Holiday insurance is an integral part of any gap year trip and if you're planning on taking a year out from your studies, in order to see the world, then it's important that you choose the travel insurance cover that's right for you. Here are some questions that will help you determine if you are choosing the correct holiday insurance cover:



Are you travelling in more than one continent?

Cheap travel insurance may seem too good to be true, but sometimes the cover doesn't include all continents. North America is very rarely included in most cheap travel insurance policies and if you're thinking of travelling in the States or Canada then you'll need to make sure that your holiday insurance cover extends to this destination. Some cheap travel insurance policies just cover one continent and if you're globetrotting all over the world then you will definitely need to take out worldwide holiday insurance cover for your gap year.

Will you be taking part in any extreme sports?

The idea of bungee jumping off the AJ Hackett tower in Queensland may send shivers down your spine now. However, three months later whilst at the destination you may have been successfully talked into trying it by your contemporaries. It's impossible to gauge how you will be feeling at the time and therefore to be on the safe side you should consider taking out holiday insurance that covers extreme sports. After all, that newfound freedom that you're likely to experience may very well open you up to many new experiences that you simply wouldn't have considered in boring Blighty. So, in case you get a penchant for sky-diving in Sydney or white water rafting in Wellington, a comprehensive travel insurance cover, including extreme sports, ensures that you're better safe than sorry.

Do you have enough cover for all of your possessions?

Most cheap travel insurance companies offer cover for the standard two-week holiday in a tourist resort, where all you need to pack is a string bikini, book for the beach and some sun-tan lotion. This differs vastly from your gap-year trip where you may be packing up to a year's worth of clothes, on top of some important medical supplies for the villagers that you'll be treating in Sierra Leone. If this is the case then you need to check in your holiday insurance policy booklet that the travel insurance you've taken out for your gap year abroad includes ample cover for all your possessions and more. After all, you want all those fantastic souvenirs that you're planning on bringing back for your friends and family to be covered by your holiday insurance too, don't you?

Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions?

It's important that you let your travel insurance company know if you have any pre-existing medical conditions so that they can include these in your holiday insurance cover. If you do not make your travel insurance company aware of any pre-existing ailments then these won't be covered if you fall ill with the condition whilst on your gap year. So whether its asthma or diabetes, let your travel insurance company know, in order to avoid forking out on any expensive medical bills whilst you're on your gap year abroad.