What's the Best Travel Insurance for a 3-Month Trip or Longer?

While a week-long vacation offers a brief escape, a long-term trip immerses you in a true odyssey. You'll delve into a new culture, far from the daily grind. You'll have time to soak in local landscapes, flavours, and traditions, forging authentic connections with the people. This journey will be an opportunity to disconnect from your routine, push your limits, and discover hidden facets of your personality.

‍The logistics of a long-term stay abroad require more meticulous preparation, but that's part of the adventure! You may need to put your gym membership on hold, sublet your apartment, or store your car. You'll also need to plan your finances, manage your professional or academic responsibilities, and perhaps even arrange pet care. One essential thing for this type of adventure is your travel insurance!

How to Choose the Right Travel Insurance for Stays Longer Than 3 Months?

Whether you're a digital nomad, a retiree, or a business traveller, travel insurance is an indispensable companion to protect you against the unexpected, no matter your destination. If you're wondering why you need travel insurance, know that it's a safety net for savvy travellers!

In case of an unforeseen event during your stay abroad, you could find yourself shelling out thousands of dollars for medical bills if you get sick or have an accident.

Emergency medical care can be very expensive for foreigners when travelling. To give you an example, breaking a leg in the United States could cost tens of thousands of dollars in medical care! Without travel insurance, you will have to pay for these costs out of your own pocket.

Travel insurance ensures that your expenses are either covered upfront or reimbursed, depending on the situation. This way, you will avoid returning from your trip with thousands of dollars in medical debt abroad.

And Credit Cards?

Beware of misconceptions: If you think your credit card covers you when you're travelling, this is often not the case, especially for long stays. It is highly recommended to get travel insurance from a company like soNomad to protect yourself in case of a medical emergency abroad.

If you are planning adventure trips, be aware that some credit cards require your accommodation and flight to be purchased with their card for you to be covered. This can become restrictive and may not offer the necessary flexibility for an extended stay.

What Should Your Long-Term Travel Insurance Cover?

It depends on your needs! Travel insurance with soNomad offers medical-only coverage or comprehensive coverage including trip cancellation or interruption, flight delays, lost luggage, and more.

‍Comprehensive medical coverage: Make sure your insurance covers emergency medical expenses, hospitalization, and medical evacuations.

‍24/7 assistance: Choose insurance that offers 24/7 assistance to help you in case of need, wherever you are.

‍Adventure activity coverage: If you plan to do sports or risky activities, make sure your insurance covers them so you can fully enjoy each experience.

‍Extension of stay: Good insurance should allow you to extend your coverage if you stay longer, giving you valuable flexibility.

‍Trip cancellation and interruption, flight delays, and lost luggage: Optionally, you can choose a travel insurance plan that covers these common unforeseen events so you can be compensated in case of a problem, minimizing hassle and additional costs.

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And if You Feel Like Extending Your Trip?

Even if you have a return flight planned, you never know; you might fall madly in love with a place (or person) and want to change your travel plans, or even your return plans. The best stories often start with changes in plans and spontaneous decisions! There is nothing wrong with that; on the contrary! However, you have to do it the right way.

‍Experienced traveller's tip: Set a reminder in your mobile calendar five days before the end of your travel insurance.

Too many travellers realize too late that their travel insurance has expired. They find themselves uninsured on the other side of the world, surprised and discouraged learning that they must return to their country of residence to reactivate their insurance and thus be able to leave again.

This lack of information can cause a lot of problems. It is expensive to buy a round-trip flight just to reactivate insurance, not to mention all the exhaustion involved in this journey.

So, How to Extend Your Long-Term Travel Insurance?

It's actually straightforward: just call or email your travel insurance agent and let them know how many days you want to add to your trip.

‍The added days will be calculated, and you will be quoted the price to extend your trip while remaining insured. You will then only have to securely transmit your credit card information (by phone, for example), and that's it! The good life can continue!

‍The only rule to follow is to renew your travel insurance, ideally at least 48 hours before the scheduled end date of your contract. If you wait until the last minute, your coverage extension may be refused, and the same applies if you have received significant medical treatment abroad during your trip.

To be eligible for an extension, it is implied that your state of health has been the same since your departure.

Multi-Month Travel: Keep Your Province’s Health Insurance Plan in Mind!

If you have supplementary travel insurance, you must make sure that you comply with the rules of your province's health insurance plan. For example, Quebec residents with the RAMQ cannot stay outside their province for more than 182 days in the same calendar year (unless they have obtained an exemption). 

Get Ready for an Unforgettable Adventure!

Don't forget to get a quick travel insurance quote with soNomad well before your departure to check this off your preparation list. This will allow you to focus on what truly matters: exploring new horizons, encountering fascinating cultures, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

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