Travel Insurance for a non-FCO Recommended Country

Sandtree

Ben1989 said:

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.

Glad you got something sorted and hope you don't need to use it at all.

Looking at the website they are based out in Texas so just be aware any issues with their service and you'll be bound by Texan law and insurance regs for out of state customers rather than UK.

martindow

Sixty Dollars seems very cheap.  Have you looked at what they include or exclude from their policies?

Ben1989

martindow said:

Sixty Dollars seems very cheap.  Have you looked at what they include or exclude from their policies?

Maybe I should have been clearer. It was $60 for me, $100 for my wife and daughter. So $160 all together.

Sandtree

martindow said:

Sixty Dollars seems very cheap.  Have you looked at what they include or exclude from their policies?

Assuming its the same as the one I saw on the site it is medical costs only so no cover for lost luggage or cancelled flights etc. I didnt go as far to check if they cover repatriation. 

I bought a similar type of policy when the BiL came to visit us for an extended stay and it was much cheaper than any regular types of policy but didn't make a claim on it so cannot comment on the quality of service backing it up.

Zellah

Sandtree said:

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. 

"Often"? Pretty sure its usually the employers/agencies who will provide the necessary insurance in high risk countries. When i worked in Iraq for Shell 6-7 years ago (at the height of ISIS), it was Shell who arranged all the insurances and PSD conveys. Ditto for Petrofac in Algeria.

Ben1989

Sandtree said:

martindow said:

Sixty Dollars seems very cheap.  Have you looked at what they include or exclude from their policies?

Assuming its the same as the one I saw on the site it is medical costs only so no cover for lost luggage or cancelled flights etc. I didnt go as far to check if they cover repatriation. 

I bought a similar type of policy when the BiL came to visit us for an extended stay and it was much cheaper than any regular types of policy but didn't make a claim on it so cannot comment on the quality of service backing it up.

Yes as far as I'm aware it's exclusively health insurance. That's my main concern whilst being over there, mitigating the possibility of racking up 6 figure hospital sums. Flying home, lost baggage etc is not a concern of mine (comparatively speaking).

Sandtree

Zellah said:

Sandtree said:

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. 

"Often"? Pretty sure its usually the employers/agencies who will provide the necessary insurance in high risk countries. When i worked in Iraq for Shell 6-7 years ago (at the height of ISIS), it was Shell who arranged all the insurances and PSD conveys. Ditto for Petrofac in Algeria.

Was considering both natural and legal persons... though as a contractor I was expected to arrange my own insurances rather than an employer or agency.

RHemmings

Ben1989 said:

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 for three of you?  £150 each? 
Welcome to the club. This is normal for specialist insurance to places the FCDO advises against.