Is annual travel insurance like a membership?
I have a friend who is looking to go in-and-out of France for a 5 year period. France requires an insurance for the whole duration of the stay.
We are looking for long-term travel insurance and only see 12 months [0] or 18 months[search]. No 5 years.
Is a yearly travel insurance considered like a "membership"? Could my friend present the yearly insurance to the France consulate?
Best Answer
Just like car insurance or most other types of insurance policies, a travel insurance policy lasts for the duration of its term. This is usually a few days/weeks if you buy a policy for a particular trip, or a year if you buy an annual policy. Once the policy term expires, if you still want/need the coverage, you'd need to renew it, under whatever terms the insurer offers at the time, or buy a new policy.
For a short-term visa application, you'll need to supply proof of insurance that meets the requirements and is valid at least for the duration of your first trip. So this could be a one year policy or one valid just for a shorter period of time. For subsequent trips, if you are granted a multiple entry with a sufficient validity period, you will need suitable insurance for each of your trips (you may not be asked for proof of it, but it is still required).
Nobody is expecting your friend to show an insurance policy valid for 5 years; they expect to see one that is valid for your planned first trip. Your friend can comparison shop to decide whether per-trip insurance policies or an annual policy makes more sense for their needs. Either is acceptable as long as the terms satisfy at least France's minimum coverage requirements.
As jcaron notes, your friend may well not receive a 5 year visa. In that case, a new visa application, including proof of insurance, would be required for further trips.
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What does annual travel mean?
Annual trip means one round trip between the post and the school completed within a 12-month period.What is an annual insurance policy?
An annual insurance policy is a policy paid for by the year as opposed to by the month. Therefore, a policyholder who pays a yearly premium would receive one year of coverage. Annual insurance policies are offered for a wide variety of insurance products.What is the difference between single trip and annual travel insurance?
Cost \u2013 if you take more than one holiday a year, a single policy can work out more expensive per trip compared to an annual policy. Shorter-term cover \u2013 single trip cover is based on fixed dates, so there's no flexibility if you want to extend your stay.Can you buy an annual travel insurance policy?
Annual travel insurance policies are designed to be a cost-effective way for travelers to purchase medical coverage and other travel insurance benefits for multiple trips throughout one year. Annual policies are a cost-effective way to get most travel insurance benefits on one policy for several trips.Travel Insurance Tips: 7 Things to Know Before You Buy
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Answer 2
I can't speak for France, but I had to present travel insurance in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, and Jordan. I had 12 months worth of insurance. I got the type that would air lift me in the case of a catastrophe. Car, earthquake, renters, home, and my experience w/ travel ins. all have gone for 6 - 12 months max.
Check France's travel insurance requirements, match or exceed them.
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