Travel Insurance Whilst Abroad.

rubydoris

Hi,
I do hope someone can help.
My son is studying in Japan, and his travel insurance is due to expire tomorrow! We assumed (foolishly!), that it would simply be a case of extending the cover, but the insurance company have declined to do so. It seems that to take out a new policy you have to be resident here in the U.K., and if I say he is resident in Japan, he doesn't get cover for Japan! He will be coming home for Christmas, but will be returning until October of next year, so I guess we could insure for 2 months and then take out another policy for the rest of the time. But right now, we are stuck!!! Help!!! Please!!

Dave_Z

These guys should fit the bill. Always found STA very helpful when i was abroad on my gap year;

http://www.statravel.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/uk_division_web_live/hs.xsl/study-abroad-travel-insurance.htm?WT.srch=1&gcid=S14242x115&keyword=study+abroad+insurance&rw.cm=Google,PPC,study+abroad+insurance

rubydoris

Thanks Dave,
I have just checked, but unfortunately STA insurance policies also require the insured person to be resident in the U.K., and start and end their journey here as well.
Maybe my son will be able to get a policy in Japan.
Crumbs, I really feel I have a dilemma here!:eek:

luci

https://www.worldwideinsure.com and https://www.worldnomads.com should fit the bill, but they won't be cheap

rubydoris

:jCheers Luci.
I found worldwideinsure through the Lonely Planet forum! I was in a state of panic! But it's all good now. We have got cover until Christmas and then we can get some more when he gets back. But thank you from the bottom of my heart! :T

luci

You're welcome. Glad you got sorted.

It may be worth pricing up insurance now rather than leaving it till the last minute, having a panic and taking any insurance. It will give you time to read the policies and compare cover. He may need backpacker's insurance if he is going to be away that length of time.

Louisdf

Is your son not covered by University insurance? I am in at the University of Birmingham, and studying this year in Italy and I have insurance with them for free. But I haven't had to make a claim with them yet so I can't comment on how extensive it is. We were told that dangerous/extreme sports are excluded.

spiro

You say he will be there from after Xmas to October, most travel insurance has a 30 day limit per trip so I agree you need to start looking around now.

adindas

You need "Study Abroad Insurance" Rather than Travel Insurance.

Most UK Travel insurance are assuming that you are living in the UK and then travel for maximum 1-3 months (depends on the policy and cover).

For UK base travel insurance they could always minimise damage by Re-patriating People and transfer the cost of further damage to NHS when there is serious accident while abroad.

ADINDAS

rubydoris wrote: »

Hi,
I do hope someone can help.
My son is studying in Japan, and his travel insurance is due to expire tomorrow! We assumed (foolishly!), that it would simply be a case of extending the cover, but the insurance company have declined to do so. It seems that to take out a new policy you have to be resident here in the U.K., and if I say he is resident in Japan, he doesn't get cover for Japan! He will be coming home for Christmas, but will be returning until October of next year, so I guess we could insure for 2 months and then take out another policy for the rest of the time. But right now, we are stuck!!! Help!!! Please!!