Travel insurance "vital" for gap year students in US

It is "absolutely vital" that students taking a gap year in the US before university make sure they have adequate travel insurance, one provider has claimed.

Direct Line recently conducted a survey of students looking to take a year out and discovered that, of the 77,000 who intend to head abroad, 31 per cent have not thought of taking out travel insurance.

This becomes a particular concern if students are intending to head to the US in the 12 months before they embark on their chosen degree course, according to Carmel McCarthy, spokesperson for Direct Line.

"If you fall ill in America, you could be looking at thousands upon thousands of pounds for your medical expenses," she said.

"And paying a few hundred pounds for a policy, itll be worth it in the long-run if you do fall ill in America."

Earlier this week, Direct Line announced a new home insurance package offer that provides customers with 12 months cover for the price of nine.