Long term cruising - medical insurance

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phantomlady

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Hi,
would be interested to hear what everyone does about medical insurance when cruising long term outside of the EU.
Going away very soon for about 10 months and am looking at the various options available.
What is the most basic cover anyone has managed to find (ie cheapest!)
Does anyone risk going without? with what possible consequences?
 
Medical Insurance

Hi
I can't remember exactly how much I was quoted for medical insurance when I sailed out of Scotland for an extended sail but I decided that the charges for insurance may well be better put into a savings account. (We were both in our mid 40s). We sailed to Turkey and found the bank at that time offered 17.5% interest so put our medical fund in there and watched it grow.
During our time in Turkey I had the need to visit the tourist hospital for a lump. I was given immediate attention by a consultant and I had a translator by my side the whole time. I was checked out thoroughly, xray and ultra sound which Im glad to say found everything clear. The cost was 50 euros
My husband and I decided to go for a full check up which included cardiograph, xray, cholesterol check, blood test, eye test, ear test and other checks like smear test and man check for hubby. This cost 99 euros each. We were each taken into the consultants room where our checks were fully discussed with a consultant. We were then given a large envelope which contained our xrays and reports. Wonderful.
A friend in the marina had to have an emergency Hysterectomy. She was hospitalised for three days and charged £1400 (she didn't have medical insurance but happily paid the bill) She was delighted with the treatment and the after care. The hospital in Fethiye was excellent.
I also understand the dental care available is very good.
I guess insurance is handy for the unexpected but thats insurance. Our medical fund is still in the bank and still growing although the interest is now only 7%
 
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I was out of the country for 3 years or so (most of the time not sailing but diving and I did have a good dive insurance policy) and decided to risk not paying hefty premiums on the basis that pay as you go would work out cheaper. I wouldn't have had enough money to cover a non diving related medevac back to UK though so it is a risk to an extent. Usually in my experience (South/Central America & SE Asia) treatment is pretty good and very reasonably priced...
 
medical cover

I spent various periods in the carribean . Pantaenius have a multitrip policy which can be extended to 120 days for any single trip (to start again must return uk and this best if you intend to fly back for breaks) They also do single trip policy which can be medical cover only but cant fly back during it or it ends on arrival UK. Quite expensive at say £200 or so .
Didnt try it out so unsure quality. Dental cover - some UK plans eg dental plan cover if abroad and are reasonable - root treatment may cost £600.
Much depends on age whether you need one and most policys wont cover preexisting illness
 
phantomlady said:
Hi,
would be interested to hear what everyone does about medical insurance when cruising long term outside of the EU.
Going away very soon for about 10 months and am looking at the various options available.
What is the most basic cover anyone has managed to find (ie cheapest!)
Does anyone risk going without? with what possible consequences?
Click to expand...

The big problem is finding anything over 3 months which seems to be a universal limit. Also if you are over 65 you will have a problems. I did find a world sailing policy but it costs £6000 per annum.

Any pre existing problems will be excluded so if you have any reported issue and it blows up, you will be without cover anyway.
 
On the surface this looks good, but on page 34 of what you are not covered for, it says, quote; 'yachting or boating outside coastal waters (12 miles or more from the coast.)'

This seems at odds with what they are selling.
 
Carmel2 said:
On the surface this looks good, but on page 34 of what you are not covered for, it says, quote; 'yachting or boating outside coastal waters (12 miles or more from the coast.)'

This seems at odds with what they are selling.
Click to expand...

I know its also an annual insurance, but is there a 3 months max each trip anywhere in it? There may be an extension to the 12 miles offshore - hazardous sports addition....
 
Worked for us

Try Insure and Go - we managed to have a series of back to back policies taking account of trips back to UK and when we were doing offshore passages phoned up and paid extra for the period of the passage.
Premiums are not too expensive but never had to claim.

www.insureandgo.com
 
PhilipH said:
Try Insure and Go - we managed to have a series of back to back policies taking account of trips back to UK and when we were doing offshore passages phoned up and paid extra for the period of the passage.
Premiums are not too expensive but never had to claim.

www.insureandgo.com
Click to expand...

They have a 3 month limit for under 65s - and they have an extension at very reasonable price for off shore use, which is the problem with many others - good value.
 
we used insure & go, underwritten by AIG I think, and in 2008 SWMBO suffered a compund fracture of the Tib and shattered the Fib in 8 pieces, stepping off a friends boat in the USA. I called them with the claim and they immediately contacted the hospital and guaranteed direct billing for 100% of all treatment. We did have to pay for all the meds thereafter, but all I had to do was keep the copies of the prescriptions and receipts for the meds and send it to them and they refunded in full. Her cover was about 75 days into a 90 day period. Only downside was that they wouldn't reinsure her when the policy expired.
In addition to this, she received a call 3 days ago from a debt collection service who claimed that there was still an outstanding final hospital bill.
She is contacting the insurers today.
She now has 80% medical cover in the US through her employers and I use Nationwide Travel, which is very similar to the insure & go type of policy although you can select your length of stay outside the UK when you buy the policy.
 
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I am a long time reader but first time poster.... this thread inspired me to register for the forum as, living on the water most of the year and being father to two young children, I have many man hours of experience researching this subject.

What you need is travel insurance that covers medical emergencies and, depending on where you might be traveling to, security services. On the large ships most of the companies go with http://www.internationalsos.com/en/, but mostly because they provide discounts to large corporate accounts.

A better option is to get insurance that provides coverage both in the country you live and everywhere else in the world. You also want a company that can arrange (and payfor!) a helicopter out to your boat in the event of emergency offshore. The company I chose for my family is Global Rescue, and I can say they are excellent. Here are the details: http://www.internationalsos.com/en/

Feel free to email me if you have any questions about this topic ( admin (at) gcaptain.com )
 
You get what you pay for.

I work in the "other side" of this industry i.e. I provide medical help for insured people.

You get what you pay for. The cheaper the policy the more the insurance company will challenge each and every claim, and make your life "difficult" when trying to get appropriate treatment for your problem. They will insist that you are only treated in specific hospitals, or by specific doctors who are willing to work for below the average for their own reasons. These are large efficient companies who have been doing this for years. As a straightforward policyholder, you will struggle to get what you are entitled to at times.

As regards Pantaenius, I took the point that X made about the 12 mile limit. I attach their reply, which is self explanatory. They are insurers of my boat, and I note that their health cover is via BUPA international, a company I respect.



PANTAENIUS:

Thank you for your e-mail enquiry regarding the Long Term Sailor Plan.

We would advise that the details in the information you are looking at contains details of cover for different types of policies and not just the Long Term Sailor Plan which we offer. Basically, the Long Term Sailor Plan is designed as a Healthcare plan only, and does not include any cover for Death Benefits. We assume that you are reading the information on page 34 under number 7 which relates to Death Benefits, but as our policy does not provide cover for Death Benefits, and the limitation to 12 miles offshore relates only to this particular section, it is not applicable to the policy which is offered by ourselves. There is therefore no limit to as to how far offshore you may sail under the Long Term Sailor Plan.



The information you are looking at should be read in conjunction with the “Core Plan” which lists the cover provided under the Long Term Sailor Plan, and you will find in the attachment details of the “Core Plan” which we trust will help to clarify the matter for you.
 
we have been away for 8 years, although have swallowed the anchor now. We used GH (Now called Topsail) Yachtsman's Gold. It is very flexible, the basic insurance is for 60 days and then you can buy the amount of months you think you will need. We usually returned to UK at least twice a year so normally only paid for 5 months. You could also purchase an extra month if your plans changed while cruising. I broke a tooth in USA and it needed to be crowned, we got full payment of the £1000 cost. Would recommend them to anyone.
 
Chris_Robb said:
They have a 3 month limit for under 65s - and they have an extension at very reasonable price for off shore use, which is the problem with many others - good value.
Click to expand...

Don't know where the 3 months limit comes in, we've been insured with Insure & Go for the last few years for 9 months each year. Slight problem on each renewal when they ask if we have been resident in the UK for the previous 6 months (check your records dear!) so, have to refer to underwriters each time for approval. Criteria seems to be if you're on the electoral role and have a GP then the 6 months home residency requirement is waived.

9 months European cover, which includes Morocco, Canaries, Azores etc. 12 miles offshore + scuba to 30M for both of us under 65 was about £160 this year. Offshore can be added in monthly lumps as and when required but, I can't remember the cost.
 
Though we are in the EU we do have full cover through Mrs Maxi's bank account, we pay £150 extra a year for cover extended to 6 months a trip and you only have to spend one night at home to reset the clock and this suits us fine. Equally covers us for problems on the trip home etc etc and we both have minor conditions accepted with no extra premium.
 
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