travel insurance

[jazzkat]

I'm not sure this is quite the right place to post this request, but here goes.

Last year I had 'an issue' while away on holiday that meant an overnight stay in hospital abroad. Despite having insurance with Virgin travel (underwritten by Mapfre) I have ended up a considerable amount out of pocket.

So the question is....... Can anyone give me a recommendation for insurance based on having to actually claim rather than based on friend of a friend recommendation or just cheap price (won't go there again!)
I've got a 10 day family beach hol already booked and a two week cycle tour in the planning stage.

I have done a search and seen the previous responses

 

[midliferider]

Just for our education. would you be happy to share the problem with the previous insurer?

 

[sheddy]

Might be worth looking at the WHICH travel insurance recommendations (magazine available in your library)

 

[andym]

A lot of insurance companies exclude cycle touring. Two specialist policies that don't are:

http://www.snowcard.co.uk

and

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/insurance

 

[PK99]

I'm not sure this is quite the right place to post this request, but here goes.

Last year I had 'an issue' while away on holiday that meant an overnight stay in hospital abroad. Despite having insurance with Virgin travel (underwritten by Mapfre) I have ended up a considerable amount out of pocket.

So the question is....... Can anyone give me a recommendation for insurance based on having to actually claim rather than based on friend of a friend recommendation or just cheap price (won't go there again!)
I've got a 10 day family beach hol already booked and a two week cycle tour in the planning stage.

I have done a search and seen the previous responses

We bank with First Direct and have their "First Directory" package which includes comprehensive annual travel insurance.

Mrs PK had major skiing accident a few years ago, service received from company was outstanding 11/10 - took away all hassle and worry from the very first phone call, they contacted me to tell me the arrangements they were putting in place before I asked for them. Family could stay on in resort as long as needed at no cost, my £100 taxi fares each day to hospital covered, business class flight home for us both (kids went earlier) etc etc

I call a big difference between that sort of linked policy (their financial interest is best served by keeping me as a bank customer) and a one off purchased policy (their best financial interest is best served by minimising the cost of any claim)

 

[jazzkat]

Just for our education. would you be happy to share the problem with the previous insurer?

OK, short version.
I had to see a doctor in the hotel (I thought I was having some sort of seizure/pass out episode). He checked me over and recommended immediate hospitalisation - while handing my wife a bill to pay there and then. I was ambulanced to the hospital (another bill to be paid there and then) The hospital admitted me and put me on a drip and hooked me up to an ecg while the hospital admin took my wife by the arm to the office. When my wife gave our details passport/ehic/and most importantly insurance they told her as our insurance company were such slow and bad payers they needed an up front deposit of 2k euro before they'd do anything. Of course I could go to the next hospital which would admit me without any payment (with the reciprocal ehic agreement) but no one there speaks English and it's another hour in an ambulance. Maybe the hospital were pulling a fast one, but we weren't in any position to argue. So the Mrs paid on the credit card. My parents (who we were holidaying with) obviously upset, jumped in a taxi and followed us to hospital. Wife and parents returned to the hotel by taxi while I stayed overnight. I was released the following day and I had to get a taxi back.

The insurance paid the hospital the 2k but minus the excess, but, as there was also exchange fees, that put us out of pocket straight away. Then upon submitting all the reciepts for taxis to and from the hospital, the Dr fee and the ambulance they said that they wouldn't cover the taxis and didn't cover the whole of the Dr and ambulance fee, of course the payment was also adjusted with exchange rates.
It took a couple of months to get the hospital deposit refunded and over eight months to get the paltry sum for the other expenses.

We bank with First Direct and have their "First Directory" package which includes comprehensive annual travel insurance.

Mrs PK had major skiing accident a few years ago, service received from company was outstanding 11/10 - took away all hassle and worry from the very first phone call, they contacted me to tell me the arrangements they were putting in place before I asked for them. Family could stay on in resort as long as needed at no cost, my £100 taxi fares each day to hospital covered, business class flight home for us both (kids went earlier) etc etc

I call a big difference between that sort of linked policy (their financial interest is best served by keeping me as a bank customer) and a one off purchased policy (their best financial interest is best served by minimising the cost of any claim)

That sounds good, I'll check with my bank (Natwest).

A lot of insurance companies exclude cycle touring. Two specialist policies that don't are:
http://www.snowcard.co.uk
and
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/insurance

Thanks I'll look into that too.

 

[slowmotion]

@jazzkat, can you tell us which insurance company that was? I'm pretty sure I don't want to use them.

 

[jazzkat]

@jazzkat, can you tell us which insurance company that was? I'm pretty sure I don't want to use them.

Virgin insurance, the underwriter is company called Mapfre

 

[slowmotion]

Virgin insurance, the underwriter is company called Mapfre

Thank you. I shall cast them into outer darkness

 

[takeonafrica]

I fell off my bike in US and had to be rescued off the mountain, taken to hospital and have an x-ray - insurance covered all of it. I was never out of pocket at any time if I recall correctly. STA travel.

 

[Lone Rider]

My son used InterMundial while travelling in Malasia and had no problems when he had to use medical care. His claim was small, but everything was paid.
[url]http://www.im-insurance.co.uk/[/URL]

 

[jazzkat]

Thanks guys I shall look into those too.

 

[lpretro1]

Sorry ot hear of your bad experiences - Always use the CTC insurance - pretty comprehensive plus optional bike cover too at very reasonable prices.

 

[jazzkat]

Sorry ot hear of your bad experiences - Always use the CTC insurance - pretty comprehensive plus optional bike cover too at very reasonable prices.

Cheers, I'll have a look at that too.


@lpretro1 - have you had to claim from them, what was the experience like?