Why insure your Working Holiday Visa?
The Working Holiday Program allows you to travel around a country while working, if you wish, to finance your trip. The duration of the program varies from 1 to 2 years, depending on the destination, but as soon as you leave the European Union, or if you’re on the road for 3, 6 or 9 months, you are no longer covered by French health insurance. As your visa is not recognized as an expatriate visa, you cannot be covered by the social security system of your destination country. And, depending on the country, healthcare costs can be high… Having an appendix operation in Australia, for example (where international health insurance is not compulsory for a pvtist), could cost you up to €12,000. Health insurance can cover this hefty sum, so whether compulsory or not, we strongly recommend that you take out international health insurance to cover your Working Holiday Program. This insurance will take care of all your health needs, whether you need to see a doctor, have an accident or have any other emergency in the country.
Please note: credit card cover is often limited to 90 days. For longer stays, this type of “insurance” is not an option.
PVT destinations for which health insurance is compulsory…
As we said, there are some countries where international health insurance is compulsory to obtain your visa. You can ask the insurance company for a certificate in your application file. These include Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand and Canada.
3 ways to choose the right PVT international health insurance
1. Insurance coverage, reimbursement levels and extras
Whatever insurance you choose, it should at least cover you for medical care and hospitalization, as well as repatriation. Third-party liability, in the event of material or physical damage to others, is an added bonus offered by many insurers, and one which we also consider essential. The first step is to choose an international health insurance policy that offers at least all these coverages. What’s more, the level of reimbursement should be sufficient and adapted to the country of destination.
Please note: some countries, in addition to requiring insurance, have a list of guarantees that must be offered by the insurance.
Leaving on a working holiday visa also often means setting off on an adventure and discovering the country. And to keep up with all your adventures, you can take out international health insurance. For example, some offer an extreme sports option, like Chapka assurances; others offer travel options on airline tickets or luggage to reimburse you in the event of loss, theft or plane delay. Finally, just as your policy options are important, so are your policy exclusions (what is not covered by the insurance).
2. The policy period: how long will you be on the road?
Insurance must cover you for the entire duration of your stay abroad. It must start on the day of your departure and cover you until your planned return date.
Note: even if you’re only staying abroad for 6 months, some countries require you to take out international health insurance for the entire duration of your visa. This is the case in Argentina, for example, for a 12-month visa. Others, like Canada, base the duration of your visa on the duration of your international health insurance. So think carefully!
3. Coverage and reimbursement: when do you have to pay?
The final factor to consider is how you will be reimbursed. Do you have to pay in advance, and how long does it take to be reimbursed for treatment abroad? A word of advice: always opt for a 1st euro international health insurance policy that reimburses you from the very first euro you spend abroad. Future pvtists, to find out more about international health insurance companies that cover the Working Holiday Program, such as Chapka, Globe insurance offered by ACS or April, we invite you to visit our Santexpat website. And don’t hesitate to consult our team of international health experts to find the insurance that’s right for you. Also, following the Covid-19 health crisis, many programs have been suspended. Don’t forget to find out about the terms and conditions in force in each country when choosing your PVT destinations.
