If your preparing to travel on a working holiday visa, there's a very good chance that you will need health or travel insurance to cover you in case of medical problems or emergencies abroad. In fact, many countries require you to have private health insurance in order to a apply for a WHV or even enter their borders. I've been on several working holidays and know that finding the right insurance policy to fit your travel plans can take quite a bit research. Not all policies cover the same adventure activities or jobs that you might do on your working holiday so its important to know what policies will and will not cover....as well as which ones were designed specifically for travelers from different countries.

• Are you going skiing?
• Are you going surfing?
• Are you going sky diving?
• Are you going to work on a farm?
• Are you going to work with heavy machinery?

These are REAL QUESTIONS you have to ask yourself before leaving for you working holiday. You're going to want a policy that not only covers the activities you know you are going to do, but also a policy that covers activities that maybe you will do because it may be difficult to get a new policy once in your destination country. To make things simpler for others heading out on working holidays, I've created this section as a one informational resource on a few working holiday health insurance providers.

Bad Things Happen to Good People

On my first working holiday, I went bungee jumping from a cable car 134 meters above the Nevis River in Queenstown, New Zealand. It was fun experience that I don't regret BUT I ended up popping a blood vessel in my right eye because of it. I had to go to eye doctor afterwards to make sure it wasn't a permanent injury. Luckily, it wasn't and healed after after 2 weeks. However, my insurance policy didn't cover bungee jumping and the eye doctor visit which cost me over $150! You never know what will happen on your trip - so have insurance just in case.

The Best Working Holiday Health and Travel Insurance for You

Not all policies cover the same adventure activities or jobs that you might do on your working holiday so its important to know what policies will and will not cover....as well as which ones were designed specifically for travelers from different countries. READ THE FINE PRINT of any policy you buy

Traveling on the BUNAC or SWAP Programs?

For those going on a working holiday through the BUNAC or SWAP Programs, you are required to have health insurance in order to participate. And as you probably already know, both programs highly recommend you purchase their sponsored insurance policies although, however its not required. Have a look at some of the companies here to see how much money you can save by getting a policy with other insurers.