Volunteer Travel Insurance
Most of the time your volunteer trip abroad will go smoothly, but sometimes luck just isn’t on your side and things go wrong. That’s why travel insurance is compulsory for all IVHQ volunteers.
Volunteering includes a wide range of activities that standard travel insurance or medical insurance policies might not cover, including:
- Volunteering work abroad (e.g. teaching, childcare, construction, animal care, medical care)
- Emergency medical transportation, treatment, and hospitalization while abroad
- Emergency repatriation to your home country
- Trip interruption costs
- Loss, theft or accidental damage to your bags, tech, travel documents, and gear
- Adventure activities (e.g scuba diving, hiking, surfing, bungee jumping)
That’s why IVHQ offers its own travel insurance cover for our volunteers that has been customized specifically for the types of claims you may need to make while traveling abroad with us.
IVHQ’s travel insurance has been customized specifically for our volunteers and is the same price for everyone, no matter where you live or where you are traveling to (although we are not able to offer cover for travel to mainland USA or Cuba). There is also no minimum or maximum age limit on our cover.
Our cover commences when you depart your home country and you will need to submit any claims within 30 days of a claimable event occurring.
IVHQ’s travel insurance is administered by CISI, one of the world’s leading providers of insurance for study abroad and international student travel – although IVHQ's insurance cover is available to everyone. The cover is underwritten by Crum & Forster Specialty Insurance Company, an “A” rated insurance provider with a 200-year underwriting history.
Key benefits of IVHQ’s travel insurance:
Same price for everyone
No matter how old you are, where you live, or where you’re going.
Generous benefit allowances
Higher allowance limits than other providers.
Covid-19 cover included
Claims for costs or delays related to Covid-19 infection abroad are treated like any other medical condition.
24/7 emergency assistance while abroad
Get assistance and advice quickly if something happens to you.
Cover for up to 320 volunteering & vacation activities
Whatever you’re likely to do on your trip, our insurance should have you covered.
What’s covered by IVHQ’s travel insurance
STANDARD PLAN
- Most affordable option
- 240 activities covered
- $300,000 benefit for medical expenses overseas
- Cover starts when you depart your home country
- Global cover (excluding travel to the USA & Cuba) for multi-country trips
- Can cover your entire vacation, including non-volunteering periods
PREMIUM PLAN
- Upgraded cover for up 320 activities
- $1,000,000 benefit for medical expenses overseas
- Covers construction and renovation volunteer work
- Covers medical & healthcare volunteer work
- Cover starts when you depart your home country
- Global cover (excluding travel to the USA & Cuba) for multi-country trips
- Can cover your entire vacation, including non-volunteering periods
Cover Details |
STANDARD PLANMaximum Benefit
(USD$)
|
PREMIUM PLANMaximum Benefit
(USD$)
|
|---|---|---|
| Geographic cover | Global (excluding travel to the USA and Cuba) | Global (excluding travel to the USA and Cuba) |
| Personal liability cover* | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Overseas medical expenses, including prescription drugs and hospitalization | $300,000 with zero deductible | $1,000,000 with zero deductible |
| Cover for Covid-19 infection and quarantine | Included | Included |
| Dental injury | $300,000 with zero deductible | $1,000,000 with zero deductible |
| Palliative dental treatment (non-injury) | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Pre-existing medical conditions | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Emergency medical evacuation | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Evacuation due to security or natural disaster | $100,000 ($1M aggregate) | $100,000 ($1M aggregate) |
| Repatriation of mortal remains | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Accidental death & dismemberment | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Emergency medical reunion (transportation for a relative to visit you if you’re hospitalized) | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Trip interruption (after leaving home country) | $2,500 | $10,000 |
| Trip delay (after leaving home country) | $1,500 | $10,000 |
| Baggage delay | $750 | $1,000 |
| Personal property (baggage & personal effects) | $1,000 | $4,000 |
| 24/7 medical, travel, technical assistance | Included | Included |
| Adventure sports & activities | 240 activities covered | 320 activities covered |
*Disclaimer: Personal liability is covered if you purchase your Travel Insurance after 19 October 2023.
How to buy IVHQ Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance FAQ’s
IVHQ’s travel insurance treats a Covid-19 infection like any other medical condition. Therefore, if you become infected with Covid-19 while abroad, you’ll benefit from full coverage up to the policy limits for medical expenses. In addition, you’ll be covered for any trip interruption and trip delay costs, including quarantine, up to the maximum benefit listed above.
If you’ve already purchased an alternative travel insurance product and checked that it covers everything you need, please log in to your MyIVHQ account and tick it off your pre-departure checklist now!
We highly recommend securing travel insurance cover that is specific for volunteering abroad. Your health insurance plan or insurance provided by your credit card are not likely to meet the minimum coverage requirements for your trip.
Yes! Purchase cover for the entire period you’ll be overseas and your policy will cover your entire trip. If you’re traveling to multiple countries, choose the destination where you’ll spend the most time when purchasing cover - but you’ll be covered for all countries you’ll visit on your trip (excluding travel to the USA and Cuba).
Travel insurance do’s and don’ts
-
Do ask questions.
If you want to be sure you’re covered for a certain activity on your trip, then review the Policy Document or contact CISI directly.
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Do think before you act.
Many travel insurance policies won’t cover you if you were drunk, using illicit drugs or breaking the law.
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Do keep your receipts.
Sometimes you’ll need to pay up front for something then submit a claim against your insurance. In these instances, you must provide receipts and independent proof of what’s happened to you (like police and/or medical reports) in order to be reimbursed.
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Do ensure you’re fully covered.
Some activities you may participate in during an IVHQ volunteering trip may not be included automatically in your travel insurance. If in doubt, just ask your insurance provider.
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Do read your policy documentation.
It’s very important you know exactly what’s covered and what’s not. The last thing you want to have happen is to get in a scooter crash only to find out you’re not insured to ride scooters. Reading your policy document is the only way to know exactly what you are and aren’t covered for.
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Don’t expect to be rescued if you choose the wrong insurance.
IVHQ can’t take responsibility for assisting you if you have an accident and your travel insurance policy doesn’t cover you. You are the sole person responsible for making sure your insurance is sufficiently comprehensive to cover all your travel activities and personal needs.
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Don’t be a penny-pincher.
Cheaper policies usually provide less cover. If you do need to make a claim, you won’t want to discover you’re ineligible because you chose to save a few dollars when purchasing your policy.
