Travel insurance

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pcatterall

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Just doing the rounds re travel insurance ( an increasing problem as we get older!)
AA seemed OK but only 45 days each trip ( but most were even less at 31 days) Sailing ( as skipper) didn't seem to be covered though Sailing as crew was OK as an incidental which I guess may be for the odd day sail.
Anyone had success with specialist firms?
Cheers
 
Conventional travel insurance is no good for your needs. It is intended for short term holiday makers. If you are staying within Europe there is really no need for extra insurance as the EHIC is adequate for most needs. You will find travel insurance will insist you use that anyway. You will also find that coverage for loss and delays or cancellations very restrictive.

Many marine brokers offer specialized yachtsmen policies. Try Bluefin or Topsail.
 
Tranona said:
Conventional travel insurance is no good for your needs. It is intended for short term holiday makers. If you are staying within Europe there is really no need for extra insurance as the EHIC is adequate for most needs. You will find travel insurance will insist you use that anyway. You will also find that coverage for loss and delays or cancellations very restrictive.
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Must declare an interest as travel insurance is what we do (www.voyagertravelinsurance.co.uk) but would like to point out that while an EHIC has its uses it is not a proper replacement for travel insurance. It only provides the same protection as the local residents receive, which is generally much more limited than the NHS, often leaving you responsible for a percentage of most medical costs and for things like prescriptions and ambulance costs.

It also does not provide any cover for repatriation costs, which can often exceed £10,000 within Europe if an air ambulance is required or several thousand by stretcher repat with medical escort on scheduled airlines, if available - increasingly difficult to arrange these days.

Our standard policy allows for yachting / sailing in vessels over 10m anywhere within 60 miles of a safe haven - doesn't matter if you are skipper or crew. As with the AA, the annual multitrip policy allows for any number of trips up to 45 days each. Longer trips can be covered under a Long Stay policy.
 
With any travel insurance policy it is important to be scrupulously honest about pre-existing medical conditions.

I had a suspected heart attack on a sailing holiday in the BVIs. After several days in the local intensive care facility I was repatriated to the UK, including an air ambulance from Tortola to Barbados and a UK doctor in attendance throughout. Before my travel insurance company would accept responsibility at the beginning of the incident, they demanded my medical records from my GP for the last 5 years.

Fortunately I had been totally honest and had paid a substantial additional premium to cover my conditions, including angina. Once the insurance company accepted my claim the service I received from them was excellent. Thank goodness as the treatment and repatriation costs must have been more than £20,000.
 
Thanks playtime. I have had some difficulty completing some of the forms. I did have an angiogram as a test but it was all clear and I am not on any medication. In the end I have stated that I have no medical condition ( beyond old age!!)

At this time EHIC Plus seems the best offer. £90 for annual cover with 60 days per trip and sailing allowed!
 
pcatterall said:
Thanks playtime. I have had some difficulty completing some of the forms. I did have an angiogram as a test but it was all clear and I am not on any medication. In the end I have stated that I have no medical condition ( beyond old age!!)

At this time EHIC Plus seems the best offer. £90 for annual cover with 60 days per trip and sailing allowed!
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Are you sure? Just been checking on the EHIC plus T&Cs and came across this on the Policy Wording pages:

You are not covered for

d. any liability for bodily injury, loss or damage:
iv. arising out of the ownership, possession or use of motorised vehicles, yachts or motorised waterborne craft, airborne craft of any description, animals or firearms and weapons.
 
davewarburton said:
Are you sure? Just been checking on the EHIC plus T&Cs and came across this on the Policy Wording pages:

You are not covered for

d. any liability for bodily injury, loss or damage:
iv. arising out of the ownership, possession or use of motorised vehicles, yachts or motorised waterborne craft, airborne craft of any description, animals or firearms and weapons.
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I read that you were covered for sailing.
Does not that clause relate to 3rd party claims against you as the owner? IE the sort of claim covered by my boats insurance?
 
pcatterall said:
I read that you were covered for sailing.
Does not that clause relate to 3rd party claims against you as the owner? IE the sort of claim covered by my boats insurance?
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You may well be right but worth double checking. However, I have looked further and have just taken out an annual policy with multiple trips up to 90 days each from Sports Cover Direct where you can specify Yachting as your main activity:

https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/insurance/sailing-travel-insurance/

Cost was £107 for the year for a couple aged 65-69 with minor medical conditions.

Cover from EHIC plus with same minor medical conditions would have been £125
 
Staysure
Discussed exactly what i wanted first & explained I go sailing anywhere any time
Just under £ 80-00 for myself & wife ( 67 & 65 years old) no medical history
extended overseas ( about 180 days from memory) holidays.
Bit of a problem here as it includes time from departure to return home & as I often go somewhere in the UK rather than straight home it seems this time is in the 180 days as well. Ie I am going to France as part of my round Uk trip this yearso the whole trip is included
Incs Channel Islands, I o Mann & Ireland plus Holland , France Belgium

I have a friend who was recently taken seriously ill in France & I am told repatriation costs were almost £ 35000-00 & his wife had to pay for 4 weeks accommodation as she stayed near the hospital while he was in

I Do not have flight, Hotel, baggage cover etc only medical

However, I am told by others that this is a dodgy policy as one has to prove departure & arrival dates etc.plus some other traps
I believe I can prove dates from marina receipts etc
Just hope I do not need it!!!!

Would be interested to hear if others have used them & claimed
 
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Snowcard (a specialist insurer for skiing as you would expect) do a policy which covers me for skiing, sailing, climbing and diving anywhere globally for about £110 for a year.
Probably not competitive if you just sail but very useful if you ski, climb or scuba dive as well.
 
Can you please give me a contact as I am interested in your longer term while cruising Med/Europe.

Charlie - s/y ALKIRA

jofb said:
Must declare an interest as travel insurance is what we do (www.voyagertravelinsurance.co.uk) but would like to point out that while an EHIC has its uses it is not a proper replacement for travel insurance. It only provides the same protection as the local residents receive, which is generally much more limited than the NHS, often leaving you responsible for a percentage of most medical costs and for things like prescriptions and ambulance costs.

It also does not provide any cover for repatriation costs, which can often exceed £10,000 within Europe if an air ambulance is required or several thousand by stretcher repat with medical escort on scheduled airlines, if available - increasingly difficult to arrange these days.

Our standard policy allows for yachting / sailing in vessels over 10m anywhere within 60 miles of a safe haven - doesn't matter if you are skipper or crew. As with the AA, the annual multitrip policy allows for any number of trips up to 45 days each. Longer trips can be covered under a Long Stay policy.
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homer said:
Try Atlas, you can get single trip insurance for up to 1 year at very reasonable rates.
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Be very careful. Clue for whether you are covered for sailing your own boat is do they require the invoice for the travel when making a claim.

Most travel insurance policies require invoice for travel and even those that mention sailing its only for Flotilla holidays.

We discovered this when making a legitimate claim and when I investigated got conflicting advice all the way to the top - it got escalated when I requested verbal assurances to be confirmed in writing. Final answer was that we were not covered if traveling abroad on own boat.

Finally got RYA approved travel policy from bishops skinner IIRC Bluefin.
 
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Not if you are over 64 - your company wont help!!

jofb said:
Must declare an interest as travel insurance is what we do (www.voyagertravelinsurance.co.uk) but would like to point out that while an EHIC has its uses it is not a proper replacement for travel insurance. It only provides the same protection as the local residents receive, which is generally much more limited than the NHS, often leaving you responsible for a percentage of most medical costs and for things like prescriptions and ambulance costs.

It also does not provide any cover for repatriation costs, which can often exceed £10,000 within Europe if an air ambulance is required or several thousand by stretcher repat with medical escort on scheduled airlines, if available - increasingly difficult to arrange these days.

Our standard policy allows for yachting / sailing in vessels over 10m anywhere within 60 miles of a safe haven - doesn't matter if you are skipper or crew. As with the AA, the annual multitrip policy allows for any number of trips up to 45 days each. Longer trips can be covered under a Long Stay policy.
Click to expand...
 
Any body found a travel insurance policy that covers you when you do not start traveling from your own front door. I have often wanted to stay places on the way home from work, unfortunately all the policy's I find cover can only start from when you leave the front door not when you leave your place of work if abroad.
 
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