Nationwide FlexAccount Travel Insurance - rescue cover

davleed

A newbie question about the Nationwide FlexAccount insurance. My wife and I will be walking in the Austrian Alps this summer. The policy document states that trekking up to 5450m altitude is covered. That's higher than anywhere in Europe - so far, so good.

I called Nationwide today to ask if the policy covers helicopter rescue. Suppose, I asked, we are walking at around 2000m on a waymarked path. I stumble and sprain or break an ankle, and can't walk on it. We're two hours walk from the nearest road. The Austrians send a rescue helicopter to take me to hospital and present me with a £2000 bill. Is this covered by the policy?

The answer was "It depends on the circumstances. The underwriters will consider what you were doing at the time and they may or may not pay for the rescue"

This is not reassuring. Does anyone have experience of making a claim on this policy in similar circumstances, or obtained a more specific answer from Nationwide or the underwriters?

Many thanks,

David

luci

I also have the free insurance from Nationwide. I called them with a few questions and their attitude and response did not instil me with confidence. So much so that I opted to stay with with insurer I have been with for a few years and pay considerably more for an annual worldwide policy (we have PEMC's) rather than the £20 it would have cost to upgrade the Nationwide policy.

I just didn't have the confidence that they would pay out in the event of a claim when they stumbled at a few simple questions.

davleed

Thanks, Luci. I think I might use Nationwide for general travel, but purchase top-up single trip cover for any activity-based holidays to be sure of rescue cover.

The best I've found so far is Snowcard. You can decline cover for cancellation, baggage etc (already covered by Nationwide) which reduces the cost. Insurance for one week for activities such as hill walking and via ferratta would cost £38 for a couple. Search and rescue up to £100k is included.