money and Passport, limited to $250 in respect of cash $500 (deductible $250)
Personal Liability $500,000
Optional Benefits Limits
Business Extension up to $1,000 (deductible $100)
Winter Sports (Ski Equipment) up to $750 (deductible $50 or $100)

Travel Medical Insurance

Some benefits are subject to an excess (aka, the deductible, or what you have to pay before we pay), as stated in the Policy Schedule, and are per Policy Period.

Benefits Limits
Cancellation and Curtailment 5,000
Emergency Medical Expenses, Evacuation and Repatriation of Mortal Remains 10,000,000 (excess 250 or 50)
Hospital Benefit 25 per day, maximum 100
Personal Accident up to 250,000
Baggage Loss or Delay up to 5,000 (excess 250 or 50)
Personal Money and Passport, limited to 250 in respect of cash 500 (excess 250 or 50)
Personal Liability 500,000
Travel Delay 500
Optional Benefits Limits
Business Extension up to 1,000 (excess 100)
Winter Sports (Ski Equipment) up to 750 (excess 50 or 100)