18: Travel Insurance Trouble
Struggling to find a suitable travel insurance.
Problems:
1) I’m travelling for >2-3 months which limits the number of insurances on offer
-> Must find insurance that covers trips up to 12 months
2) I am too old! Many backpacking insurance plans offered are only valid for up to 30…
->must cover old aged me
3) Exlusions are too many such as limitations for activities covered, so many packages are simply unsuitable for a backpacker. What good is medial cover if it does not include simple things such as trekking, overland travel or some not too uncommon backpacking activities such as scuba diving, sailing, horse or elephant riding (hey, this is popular in Thailand ok?!;-). Also skiing, snowboarding or other winter sports are often not included and can not even be added as extra insurance.
-> Make sure ALL activities will be covered that you might want to do
4) Smallprint makes it pretty clear that virtually no cover exists other than medical and cancellation or cutting tip short.
Although they may claim to pay in the summary for loss, theft, damage to luggage, property, documents and money, pay for travel delay, missed departures etc
THEY DON’T REALLY cover you in many many cases because you must proove you did not act cautiously.
Example:
Theft and Accidental Loss is covered up to £1500 but not if
I failed to watch my stuff all the time (such as being on
bus or leave in storage in hostel)
They claim in the summary they pay out but read the smallprint and quickly it becomes clear that there is no chance you will ever be able to claim any money for lost, stolen or damaged items unless you lock them away in a private hotel room or safe AND! this place has been violently opened (proof of physical damage needed)
-> Probably not worth insuring Personal Belongings, Documents, Money, Travel Delay etc..
5) Personal Liability and Legal Cover
This is faily restricted too and often exludes most likely scenarios were this may be needed (e.g. no liability cover for “dangerous” activities where you’re more likely to hurt someone in an accident.
Bottom Line: Will I ever find a suitable insurance or is it really just a big waste of money?
I’m inclinde to say Travel Health Insurance is all I need!
What I would like:
Travel Health Insurance from Germany so in emergency I can get taken back to Germany not UK (Let say I trust German Hospitals more than British ones)
British Travel Insurance without medical cover that does! cover my luggage even if I don’t watch it all the time plus liability and legal cover.
Looks like I can’t find the non-medical uk travel insurance so I have three options:
a) Get the full travel insurance in the UK and accept that most things won’t be covered and that health cover if needed may not be as good (plus I would have to come back to UK hospital in an emergency)
b) Get only German Travel Health Insurance and no other travel insurance at all
c) Get both and pay double.
We will see…
Tags: Pre-Departure
saschas
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