Purchasing the correct type of travel insurance can be quite a puzzling task even at the best of times, especially for people who are traveling abroad for the first time. It is very easy for misunderstandings to occur. A case in point is the confusion that surrounds annual multi trip travel insurance.
There is a growing number of Insurers offering multi trip insurance but they don't necessarily make the strict policy conditions clear to the buyer. For example, you would normally have to be based in Australia and make trips of up to a specific number of days (often 31 days) to take advantage of these policies.
However, there are many travelers, especially in the younger age bracket, looking for cheap backpackers' insurance. They see a cheap travel insurance quote for an annual insurance policy and buy it without reading the small print carefully, thinking it will be exactly what they need. If these travelers are going to be overseas for a year, they are often attracted by the word "annual travel insurance" as well as "multi-trip" as they will be making a number of different trips throughout the year. But, the annual multi-trip policy is not suitable as they are designed and priced to only cover trips of up to 31 days (depending on the Insurer) from and within Australia.
An annual multi trip travel insurance policy can save the traveler quite a bit of money in the long run. Trip cancellation, baggage loss, personal liability plus other miscellaneous coverage can all be taken care of by this type of insurance. This sounds like a good thing, and indeed it is if your trip does not take you out of Australia for more than a limited period. However, most backpackers who intend to leave the country on their trip merely see that this policy offers no limit on the number of trips they can take per year, and blithely purchase it. It is only when they need to make use of the policy and are in perhaps Greece that they discover that their insurance will not take care of their medical needs. This is not a good feeling!
Backpackers need to search out a policy that has been specifically created with their kind of travel in mind. They need the reassurance of a 24/7 telephone helpline for any overseas medical needs that may develop, coverage for a wide range of sports or adventure activities that they may participate in during their trip, and the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that they will have coverage on their non-manual job if they are taking a working holiday. Cover for terrorism will also help the traveler to sleep well at night!
Anyone who has yet to purchase an annual multi trip travel insurance policy would be wise to read the policy carefully before buying, and then take advantage of the company's money back guarantee which most will offer you during the first 7 to 14 days of cover.
The last thing you want when you are taken ill and laying in hospital is a dispute about whether or not you bought the right policy. If you're in any doubt about exactly what your annual multi trip insurance will cover, contact your travel insurance broker for clarification.
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