travel insurance covering countries advised against by Foreign Office

gowgowuk

Hello,

I was hoping to travel next summer to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This would be will Belgian friends (I am Belgian, living in UK), some of them travelling over there very often and planning to move there, some of them born and bred in Congo. I am aware that, as many African country, the situation is sometimes a bit volatile, but being with these people I don't really feel I would be in much danger. The Belgian and French foreign offices (where most people would travel from I guess) are both saying "it's fine to travel there, but be careful", while the UK Foreign Office advice is "The FCO advise against all but essential travel".
I think most UK travel insurances would not cover me if I travel there because of the FCO advice and I guess if I try to get an insurance in Belgium, I need to be a Belgian resident. Does anyone have experience of (probably more expensive) insurance companies covering these countries?
So far, I found BUPA Global (based in Denmark), Global Underwriters (based in US, a lot more expensive), both available to international travellers.
Thanks for any advice!

Mands

gowgowuk wrote: »

Hello,

I was hoping to travel next summer to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This would be will Belgian friends (I am Belgian, living in UK), some of them travelling over there very often and planning to move there, some of them born and bred in Congo. I am aware that, as many African country, the situation is sometimes a bit volatile, but being with these people I don't really feel I would be in much danger. The Belgian and French foreign offices (where most people would travel from I guess) are both saying "it's fine to travel there, but be careful", while the UK Foreign Office advice is "The FCO advise against all but essential travel".
I think most UK travel insurances would not cover me if I travel there because of the FCO advice and I guess if I try to get an insurance in Belgium, I need to be a Belgian resident. Does anyone have experience of (probably more expensive) insurance companies covering these countries?
So far, I found BUPA Global (based in Denmark), Global Underwriters (based in US, a lot more expensive), both available to international travellers.
Thanks for any advice!

Two suggestions: if Belgium and France are not advising against all but essential travel then insurance companies there who will accept expats are going to be your best options.

Failing that someone like International SOS. They'll almost certainly provide cover but the price will almost certainly make you wince.

https://www.internationalsos.com/en/

No connection other than as a previous user of their services.

Best of luck in finding something that suits,
Mands

gowgowuk

Thank you Mands,

I haven't thought of Belgian insurances as I thought they were only for Belgian residents (like the UK ones only fort UK residents). However, I checked a few, and some seem to offer insurance for European residents with no restriction on destinations (I have to carefully read the small prints to be sure). Substantially more expensive than the UK ones, but definitely affordable.

Voyager2002

Try telephoning a few UK travel insurers and see what they offer...