Travel Insurance History

Achaemenian monarchs were the first to insure their people and made it official by registering the insuring process in governmental notary offices.

Insurance as we know it today can be traced to the Great Fire of London, which in 1666 devoured 13,200 houses. In the aftermath of this disaster, Nicholas Barbon opened an office to insure buildings. In 1680, he established England's first fire insurance company. As like the fire insurance; the concept of health insurance was proposed in 1694 by Hugh the Elder Chamberlen from the Peter Chamberlen family. In the late 19th century, "accident insurance" began to be available, which operated much like modern disability insurance.

The concept of insurance is that many people pay a relatively small amount to a central institution, for protection from financial loss in the event that an undesired event occurs. With regard to travel insurance, travelers pay a small premium before their trip, and can get protection from the loss that would be incurred if they became sick overseas, were the victim of crime, or inadvertently caused damage to someone else’s property, as well as a range of other circumstances.

The very first travel insurance policy was sold in 1864. The person was sold on the idea of protection and coverage during his travels that he purchased the very first policy. Travel insurance has gone a long way since then and has adapted to the advancements in technology and more responsive to people’s needs.

The major motive behind purchasing travel insurance is to secure people from the loss of money when a trip cancels. When you are traveling to different countries though you have done enough of research related to its climate and condition but unless you don’t experience those condition you can’t be sure of. Here is where it’s necessary to buy a travel insurance policy because uncertainties are always uninvited.


Mozzam khan is an expert author and writing from many years on various topics. Currently he is sharing information on Backpacker Insurance UK.