If you’re one of the millions of students considering a year out before starting university, then listen up.

While the majority of young people spend hours and hours planning their route before they leave, what countries they want to visit and which sights they need to take it, often travel insurance is left at the bottom of the list.

The advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is to ensure you have the appropriate cover before you leave the country in order to keep you safe while abroad.

There are thousands of different travel insurance policies for long-term travel and all vary greatly in their cover and also their price so it’s essential to shop around in order to get the best deal and the cover most suitable for your trip.

Ensure your policy covers repatriation to the UK as this will ensure you can be flown home by air ambulance should you become seriously ill or if you’re injured while on your travels. If your policy doesn’t cover repatriation home, then you’ll have to fund the full costs of getting yourself back to the UK which could run into thousands of pounds.

Another great tip is to make duplicate copies of all of your important travel documents such as your insurance details, passport, and travel information.

Should you require medial treatment while abroad, the best scenario is to get your insurer to pre-authorise your treatment. If this isn’t possible, make sure you keep a receipt of all medical bills as this will save a lot of time and effort when it comes to claiming the money back from your insurance company.

Although organising your travel insurance isn’t as exciting as organising your gap year adventure, you’ll be glad you invested the time and effort in ensuring you have the correct cover for your trip should you have the misfortune to run into trouble while abroad.