High-risk travel might seem like something most people would avoid, but the reality is there are lots of reasons you’d need to visit a destination that poses a greater-than-average danger. And if you are traveling to a high-risk destination, you may need a special type of travel insurance to ensure you’re covered for all scenarios.
Whether you’re dealing with political unrest, terrorism, war zones, or enhanced health risks, standard travel insurance policies may not offer adequate coverage for these kinds of locations, leaving travelers exposed to financial loss and medical expenses in the event of an emergency.
Read on to discover everything you need to know about high-risk travel insurance, and whether or not you may need it for an upcoming trip.
What Is High-Risk Travel Insurance?
Who Needs Travel Insurance for High-Risk Countries?
What Does Travel Insurance for High-Risk Countries Cover?
What Is Not Covered with a High-Risk Travel Insurance Policy?
Who Is Eligible for High-Risk Travel Insurance?
Customer Case Studies/Scenarios
FAQs
Redpoint Travel Protection Has You Covered
What Is High-Risk Travel Insurance?
High-risk travel insurance is a specialized travel insurance designed to cover travelers heading to destinations where the risk of accidents, medical emergencies, or security threats are higher than usual.
High-risk travel insurance covers a broad range of potential risks, such as conflict zones, countries with a high prevalence of terrorism, destinations prone to natural disasters, or remote areas where medical care may be difficult to access. Other reasons may include political instability, elevated crime and kidnapping risk, an active conflict or war in progress, or a specific health threat, such as a disease outbreak.
The U.S. Department of State regularly updates its list of high-risk destinations with varying levels of threat. Travelers should pay attention to these updates, even after they’re already insured — it’s always a good idea to take personal security advice into account when it comes from reputable government sources.
At the time of writing, Afghanistan, Belarus, Burma (Myanmar), Haiti, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen are among the high-risk destinations under a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory.
Who Needs Travel Insurance for High-Risk Countries?
There are various reasons a person might travel to high-risk territorial zones. Certain professionals, such as journalists and humanitarian workers, may be required to travel frequently to crisis zones or disaster-relief zones. Business professionals operating in unstable or dangerous regions may also need this kind of insurance for business trips.
Then there are also people who travel to these areas by choice, be it for personal reasons or leisure trips, such as adventure-seeking travelers and expatriates who may be residing in regions with volatile political situations.
What Does Travel Insurance for High-Risk Countries Cover?
High-risk travel insurance provides broad coverage for situations you might encounter while visiting dangerous or unstable regions. The key areas of coverage include:
Travel medical
Travel medical coverage ensures that you’ll be able to afford necessary medical treatment in case of illness or injury while traveling. It should also reimburse you for any costs incurred accessing the necessary treatment.
Emergency medical expenses can be costly, and facilities, services, and medical professionals can be difficult to access in remote or high-risk regions, so it’s vital to choose a policy with high coverage limits.
Redpoint’s Ripcord is a comprehensive travel plan for adventure seekers and remote destinations, with high coverage limits and enhanced coverage — think: up to $1 million for medical evacuation, $100,000 per person for medical expenses related to emergency accidents and sickness, and $25,000 for search and rescue — so you can travel confidently.
Emergency Evacuation
In many risky destinations, access to adequate medical facilities can be limited. If you need emergency medical care that is not available locally, emergency evacuation cover can pay for your transportation to the nearest suitable hospital, which could involve air ambulance services. This is especially important if you’re traveling to remote areas where the nearest medical facility might be hundreds of miles away.
That means you’ll want to pick the medical evacuation program best suited for your travel destination. A plan that includes evacuation from a local hospital to your home country hospital of choice is a good fit for urban areas, while a program that includes rescue services (or rescue insurance) is best for remote locations.
Ripcord rescues from the point of injury or illness and medically evacuates to your home-country hospital of choice, with a coverage maximum of $1 million for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, as mentioned above.
Redpoint’s other policies include emergency evacuation benefits as well. Cavalry medically evacuates from a local hospital to your home-country hospital of choice, also with a $1 million maximum, and Harbor evacuates from a local hospital to the nearest appropriate medical facility (included up to $500,000).
Trip interruption
If an emergency forces you to cut your trip short, trip-interruption coverage may reimburse you for the unused, non-refundable portion of your trip, such as prepaid accommodations, flights, or activities. This can apply if you need to leave a country due to unexpected political upheaval, a natural disaster, or a medical emergency.
Ripcord covers 150% of the trip cost limit for interruptions and $125,000 for political, security, or natural disaster evacuation.
Trip delay
In high-risk areas, it’s common for flights to be delayed due to weather conditions, political unrest, or security concerns. Trip-delay coverage can help with additional costs incurred during these delays, such as meals, accommodation, and transportation.
Ripcord covers up to $200 per day for trip delay, with a $1,000 max.
Trip cancellation and cancel for any reason (CFAR)
For destinations with an elevated risk profile, trip-cancellation insurance is essential. If you need to cancel your trip before departure due to emerging security threats, health concerns, or travel bans, trip-cancellation coverage can reimburse you for non-refundable trip expenses.
Cancel for any reason (CFAR) is a separate, add-on type of coverage that provides even broader protection. It should allow you to cancel your trip for any reason not covered by standard cancellation insurance, such as a sudden change in travel advisories or personal concerns about the security situation.
For trip cancellation, Ripcord covers up to 100% of the insured trip cost and — available as an optional add-on — CFAR covers up to 75%.
What Is Not Covered with a High-Risk Travel Insurance Policy?
While high-risk travel insurance offers extensive protection, it does come with certain exclusions. These may include:
- Foreseen Events: Travel insurance policies don’t cover cancellation or other claims when your destination is a known high-risk area. For example, you couldn’t book a trip to the Eastern Ukraine-Russian border and then be covered for evacuation or trip cancellation, because that’s a foreseen event at time of purchase. Some policies may insure locations that are considered unstable or unsafe as long as the problem in question hasn’t already happened, but most don’t cover travel if governments explicitly recommend against it. (More on that below.)
- Pre-existing Medical Conditions: Many policies do not cover medical issues related to pre-existing conditions unless a waiver is obtained.
- Acts of War or Terrorism: Some policies exclude coverage for claims related to acts of war or terrorism, although this can vary by provider.
- Illegal Activities: If you engage in illegal activities during your trip, such as entering a country without proper documentation or hunting without a permit, your policy may not cover related claims.
- Some Extreme Activities: Some high-risk policies may exclude coverage for extreme activities, like bungee jumping, skydiving, or mountaineering, unless specifically stated.
- Government Travel Bans: If your government advises against travel to a particular country, certain insurers may deny coverage.
Who Is Eligible for High-Risk Travel Insurance?
Most travelers are eligible for high-risk travel insurance, but eligibility requirements may vary by provider. Some insurers may impose restrictions based on the traveler’s health, age, or the specific destination. In addition, pre-existing medical conditions can affect eligibility unless the policy includes a pre-existing condition waiver.
Customer Case Studies/Scenarios
The Dangerous Allure of Aconcagua
Transporting a Patient in the Antarctic
FAQs
Can I Get Travel Insurance for High-Risk Destinations Against My Government’s Advice?
Some insurers provide coverage even if your government advises against travel to a certain destination. The premium may be higher, however, and coverage for specific incidents, like terrorism or war, may be excluded.
Can I Get Travel Insurance for High-Risk Destinations If I Have Pre-existing Medical Conditions?
You can still obtain travel insurance for high-risk destinations if you have pre-existing medical conditions, but you may need a pre-existing condition waiver to ensure those conditions are covered. Be sure to disclose any pre-existing conditions when purchasing the policy.
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At Redpoint, operating in high-risk environments is in our DNA. Get a quote for our comprehensive, easy to understand coverage today.
