Health & Insurance

Health & Insurance

Travel Insurance is a type of insurance that covers a pre-planned trip and will reimburse the policyholder if certain unforeseen circumstances occur.  Students participating in outbound mobility and international placements must have appropriate travel insurance in place. 

There are a number of Insurance providers in Ireland who can provide cover. 

1. Backpackers Travel Insurance | Long Stay Travel | AIG Ireland
2. Chubb Insurance Backpackers Travel Insurance Travel Insurance – Get a quote online | Chubb Insurance (chubbinsured.com)
3. Aviva Backpackers Travel Insurance - Travel Insurance Quotes 20% Off | Holiday Insurance - Aviva Ireland
4. Allianz Backpackers Travel Insurance - Backpacker Travel Insurance | Allianz Assistance (allianz-assistance.ie)
5. Blue Insurance Backpackers Insurance - https://www.blueinsurance.ie/travel-insurance.asp
6. Pro-Trip World (Dr-Walter) - https://www.protrip-world.com/en 
   

 There are different levels of cover available, which provide different levels of benefit under the policy and Students are advised to familiarise themselves with the cover types available.  

University of Galway Insurance Cover Requirements & Recommendations:

• Medical Expenses to include Repatriation – at least €1 Million
• Personal Liability – at least €500,000
• Cancellation/Curtailment/Rearrangement – Highly recommended
• Baggage /Personal Items/ Money/ Passport – Highly recommended

Other important considerations when purchasing insurance:

• Duration of the Policy cover – you need to ensure that your Travel Insurance covers the entire duration of your time abroad
• Material Facts – please ensure you disclose all relevant material facts to your Insurers. For example, a pre-existing medical condition.
• COVID 19 Cover – please ensure you check and review the policy carefully in relation to COVID 19 costs and expenses. Policies differ from one Insurer to another in relation to the coverage offered.
• Excluded Territories – all policies will include an Excluded Territory List. Please ensure you are familiar with same and discuss any issues/concerns with your Insurer.
• Exclusions – please read the Policy before purchasing to understand the specific exclusions.
• Holidays/returning home – if you intend to take a holiday during your trip abroad or return home please check that this is covered by your policy before travelling.
• Winter Sports – if you intend to participate in any winter sports during your time abroad please ensure this is covered by your Policy.
• It’s important to check the policy Terms and Conditions at the time of purchase as these can change frequently

Students are reminded that it is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain a policy which satisfies the University requirements and your own needs in advance of departure and to ensure you have adequate cover in place for the duration of your time abroad.

Further information on travel insurance in Ireland is available through the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Travel insurance - CCPC

Please note that some partner universities (for example some in the US) require you to buy a particular policy that they source. In these instances it can be more expensive than you might be able to find at home. Some host universities will also require you to provide them with details of your private travel insurance policy.

Make sure that you keep a record of any emergency numbers provided by the insurance company incase you have to make a claim. Having the details readily to hand will alleviate some of the stress if you are in a difficult situation. Should you find yourself in circumstances where you will have to make a claim, you should contact the insurance company immediately, as a delay in doing this could affect your claim.

Cover Under a Family Health Insurance Plan
You may wish to investigate whether travel for your stay abroad under your own or your parents’ private health insurance plan is adequate. You will need to confirm the cover requirements as given above are met completely. You can establish this by reading the policy document and by contacting the health insurance company directly. You may be able to purchase additional cover for travel insurance if this is not included in an existing health insurance policy.

Please be aware that University of Galway students going on Erasmus study visits or traineeships will be required to provide the name of their insurer and the policy name and number when completing their Erasmus grant agreement.  Without this information, the grant agreement will be considered invalid and the student will not be eligible for the Erasmus grant.  

IMPORTANT NOTE for EU Citizens Travelling to EU Countries

A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is essential for every EU citizen travelling to another European country; as a student, it entitles you to necessary healthcare in the public system of any EU/EEA member state. The EHIC provides for basic health cover, but what constitutes basic cover may vary from one country to another, and in some cases the patient will be required to make a contribution to the costs of care in the public health system, so it’s advisable to check the website www.ehic.ie to get precise information on the different countries. You can also apply for the card via that website. One card is needed for each individual or member of a family. The EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance, however, and it’s quite limited in what it covers. Healthcare in a private setting is not included, nor is the cost of repatriation, or the additional travel and accommodation costs that can accrue in a case of illness or an accident abroad. You will also need to be covered for eventualities like cancelled/delayed flights and lost luggage. This is where private travel insurance comes in.