Travel insurance for Brits
 

Apologies for coming back to this, I know the subject has been extensively discussed but I did a search and couldn't find the info I needed.

I need to find an insurer who will cover medical costs (depending on how covid works out etc) with some fairly specific parameters:

• UK/Irish citizen, aged over 65
• Motorcycle over 125 as main means of travel
• 6 months duration trip
• Europe and Asia

That rules out WorldNomads (125 max for Brits), any TIF group companies (Voyager, Navigator, Boots, Post Office) as they have the worst record for denied claims I've ever seen. Ripcord from what I can see specialise in medevac but not local treatment.

Somebody did provide a link a while ago that seemed OK but I foolishly lost it. So, what ya got?

Try Marks and Spencers


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Seems like M&S insurance is currently unavailable.

Even removing Covid from the equation, a couple of years ago I couldn't find one that would accept all of the conditions listed, and I spent days looking. In the end I went with one with an up to 125cc limit because I was going on my 125 but otherwise there would be nothing. Some of the companies list the activities they'll cover and some of the lists are bizarre. One wouldn't accept hill walking over 2000m. Our flat in France is at just under 2000m but the local supermarket is uphill and just over that height. So by their criteria they wouldn't cover me going to buy a baguette for breakfast.

We've done our longer trips on the back of my wife's Nat West insurance policy that comes with her account, but of course that only works if she's going as well. If you do find anything be sure to let us know as I for one will be interested.

Shame, I think then maybe they closed to new entrants but we still have it as we renewed an existing policy and it covers everything including Covid, didn’t check the over 75 years thing though [emoji1].

There’s a thread on it on UKGSer, maybe worth a look there


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No idea whether AssistCard operate in the British Isles however I have no problem getting cover. I'm excluded from World Nomads by age : (

Call Navigator insurance.

U.K. firm. Motorcycle travel experts.

Not sure if things have changed (they tend to change rapidly in the insurance world) but Navigator were one of the companies I tried when I was planning a 6 week trip to West Africa three years ago. There were four areas that proved to be difficult -

Age over 65,
Time over 31 days
Bike over 125cc
Countries in West Africa

Seems strange now but nobody mentioned Covid :rofl:

In general I could get three out of the four with most companies but I didn't find a single one that would do all four. I can't remember which one Navigator fell down on but as my next trip is going to have similar requirements if they are able to cover me I'll be getting in touch.

Navigator is underwritten by TIF Group, check out their online reviews. I'd use them if I really had to and there was no other option, but I'm trying to find the name of the insurers I was recommended before (searched, can't find it, sorry) who were able to offer the extent of cover I need, particularly with respect to age and duration of travel.

Before anyone says "just go", I don't mind paying for instance but I'm not willing to be liable for potentially huge medical costs, I don't have that sort of money.

How about these guys https://www.holidaysafe.co.uk/niche/...vel-insurance/

They're one of the ones I tried before but it would seem like things have changed. I went through their quote process and it didn't kick me out so I'll bookmark them for the future. That, it would seem, is one at least. :thumbup1:

They appear to cut off at 3 months.

Also, it's another TIF Brand.

I think that there may be some scope with this organisation:

https://www.bigcattravelinsurance.com/?msclkid=39fff3d5f55c135089a993e3a089c904

The policy wording is here?

https://bigcattravelinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Policy_Wording_IPID_Premier.pdf

There is a general exclusion for motorcycles “unless you are wearing a crash helmet and, if riding on a motorcycle or quad bike over 125cc, that you have paid the appropriate extra premium”. The implication being that for an additional premium larger bikes can be ridden.

They cover people up to 69 years old at the time the premium is paid and the policies last for up to two years. It also looks like you can renew on the road.

I could, of course, be completely wrong.

Des

You already know that World Nomads insurance are worse than useless for Brits as seen in this tragic case study:

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...eds-help-94894

This post is just for completeness, for people who may not be aware.

What I have never understood is why World Nomads penalise British citizens. Does anyone know the logic for it?

His policy only covered for riding up to 125cc and World Nomads refused to pay for better hospital care.

"Peck required urgent treatment at a better-equipped hospital, which doctors say would have seriously improved his chances of surviving, however none of his three insurance policy providers would foot the bill.

His family are now considering legal action against World Nomads, which had sold him an adventure policy claiming to cover motorcycles.

However, hidden in the small print was a clause stating that Peck was only covered for motorcycles up to 125cc, of which his bike exceeded."

https://www.visordown.com/news/gener...n-horror-smash

WN uses different underwriters for the citizens/residents of different countries. The UK underwriter didn't/ doesn't cover 2 wheeled vehicles over 125cc nor where such a vehicle is your main mode of transport.

Please read the link in my above post.

Imho: The insurance industry is there to make themselves and their shareholders rich, not to pay out anything to their policy holders in the event of a claim. Read and UNDERSTAND the small print!

And do not listen to their telephone advisors who often do not understand the questions you are asking or the answers in front of them.

Well, they do provide cover for bikes over 125cc but it requires the purchase of the "Activity Pack". For basic cover world-wide (inc USA) - no activity pack included in the price - for an old sod like me (58) based in the UK is around £1,100 for a two year trip - which seems quite reasonable to me.

One limtation is that the cover is limited to "designated roads" - whatever that means. I assume that if you go into the Sahara making your own route up then you aren't covered. I am just digging a little further into what they consider a road.....

Bad news I'm afraid. I sent the following to Big Cat Travel Insurance this morning:
"The roads in Morocco vary from tarmac to 'piste' which are graded trails from settlement to settlement where the surface is dust or stone and used by locals to get from place to place."
This is the reply:
"I’m afraid we can only provide cover for riding a motorcycle over 125 cc on a registered, tarmac road."

That wouldn't even get me to work.

Big Cat are only a broker, what matters is the underwriters' view of what constitutes a road. If there was no other choice I'd probably take the chance - 99% of what I expect to do will be on tarmac. However there may be another choice, the below I was told about elsewhere. It's an American site but there's nothing I can find to say they don't insure other nationalities.

https://csmltd.com/medical/motorcycl...cal-insurance/

Most pistes in Morocco are legally public roads ;)

What exactly is a registered road?

This is an excerpt from the UK Highway code;

The definition of a road in England and Wales is 'any highway and any other road to which the public has access and includes bridges over which a road passes' ( RTA 1988 sect 192(1))

Sounds as though some farty little jobsworth at Big Cat finds it more satisfying to say 'no' rather than do his/her job properly.

Don't feel bad about it though.
Poms invented bureaucracy but Aussies have perfected it to an art form.

Never a truer word spoken, Australia bureaucracy is beyond crazy, try moving interstate.

Mezo,

When I was taking out cover for a trip to Africa a few years ago I had two managers from there same company arguing with each other over a similar definition, one insisted it included any road shown on a map the other it meant any surfaced road and in the end I paid a lot more for the higher level of cover to ensure that I had the correct policy although the cheaper one probably covered me.

I’ve been using DogTag annual for a few years. They have varying levels of cover and I seem to remember “Sport+” cover riding on rough trails with bikes over 500cc.

But check, obviously!

I need to renew it soon, anyway. Booked ferries to hang out in Morocco for March rather than pay my heating bill!!

Rachel


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They look like they offered some pretty comprehensive policies, but it all seems to be on hold for the time being and they're not taking on new customers.

Sadly, even if they were, I exceed their age limits so I'll need to keep looking. :(