GoRoundTheWorld.com - RTW Travel - Before Departure

Health and Dental Insurance

Your options for health and dental insurance will depend to a large extent on where you reside when planning your trip and what kind of coverage you currently have (if any). You will want to be sure you have at least a minimal amount of coverage while traveling - choose an amount of coverage you are comfortable with, or, if you plan to participate in certain sports or outdoor activities, an amount that satisfies the minimum requirements established by the activity operators you are planning to use. Many group tour and outdoor activity companies require certain minimum coverage amounts and will require you to provide proof of such coverage before participating in the activities concerned.

Private Health Insurance

If you currently have private insurance, check with your insurer about your coverage limits while overseas. Be sure to understand the fine print - what is covered for an emergency versus non-emergency, what constitutes an emergency, what kind of coverage you have for ongoing care, and the like. Most private insurance plans will provide some amount of coverage while traveling overseas.

Even if you are covered by a private insurer while traveling, it may be worthwhile to look into new coverage for your RTW trip. Some insurance companies will provide highly-discounted coverage for the time you plan to travel. Such coverage can be quite comprehensive and often costs far less than the traditional coverage you have at home. The thinking is that one must be in a somewhat good state of health if planning to travel internationally for an extended period of time. This kind of coverage generally takes effect from the moment you depart your home country. It remains in effect until you arrive back in your home country or until the term of the policy runs out, whichever is sooner.

National or Public Health Insurance

If you currently have coverage provided by your government, use the internet or visit a branch of your local health service to understand your options while overseas. You should decide if the coverage offered to you while traveling is sufficient and, if not, consider supplementing it with private coverage.

If you are citizen of the U.K., you may find out some of your options for NHS health care coverage at http://www.nhs.uk/Healthcareabroad/Pages/Healthcareabroad.aspx.