Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is required for participation in all Elective programs.

Travel insurance covers you if illness, injury, or certain other reasons prevent you from traveling or completing the course. It's the kind of thing you hope you'll never need, but you also never want to be without. You can read more here from our partners at Travel Past 50 about the importance of having travel insurance.

What your policy needs to cover

At minimum, your travel insurance should include:

• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage, sufficient to cover the cost of your course and your travel/flights

• Personal accident and death coverage

• Medical expenses

• Emergency evacuation

Choosing your level of coverage

As with most insurance, a higher premium generally buys you more protection. For example, a cancellation policy reimbursing 75% of your trip cost typically costs less than one that would reimburse 100%. The same is true for medical coverage: a policy with a higher medical expense limit, or one that covers more extensive treatment, will usually cost more than a bare-minimum policy. Many providers offer both basic and premium levels. How much coverage feels right is up to you.

If you want especially thorough coverage, you can also ask providers about Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policies. Most policies are not CFAR, meaning they only pay out for specific, listed reasons. Whatever level of coverage you choose, you should understand what circumstances allow you to make a claim.

When to buy it

Purchase your policy as soon as possible after you're enrolled. Many insurers tie certain protections — like waivers for pre-existing medical conditions — to a window that opens shortly after your first payment, and providers may treat your deposit as that first payment.

Proof of insurance is due no later than one month before your course start date, submitted through your Pre-Course forms in the Student Portal.

Choosing a provider

‍You're welcome to use any insurance provider you like. We don't sell or administer policies ourselves, so we can't advise on specific coverage or claims. A few reputable policies that have been used by Elective participants in the past: Allianz, Travel Guard, and Trawick International.

‍Can I use the insurance that comes with my credit card?

‍Some credit cards include travel protections, but they typically offer little to no medical coverage — and, importantly, may not cover the cost of your Elective enrollment if you're unable to travel. Check your card's policy against the coverage requirements above before relying on it alone.

‍If you travel often

If you take more than one or two trips a year, a single annual multi-trip policy is usually a better value than buying separate coverage for each one — and it means one less thing to arrange before your next Elective. Ask any provider whether their annual plans meet the coverage minimums above.

Why travel insurance is required

By the time your course is confirmed, we've already committed to our instructors, facilitators, and local partners and suppliers based on the number of participants enrolled. That means Elective is not able to offer refunds or credits, whatever the reason for a cancellation. Insurance is also what allows you to access medical care and evacuation if a serious emergency arises while you are traveling.

Questions‍ ‍

Full policy language is in our Terms & Conditions. If you have any questions or need additional information, don’t hesitate to contact us.