ef tours travel insurance

Trip Protection plans

With Trip Protection, you can set off on a life-changing, horizon-expanding adventure with peace of mind.

Tour cancellation & interruption

Baggage & personal effects, travel & baggage delay, accident & sickness, your plan options.

Travelers can choose to enroll in one of the Trip Protection plans, both of which are designed specifically with Go Ahead Tours travelers in mind. These affordable plans provide pre-departure and on-tour benefits, including medical expense coverage that may apply on tour and tour cancellation for the stated reasons above. Please read on for additional coverage details, as well as deadlines to purchase each Trip Protection plan.

Trip Protection

Deadline to enroll: Tour Finalization Date

Enroll in Trip Protection within three days of booking to receive the Early Enrollment Package, which includes a Pre-Existing Condition Waiver as an added travel insurance benefit. AnyReason Protection† is also included as a non-insurance Cancellation Fee Waiver from EF Go Ahead Tours.

Should certain circumstances hinder your ability to travel as planned, such as an emergency at home, a family member’s medical emergency that requires you to return home early, and more, you may be eligible for valuable refunds and reimbursements.

Benefits may be paid in the event of permanent loss, theft, or damage of your baggage or personal belongings while coverage is in effect.

Should certain circumstances cause you or your baggage to be delayed in reaching your tour destination, you may be reimbursed for related out-of-pocket expenses.

Trip Protection offers up to $50,000 in coverage for medical expenses incurred during your trip.

Basic Trip Protection

Basic Trip Protection provides the same coverage as Trip Protection, but can only cover up to $25,000 in Accident & Sickness. In addition, the Pre-Existing Condition Waiver is not available with the Basic Trip Protection plan. You can choose which option will best meet your needs for each trip you book.

Trip Protection offers up to $25,000 in coverage for medical expenses incurred during your trip.

Pre-Existing Condition Waiver

Exclusively offered with the Early Enrollment Package

Losses resulting from pre-existing medical conditions are normally excluded from coverage. However, this exclusion will be waived if you purchase the Trip Protection plan during the three-day Early Enrollment window and insure all prepaid trip costs that are subject to cancellation penalties or restrictions.

AnyReason Protection

When you enroll in Trip Protection or Basic Trip Protection before your Tour Finalization Date, you’ll have the option to add AnyReason Protection for $75. AnyReason Protection is a non-insurance Cancellation Fee Waiver provided by Go Ahead Tours that may protect you should you need to cancel your trip prior to checking in for your first scheduled flight. Go Ahead Tours will provide you with a credit voucher in the amount of your cancellation fees, which may be applied toward any Go Ahead Tour in the future. Credit vouchers will not duplicate amounts already payable under the insurance portions of your plan. Learn more about AnyReason Protection here .

Terms & Conditions

Please note that if you are traveling with certain visas (i.e. a Schengen Visa) or to certain destinations (i.e. Antarctica), your destination country may enforce coverage requirements that may only be met through certain travel protection plans. Please call Go Ahead Tours for a full list of specific coverage requirements for your tour.

The Trip Protection plan and Basic Trip Protection plan include insured components that are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company and non-insurance assistance services provided by Falck Global Assistance. You can find further details of the policy, coverage limits, and exclusions, including an exclusion for pre-existing conditions here . The Trip Protection plan and Basic Trip Protection plan become non-refundable after any of the following occur: when you depart on your tour, when you file a claim, or 10 days after payment.

Coverage options may vary or may not be available based on state of residence. You can call Risk Strategies at 877-974-7462 ext. 321 or email [email protected] to get further details.

For information on filing a claim, visit the Filing a Claim article .

Why choose EF?

Explore our payment options →

Plan for safe travels →

Add AnyReason Protection →

Dive into our tours →

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EF’s industry-leading safety & coverage programs for 2023 tours and beyond

When you decide to travel with EF, we want you to feel secure in that decision. That’s why as the world changes, so do we. Below are a range of policies and programs designed to flex to meet our travelers’ specific needs—no matter where they are in the planning process.

Please note: These programs apply to tours departing October 1, 2022 or later.

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We’re covering: 1. Safety First Program 2. Individual Coverage 3. Peace of Mind Program 4. General Liability Coverage 5. Risk-Free Enrollment Period

Provided to all groups 

This program was created to provide the safest possible tour experience for our customers.

EF’s unmatched global presence With 600 schools and offices in 50 countries worldwide, including regional offices dedicated to on-tour support, our global presence is truly unmatched. Our 50,000+ staff and faculty members around the world provide a local presence and are able to react quickly and in person where necessary. Plus, the staff in each office and school are trained to respond to a wide range of emergency situations.

Dedicated Emergency Service and Incident Response Teams EF’s Emergency Service & Support Team is available 24/7 to resolve any issue, from a missed flight to a lost passport to more serious on-tour incidents. They also facilitate communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency at home. The Emergency Service & Support Team is made up of highly trained, dedicated EF staff based in our Boston, Denver, and Austin offices who are equipped to solve problems and answer questions that may come up, even outside of regular business hours. This team also maintains direct communication with our Operations Safety & Incident Response Team to jointly solve issues as needed.

Background checks on adult travelers We conduct background checks on all adults traveling on our student tours. This is meant to help provide a safer tour experience for all travelers, and is a similar process to what many school districts implement for adults who volunteer in schools or chaperone school activities. Background checks take place through a secure process that is meant to specifically identify individuals who could present a risk to student travelers while on tour.

Individual coverage

Trip Cancellation Coverage** This plan includes Trip Cancellation coverage. If a traveler needs to cancel a trip due to reasons specified in the plan, this reimburses non-refundable pre-paid payments. Tour interruption coverage Additional coverage if a traveler needs to return early from tour due to reasons of serious injury or illness requiring hospitalization. Baggage and property coverage Coverage for baggage, airline tickets, travel documents and valuable property in cases of theft or delay. Flight delay coverage Coverage for expenses due to flight delays (lodging, food, and other reasonable expenses) as well as limited coverage for every full land day missed of your program due to flight delays or cancellations. Emergency evacuation coverage Coverage in the unlikely event a traveler should need to return unexpectedly back to his/her departure gateway (airport) due to a natural disaster or unrest.

**The Travel Protection plan includes insured components that are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, a cancellation fee waiver benefit provided by EF Explore America, and non-insurance assistance services provided by Falck Global Assistance. You can find further details of the policy, coverage limits, and exclusions here . The Travel Protection plan becomes non-refundable after any of the following occur: when you depart on your tour, when you file a claim, or 10 days after payment.

*$119 is the current cost for tours departing on or after October 1, 2023.

Cost: $309* Must be added at the time of enrollment

Trip Cancellation Coverage** The Travel Protection Plus plan provides a refund of the Program Price (minus the cost of the plan and other non-refundable fees) if your child needs to cancel their tour up to 24 hours prior to departure, for any reason. Tour interruption coverage Additional coverage if a traveler needs to return early from tour due to reasons of serious injury or illness requiring hospitalization. Baggage and property coverage Coverage for baggage, airline tickets, travel documents and valuable property in cases of theft or delay. Flight delay coverage Coverage for expenses due to flight delays (lodging, food and other reasonable expenses) as well as limited coverage for every full land day missed of your program due to flight delays or cancellations. Emergency evacuation coverage Both plans include coverage in the unlikely event a traveler should need to return unexpectedly back to his/her departure gateway (airport) due to a natural disaster or unrest.

For additional details regarding the insurance components of this plan, underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, including coverage limits and a full list of exclusions, please visit this page . For information on filing a claim, visit the Filing a Claim article.

*$309 is the current price for tours departing on or after October 1, 2024.

Provided to all groups

We understand that plans can change due to unforeseen circumstances. EF provides an exclusive Peace of Mind program to account for such situations. This program is automatically included for all travelers and can be enacted at the group level for any reason, including terrorism, pandemics, or other world events.

For groups traveling before October 1, 2025, your Group Leader may choose from the following options:

45 days or more prior to departure:

• Work with EF to modify your group’s current tour itinerary and dates, or find a new tour and apply all money paid to the new tour
• Cancel your tour and all travelers will receive a transferable Future Travel Voucher in the amount of all monies paid for the original tour, less the cost of any purchased Travel Protection plan
• Cancel your tour with applicable fees under the Standard Cancellation Policy

44 days or less prior to departure:

• If any location(s) included in the group’s itinerary is newly designated as a Travel Advisory Level 4 by the U.S. Department of State; or a U.S. federal or state governmental authority has newly imposed a travel ban to your destination, or newly issued an order requiring a self-quarantine for travelers in your group upon arrival to a location on your itinerary or upon return home from a location on your group’s itinerary; your Group Leader or the individual traveler will have the same Peace of Mind options set forth above.

For groups traveling on or after October 1, 2025, your Group Leader may choose from the following options:

60 days or more prior to departure:

59 days or less prior to departure:

Terms & Conditions Benefits of the Peace of Mind program are only available to the entire group and not to individual travelers unless specifically indicated. Travelers missing any payment deadlines must pay any incurred late fees to qualify for this program.

Revised tours must depart within one year of the original tour. If the revised tour has a higher price than the original tour, travelers will be required to pay the difference as a condition of traveling on the revised tour. If EF cannot accommodate a revised tour request and/or the group decides not to travel on the original tour, then the group may opt for future travel vouchers. If the group does not travel on the original tour, travel on a revised tour, or receive a Future Travel Voucher, standard cancellation fees will apply.

Travelers canceling from a revised tour will be charged a cancellation fee based on the date that the original tour was revised or the date of cancellation from the revised tour, whichever is higher. EF will make every effort to accommodate revised tour requests.

Future Travel Vouchers are valid up to 25 months from the month of the original tour’s scheduled departure. Future Travel Vouchers are transferrable at the face value of the voucher to members of the traveler’s immediate family or school community. The Future Travel Voucher is not a merchandise credit or a gift certificate and may not be redeemed for cash unless specifically noted on the voucher. Travelers who had booked their program by redeeming a previously issued Future Travel Voucher may have different terms and options available to them based on the originally issued voucher terms.

Provided to all Group Leaders and Schools

All Group Leaders, schools, and districts who travel with EF are added as additional insureds under our $50 million General Liability Policy, whether or not the tour is considered a school event. This policy helps safeguard Group Leaders, schools, and districts in case of claims related to covered on-tour incidents such as third party personal injury or property damage and provides a legal defense and covers associated legal fees. Policy terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.

New travelers traveling on or after October 1, 2024 who enroll during the Early Enrollment period can cancel for any reason up to 7 days after enrollment for a full refund of 100% of the money paid to EF. The early enrollment period is defined as the window in which your program is eligible for an enrollment discount. To be eligible, the traveler must enroll on a tour at least 110 days prior to the scheduled departure date. Travelers must pay in full or enroll in our Automatic Payment Plan at the time of program enrollment and must remain either paid in full or enrolled in our Automatic Payment Plan and in good financial standing at the time of cancellation to remain eligible.

Included in your Program Fee

All travelers receive supplemental Illness and Accident Coverage for injury/illness contracted during your tour. The Illness and Accident Coverage Plans are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company. You can view the terms and conditions here: https://riskstrategiestravel.com/efsi/

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Travel Protection Plan

With the Travel Protection Plan, you can set off on a life-changing, horizon-expanding adventure with peace of mind.

Tour cancellation & interruption

Baggage & personal effects, travel & baggage delay, accident & sickness.

Safeguard your investment with cancellation protection for unexpected situations, such as an emergency at home that prevents you from traveling or requires you to interrupt your tour along the way. The Travel Protection Plan provides you with coverage for:

TRAVEL PROTECTION PLAN*

Deadline to enroll: Tour Finalization Date

If an emergency at home hinders your ability to travel as planned or a family member has a medical emergency requiring you to return home early, you’ll be eligible for valuable refunds and reimbursements.

Should circumstances beyond your control cause you or your baggage to be delayed in reaching your tour destination, you may be reimbursed for related out-of-pocket expenses.

Should certain circumstances cause you or your baggage to be delayed in reaching your tour destination, you may be reimbursed for related out-of-pocket expenses.

What happens if you have a medical emergency abroad? This policy offers coverage for out-of-pocket expenses, arrangement of emergency flights and a 24-hour, worldwide service network.

Extended Protection Coverage

Extend your Travel Protection Plan coverage for your pre- or post-tour arrangements. This coverage is available for up to 14 additional days before or after your Go Ahead Tour.

*Travel Insurance Products are not available to residents of Québec.

**Benefits under AnyReason Protection are administered by Go Ahead Tours and are not insurance products underwritten by Zurich Insurance Company (Canadian Branch). Please note that vouchers issued by Go Ahead Tours as an AnyReason Protection benefit may not be used as a tour deposit.

Policy Number 8452428 (purchased after September 1, 2024)

Certificate of Insurance – English

Policy Number 8451415 (purchased between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024)

Please see below for full terms and conditions.

TRAVELSAFE*

Safeguard your investment with cancellation protection for unexpected situations, such as an emergency at home that prevents you from traveling or requires you to interrupt your tour along the way. The TravelSafe package provides you with coverage for:

TRAVELSAFE PREMIUM

Upgrade your TravelSafe plan for just $75 to receive additional coverage.* If your scheduled Go Ahead Tours flight is canceled for any reason, our 24/7 emergency support team will provide you with a new airline ticket at no additional cost (up to a $3,000 value) so that you can rejoin the scheduled tour as quickly as possible. Go Ahead Tours will also reimburse you for missed time on tour in the event of a delay.

Extend your TravelSafe Benefits for your pre- or post-tour arrangements. This coverage is available for up to 14 additional days before or after your Go Ahead Tour, if you have purchased airfare as part of your Go Ahead Tour.

**Benefits under TravelSafe Premium and AnyReason Protection are administered by Go Ahead Tours and are not insurance products underwritten by Chubb Insurance Company of Canada. Please note that vouchers issued by Go Ahead Tours as an AnyReason Protection benefit may not be used as a tour deposit.

Policy Number 9912-1444 (purchased between February 1, 2023 and August 31, 2023)

Summary of Coverage – English

Policy Number 9908-9943 (purchased between April 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023)

Policy Number 9908-6986 (purchased between March 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022)

Certificate of Insurance - English

For policies purchased before March 2021 please call 1-800-754-5066.

Bonus Protection!

Anyreason protection.

When you enroll in Travel Protection Plan within 72 hours of reserving your tour, you'll automatically receive AnyReason Protection—that's a $100 value, yours for free. With AnyReason Protection, should you need to cancel your tour at any time prior to checking in for your first flight, Go Ahead Tours will provide you with a credit voucher that may be applied toward any future tour. After 72 hours, you'll have the option to add AnyReason Protection for $100 when you enroll in a travel coverage plan. Learn more about AnyReason Protection here

Why choose EF?

Explore our payment options →

Plan for safe travels →

Add AnyReason Protection →

Dive into our tours →

Keep exploring these tours.

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Booking Conditions

Texting Conditions

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Travel Protection

Are you covered.

Many insurance plans do not provide adequate coverage for people traveling abroad.

We encourage all participants to sign up for cost-effective Travel Protection*, designed specifically to meet the needs of EF travelers. Travel Protection protects your investment prior to departure and covers your expenses should something unexpected happen during your trip. Note that the amount paid for Travel Protection is non-refundable and coverage begins as soon it's purchased.

Travel Protection is comprised of coverage for:

• Tour cancellation
• Tour interruption
• Baggage and personal effects
• Baggage delay
• Accident and sickness

*Travel Protection includes both an insurance and a tour operator benefit. To view a more detailed summary of the most current policy underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, click here . This page serves as a summary of coverages available under the Travel Protection plan; actual coverage options may vary, and underwritten components are based on state of residency. For detailed policy certificates by state click here .

• EF Education First Insurance Coverage

Frequently Asked Questions

• Submit a Claim

EF is your travel supplier, and the traveler is the Primary Insured .

Academic HealthPlans, Inc. (AHP), a Risk Strategies company is the third-party program manager and licensed agent(s) who can speak about the Plan Document and its coverages and benefits.

Broadspire is the claims administrator who reviews and adjudicates claims.

Click an option below to jump to the applicable topic:

Your Plan   –   Canceling Your Tour   –   On the Road   –   Contact Information

Can i cancel my travel protection plan.

Customers may only cancel the travel protection during the 10-day free look period, which begins the day you have fully paid the plan cost, provided you have not incurred a loss, departed on your trip, or filed a claim. If you are within the 10-day free-look period, please contact EF Tours directly.

Can I receive a refund for the cost of my Travel Protection Plan if I cancel my plan after the free-look period?

Travelers cannot receive a refund of the travel protection plan after the free-look period.

How do I access an additional copy of my plan document and brochure?

Visit riskstrategiestravel.com and click the tile for your EF Tour line. In the Program Resources dropdown menus, choose the State you purchased coverage, and the Enrollment Period date-range to view the plan document and brochure.

What does my Travel Protection cover?


Please review the documents available at riskstrategiestravel.com . If you have any additional questions after reading the coverage and benefit information, please contact Risk Strategies via email at [email protected] and they will be happy to address your coverage and benefits questions.

Who is and What is the role of Risk Strategies (RS)?

Academic HealthPlans, a Risk Strategies Company (RS/AHP) is the third-party program manager for the travel protection plans offered by EF. It is not within RS/AHP authority to make benefit exceptions or to process plan cost refunds based on special or unique circumstances that are not allowed by the plan.

Please note: it is not necessary for you to speak to RS/AHP prior to cancelling your tour or filing a claim, unless you have questions after reviewing your plan’s coverage details.

I have read the plan document, but I am not sure if my situation is covered?

Due to the nature of the information being shared and to provide you with a searchable reference, email is the most efficient means of communication. Please email RS/AHP at [email protected] and include the traveler’s name, date of birth, and include your questions and/or a description of your circumstances so agents can better assist you.

Canceling Your Tour

Who do i contact to cancel my tour
.

Please call EF Tours directly to cancel your tour. If you are unable to reach a representative you may use the call-back option, or the chat function on the EF Tours website.

Do I need to cancel my trip before I can file a cancellation claim?

Yes. Please contact EF to cancel your trip before filing a claim. If you file a cancellation claim without cancelling your trip, it will be denied as there will be no loss on file in which to pay.

How do I cancel my trip and get a refund?

First, contact EF Tours to review your options for rescheduling or obtaining a voucher for future travel, or to formally cancel your spot on the tour. EF will review what is refundable based on the Booking Conditions of your tour. The remaining unrefunded amount is what you may file a claim to recoup. You do not need to contact Risk Strategies before canceling your tour. Do not file a claim until you have formally canceled your tour.

*Do not contact Risk Strategies to cancel your tour, amend your coverage dates, or make changes to your trip itinerary.

On The Road

I am on tour and am experiencing a medical emergency; who do i contact.

For a medical emergency during your trip (24 hours) please call Falck Global Assistance (toll free from the U.S.) or 844-218-0622 (toll free from abroad); collect calls can also be made to 321-635-2184. They can coordinate medical care with a provider and should be the first contact.

For non-medical emergencies or urgent situations while on tour, please contact EF Tours directly.

Something happened while I was on tour, how do I file a claim?

Please visit riskstrategiestravel.com/claims to use the Online Claim Filing Portal, as well as obtain claim forms for Trip Cancellation, Trip Delay, Trip Interruption, Baggage Loss/Delay, Medical Expenses and more.

After your claim is filed

How do i find out the status of my filed claim.

Once you have submitted a claim, Broadspire is the claims administrator and will be your contact for claim status questions or issues. If you filed your claim using the online portal, please log-in to your account to review the status of your claim. You may also contact Broadspire at 877-314-1193 or by email at [email protected] . Do not contact Risk Strategies for claim status.

My claim was denied, how do I file an appeal?

Information about how to file an appeal is included with your denied claim determination. You must use this process if you wish to dispute the final decision. Neither EF nor RS/AHP can overturn a claim finding.

Contact Information

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Program Manager (Plan and coverage questions) Risk Strategies/Academic HealthPlans Travel Insurance Division 8:30am – 5pm Central Time | Monday – Friday [email protected] 877-974-7462, ext. 321

Claims Administrator (Claim status questions) Broadspire Email claims to: [email protected] or Fax 855-830-3728 or mail, allow 7-10 days for delivery:

For Claim Status: Phone 877-314-1193

Travel Supplier (Itinerary changes, Cancellation, and Booking Conditions questions) EF Tours 2 Education Circle Cambridge, MA 02141

• Educational Tours 800-665-5364
• Explore America 888-333-9756
• Gap Year 800-726-9746
• Go Ahead Tours 800-590-1161
• Study Abroad 877-485-4184
• Ultimate Break 800-766-2645
• Adventures 617-619-1825

Disclaimer: This advertisement contains highlights of the plans developed by Academic HealthPlans, a Risk Strategies Company, which include travel insurance coverages underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, Principal Office located in Morristown, New Jersey, under form series T7000 et al, T210 et al and TP-401 et al, and non-insurance Travel Assistance Services provided by Falck Global Assistance. The terms of insurance coverages in the plans may vary by jurisdiction and not all insurance coverages are available in all jurisdictions. Insurance coverages in these plans are subject to terms, limitations and exclusions including an exclusion for pre-existing medical conditions. In most states, your travel retailer is not a licensed insurance producer/agent, and is not qualified or authorized to answer technical questions about the terms, benefits, exclusions and conditions of the insurance offered or to evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance coverage. Your travel retailer may be compensated for the purchase of a plan and may provide general information about the plans offered, including a description of the coverage and price. The purchase of travel insurance is not required in order to purchase any other product or service from your travel retailer. CA DOI toll free number is 800-927-4357. The cost of your plan is for the entire plan, which consists of both insurance and non-insurance components. Individuals looking to obtain additional information regarding the features and pricing of each travel plan component, please contact Academic HealthPlans at [email protected] ; 877-974-7462 ext. 321; 16201 W. 95th Street, Lenexa, KS 66219; and California License Number – 0F06675. While Academic HealthPlans markets the travel insurance in these plans on behalf of USF, non-insurance components of the plans were added to the plans by EF Tours, and EF Tours does not receive compensation from USF for providing the non-insurance components of the plans.