Is Long Term Travel Insurance Right for You? Essential Guide for Extended Trips

May 30, 2025 - Meagan Palmer

Taking a trip for a while or living abroad offers incredible experiences, but it also brings unique risks that short trips don’t cover. Long term travel insurance provides vital protection against unexpected costs like medical emergencies, lost belongings, or trip interruptions during extended stays. Whether you’re backpacking, studying, working remotely, or exploring the world for several months, this insurance gives peace of mind and financial security.

Jumping Ahead

• What Is Long Term Travel Insurance and Who Needs It?
• Key Benefits of Long Term Travel Insurance
• Who Needs Long Term Travel Insurance?
• How to Choose the Right Long Term Travel Insurance Plan
• Considerations for Long-Term International Travel
• Why Work With Our Travel Insurance Experts?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways

• Long-term travel insurance is for trips longer than one month.

• These plans often include medical, travel, and emergency support while abroad.

• Choosing the right type of plan depends on your destination, trip length and medical needs.

What Is Long Term Travel Insurance and Who Needs It?

Long-term travel insurance is travel medical coverage for travelers spending weeks to a year or more abroad. This could include multiple trips, under the assumption you won’t be returning home between trips. However, long term travel insurance isn’t always the same thing as annual travel insurance, as you might be traveling for several months, but not necessarily a year.

You need this coverage if you are:

• Traveling continuously for several months or longer

• Living abroad as an expat, student, or digital nomad

• Working internationally or on a gap year

• Seeking coverage that meets visa or residency insurance requirements

Types of Long Term Travel Insurance

Policy Type	Best For	Typical Duration	Premium
Single Trip	One long trip	Max 12 months	One-Time
Travel Medical	Continuous coverage, one or more destinations	12-24 months	One-Time
Global Health Insurance	Living abroad long-term or continuous traveling long-term	Annually renewable	Annual

Although some plans are designed for individuals, others can include families or groups. Each policy has its own rules and limit options, so it’s important to pick one that matches your travel plans and needs. The travel insurance experts at Yonder Travel Insurance can help determine the best policy for you.

Key Benefits of Long Term Travel Insurance

Medical Coverage

When you buy long-term travel insurance, medical insurance is one of the most important benefits. This benefit reimburses medical emergency costs if you need to seek medical treatment during your trip. 

Coverage usually starts after you pay a deductible and only applies to new medical problems. However, some global medical insurance plans also cover chronic conditions and preventive care options. With either type of travel medical plan, there may be emergency dental care covered as well.

Covered medical costs usually include:

• Hospital stays

• Doctor visits

• Surgeries

• Prescription medications

• Emergency dental care while abroad.

Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation

Although a medical evacuation is not cheap, it is often necessary in an emergency to ensure your safety and well-being. If you have a serious illness or injury and local hospitals do not have the tools to treat you, the plan can cover the cost to evacuate you to another hospital or even back to your home country.

Some travel medical and single trip plans give evacuation coverage for air ambulance, medical escorts, and even bringing a family member to your bedside. Emergency assistance hotlines can help you find a hospital, replace lost travel documents, and coordinate care in a foreign language.

Pro Tip: For a medical evacuation to be covered, you’ll need to contact the 24/7 emergency phone number to pre-certify and coordinate it for you.

Other Benefits

• Trip Interruption and Lost Luggage Protection: Some plans include trip delay benefits, trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage, or reimbursement for lost belongings, giving you extra peace of mind. However, most global medical plans don’t include these benefits.

• 24/7 Emergency Assistance: Access to multilingual hotlines that help coordinate medical care, replace lost documents, and provide travel support worldwide.

• Renewable Coverage: You can typically renew or extend your coverage each year if you’re still traveling at that point.

Who Needs Long Term Travel Insurance?

Long term travel insurance is important for people who travel away from home for extended periods. This includes students studying abroad, expatriates, remote workers, or anyone traveling for business or leisure for several months.

Families moving overseas can benefit from this coverage too. Likewise, digital nomads, retirees, and people on gap years also need this type of insurance, because their regular health insurance often will not work abroad.

If you plan to live outside your home country, you may be required to have proof of insurance for visa or residency. Short-term travel insurance may not provide enough protection in these situations.

How to Choose the Right Long Term Travel Insurance Plan

Picking long-term travel insurance means looking closely at what benefits you’ll actually use. Comparing plans and knowing what’s not included will help you avoid unexpected medical costs and financial burden.

When selecting a plan, consider:

• Trip Duration and Destinations: Choose a policy that covers your entire trip length and all countries you plan to visit. Some plans allow multi-country coverage and easy renewals.

• Coverage Limits: Look for at least $100,000 in medical coverage and $500,000 for emergency evacuation, especially if traveling far from home.

• Pre-existing Conditions: If you have ongoing health issues, check if the policy covers them or offers optional add-ons.

• Activities and Risks: Ensure your plan covers any sports or work-related activities you’ll do abroad.

• Simple Renewals: Check with the provider to see how easy it will be to renew your coverage.

• Other Insurance Services: Some policies allow you to add on telemedicine upgrades and offer other concierge or emergency assistance.

Understanding Policy Exclusions

Knowing what is not covered by your plan is just as important as knowing what is. Most travel insurance policies do not cover injuries from risky sports, acts of war, or travel to countries with government travel warnings.

Long-term travel insurance may not cover ongoing medical conditions. If they do, you’ll need to disclose these on your application. Additionally, some plans set limits for lost baggage, meaning you might not get the full value back.

Read the fine print. Understanding what your policy explicitly won’t cover up front can save you trouble and financial hardship later if you need to file a claim. Always ask the insurance provider about anything you’re not sure is included.

Typical Costs and Providers

Long-term travel insurance costs vary based on how old you are, destination, coverage levels, and trip length. Single-trip plans are usually more affordable compared to global health insurance plans. While monthly premiums may be higher than short-term policies, they often cost less than purchasing multiple short-term plans.

Pro Tip: Check if coverage is still valid if you visit your home country or add new destinations during your trip.

Considerations for Long-Term International Travel

If you plan on staying in one destination for more than 90 days, you’ll likely need to apply for a visa. Some visas require you to obtain travel insurance for the duration of your stay. However, if you’re planning to become a resident of that country, you might be required to obtain health insurance through that country.

Make sure your policy clearly states coverage limits, duration, and includes evacuation or repatriation, as some governments do not assist with medical bills abroad. 

Why Work With Our Travel Insurance Experts?

Navigating long term travel insurance options can be overwhelming. Our knowledgeable team is here to:

• Answer your questions about coverage, cost, and exclusions

• Help you compare plans based on your unique travel needs

• Provide fast, customized quotes so you can make informed decisions

• Support you throughout your journey, from purchase to claims assistance

Ready to secure your extended trip with the right protection? Contact our travel insurance experts today for a personalized quote and expert guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions