If you’re a British citizen about to embark on a working holiday, you’ll want to purchase health insurance for your trip. For many destinations, including Canada, proof of insurance is mandatory.
Regardless of visa requirements, health insurance is always a sensible decision. No one is invincible to illness and accidents, even those who consider themselves young and healthy. Without adequate coverage, out of pocket healthcare costs can be exorbitantly expensive.
Pvtistes.net has been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have already protected thousands of working holiday makers to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries.
What is Globe WHV?
- It is the travel insurance dedicated to all WHV and IEC permit holders all around the world; created by working holiday makers for working holiday makers.
- Globe WHV insurance is powered by ACS, Travel & Expatriate Insurance Solutions. ACS have specialised in international mobility for more than 45 years.
If you’re a citizen and resident of the United Kingdom, between 18 and 35 years old, and planning to go abroad with an IEC permit or WHV, keep reading to learn more.
If you’re going to Canada on an IEC permit
If you’re participating in any of Canada’s IEC programs (Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op), you must show proof of insurance for the duration of your stay in Canada.
Advantages of Globe WHV insurance:
- Meets requirements set forth by IEC (International Experience Canada).
- Unlimited coverage of medical expenses and hospitalisation in Canada.
- Medical repatriation: 100% of actual costs are covered if you need to be transported back to the UK for medical reasons.
- Tourism outside of Canada is covered up to €150,000 worldwide with no limit on duration of travel.
- On-piste skiing and snowboarding are covered.
- Refund in case of visa denial: In the unlikely event that your application is rejected, you can request a full refund for your policy, minus a €20 fee.
- Refund on unused months if you decide to end your working holiday early and go back to your home country (as long as you have a minimum of two months left on your policy), minus a €20 fee.
- Zero excess: This means less out of pocket costs for you in case of illness or injury.
You can purchase up to two years’ coverage with Globe WHV for €727.20 (approx. £604).
In case of injury or illness, the excess is the amount that you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering for you. For example, if your policy has an excess of £90 but your qualifying medical expenses total £500, the insurance would only reimburse you £410. Insurance policies with zero excess provide the highest level of protection, and those are what we recommend.
The following table compares Globe WHV with two British insurers, Big Cat and True Traveller, for destination Canada.
| Globe WHV | Big Cat’s Standard policy1 | True Traveller’s Traveller policy1 | |
| Premium – 2 years in Canada2 for a British citizen between 18-35 years old departing from the UK | €727.20 (approx. £604) | £670.80 | £767.42 |
| Medical expenses and hospitalisation in Canada | Unlimited | Up to £5,000,000 | Up to £10,000,000 |
| Medical transport and repatriation for medical reasons in Canada | 100% coverage of actual costs | Up to £5,000,000 | Up to £10,000,000 |
| Policy excess | €0 | £903 | £04 |
| Medical expenses in home country (UK) | Up to 30 days and €15,000 per year in case of emergency | Not covered | Not covered |
| If you decide to end your working holiday early | Reimbursement for unused policy months (minus €20 fee, approx. £16.50) | Reimbursement for unused policy months (minus £50 fee) | No reimbursement |
| Skiing and snowboarding | Covered, on-piste | Winter sports add-on starting at £43.20 | Winter sports add-on starting at £90.83 |
| Snorkelling and scuba diving | Any depth, with or without tank | Up to 18 metres only | Up to 18 metres only |
| Travel in case of death of close relative in home country | Round trip for you is covered | Under certain conditions5 | Under certain conditions5 |
| Presence of family or friend in case of hospitalisation | Round trip plus €80 per night (up to 8 days) for someone to take care of you, if hospitalised for 7+ days | Travel covered only if deemed medically necessary by physician | Travel covered only if deemed medically necessary by physician |
| Personal Liability | Personal injury: €4,500,000
Damage to property and consequential losses therefrom: €450,000 |
£2,000,000 | £2,000,000 |
| Personal Accident | €30,000 | £15,000 | £15,000 |
1 The middle option of three policies, single trip; information from July 2024.
2 Big Cat and True Traveller offer Canada only as a part of the “Worldwide (including North America)” area of cover; there is no area of cover for only Canada.
3 When applicable, this amount applies to each claim, per section, for each separate incident.
4 A £75 excess option is also available at a lower policy premium.
5 Only if you are already in possession of a return ticket for the original planned end of your working holiday. Other conditions for curtailment may apply.
If you’re going to Australia or New Zealand on a WHV
Though insurance is not required by Australian and New Zealander authorities for British working holiday makers, it is still strongly recommended. Medical expenses for uninsured individuals are very expensive otherwise. For example, medical repatriation to the UK can cost up to tens of thousands of pounds.
Advantages of Globe WHV insurance:
- Unlimited coverage of medical expenses and hospitalisation in your WHV country (Australia or New Zealand).
- Medical repatriation: 100% of actual costs are covered if you need to be transported back to the UK for medical reasons.
- Tourism outside of your WHV country is covered up to €150,000 worldwide with no limit on duration of travel.
- Refund in case of visa denial: In the unlikely event that your application is rejected, you can request a full refund for your policy, minus a €20 fee.
- Refund on unused months if you decide to end your working holiday early and go back to your home country (as long as you have a minimum of two months left on your policy), minus a €20 fee.
- Zero excess: This means less out of pocket costs for you in case of illness or injury.
You can purchase a year of coverage with Globe WHV for €404.40 (approx. £336).
In case of injury or illness, the excess is the amount that you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering for you. For example, if your policy has an excess of £90 but your qualifying medical expenses total £500, the insurance would only reimburse you £410. Insurance policies with zero excess provide the highest level of protection, and those are what we recommend.
The following table compares Globe WHV with two British insurers, Big Cat and True Traveller, for destinations Australia and New Zealand.
| Globe WHV | Big Cat’s Standard policy1 | True Traveller’s Traveller policy1 | |
| Premium – 1 year in Australia or New Zealand2 for a British citizen between 18-30 years old departing from the UK | €404.40 (approx. £336) | £324.12 | £397.83 |
| Medical expenses and hospitalisation in Australia or New Zealand | Unlimited in the WHV country | Up to £5,000,000 | Up to £10,000,000 |
| Medical transport and repatriation for medical reasons in Australia or New Zealand | 100% coverage of actual costs | Up to £5,000,000 | Up to £10,000,000 |
| Medical expenses and hospitalisation during tourism elsewhere (excluding home country) | Coverage up to €150,000 worldwide with no limit on duration of travel | Covered up to 7 days for travel outside of Australia and New Zealand | Covered up to 14 days for travel outside of Australia and New Zealand |
| Policy excess | €0 | £903 | £04 |
| Medical expenses in home country (UK) | Up to 30 days and €15,000 per year in case of emergency | Not covered | Not covered |
| If you decide to end your working holiday early | Reimbursement for unused policy months (minus €20 fee, approx. £16.50) | No reimbursement | No reimbursement |
| Skiing and snowboarding | Covered, on-piste | Winter sports add-on starting at £43.20 | Winter sports add-on starting at £63.13 |
| Snorkelling and scuba diving | Any depth, with or without tank | Up to 18 metres only | Up to 18 metres only |
| Travel in case of death of close relative in home country | Round trip for you is covered | Under certain conditions5 | Under certain conditions5 |
| Presence of family or friend in case of hospitalisation | Round trip plus €80 per night (up to 8 days) for someone to take care of you, if hospitalised for 7+ days | Travel covered only if deemed medically necessary by physician | Travel covered only if deemed medically necessary by physician |
| Maternity expenses | 90% covered, up to €5,000 (approx. £4,150) | Normal costs associated with pregnancy are not covered | Normal costs associated with pregnancy are not covered |
| Personal Liability | Personal injury: €4,500,000
Damage to property and consequential losses therefrom: €450,000 |
£2,000,000 | £2,000,000 |
| Personal Accident | €30,000 | £15,000 | £15,000 |
1 The middle option of three policies, single trip; information from July 2024.
2 Big Cat and True Traveller define Australia and New Zealand as a single area of cover. There is no policy for just Australia or New Zealand.
3 When applicable, this amount applies to each claim, per section, for each separate incident.
4 A £75 excess option is also available at a lower policy premium.
5 Only if you are already in possession of a return ticket for the original planned end of your working holiday. Other conditions for curtailment may apply.
If you’re going somewhere else on a WHV
Globe WHV can protect you wherever you’re going! Click here to get a quote and see policy details.
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