Insurance questions regarding 3-4 months trip

I am in the early planning of taking unpaid leave for a few (3-4) months and visit those places too far way for a normal 2-3 weeks holiday.
Unpaid leave means also that I won't contribute PRSI and normally my Quinn Health Care cover comes out of my salary, so how will this go ?
I believe I can make voluntary contributions towards PRSI as per our company's HR guidelines, but why would I?

Has anybody ever done this ? How can you be covered for medical emergencies, most travel insurance policies only cover 30-60 days?
Would my Quinn Health care policy still cover me abroad ?

I am sure this has been done before, I hope by someone who reads this..

Happy_Harry said:

I believe I can make voluntary contributions towards PRSI as per our company's HR guidelines, but why would I?

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To ensure no break in your PRSI contribution history and to maintain long term PRSI linked benefits (e.g. pension etc.).

Voluntary Contributions

How can you be covered for medical emergencies, most travel insurance policies only cover 30-60 days?

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You need a long stay travel insurance policy.

Would my Quinn Health care policy still cover me abroad ?

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It may offer some cover but you most likely need additional specialised travel insurance.

If you are away for 3-4 months and own a home that will be left vacant then you may need to inform your home insurance company.

Sorry - just to clarify, voluntary PRSI contributions only cover pension entitlements so my comment about "no break in your PRSI contribution history" is probably a bit misleading...

Thanks Clubman, have looked at the PRSI link, I was wondering, isn't it so that as I am not going to get paid for a few months, my yearly income will be less, and hence I still pay PRSI , just a bit less than last year ? Is PRSI contribution history based on years or months ?
Regarding the long stay travel insurance, I have looked at that and was quoted 260 euro for 2 persosn. My mates in Europe, whenever they went away for some time they had to pay over a 1000 euro. Looking at some european websites indeed it would cost a lot more if I lived there. Now my experience is not that Ireland is so cheap, so there must be a catch somewhere, or ?

Happy_Harry said:

isn't it so that as I am not going to get paid for a few months, my yearly income will be less, and hence I still pay PRSI , just a bit less than last year ?

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Yes - you will pay less PRSI and tax if you earn less. I don't really know what this has to do with your substantive query or the issue about voluntary contributions though?

Is PRSI contribution history based on years or months ?

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A bit of both as far as I know. Check the qualifying conditions for various PRSI linked benefits to get an idea.

Regarding the long stay travel insurance, I have looked at that and was quoted 260 euro for 2 persosn. My mates in Europe, whenever they went away for some time they had to pay over a 1000 euro. Looking at some european websites indeed it would cost a lot more if I lived there. Now my experience is not that Ireland is so cheap, so there must be a catch somewhere, or ?

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Have you read the policy document terms & conditions to see what's covered and compared it to your friends' policies and to others on the market? Don't shop around on price alone.