Do long term travellers keep up travel insurance?

[zedsdead]

Good morning everyone. I wasn't sure where to post this so I thought this would get the widest audience.

When I left last July to travel I took out an annual policy, from Campbells I think, I would have to check. My travel is open ended, I have no set return date and to be honest no real route planned, just a rough outline that has firmed up a little as I have bumbled my way along.

Now I may well extend my time in Africa and as I said I have no return date set. I am looking long term to move on and just travel for some time to come. Possibly looking to work at some point so I can continue this lifestyle for as long as possible.

So are their people out there who travel without annual insurance. If you live on the road with no permanent address, is there a point at which you just live and do not tie yourself to your mother country?

Sorry this sounds a bit vague, I know what I want to ask but am not sure of the best way to put it. I do not want to categorize travellers, I don't like that sort of thing.

[nickdcook]

I would strongly recommend against not having insurance. It costs yes, but everyday your life is in the hands of people who dont check their mirros =P

in your home country you should at the very least having your mail sent to a family member or very close friend. Be sure its all in line with your insurance company's fine print tho. A friend of ours recently was taking a swim in mexico and a wave hit him sideways on a rough day and broke his back, thankfully his insurance was all in line and the 40,000$ Medical Evac + treatment was covered, and he was a young fit smart guy who was sober just going for a swim at the age of 28.
Random things can happen to anyone at anytime, that could leave you homeless in poverty stuck in a 3rd world country for the rest of your life if you don't take the WHAT IF into account.

Ride far, but ride safe.

[pheasant56]

I wouldn't dream of travelling without insurance and I'm currently look for insurance for an upcoming overland trip from the UK to Oz.

It might seem like a waste of cash if your trip goes well and you don't make use of it, but you only need to make one tiny mistake and you'd be lost without it. There is always someone back home to use as a base for your address.

However, My experience of annual travel insurance is that it usually has trip limits (30, 60 90 days etc.) that are no good for overland travel unless you buy some special expensive 'adventure travel' insurance.
Slight Hijack but anyone recommend cheap travel insurance for motorcycle overland?

[trackdayrider]

Originally Posted by pheasant56

...Slight Hijack but anyone recommend cheap travel insurance for motorcycle overland?

Try alphatravelinsurance.co.uk

[Keith1954]

Originally Posted by pheasant56

...Slight Hijack but anyone recommend cheap travel insurance for motorcycle overland?

I've been investigating this lately. The two companies I short-listed were:

• 1Stop - underwritten by Cigna Europe Insurance Company; and

• Holidaysafe - trading name of Infinity Insurance Solutions Ltd - underwritten by Union Reiseversicherung AG (Germany)

Both will cover m/c overlanding without c.c. restriction subject to holding an appropriate UK licence.

I have it on good authority that Cigna '.. are generally fair and pretty good. [but can be a little slow at times]'

I notice that Alpha Travel Insurance's plan - suggested by trackdayrider (above) - is almost identical to Holidaysafe's offering in nearly every detail; both policies are just different 'white label' contracts as far I can tell. The slight exceptions between the two regarding 'motorcycling' definitions are:

Holidaysafe: 'Motorcycling with appropriate UK licence (excludes track days)'

Alpha: 'Motorcycling with appropriate UK licence'

Both will also include 'MotoCross' as an activity, providing you are prepared to pay an additional premium.

Incidentally, 1Stop's motorcycling definition is: 'Motorcycling on public roads (no racing) safety helmet to be worn and must possess a licence allowing You to ride an equivalent motorcycle in the UK'

I guess therefore, by definition, 1Stop excludes any off-roading activity whatsoever. In other words, you must stick to 'public roads'.
NOTE - the policy is silent regarding the particular make-up of 'roads' - therefore I assume it includes all surfaces - e.g. tar-sealed, gravel, even dirt - as long as you are travelling on a recognised 'public road' (.. and not racing.)

Finally, it's worth noting that 1Stop were prepared to include cover for a minor health condition I have, whereas Holidaysafe insisted on excluding it.

You cannot be too very careful with an insurer's policy wording!
.

[Hemuli]

I have been travelling soon 3 years and all the time with travel insurance.
In Indonesia I had accident with truck, broke both of my hands and one arm.
Hospital in Indonesia could not fix my broken wrist because it was too badly damaged, so I needed to fly back to Europe to get it operated.

My insurance company (ADAC) paid everything, even flight back to Europe without any problem.

You do not need to make mistake, it is enough that someone else does something stupid... So, my warm recommendation is to have travel insurance

[zedsdead]

Thanks for all the replies. A topic worthy of the good discussion it has created. I asked because I will soon be at the end Of my first year of travel, and I fully intend to carry on. I will have a lot to sort out in order to continue, insurance is just one of those things.

I am at present with Campbell, really should check the paperwork to be sure but it's late and I am in the tent. I can now check out a few others as well. the big problem as some have mentioned is the travel by motorcycle part. Lots of the companies turned away at that point.

Your answers and comments have reinforced how essential this is.

[trackdayrider]

Originally Posted by Keith1954

...

Holidaysafe: 'Motorcycling with appropriate UK licence (excludes track days)'

Alpha: 'Motorcycling with appropriate UK licence'

Both will also include 'MotoCross' as an activity, providing you are prepared to pay an additional premium.

Motocross is entirely different.. Classed as "competitive" off road motorcycling rather than simply off road motorcycling..


BTW
Alpha covered me including an historic heart surgery a few years ago

[ridetheworld]

Depends what country are you a resident of. For the UK you can try AA Travel insurance, Post Office travel insurance or Navigator. Mine ran out not insured now and can renew policy from outside of UK nor can purchase new one. All the insurance that can be bought whilst abroad do not insure motorcycle as primary means of transport.

[Kayjay]

Its not just one small mistake we should be worried but what if some SOB hits u and catches u unaware. Its a third world and I would not every venture out without one. After all SAFETY HAS NO HOLIDAY.

[Tony LEE]

We use World Nomads. Cover just about anyone from most countries and to anywhere and it can be taken out for periods of up to a year and then extended on-line using a credit card. They have a couple of levels of cover that should suit most.
Can even start coverage even if you are not in your home country.

Worldnomads.com but they do have country specific web sites depending on your home country

Its a third world and I would not every venture out without one.

What is infinitely scarier is having an accident in the USA and having no insurance.

[Eshark]

We are planning to use travel insurance provided by our credit card. Only limitation is- it cover first 90 days, but you have to use credit card to pay for your travel. After that, you can start use another credit card insurance. In theory you need 4 credit cards for all year travel.
Does any one use card covered insurance?

[Tony LEE]

Originally Posted by Eshark

We are planning to use travel insurance provided by our credit card. Only limitation is- it cover first 90 days, but you have to use credit card to pay for your travel. After that, you can start use another credit card insurance. In theory you need 4 credit cards for all year travel.
Does any one use card covered insurance?

Have you read the policy conditions thoroughly?

[moggy 1968]

Originally Posted by Tony LEE

Have you read the policy conditions thoroughly?

probably not!! because they won't be covered for the reasons I gave above

Incidentally, we have just had a case rejected by the insurers for someone who is seriously ill in Asia. they decided to extend their holiday so bought a new policy online. However, the policy requires that you must be in the UK at the time of taking it out, they weren't, they were already in country, so the insurance is invalid and they are faced with the possibility of having to pay themselves for an air ambulance that will cost in the region £70000, not including the medical expenses they have already racked up in hospital.

[ridetheworld]

Tony - world nomads do not cover motorcycle travel for UK citizens.

Eshark - make sure they cover "motorcycle travel as primary means of transport" as many don't by default.