Standard travel insurance sold by airlines and booking sites is designed for two-week holidays, not three-month slow trips. Here’s what to look for in a policy that actually fits how you travel:

• 90–365 day coverage: Most standard policies cap at 30 days. You need a long-stay or backpacker policy. World Nomads, SafetyWing, and True Traveller offer 12-month policies that cover multi-country itineraries.
• Medical coverage of at least $500,000: This is the big one. Hospitalisation in the USA, Japan, or Singapore is expensive — a broken leg can cost $30,000+. Ensure your policy covers evacuation to a country with good medical facilities.
• Adventure activities included: Hiking, scuba diving (to 30m), motorbiking, and trekking. Many cheap policies exclude “hazardous activities” — which covers exactly what slow travelers want to do.
• No geographic exclusion: Some policies exclude the USA, Canada, or certain regions. Read the fine print. If you’re overlanding through multiple continents, you need truly worldwide cover.

Every policy has exclusions. Here are the most common ones that catch slow travelers off guard:

• Pre-existing medical conditions: Almost no budget travel insurer covers these. If you have a chronic condition, you’ll need a specialist provider like Allianz Travel (which costs 2–3x more).
• Motorbike accidents without a valid licence: If you crash a scooter in Thailand without an International Driving Permit, your claim will be denied. Full stop. Get the IDP before you leave.
• Drink or drug-related incidents: If alcohol is involved, most policies void the claim. The Thai definition of “alcohol-related” is broad — even a single beer can be used to deny a claim.
• Electronics theft from unattended bags: Your phone stolen from a beach towel while you swam? Denied. Your laptop taken from your hostel dorm while you showered? Probably denied. Keep valuables in a safe or locked bag.

Making an insurance claim while travelling is stressful. Here’s how to set yourself up for success before anything goes wrong:

• Keep digital copies of everything: Passport, policy documents, receipts, prescriptions. Store them in Google Drive or a password-protected folder.
• Get a police report: For theft, loss, or assault. Your insurer will ask for it. In some countries, getting one means going to the police station in person — do it immediately, not tomorrow.
• Collect medical records: In Asia and Africa, ask for an itemised bill and a doctor’s note before you leave the clinic. Many small clinics don’t issue them automatically.
• Contact your insurer before incurring big costs: Most policies require pre-authorisation for hospitalisation over a certain amount. If you can’t reach them, the clinic’s international department often can.
• Save receipts for everything: Alternative transport, accommodation during delays, medication — if your claim is approved, these may be reimbursable.