5 Things to Consider When Finding the Right Travel Insurance for You
Travel insurance for performers isn’t one-size-fits-all. No specialized travel insurance is. You need a product that has your back no matter what happens, fits the niches of your profession, and suits your budget too. How do you know if you’ve found the right product? Today Hencilla Canworth and the Performing Arts Travel Insurance team break down 5 key things to consider when buying freelancer travel insurance to ensure you have the best experience possible.
1. What is the nature of your trip?
This is always the big one to consider. An actor’s travel insurance for a once-off flight is going to look a lot different from a singer going on a world tour. People who will be working have different needs from travellers on vacation.
This is why it’s a good idea for those in the performing arts to take out specialised travel insurance that’s built around their work, or you’re bound to run into issues getting any claim you make processed. It’s never wise to pretend you’re on holiday if you will be working, as this will immediately invalidate any insurance policy you have taken out.
Rather be honest about your need to travel for work, and find a tailored policy that will keep you working. Business policies- including travel insurance for freelancers- offer different perks and focus on key issues that affect performers who need to earn money from their travels, rather than the sorts of problems faced by holidaymakers.
2. Where are you going?
Destination plays a huge part in determining your premiums, so it’s important to be upfront about where you’re going, too. You can take out annual policies to cover you in the event you travel regularly, saving you money in the process, or stick with a once-off policy for a specific trip.
Even if opting for an annual policy, your provider will need to know more about where you habitually travel to to help shape the policy and premiums. Understand that travel insurance for performers is calculated based on a risk profile, not only of yourself and what you will be doing, but of the venue and the country. So even if your trip is the same duration, you could pay different premiums for travelling to a stable, economically blessed city vs heading out into the deep bush or jungle to film a new music video.
3. What do you need the policy to do for you?
Especially when we’re talking about travel insurance for performers, it’s important to have a good idea of what coverage matters to you and what doesn’t. This will vary based on your exact entertainment niche. Do you need medical coverage? Will you be a group or individual? How much will you be mingling with the general public? Are you performing on a cruise liner or in a stadium? Are you performing at several venues and travelling between them, or staying in one place? Do you need substantial health coverage, possibly for existing conditions, or will a basic health portion of the policy be enough?
Know what matters most to you, and ensure your entertainer’s travel insurance covers that. Don’t be wowed by bells and whistles you may not need, and focus on ensuring rock-solid coverage for your most important factors.
4. How long will you be away?
Part of finding the right travel insurance for your needs is keeping it cost-effective, too. If you’re making a single quick trip, almost any policy would cover you without breaking the bank. But extending that trip indefinitely, such as if you’re offered a residency at the venue, or making multiple short and long trips a year, can quickly take a toll on your bank account. With a little planning, you can instead find long-term or blanket travel insurance for freelancers that will keep you covered for less throughout the year. Remember, it’s important to travel smart, not hard!
5. Do you need failure coverage?
This is a particularly important part of coverage for many travellers at the moment, and a critical thing to evaluate for your freelancer travel insurance. What happens if the airline or end client cancels? What happens if the border restrictions or vaccine requirements for entry change? What’s the backup plan if COVID cancellations occur or there’s an outbreak on your cruise liner? Are you covered if the airline is at fault? Does coverage continue if it’s your client that ditches you in hot water? It’s important you understand exactly what you are covered for, and what you aren’t, so you have complete peace of mind over the process even if the worst comes to the worst.
Travel insurance for performers ensures you can relax and enjoy your job, without worrying about whether you’re covered in an emergency. Remember to make paper copies and have a digital backup handy when you leave, and add the emergency contact numbers to your phone so you can get help immediately if needed. Hencilla Canworth and the Performing Arts travel Insurance team are always on hand to answer your questions, so if you need entertainer travel insurance that will have your back no matter where in the world your adventures take you, be sure to reach out to us today.