Travel insurance when departing from overseas BFPO?!

anokhi

My husband and I have been at an overseas BFPO for 2 years. The tour is coming to an end and we'll be departing on holiday from here before returning to the UK. The problem we have is that we appear to be totally uninsurable!! I have contacted countless insurers (including some who claim to be geared specifically towards the forces) and no-one will cover this situation. They all say we need to depart and return to the same country. We've even been told we're not counted as UK residents as we haven't been in the UK for the last 6 months. I find this whole situation bizarre. Has anyone encountered this? Any idea of anyone who WILL insure us?? It's not like we're posing any additional risk! We leave soon and I'm getting concerned that we're going to end up with no insurance at all! Please help!

Fergie76

What country are you holidaying in?

If it's Europe, you're EHIC should cover you. Not ideal I know, but better than nothing.

Also, contact your MP (when you return if you don't have one now), as surely this sort of thing should be covered by the Armed Forces Covenant?

I'm not suggesting you like or anything, but how will the insurance company know where you start and finish your holiday, if you don't tell them? Use a relatives address...

Or can you not just go for worldwide insurance?

Trying_to_be_good

We had a similar difficulty when my step-kids' mother married a soldier and took the kids to Germany - we flew them back to us for contact visits once a month, as unaccompanied minors, but couldn't insure the travel as they were BFPO but we weren't. Fortunately nothing went wrong...

Are you moving back to quarters in the UK? Could you use that address for the date you leave your BFPO address accommodation ?

anokhi

We're travelling outside Europe so EHIC is no use. No, the insurance company wont know our origin/destination when we purchase the insurance but the reality is that if we ever tried to make a claim our policy would be invalid. An insurance company will always ask to see your travel documents - at which point it would be clear our flights did not originate in the UK. We have a permanent address in the UK - that isn't the issue! Worldwide insurance doesn't cover this - believe me - I have spent 2 days on this and have yet to come up with anyone that will provide us with cover. At this rate we'll be scuba diving in Asia with no medical cover whatsoever (which is what I'm concerned about) - baggage and delays and all that nonsense I can live without, but travelling without medical cover would be plain stupid! :-(

Andy_L

googling "travel insurance for expats"

http://www.expat-travel-insurance.co/

"We offer a range of European or Worldwide travel insurance policies to suit UK expats living within the European Union"

"One way trip cover available"

Trying_to_be_good

Did you already try the insurers with your home address being your permanent UK address (prior to your departure date), but you departing for your holiday from your BFPO address?

Otherwise, SIIAP are the Services Insurance and Investment Advisory Panel (sponsored by MOD) - they may be able to help: http://siiap.org/insurance-pages/travel-insurance

It may be a case of going through the whole list of providers. The only other thing that occurred to me was whether any private health cover (bupa, cs healthcare) would cover at least some of the costs?

Good luck - the holiday sounds fantastic, but I agree about the peace of mind on medical cover.

anokhi

Thanks Andy - I already tried them and they wont cover us. It's the leaving from one country, going on holiday, and returning to a different country that seems to cause such a major issue. I've no idea why since we don't present any additional risk because of it!!

Trying to be good - many thanks. That list of providers looks like the most promising so far. I will get in touch with them. Fingers-crossed!

anokhi

So I've now tried numerous supposedly 'specialist forces insurers' and guess what?! None of them will cover us! Every single one, without fail has said travel needs to start and end in the same country. WHAT THE HELL??!!! We can not be the first forces couple to have this issue - or are we the only ones who actually bothered to check the policy?!!! I am starting to get rage. This really shouldn't be so difficult! Surely departure from BFPO should be made to equate to departure from the UK?!

comedyjock

Try PAX who do service life insurance. We were in a similar position but travel insurance for family for one year was about £80.

Naval_Families_Federation

Good morning Anokhi,

Can I ask you to clarify a few points, we can then ask our contact at Forces Financial for advice. You can e-mail your response to [EMAIL="info@nff.org.uk"]info@nff.org.uk[/EMAIL]

1) Where are you currently posted?
2) When are you travelling?
3) Which Service does your husband belong to?
4) Can you please provide a contact number/e-mail address for us to pass onto Forces Financial?

Kind regards,
NFF Team

Naval_Families_Federation

Good afternoon Anokhi,

We have spoken to Forces Financial for advice. If you call them on: 0080 000 010203 they will advise you of the best way forward.

You may need to clarify some points but they should be able to cover you.

Kind regards,
NFF Team