Travel Insurance

When traveling worldwide, we believe that travel and medical insurance are crucial. However, it requires some research and arrangements because regular Dutch travel insurance does not cover more than 180 days abroad per calendar year. Additionally, when registered in the Non-residents Records Database, the obligation to have a Dutch medical insurance expires. Therefore, it’s important to find a travel insurance that both allows and compensates for not having a Dutch medical insurance.

To cover travel and medical insurance for world travelers, three Dutch insurances are possible: Globetrotter Allianz, JOHO special Isis (de Goudse verzekeringen), and Tasman Backpack. They are rather similar in terms of coverage. Broadly speaking, they are designed for people who travel long-term, may still be registered as citizens of The Netherlands (though not required), do not work and earn money abroad (traveling for tourist purposes only). All three function as both a travel and medical insurance. You can take the insurance for a maximum of one year at a time, extendable to a maximum of two years at Globetrotter Allianz and Tasman Backpack, and up to four years at JOHO.

With similar coverage, we chose the JOHO insurance mainly because of the duration; we can be insured for four years instead of two. In addition, looking at the prices (with similar coverage), JOHO is cheaper compared to the others. We paid €64 per month per person for this insurance at that time, which would be €76 per month at Globetrotter Allianz and €90 per month at Tasman Backpack.

Coverage of JOHO insurance includes baggage (not insured for theft during sea shipment or when luggage is stored inside your vehicle), medical costs, dentist costs, exceptional costs (e.g. repatriation of mortal remains back to The Netherlands in case of death, covering costs for first-degree family to visit you if you are in hospital with severe illness, etc.), accidents, legal counsel, and legal liability. The amount of coverage depends on the package you choose; standard or super. Next to that, you can insure yourself for different geographic regions, namely Europe only, the world excluding the USA, and the world including the USA. More information can be found on their website.