June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova; North Korea; Russia; Israel
Jamaica
Jamaica;
Backpacking can be the best way to see the world, if you’re adventurous and physically fit. You can travel for weeks without straining your budget. You can avoid overtouristed areas and see areas of incredible natural beauty. You can practice mindful travel, really getting to know a country and its people.
But backpacking has risks, too, especially if you’re planning to travel solo. That’s why travel protection is essential. Did you ever see the video of that hiker who tied a giant helium balloon to his backpack? Travel insurance is kind of like that balloon: it follows you wherever you go and lightens the load, just a bit.
With the right plan, you can embark on your journey with confidence, knowing you’re ready for whatever comes. Just make sure you have these four benefits…
Scenario: You’re backpacking through Chiang Mai in northern Thailand when you start to feel a little shaky. Next thing you know, you’re shivering and sweating on a bed in a crowded public hospital. The medical staff are kind, but they don’t speak much English. The one thing you do understand is that they can’t accept your U.S. healthcare insurance card.
What travel insurance can do: Emergency medical and dental benefits can save the day—and even save your life—when you’re backpacking overseas. This part of your travel insurance can reimburse you for eligible costs of medical care, or pay for care in advance, if you experience a sudden, unexpected, and serious illness or injury while traveling.
Even more importantly, travel insurance ensures that someone is looking out for you. Your assistance coordinator will monitor your care; transfer you to a high-quality medical facility, if needed; provide language interpretation services; and update friends and family back home. That peace of mind is priceless.
Do you need emergency medical travel insurance if you’re backpacking in the U.S.? If you already have a good health insurance plan, probably not. If your plan has a high deductible, or if it’s stingy with what’s covered, you may want emergency medical benefits. The OneTrip Emergency Medical plan is a great budget-priced option for backpackers with few prepaid travel expenses.
Scenario: Midway through your Guatemala backpacking trip, you decide to hike the Tajamulco volcano, the highest point in Central America. You begin the trek at 2:30 a.m. so you can see the sunrise from the summit, which is just as spectacular as you’d hoped. As you begin your descent, you slip on a loose stone and tumble 30 feet down the slope. You can tell your leg is broken. You’re in severe pain, and there’s no way you can walk.
What travel insurance can do: In a situation like this one, when you have a medical emergency in a remote area and you’re far from a hospital, emergency transportation benefits are essential. This benefit, sometimes called medical evacuation travel insurance, can pay for pre-approved, medically necessary transportation to the nearest appropriate hospital or other facility if you experience a covered injury or illness.
Here’s how it works. First, call local emergency services, if available. (The free Allyz® TravelSmart app makes it easy to call the right emergency number for the country you’re visiting.) Then, contact 24-hour Assistance. Your assistance coordinator will help get you off the mountain and work with our medical team to determine the best course of action. If the local hospital does not have the capability to treat you like you would be treated in the United States, then Allianz Travel Insurance can arrange and pay for a medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate medical facility. Without insurance, the costs of emergency medical transportation overseas can sometimes hit six figures.
Your emergency transportation benefits can pay for a friend or family member to travel to your bedside, if you’ll be hospitalized for more than seven days. They also can cover the cost of getting you home on a commercial flight once you’re well enough to travel.
Scenario: You and your two best friends have just arrived in Paro, ready to begin an epic 36-day trek on the Trans Bhutan Trail. But… your backpack never shows up at the baggage claim. “We’ll track it down in a few days,” the airline promises. That’s not going to work: This trip took months to plan, and you can’t delay the start of your trek.
What travel insurance can do: Luckily, your OneTrip Prime plan includes baggage delay benefits, which can reimburse up to $300 for the reasonable additional purchase of essential items during your trip if your baggage is delayed or misdirected by a common carrier for 12 hours or more.
What counts as “essential items”? Use common sense. For a backpacking trip, things like boots, a rain jacket, socks and camping gear would be considered essential. A sequined gown or designer kicks would not. Just remember to save your receipts! You’ll need them when you file a claim.
Scenario: At a café in Bucharest, you stash your backpack in the corner while you go to the bathroom. The friendly guy at the next table says he’ll watch it for you. When you come back, he’s gone—and so is your pack. Your passport: Gone. Wallet: Gone. Clothes: Gone. The only thing you have left is your phone. Panic!
What travel insurance can do: In a situation like this one, when you’re totally overwhelmed and you don’t know what to do, just contact 24-hour assistance. The Allyz® TravelSmart app makes it easy! Take a deep breath, explain what happened, and your assistance coordinator will coach you through what to do next. For instance, they can:
Everything is going to be OK. Because when you have Allianz Travel Insurance, you’re never traveling alone —even on a solo backpacking trip. Get your quote.
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Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.
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