Travel Insurance for a non-FCO Recommended Country

Ben1989

Hi all,

Really striking out. My wife and daughter are American and we need to travel to USA in 4 weeks time. I understand a lot of (all) insurers not wanting to insure against FCO advice, however some travel is essential. Where insurers people travelling to these countries? I can't seem to find anywhere. I don't feel comfortable taking the risk. It's not just covid, it's car accidents etc etc.

Any help is appreciated greatly.

Ngozi

Battleface probably will.
Heard StaySure were doing insurance but in Europe, not sure if covering USA and I wouldn't be surprised at all if you spoke to other big insurance providers if they do as well. Probably insure you for anything like normal except for the reason the FCO is advising against travel, so in this case Corona.

Ben1989

Thanks Ngozi.

I actually went on battleface last night. Their terms and conditions are the policy must be purchased at least a month before travel date. We travel on 16th November meaning insurance must be purchased on 16th October or earlier. Also, I got a quote for £450! It does cover covid but that price is pretty mental.

NottinghamKnight

Ben1989 said:

Thanks Ngozi.

I actually went on battleface last night. Their terms and conditions are the policy must be purchased at least a month before travel date. We travel on 16th November meaning insurance must be purchased on 16th October or earlier. Also, I got a quote for £450! It does cover covid but that price is pretty mental.

£450 sounds pretty cheap to me given the circumstances and health care costs in the US.

Sandtree

Ben1989 said:

It does cover covid but that price is pretty mental.

Welcome to a niche insurance product normally bought by people being paid significant risk money to go work in high risk locations.  Plus if you think that is expensive you dont want to price up the Kidnap & Ransom insurance that those people also often have to buy. 

There are an increasing number of brands out there but many are just white labels or intermediaries. You aren't going to find many with experience of the companies and so you will need to do a bit more digging to ensure you understand who the actual insurance company is, where they are based and who they are regulated by. Many will not be UK based and its up to you to weigh up potential premium savings -v- having an unknown insurer in a tax haven being the ones that decide if they payout or not.

martindow

Not your question, but is travel going to be possible at all?  There was mention of someone who needed to spend a couple of weeks in a third country (in the Carribean I think) in order to be allowed into the USA.  I don't think it is just a matter of getting insurance and jumping on a plane.

jonesMUFCforever

The wife and daughter are American is significant in first post. Most UK insurers would want the insured to be UK residents.

Voyager2002

jonesMUFCforever said:

The wife and daughter are American is significant in first post. Most UK insurers would want the insured to be UK residents.

It is entirely possible to be a US citizen and live in the UK (ie be a UK resident and so eligible for insurance).

Ben1989

Thanks everyone so far. For clarification my wife (USC) moved here and is a permanent resident (ILR). Our daughter naturally holds US & UK citizenship. We're all eligible for UK-based insurance. Due to my wife & daughter being American they are eligible to enter the US as exceptions to the ban. My being a direct family member am also allowed entry.

I'm just wondering what people do? There must be hundreds of people travelling against FCO recommendations for essential visits. Are they just risking it?

Sandtree

Ben1989 said:

 Are they just risking it?

Millions risk it each year even without the issue of Covid or FCO advice. Add to those people you'll have those that are unaware of the whole "FCO Advice" thing and will assume their normal annual policies will be providing protection. If you ever do surveys with customers their interest in travel insurance is firstly to cover cancellation, secondly their possessions and medical costs come down in third place.

Unfortunately not only are you travelling against FCO advice but you are going to the country with the highest health care costs in the world (exc medivac costs)

Ben1989

Sandtree said:

Ben1989 said:

 Are they just risking it?

Millions risk it each year even without the issue of Covid or FCO advice. Add to those people you'll have those that are unaware of the whole "FCO Advice" thing and will assume their normal annual policies will be providing protection. If you ever do surveys with customers their interest in travel insurance is firstly to cover cancellation, secondly their possessions and medical costs come down in third place.

Unfortunately not only are you travelling against FCO advice but you are going to the country with the highest health care costs in the world (exc medivac costs)

That's why I'm keen on getting insurance.

Fortunately, we now have some from a website called Insubuy and a underwritten by Lloyd's. $60, incl. covid.