Whether you’re planning to study in Europe for a long period, or you’re backpacking or working remotely in Southeast Asia long term, you need the right policy for your trip. Here’s all you need to know about buying long-stay travel insurance in 2026 and 2027.
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Are you in your late teens or early twenties, looking to embark on a long trip abroad?
Maybe you’re thinking about an adventure across Southeast Asia, studying in Europe for a semester, finding somewhere warm and sunny to do some remote work, or otherwise taking a long trip with no fixed return date.
Such odysseys aren’t cheap – especially in Western Europe. And even in a lower cost country like Thailand the travel costs can mount up. With this in mind, spending money on insurance – when it could go towards flights, accommodation and experiences – can be a bit galling.
But long-stay travel isn’t like a two-week getaway. The longer you’re overseas, the higher the chance that something could go wrong – and the financial consequences could be painful.
So what should someone, likely in their twenties, look for in long-stay travel insurance?
Medical cover is your no.1 priority
Maybe you’re thinking “It’ll never happen to me” – but the truth is, you could encounter a medical issue at any moment, no matter how young and healthy you are.
From scooter accidents to hiking injuries to food poisoning, even if you’re moderately active, you run the risk of winding up in hospital. And hospitals can be expensive (especially reputable ones).
And it’s important not to rely on reciprocal healthcare agreements (GHIC for UK residents, EHIC for EU residents), which give access to medically-necessary state healthcare in participating European countries. But these are not a replacement for travel insurance. They don’t cover everything, including private healthcare and repatriation.
If you’re planning a long trip, check the policy’s emergency medical limit, excess and exclusions – and make sure you understand what happens if you need to be brought home.
It’s also a good idea to find a policy that includes a 24-hour multi-lingual emergency helpline – to coordinate care with overseas doctors.
Another super-useful feature is being able to extend your cover if you want to stay overseas for a longer period.
And if you’ve already started travelling but don’t yet have cover – you’ll need a provider that lets you take out travel insurance after you’ve left home.
All of the above are available from Worldwide Insure – either through Long Stay, Globehopper or Single Trip / Travelcare.
Which Worldwide Insure policy is right for your trip?
| Long Stay | Globehopper | Single Trip / Travelcare | |
| Best suited to | Extended holidays, backpacking, study or temporary stays | Very long-term travel and digital nomads | Conventional single trips |
| Maximum duration | Up to 180 days initially, with extensions available | Up to 3 years | Up to 180 days |
| Can I buy while already abroad? | No | Yes | No |
| Typical traveller | Students, gap-year travellers, backpackers | Digital nomads, long-term travellers | Holidaymakers, business travellers, one-off trips |
Backpacking often means adventure – and some risk
The term “backpacking” is often associated with a more active trip – and may include things like riding scooters, or going jetskiing, diving, or hiking.
It’s important not to assume these activities are automatically covered – certainly as regards ‘bare bones’ insurance products.
If adventure sports are your thing, check the policy wording before you hit the Buy button. Some activities may be excluded, while others require an optional upgrade or specific safety requirements.
And with motorbikes and scooters in particular, ensure you have the right licences and understand all applicable local laws.
Phones and laptops are now essentials
For a long-term traveller, losing a suitcase is frustrating. Losing your phone can be a logistical nightmare – particularly as regards contacting home, using banking apps, and booking transport and accommodation. For a digital nomad, losing a laptop could also mean losing the ability to work.
Look carefully at baggage and personal belongings cover, particularly the single-item limit. A policy might offer generous overall baggage cover, but only pay a smaller sum for any one item.
Check whether phones, laptops and cameras are covered, whether there are conditions around leaving them unattended, and whether theft from hostels or shared accommodation is included.
If you’re carrying an expensive laptop but you’re only covered for part of its value, the difference could come straight out of your travel budget. Ouch.
Digital nomads: check the work rules
If you’re working while travelling, make sure your policy allows it.
“Working remotely” can mean anything from answering emails for an employer back home, to freelancing or running your own business. Policies can define and cover these situations in different ways.
In particular, you should check how your laptop and other work equipment are treated under the policy.
And of course, travel insurance shouldn’t be thought of as a substitute for any other cover you may need as a freelancer or business owner.
Does the policy offer the flexibility you need?
One of the best things about travelling in your early twenties is not – necessarily – knowing exactly what comes next.
For example, you might plan to stay in a particular beachside town for a week, and end up staying for six. You might change countries, extend your trip, or decide to spend another semester abroad.
Check:
- For how long the policy covers you
- Whether you can start your cover while already abroad
- Whether you can extend it while already abroad
- Whether there’s a maximum trip length
- What happens if you return home temporarily
- Whether you need to specify your return date
A cheap policy isn’t such a bargain if you have to buy another one halfway through your adventure.
Don’t forget cancellation and curtailment
The longer your trip, the higher the possibility that something could go wrong.
A family emergency could mean you have to fly home unexpectedly. Developing a serious illness or getting injured could interrupt your trip. A cancelled flight could leave you with additional – and substantial – accommodation and/or transport costs.
Look carefully at cancellation and curtailment cover, and understand exactly which circumstances qualify. “Trip cancellation” doesn’t necessarily mean you’re covered if you simply decide to change your plans.
Budgeting: Cut the right corners
For someone in the 18-25-year-old age group, price is likely to matter. However, the cheapest policy isn’t always the best value.
You need to consider events that would result in a big financial headache:
- Medical emergency: Would you be able to afford treatment or emergency transport yourself?
- Theft: Could you replace your phone, laptop and essentials?
- Adventure activities: Are the things you want to do actually covered?
- Trip interruption: Could you cover the cost of a flight home?
- Long duration: Will the policy cover the whole trip?
Also check the excess – the amount you may have to pay towards a claim. A lower premium can sometimes mean a higher excess, which isn’t ideal if you’re travelling on a tight budget.
Read the exclusions
It’s not the most exciting part of buying insurance, but doing so could save you stress and money later on.
Pay particular attention to exclusions relating to:
- Alcohol or drug-related incidents
- Unlicensed driving or riding
- Adventure and extreme sports
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Unattended belongings
- Working abroad
- Government travel warnings
- Rented vehicles
The bottom line
Whether you’re going to study, work remotely, or simply explore, you need an insurance policy that matches how you actually plan to spend your time away.
A suitable policy will give you strong emergency medical coverage, cover you for the length of the trip, protect your belongings, provide appropriate cover for adventure activities, and offer cancellation and curtailment protection.
Then check the exclusions and limits – particularly for expensive belongings, scooters and other activities.
Being in your late teens and early Twenties is arguably the most exciting period of your life – and the perfect time to explore the world. Given it could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it’s worth getting good insurance so you don’t have to abruptly end your trip due to illness, injury, or a lost laptop.
In the end, the right travel cover will give you peace of mind, so you can enjoy your time away to the fullest.
Get an instant online travel insurance quote or call us on 01892833338 to get the cover you need wherever in the world you are!