Medical Insurance for Canadians

[AmericaMoto]

Hi!
My 12 year-old son, My girlfriend and I are leaving for 1 year to go explore the Americas all the way to Ushuaia and back in just over 3 months . We are Canadians and my girlfriend rides a 800 GS and I ride a 1200 GS.. I'm looking for Medical Insurance... And it feels like I just hit a wall cause I hate dealing with those insurance people.. ( don't we all???) I got the evacuation part pretty figured out and I'm thinking of going with MedJet Assist... I'm now looking for a Medical insurance to take care of us before being medevac'ed ( It's so much fun shopping so hard for something you hope you never need!!) I've contacted World Nomad and didn't get a straight answer as if they wanted to insure us or not and i'm still waiting for an answer( a month and a half later)... So if anybody can give us some advice on which company to go with that would be much appreciated..

Thanks, Jay

[Scrabblebiker]

I went with BCAA for my Mexico/Central America trip since they definitely cover you on a motorbike. I fortunately have not had to test their services so I can't tell you how good they are. Call your Alberta version of the CAA and tell them what you're up to. I found the BCAA to be very responsive.


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com

[Growler]

https://hermes.manulife.com/can/affi...t?Open&as=mfti

Manulife, they seem to be in the ballpark with everybody else, they charge more if you say your travelling in the US. I plan to get separate insurance for the week to 10 days I'll be in the US and start their coverage at the Mexican border. Cheaper that way.

[lend]

In Calgary you can contact "Snowbird Medi-Quote" Inc. 403-259-2969 or 1-800-661-3098. I have used this company every winter for travel medical insurance.

[AmericaMoto]

Ok! Thank you for your replies guys! I'm finally done shopping! I checked with lotsa people and spent endless hours on the phone only to end up going with my first idea, here are the prices for a year long trip for a family of 2 adults and 1 child, prices are in Canadian dollars and every insurance insist on basically the same 1 thing: you're not covered in the event of a race ( ie. The Dakar rally)

1- World Nomads : $1630. - insurance valid for 6 months at a time and you can renew on. t. The road
- quote is $815 for 6 months
- most RETARDED company to try getting your questions. n. Answered from. Can't call em from north America unless y. o. You have a claim. Literally took em monthS to answer my q. Questions via emails. But I was patient.
- includes medical rapatriation back to Canada if it comes to it.

2- Snowbird Medi-Quote : $1584 - very straight forward
- Neil called me back with a quote within 1 hour
- great response and the cheapest
- Only con( and only reason why we're not going with e. m. Em) is that they only cover medical evaluation to
The Nearest hospital, they won't bring you back to C. a. Canada unless you're in a hand size box- cremated

3- Manulife: $2231. - offers same coverage as World Nomads

4- AMA : $3300: -offers same coverage as World Nomads but costs twice as much


All these guys do cover big bikes

Only 21 days before we leave! Hoping to see lots of you in Nakusp! Enjoy your rides and safe travels!
Jay

[milesmcewing]

Hello Jay,

We should me up soon! Tracey and I will be in Nakusp as well, then leaving Sept 17 for Ushuia, lets compare notes.

Cheers
miles

[AmericaMoto]

Hey Miles!
Sounds like you'll be chasing us for some time, sounds great! I'm sure you guys are as excited as we are! . Only 16 more days of work! You can email me at : americavelo@hotmail.com. If you have comments, dates, questions or anything you'd like to share, otherwise I see you in Nakusp,
Ride safe!
Jay.

[Growler]

If your over 60 forget World Nomads, they don't want to hear from you.

Growler

[Roameo]

AmericaMoto, I too am from Canada and am planning to head out June 2013. Emailed WN and asked about this excerpt form their policy.

Will not payout if:
rides a motorcycle (except as a pillion passenger) without a licence that is valid in the relevant country; or

So a I asked a clarifying question does relevant licence mean from Canada or the country you get hurt in? Would an international drivers licence cover that. could not get a straight answer.

Anyone else know?

I did find out they have no CC limit at least.

[AmericaMoto]

Originally Posted by Roameo

AmericaMoto, I too am from Canada and am planning to head out June 2013. Emailed WN and asked about this excerpt form their policy.

Will not payout if:
rides a motorcycle (except as a pillion passenger) without a licence that is valid in the relevant country; or

So a I asked a clarifying question does relevant licence mean from Canada or the country you get hurt in? Would an international drivers licence cover that. could not get a straight answer.

Anyone else know?

I did find out they have no CC limit at least.

Hi Roameo!
Yeah I too noticed it takes a while to get any sort of answer from World Nomads...
But, Well, don't get me wrong, I was not able to actually talk to anybody from WN but what I understand from that quote :

rides a motorcycle (except as a pillion passenger) without a licence that is valid in the relevant country; or

is that they will not pay if don't have a valid licence ( In Canada) but taken that you have one im pretty sure they would not expect you to have a licence issued in every country you wanna ride in.
Also Taken that World Nomads is quoted in many places ( ie the HU DVD's) I think it gives them a credibility that many other companies don't have.

7 months into the trip now and I renewed the World Nomad's policy ( only valid for 6 months at a time but renewable on the road) the last month and thank god I have not had to use them and I'm not able to tell you how they work more than that..

7 months..35000km and having a blast! Realize your dreams!! Get out there!!

AmericaMoto

[Roameo]

Thanks America Moto,

I am just under 40 days away from heading out and excited as hell! Have not booked my insurance yet but probably before the end on the month (April) as I have a date of June 1 to leave. Pretty sure WM is the way to go....Glad to hear you are having a blast and have not needed to use the insurance. Travel safe.

[BcDano]

Just went through the hunt for long term travel medical insurance. I've found a policy with BCAA that covers us for 365 days anywhere in the world and yes we can ride our bikes.

Policy is for up to $10 million per person.
$2500 deductible (you can go as low as $0)
$391 per person including the web purchase discount.

I had read of the fine print. Policy is very straightforward, includes medi-vac etc.

[AmericaMoto]

Hi Roameo and BCDano!
Wow! 391$ is very cheap! I will check into that for my next trip!!!
Ok.. well, 1 bad news.. after 48,000 km and 10 months on the Road Mercedes broke her leg in Venezuela... It's really bad but 1 thing I have to give Chavez some sort of credit for is free health care... I'm talking with TRAVELGUARD ( it is the actual insurance company in canada, World Nomads being nothing more than a broker...I learned that too) Nowhere as easy as it seems when you buy the policy to make a claim now... They are asking for all sorts of things I never heard off and seem to be caring a lot more about any pennies to might have to hand out than making sure she receives good medical care. It sad to see after you paid them $1630!!!! And also sad cause it means the end of our trip somewhat... Oh well, stay posted to see how it turns out!
Ride Safe!! REALISE YOUR DREAMS AND GET OUT THERE!!!
Jay

[lightcycle]

Hi Jay, can you be more specific in your dealings with WN? I am shopping for travel insurance right now and so far for my wife and I, I have:

Blue Cross: $2388
CAA (Southern Ontario): $2840

WN at $1630 is cheap, but I'm not willing to deal with a company that makes me jump through unreasonable hoops to avoid paying out. Please keep us apprised.

Edit: I just did a quick search on Travelguard and this is what turned up:

http://www.epinions.com/reviews/finc...vel_Guard?sb=1

Staying away from WN.

[AmericaMoto]

Hi LightCycle and everybody else,
alright some more updates...
First of, I wouldnt say to stay away from World Nomads, it took some time but they helped us out a lot.
So, like I was saying the last time, My wife broke her leg in Venezuela, I contacted Travelguard which is the one insurer that World Nomad deals with in Canada.
It took 3 weeks to bring her back home since the day of her accident in order to get her operated. In the first week they simply refused to have anything to do with me and they were looking for anything that would make our insurance not valid. In the second week, I started to talk with a supervisor or something and mentionned having paid $1630 to World Nomads and that there should not be any reason for the policy not to be valid.. She said she was not informed that the insurance was bought thru World Nomads ( although the policy number starts with WN 54321...).
From that point on she started working with me and within the next few days organised for a doctor to come with us in the plane back to Canada. On all her flights she was in first class with 2 seats to make sure she had enough space( not that she is fat). We had to spend the night in Caracas along the way and they also paid for 2 rooms ( one for the Doc and 1 for us) at the Marriott at $400 each room.
Also, They paid for the flights for my son and I as well right off the bath, I didnt have to pay for them then get reimburse, everything was prepaid.
So to make a long story short, It was hard to get service from Travelguard after you put the claim in but after harrassing them enough, It all worked out good! But you need patience!
Some updates on Mercedes, She is home now, recovering really well, 2 days after we returned to Calgary she got operated at the Foothills hospital ( after waiting for 3 weeks in Venezuelans hospitals)
Would I buy from World Nomads again???
Yes, but not directly from Travelguard themselves.
Hope this help a few a few to make a decision.
And also hope to see many of you in Nakusp in a few weeks.
Take care, ride safe and realise your dreams
Jay