Travel Insurance for Backpacking: Why Is It Important?

Whether roughing it in the wild or in the middle of a bustling metropolis, backpacking is a great way to immerse yourself in your travels. While backpacking can be an adventure, travel insurance could help make sure that you are protected from having the wrong kind of adventure.

Why Would You Need Travel Insurance for a Backpacking Trip?

Often, backpacking trips are planned as a generally more cost-efficient and flexible way of travel. So why insure a trip that doesn’t have all the frills (and non-refundable costs) of a traditional vacation get-away? This low-cost, oft-nomadic method of travel doesn’t render a travel insurance policy useless. Travel insurance may help protect the items you carry with you, transportation plans, and situations in which you require medical care.

Baggage Coverage

Being covered for baggage can be especially important when backpacking. Consolidating your belongings to a single bag for the majority of your trip can mean that each item you have is particularly essential. Baggage insurance reimburses you up to the benefit limit of your travel insurance plan for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage and personal items. Arch RoamRight’s designated assistance provider can also assist you in taking the necessary steps to replace passports, tickets, and other important travel documents in the case that they are lost or stolen. If you have checked your baggage with a common carrier, such as an airline, and delivery is delayed, coverage for baggage will be extended until the common carrier delivers the property.

As always, it is important to review your policy to learn of the coverage, benefit limits, and related exclusions.

Trip Cancellation

Should an occasion arise that prevents you from traveling to or remaining in your destination, travel insurance may be able to provide a trip cancellation or trip interruption benefit. For example, if there is a natural disaster, civil unrest, or one of the other conditions that fall under the covered reasons as stated in your purchased policy, Arch RoamRight may be able to reimburse you up to the benefit limit.

Some limitations apply when filing a claim for trip cancellation insurance. However, our Cancel for Any Reason upgrade allows you to make a cancellation insurance claim for any and all reasons.

Travel Medical Coverage

In general, some medical insurance plans do not cover care received outside the United States, or even outside of your state of residence. This includes standard Medicare and Medicaid plans. Travelers on these plans may want to consider a travel medical insurance policy.

Alongside Trip Cancellation benefits, Arch RoamRight’s travel insurance plans include emergency medical benefits that can provide coverage for an injury or sickness diagnosed by a physician as requiring immediate care. In the unfortunate case that this happens while on your trip, having travel insurance could ensure that you’re not stuck with outstanding medical fees, allowing you to get the care you need while on your trip.

Travel Medical-Only Coverage

If you want travel medical insurance for emergencies – but not trip cancellation insurance – Arch RoamRight offers a Travel Medical plan. The Travel Medical travel insurance plan features several options for Accident & Sickness Medical Expense coverage. It can also provide up to $100,000 for Emergency Evacuation coverage, which can be invaluable if injuries are sustained while backpacking in a remote area. When traveling, travel medical insurance provides coverage for medical emergencies occurring more than 100 miles from home on trips 180 days in length or less.

Beyond providing coverage in the event of a medical emergency, all Arch RoamRight insureds have access to a 24/7 emergency assistance line which puts trained emergency travel assistance providers at your fingertips. They also can help you find quality, local medical care and provide translation services if needed.

You can visit our blog to learn more about what to pack for your backpacking trip, tips from an avid backpacker, or read other posts about road trips.

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.