Travel Insurance restricted to exclude sailing.

[johnphilip]

Our annual travel insurance is up for renewal and the quote increased about 70% from last year, partly due to crossing an age step and of course there is Osborne's insurance tax grab. With this hike in price I tried looking for another provider, on line and by phone. I checked details with two companies who gave me quotes and both said that sailing my own boat on holiday was excluded, there would be no health or accident cover at all. Previously companies have provide cover except when more than 12 miles offshore, which seems a reasonable stance. I dare not ask the existing co. if they have changed their own conditions.
Anyone else found this problem, or do you just not ask?
Apparently with one insurer I am covered on a skippered or flotilla charter only.

 

[Seven Spades]

Amex Platinum card covers you if you get one of those. To avoid the IPT have you tried contacting a Jersey insurance broker?

 

[Angele]

Our annual travel insurance is up for renewal and the quote increased about 70% from last year, partly due to crossing an age step and of course there is Osborne's insurance tax grab. With this hike in price I tried looking for another provider, on line and by phone. I checked details with two companies who gave me quotes and both said that sailing my own boat on holiday was excluded, there would be no health or accident cover at all. Previously companies have provide cover except when more than 12 miles offshore, which seems a reasonable stance. I dare not ask the existing co. if they have changed their own conditions.
Anyone else found this problem, or do you just not ask?
Apparently with one insurer I am covered on a skippered or flotilla charter only.

This is a problem with many travel insurance policies. Some specifically exclude sailing (especially outside territorial waters). Others just mean you cannot comply with the terms, since many require booked public transport and/or a minimum of 2 nights' accommodation booked where you are visiting - neither being true if you are sailing off in your own boat.

Try Topsail. There is a travel policy specifically for yachtsmen/women.

 

[bedouin]

Our annual travel insurance is up for renewal and the quote increased about 70% from last year, partly due to crossing an age step and of course there is Osborne's insurance tax grab. With this hike in price I tried looking for another provider, on line and by phone. I checked details with two companies who gave me quotes and both said that sailing my own boat on holiday was excluded, there would be no health or accident cover at all. Previously companies have provide cover except when more than 12 miles offshore, which seems a reasonable stance. I dare not ask the existing co. if they have changed their own conditions.
Anyone else found this problem, or do you just not ask?
Apparently with one insurer I am covered on a skippered or flotilla charter only.

You have to check the detailed wording of any policy carefully.

I am pretty sure Pantaenius' annual travel insurance used to cover it

 

[Angele]

To avoid the IPT have you tried contacting a Jersey insurance broker?

That is possible, but only if you aren't a UK resident when you take out the policy:

A risk is located in the UK if the insurance:

•(a) relates to buildings and/or their contents, and the building is located in the UK (whether or not the contents are covered by the same policy as the one which covers the building)


•(b) relates to any vehicle of any type which is registered in the UK (‘vehicle’ includes motor vehicles, ships, yachts and aircraft)


•(c) is a policy of up to 4 months duration which covers a travel or holiday risk when the policy is taken out in the UK


•(d) is of a type not covered in (a) to (c) above and the policy holder is either:
•an individual habitually residing (see paragraph 5.2.6) in the UK at the date when the contract is entered into
•a business, and the establishment (see paragraph 5.2.5) to which the policy relates is in the UK

If the policy is taken out outside of the UK (eg Jersey as you suggest) then it is not C, but it is D if the insured lives in the UK.

From here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-ipt-1-insurance-premium-tax/notice-ipt1-insurance-premium-tax

 

[mjcoon]

You have to check the detailed wording of any policy carefully.

And when you renew; I had assumed "renewal" meant the conditions don't change but spotted a new condition. The policy did not cover a holiday specifically for sailing; it had to be incidental. Fortunately they revoked the change for no charge when I pointed out the policy would otherwise be useless!

Mike.

 

[colind3782]

Insure and Go cover sailing

 

[Angele]

Insure and Go cover sailing

One of my regular crew has an annual policy with them.

I'm pretty sure it covers sailing in territorial waters, but only international waters if you specifically request it (and pay the extra premium that requires).

The table on the next page includes activities where you need to tell us in advance of your intention to undertake any of the activities during your trip and pay the appropriate additional premium.

.... sailing outside territorial waters is one of those activities listed.

You are also limited to a total of 15 days of sailing outside territorial waters during the term of the policy. So, likely to be ok for a single trip policy, but maybe not for an annual one.

Furthermore, even if you do request inclusion of sailing outside territorial waters and pay the extra premium, the coverage provided is reduced...

Special exclusions which apply to section W. We will not cover the following:

1. The medical excess of £100 detailed in the table on the next page (see also Excesses section on page 8); or

2. No cover is provided under either the personal accident or personal liability sections of this policy whilst you are undertaking any of the individual activities listed opposite.

So, my view is that Insure & Go is fine for sailing holidays if you are staying in territorial waters, but other policies may be better if you are going outside.

 

[st599]

Topsail tried to increase my annual premium by 60% this year.

Went with the deal for RYA members at another insurer instead.

 

[johnphilip]

Insure and Go cover sailing

Indeed they are our current insurers but the renewal is up 70% from last year, hence my post.
Even their wording is a vague and implies a doubt about skippering, standard cover includes :- "Windsurfing and Yachting ( both racing and crewing) inside territorial waters. "
This was also the phrase quoted by another insurer who when asked what was meant said they did not cover skippering your own boat.

 

[prv]

I dare not ask the existing co. if they have changed their own conditions.

Not having asked won't help if you ever need to claim. Surely better to know?

Pete

 

[Tranona]

Normal travel insurance is aimed at the holiday market so the conditions are met by taking a holiday in a more conventional sense so usually requires travel by public transport (or car) staying minimum days and excludes "risky" activities. That is why it is (generally) so cheap and can be sold on comparison websites focusing on the lowest price. The cover reflects this, as do all the "hidden" exclusions buried in the small print, particularly to do with medical cover.

However, if you want a proper policy that does cover what you want then plenty of specialist insurers such as Pantenius, Topsail, Bishop Skinner.

 

[GrahamM376]

Indeed they are our current insurers but the renewal is up 70% from last year, hence my post.
Even their wording is a vague and implies a doubt about skippering, standard cover includes :- "Windsurfing and Yachting ( both racing and crewing) inside territorial waters. "
This was also the phrase quoted by another insurer who when asked what was meant said they did not cover skippering your own boat.

Insure and Go used to cover us for 9 months on board every year under their long stay policy. Offshore could be added in monthly increments for specified dates, at extra cost. When I reached 67 the premium rocketed so now carry our own risk.

 

[Bandit]

Most Travel Insurances don't cover you unless you use public carriers ie scheduled airlines or ferry and stay in public accommodation ie hotels some not even gites.

Bishop skinner do yachtsmans insurance plus ski plus CI cover.

 

[Daydream believer]

As a yachtsman on your own boat what do you actually need for travel insurance?
My boat insurance covers accidents aboard the yacht as are a range of items such as personal effects
I do not need insurance for missed hotel bookings, lost luggage on flights etc as I travel by boat & similarly I do not have to worry about missed flights.
So when Bishop & Skinner quoted £221-00 for travel insurance & I got up off the floor I discussed it with them & actually my big fear is medical ( particularly channel Islands) & repatriation. That reduces a 5 month quote to £ 111-00. when I omitted all the superfluous stuff
Still more than last year though
Bearing in mind I carry a health card it really should only boil down to repatriation & a few sundry expenses such as ambulance etc
For a friend of mine, who had to have a doctor in attendance on a flight home from France, that was over £ 10,000-00 so not worth the risk at 69 years of age

If you have crew who may be traveling to meet you, they may need additional cover, but they may only need a short term travel insurance rather than the 5 month one I need

If you are going on a charter holiday that is also a different thing & requirements are different
So it is worth deciding what you think you will need first

 

[Robert Wilson]

Most Travel Insurances don't cover you unless you use public carriers ie scheduled airlines or ferry and stay in public accommodation ie hotels some not even gites.

Bishop skinner do yachtsmans insurance plus ski plus CI cover.

Slight thread-drift. Apologies.
Zurich (scum) didn't pay-up when I couldn't reach the airport in time for a flight - due to one of the worst storms in a century. All (both) roads to Inverness blocked by falling trees
They declined to pay because I was attempting the journey in my car, not public transport.
We don't have public transport up here, especially at 0400hrs.
They wouldn't even discuss the issue, even though I was travelling onwards by an airline. They wouldn't even reimburse the cost of the cheap "booked" flight, let alone the cost of the last-minute scheduled flight.
Point of post is to amplify the fact that insurers will wriggle out any way they can. IMHO
They take your money, then do all they can to hold on to it.

 

[Angele]

As a yachtsman on your own boat what do you actually need for travel insurance?
........
[snip]
..... my big fear is medical ( particularly channel Islands) & repatriation.

Yep. Me too. Really that is all I care about. Everything else I can afford to "self-insure".

 

[BarryT]

Just been looking at this myself as AIG have stopped their Direct Travel Insurance brand (used to be moneysavingexpert favourite), although the brand/website has been passed over to a broker Intermediated Services Ltd. This included cover up to 12 miles offshore which suited me.

As others have said is it full travel insurance or medical insurance you require when sailing and is it for extensive cruising.

Looking quickly, several of the less basic policies available in the market cover sailing up to 12 miles offshore and trips of up to 90 days e.g. the new moneysavingexpert best value (not cheapest) policy LV premier policy http://www.lv.com/travel-insurance?...3_1461964383_6bcfc274b0733f49f9aa3174fd7c4b85 .

Hope that helps.

 

[halb]

May I suggest that you talk to Pantaenius in Plymouth, I've looked at their site, and they appear to offer cover for self skippering. I must say that I insure my boat with them and have had a large claim handled with skill and new hassle, very good insurance company.
I have no connection with them.
Jon

 

[rotrax]

Slight thread-drift. Apologies.
Zurich (scum) didn't pay-up when I couldn't reach the airport in time for a flight - due to one of the worst storms in a century. All (both) roads to Inverness blocked by falling trees
They declined to pay because I was attempting the journey in my car, not public transport.
We don't have public transport up here, especially at 0400hrs.
They wouldn't even discuss the issue, even though I was travelling onwards by an airline. They wouldn't even reimburse the cost of the cheap "booked" flight, let alone the cost of the last-minute scheduled flight.
Point of post is to amplify the fact that insurers will wriggle out any way they can. IMHO
They take your money, then do all they can to hold on to it.

I suggest the Ombudsman and Small Claims Court.

The type of transport you were using to meet the flight , unless excluded by the terms of the insurance, are patently irrelevant.

If what you say is true, take them to task-Watchdog may like to know about your experience also.

Good Luck.