Insurance, again
 

Hi folks

In the process of digging up information regarding insurances for my wife and me plus the bike(for our upcoming Pan American trip), I have a couple of more questions this oracle might be able to answer:

1) Which company do people recommend for long term(one year at least)personal health/travel insurance? We cannot use any of the Norwegian companies, because we are thrown out of the national health scheme when beeing away for so long(which is good because it saves a lot in tax - another story). Any experience with www.worldtravelcenter.com, IMG Ex Patriot plus?

2) Have anyone tried and been succesful in getting a "valuable item insurance" on their bike? I'm thinking of coverage against theft, vandalism and fire only, just like you would insure your laptop or camera. My company back home said it was an "interesting" idea, but unfortunately this kind of coverage wasn't in their "database".:-)

regards
Dag

------------------ http://www.RocinantesTravels.com

[This message has been edited by dag (edited 25 March 2000).]

Dag

The company we insured with was a UK company called William Russell (address follows) which specialises in 'expat' insurance. They don't care where you are resident. Premiums are not cheap, but there are different levels of coverage, and if you stay out of North America, the premiums are about half as much for the rest of the world.

Haven't heard of IMG, but there are definitely other UK companies who provide medical insurance.

As for bike insurance, I'm afraid you're out of luck. Get a good lock and alarm system, and use a cover on the bike overnight, is the best advice we can give. Ironically, if the bike is large or unusual, it's safer from theft in the 3rd world than in Europe or N. America.

Good luck
Susan
www.william-russell.co.uk

William Russell Limited
Suite 201, The Mayford Centre,
Smarts Heath Road
Woking Surrey GU22 0PP
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1483 - 799 844
Fax: +44 (0)1483 - 799 855

We paid GBP 570 for 18 months coverage through ISIS, available at STA (Student Travel Assoc.) all around London. We're in our 30's and not students, so I think anyone can buy this. They were just about the only folk who would cover big bikes plus other "dangerous activities" eg scuba diving, with I think GBP million in medical coverage.

Most importantly - they pay up. I had a bad accident in western Sudan that required hospital treatment and then expatriation to SA, and they were excellent.