Clear information, comprehensive cover and an easy purchasing process.
Travel insurance when you’re already abroad
Travelling without insurance? Get travel insurance even if you’re already abroad with Rise & Shield. Quick & easy.
Customer reviews
Shared on Trustpilot
The insurance and payment process was smooth, straightforward and efficient.
The team quickly corrected my Antarctica cover and handled the replacement policy and refund.
I received all the information I needed to select the right policy, and the response was quick.
The team answered my questions and helped me make sure I had suitable cover for my trip.
Booking was simple, selecting the right package was easy, and everything felt efficient.
My questions were answered clearly and efficiently, and the purchase process was easy.
The high-altitude rescue cover was straightforward and included more protection than I expected.
Booking was simple, and the team quickly corrected my travel dates with clear communication.
When regional issues forced us to move our trip, the team changed our policy dates with plenty of support.
Clear terms, competitive pricing and suitable cover for a trekking trip in Nepal.
Finding suitable insurance for our high-altitude hikes in Peru was clear and easy.
Buy online
While already abroad
High limits
Medical & evacuation cover
24/7
Emergency assistance
Is this cover right for me?
Yes, you can buy travel insurance after your journey has started, provided nothing has already happened that could lead to a claim.
Your trip has already started
Nothing has happened that could lead to a claim
You are buying Single Trip cover
You understand the 48-hour start period
This is a quick eligibility guide. Cover cannot be backdated. Terms, limits, conditions, exclusions and excesses apply.
What can travel insurance bought while already abroad cover?
Depending on your chosen plan, Rise & Shield can provide cover for new, unexpected events during the rest of your journey, including eligible emergency medical expenses, approved evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss and travel disruption.
Special conditions apply during the first 48 hours.
Why choose Rise & Shield when you’re already abroad?
Realising you need insurance after your trip has started can be stressful. Rise & Shield allows eligible travellers to buy a new Single Trip policy online for the remainder of their journey, subject to the Already Departed conditions.
With 24/7 emergency assistance, high medical and evacuation limits, and the reassurance of an FCA-regulated insurance provider whose programme is reinsured at Lloyd’s of London, you can arrange cover and get back to enjoying your trip.
Rise & Shield is trusted by reputable tour operators and adventure companies
What should I know before buying Already Abroad cover?
Yes, you can start protection while you are already travelling. Your 48-hour start period begins as soon as you buy your policy.
During that time, qualifying injuries caused by sudden, independently verified accidents may be covered. After 48 hours, the wider benefits in your selected plan can apply to new, unexpected events, subject to the policy terms.
There are a few important limits to understand:
- Cover cannot be backdated or applied to anything that happened before you bought the policy.
- Pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
- Illnesses and non-accidental injuries beginning during the first 48 hours are not covered.
- Already Abroad cover is available with Single Trip policies, not Annual Multi-Trip policies.
- There is no cooling-off period, so the premium is non-refundable after purchase.
- Activities requiring an optional add-on are only covered when you select the correct add-on and meet its conditions.
This is a summary of the special conditions that apply when buying after departure, rather than a complete list of policy exclusions.
How do I buy insurance when already overseas?
Getting covered with Rise & Shield is easy. Follow these simple steps to secure your trip:
01
Get a Quote: Start by entering your trip details to receive a personalised quote.
02
Customise Your Plan: Tailor the coverage options to meet your specific needs.
03
Receive Instant Confirmation: Purchase and instantly receive your policy details via email.
Travel insurance already abroad FAQs
Can I buy travel insurance after I have already left home?
Yes. Rise & Shield’s optional Already Departed add-on allows eligible travellers to buy a new policy after their journey has started.
You must still be travelling, pay the additional premium and have no existing event that could lead to a claim.
How quickly does travel insurance start when I am already abroad?
Your 48-hour start period begins when you purchase the policy. During this period, cover is limited to qualifying injuries caused by sudden accidents that can be independently verified.
The wider benefits in your selected plan may apply to new events after the first 48 hours, subject to the policy terms.
Am I covered during the first 48 hours?
You may be covered for a qualifying injury caused by a sudden accident during the first 48 hours, provided the incident can be independently verified. Illnesses and non-accidental injuries beginning during this period are excluded.
What counts as an accident during the 48-hour start period?
The policy defines an accident as a sudden, unexpected, unusual and specific external event occurring at an identifiable time and place. Any accidental injury claimed during the first 48 hours must also be independently verified.
Can travel insurance bought while abroad be backdated?
No. The policy cannot cover an illness, injury, baggage loss or other event that happened before you bought it. Buying cover after departure protects against eligible new events—not problems that have already begun.
Can I buy travel insurance after becoming ill, being injured or losing my baggage?
You should not buy the policy expecting an existing incident to be covered. Already Departed cover requires that nothing has happened before purchase that could lead to a claim.
Claims relating to an earlier illness, injury, medical consultation or baggage loss will not be accepted. Contact Rise & Shield before buying if you are unsure whether you remain eligible.
Can I buy travel insurance after my previous policy has expired?
Potentially, yes. You may be able to buy a new Single Trip policy with Already Departed cover if you are still travelling and nothing has happened that could lead to a claim.
The new policy will not backdate cover or insure any gap before purchase, and its 48-hour start conditions will apply. This is an inference from the current Already Departed eligibility rules.
Can I buy Annual Multi-Trip insurance while already abroad?
Not with the Already Departed add-on. This option is available only with a Single Trip policy and cannot be added to Annual Multi-Trip cover.
Does Already Abroad travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
No. Claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions are excluded. The policy also excludes illnesses or non-accidental injuries beginning during the initial 48-hour period.
Can I cancel an Already Abroad policy and get a refund?
No. Policies purchased after the journey has started do not include the normal 14-day cooling-off period. Once purchased, the premium is non-refundable if you change your mind.
Will baggage lost after I buy the policy be covered?
Eligible loss, theft or damage occurring after the first 48 hours may be covered under your selected plan, subject to its limits, security requirements and excess. Baggage or valuables lost before purchase cannot be covered.
Can I add cover for adventure activities while already abroad?
Potentially, yes. Activities included as standard can remain covered, while activities requiring Adventure Plus, Adventure Extreme, Winter Sports or another optional add-on must be selected when you buy. The activity must also meet its stated conditions and exclusions.
What should I do if I have a medical emergency after buying?
Seek urgent local help first if you are in immediate danger, then contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Centre as soon as possible.
Inpatient treatment, MRI or CT scans, medical evacuation and repatriation require contact with the assistance team; if an emergency physically prevents immediate contact, you or someone acting for you must contact them within 48 hours.
Popular activities
Popular destinations
©2026 Rise & Shield. All rights reserved.
Rise and Shield is a trading style of Optimum Global Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Optimum Global Limited’s Firm Reference Number is 453654, you can check these details at https://register.fca.org.uk or by calling the Financial Conduct Authority on 0800 111 6768. . Registered address: Optimum Global Limited, 4th Floor, 21 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3TP, UK. Optimum Global Limited is registered in England and Wales. Company Registration number 05347793.