Insurance for a language exchange or homestay
All Lingoo members joining the site and accepting our Terms and Conditions undertake to take out adequate insurance cover.
What insurance is recommended for Guest type members (Parent, Adult and Group Members)?
For Guests this includes cover for appropriate insurance and in particular civil liability, cancellation insurance and repatriation insurance covering the costs of medical care and hospitalisation, accidents suffered or caused to another person and participation in all the activities he/she (or, as applicable, the child or any participants of the group) is likely to take part in during the stay.
Our Cancellation Policy assumes that you have taken out adequate insurance cover.
Lingoo, in partnership with Guard Me Insurance, a leader in student travel insurance, offers Guests a comprehensive travel insurance, with cancellation cover, for both paid and exchange stays. Please click here to find out more.
Guests are under no obligation to purchase insurance cover from Guard Me Insurance, but you are advised that any policy you buy has comparable levels of cover.
• What is civil liability?
Civil liability is insurance that covers the cost of material or immaterial damage to a third party that you or your child may cause involuntarily during their stay. Note! If your child is already covered by this type of insurance, check that it is not limited to their home country.
• What happens as far as costs are concerned if I or my child are ill?
There is a distinction between:
A stay in an EEA country or in Switzerland, when care is given by approved doctors and costs are generally covered in full by the welfare organisation. However, if you or your child are ill during their stay, you may have to see private doctors with higher fees. In the majority of cases, your country's public health insurance organization will only cover a portion of the costs. The sum you will still have to pay will only be reimbursed by a private organisation if you have taken out additional health insurance.
For other destinations: the administrative procedures are often complicated and time-consuming and there is no guarantee of reimbursement by public health organisations or top-up insurance firms. As a result, you are advised to take out medical insurance.
• Where can I find more information?
For more information, first contact the top-up insurance firm your family is registered with and your child's school insurance.
• What about insurance offered by payment cards?
You may in fact be covered without realising it. Some international payment cards offer their cardholders significant levels of cover abroad. If you have paid for your or your child's trip with one of these cards, you may be covered for the costs of medical care and repatriation. Check the small print on your contract or contact your bank for more information.
What insurance is recommended for Host type members (Host Family and Host Teacher Members)?
Check with your insurer that you have appropriate insurance for hosting adults or children under the age of majority in your home in the context of a language study holiday and participation in all the activities the guest is likely to take part in during their stay.