Backpackers Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance Coverage for Backpacking Abroad

If you are planning to go backpacking overseas, it is a good idea to purchase backpackers travel Insurance. Most backpackers hit the trail to intriguing locations and with these expeditions come bountiful opportunities for injury. Fortunately, purchasing backpackers travel insurance will provide you the right amount of coverage a real adventurer requires.

Relying on your domestic or government sponsored insurance plan is not enough, as many provide little or no coverage outside of the country. Many traditional travel insurance plans have activity restrictions that will not adequately offer the coverage needed for people who are going backpacking internationally. The most common restriction typically is sporting activities, like zip lining, are excluded from coverage. Our Atlas Travel plan provides you with the protection you need, at a price you can afford with plans starting as little as $1 a day.

Why Buy Backpackers Travel Insurance?

Injuries, illnesses, or natural disasters can happen to you while on your trip. For many backpacking enthusiasts, the idea of planning for the unexpected seems too constraining and limiting. However, just as you’d never go hiking without the proper shoes, you should never go on a backpacking adventure abroad without the proper insurance coverage. With the right plan, you can be ready for an occasional travel problem or medical emergency, without adding more weight to your backpack.

• Backpacking on a budget? Our backpackers travel insurance offers direct payment for many international providers so you do not end up with unplanned out-of-pocket expenses.
• If you get injured while hiking on your trip and need medical evacuation, having backpackers travel insurance with HCCMIS^® will help make sure you are able to receive adequate medical care quickly, as we will arrange this for you.
• Should a natural disaster strike while you are on your trip, our Atlas backpackers travel insurance will cover if you are displaced from paid accommodations due to evacuation from a forecasted disaster.

Backpackers travel insurance also comes with travel assistance services such as pre-trip health and safety advisories and emergency message relay. All travel assistance services are included at no additional cost!

Compare Backpackers Travel Insurance Plans

Brief Summary	Atlas Travel	Atlas Group	Notes
Discounts for Groups or Large Families	No	Yes	A 10% discount off our Atlas Travel coverage rates is offered for groups of five or more.
Complete Online application & policy documents	Yes	Yes	Selecting “Yes” to online fulfillment when purchasing ensures your policy information will be available to print when your application has been processed and your credit card approved.
Coverage for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions	Partially	Partially	Acute onset of a pre-existing condition only, with all other expenses for pre-existing conditions excluded, and $50,000 lifetime limit for eligible medical expenses.
Emergency Medical Evacuations	Yes	Yes	$500,000 lifetime maximum for emergency medical evacuation or $25,000 for emergency evacuation due to an acute onset of a pre-existing condition.

Seasonal Backpacking Guide

Planning on plunging into the great outdoors in the spring, summer or fall? Few experiences equal the peace and satisfaction of a wilderness trip. The self-reliance of traveling through remote areas necessitates good planning and specific skill sets. Use this guide as a starting point to assemble the equipment and plan to successfully enjoy escaping – if only for one night – the confines of civilization.

Navigation

Be familiar with reading and using topographic maps to navigate and locate yourself based on landforms. The same goes for using a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit. Practice before you go and always have a physical map as a backup.

Animal encounters
Before entering a wilderness area, determine if animals that are a danger to you and/or may attempt to eat your food are present. If so, take means of personal protection and learn how to avoid encounters altogether. Generally making yourself known by creating noise, talking loudly, etc., is a simple way to avoid surprising possibly dangerous animals. Prospective wilderness travelers should also have any necessary animal-proof storage containers and know how to use them effectively.

Correct boot and pack fit

An ill-fitting backpack or pair of boots can ruin a backpacking trip in just a few miles. Before setting out, ensure your pack fits correctly and learn how to adjust it mid-trip if necessary. Do not attempt to break-in boots during the trip. Only hit the trail with footwear you know is comfortable over long distances.Whether you’re on a multi-leg journey or just an overnight jaunt, don’t leave these important items behind:

Document your trip

Don’t embark on a trip without leaving important information about your adventure with a responsible party. Indicate where you will be traveling, when you’ll be back and what to do if you do not return as planned. A simple note or email is all that is necessary, but it could make a huge difference if something goes amiss during your journey.

Just love learning about extreme sports? Read more below or check out our blog for more destination-based travel tips!

*The claims example provided above is based on actual international health insurance claims handled by HCCMIS. Coverage for similar international health insurance claims is not to be inferred from the above examples, as all claims are determined to be eligible/ineligible based on the applicable international health insurance policy and the facts and circumstances of each claim.

¹; Bellis, Mark A., Copeland, Jan, Dillon, Paul, Gates, Peter, Hughes, Karen E., “Effects of backpacking holidays in Australia on alcohol, tobacco and drug use of UK residents”, BMC Public Health, http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-7-1.pdf, January 2, 2007.