scr0che
Member
Anyone got any advice on health insurance for someone in the UK planning to leave in the spring to go RTW? What options are there? Providers? Any idea on costs?
RTW health insurance
- Thread starter scr0che
- Start date
sailaboutvic
Well-known member
Pants use to ,
You could try them.
Sandy
Well-known member
This is going to sound blunt. Do you not know how to use Google and the telephone? You will need to do your own research.
As @sailaboutvic says Pants might do it (if your vessel meets their value threshold) or may point you to somebody who can help. Another option is a specialist broker or if you are a member of the Ocean Cruising Club asking members there.
Each individual and voyage is going to be unique, e.g. where are you planning to go and what are your current health needs, and something like this will be extremely specialist.
newtothis
Well-known member
I would have thought getting some starting points from a website where there was a likelihood that someone else might have some previous experience would come under the category of 'do your own research'.
scr0che
Member
Thanks for all this unhelpful nonsense. Of course I know how to use google, of course I'm doing my own research.
I'm asking the forums for advice from those who have done it, isn't that what these forums are for?
If you haven't got anything sensible to add to the thread, then I suggest you say nothing.
I'm asking the forums for advice from those who have done it, isn't that what these forums are for?
If you haven't got anything sensible to add to the thread, then I suggest you say nothing.
john_q
Active member
Try Bishop Skinner (Bluefin) (if you are under 70), they do a very good medical/repatriation with 365 days out of the country allowed. Wife was attacked and badly bitten on both legs and one arm by 2 pit bulls in Guatemala in December 2019 and ended up with 4 months in & out of hospital + a Medicvac to the USA for 1 week , all covered. The cost was about £1600 a year for the two of us. US medical insurance is very expensive and also if you are traveling through the US it also costs more (in in my opinion very average to poor medical treatment)
And finding medical insurance that covers a trip of more than 30 days at a time and does not start in the UK is very difficult.
Good luck
And finding medical insurance that covers a trip of more than 30 days at a time and does not start in the UK is very difficult.
Good luck
ashtead
Well-known member
Without wishing to delve if you have pre existing conditions or are what might termed impaired then a specialist broker is your best bet or cover via some form of cruising club . A number of quality brokers exist but if you don’t have one maybe the BIBA which is the brokers trade body or the ABI being the insurer trade body might give you names to approach. Travel insurers don’t tend to favour long term travel cover(think backpacking students) but a broker like that might be another source .
Sandy
Well-known member
For such a specific question this would be the last place I'd start my research! It would be interesting to hear if any regular poster has done such a trip. I'm a member of the Ocean Cruising Club and not many members have done a circumnavigation.
Sandy
Well-known member
I believe I did. A few pointers to places you might find the information, i.e. following up @sailaboutvic comment to contact Pants (Pantaenius of Plymouth) as they may know somebody, contacting a specialist insurance broker and contacting the Ocean Cruising Club to see if a member there has any knowledge as we cruise far and wide.
From my own experience of marine insurance companies, including Pants, they are not interesting in covering the sort of trip you are proposing. You might get cover in the north Atlantic, but as soon as you mention any other ocean they go silent.
Tradewinds
Well-known member
I left without health insurance. Following the death of my brother from cancer and a health scare in Tobago I looked for travel insurance I could afford. I ended up with Endsleigh Insurance - a scheme for backpacking students with good coverage and a decent price.(2 adults & 2 young children)
And I did have to use it in Australia for my son, who had a suspect mole removed from his arm. The claim was dealt with efficiently and without hassle.
Times have changed (as has the insurance business) - this was back in the 90s.
Maybe worth a phone call- they just might offer the cover you want.
Gap Year Travel Insurance | Endsleigh
PS I didn't tell them I was 'circumnavigating' (a much over-used word on sailing forums ) - I just selected the appropriate geographical areas.
And I did have to use it in Australia for my son, who had a suspect mole removed from his arm. The claim was dealt with efficiently and without hassle.
Times have changed (as has the insurance business) - this was back in the 90s.
Maybe worth a phone call- they just might offer the cover you want.
Gap Year Travel Insurance | Endsleigh
PS I didn't tell them I was 'circumnavigating' (a much over-used word on sailing forums ) - I just selected the appropriate geographical areas.
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temptress
Well-known member
we just finished an 8 yeat circumnavigation. ( actually not over yet but back in the EU and EU residents so covered again),
We got major truama/medi VAC insurance from our broker, for the rest we had a credit card with 30k limit for emergencies and paid doctors fees when we needed to.
Other insurance was available but very very costly and very limited.
We got major truama/medi VAC insurance from our broker, for the rest we had a credit card with 30k limit for emergencies and paid doctors fees when we needed to.
Other insurance was available but very very costly and very limited.
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Star-Lord
Well-known member
SafetyWing - Insurance for Nomads, by Nomads I pay $100 pcm. They cover sailing and the whole world but if you are from the US it does not cover you in the US.
jordanbasset
Well-known member
I notice it does not cover you for anything arising from pre-existing conditions, not uncommon with insurance policies but could leave people out on a limb in terms of getting treatment paid for.
But if you have no preexisting conditions it looks a good policy
Tradewinds
Well-known member
@scr0che - y'see got there in the end 
Jeannius
Member
Coming to this thread a bit late but, if you are still looking, this is what we used when doing a circumnavigation... Topsail They were, at the time, the insurers of choice for people doing World Cruising Club events. We didn't have to make any claims so don't know how they are in those circumstances but their premiums were reasonably priced.
scr0che
Member
Big cat insurance, 2 year silver policy is enough, for a couple, rtw excluding USA etc, £1600
Tradewinds
Well-known member
Thanks for that. This company I take it.
Home Page 1
Age limit 69 years it seems at highest 'Premium' level - so no good for me.
Home Page 1
Age limit 69 years it seems at highest 'Premium' level - so no good for me.
BobnLesley
Well-known member
Another vote for Bishop Skinner's Bluefin policy, assuming that it's still available - a couple of years since our last one expired; a further benefit of Bluefin is that you don't need to be in the UK to renew/extend the policy (read the small print, many/most long term travel insurances require this)
