AMEX Travel Insurance

Imo

New member
Just a heads up to people that AMEX now does travel insurance that includes Potholing in itsadventure travel insurance for Medical and repatriation only (no personal injury compensation). You can also get multi trip annual cover up to 120days per trip if you are over 30. It doesn't cover cave diving, canyonong or solo caving (although its advertising says it does cover cave diving- I've written a letter of complaint about that!)


 

Benfool

Member
Just phoned them to check a few things out. They will cover original exploration and they will cover self rescue up to a cost of ?150,000 which includes flying people out from the UK if nessasery.

For ?132 for a years cover its an absolute bargin!
 

me

Active member
?79 for single trip  (not sure which to take out as only planning a single trip at mo & that is a 'maybe' go caving.)  :-\
 

nickwilliams

Well-known member
Just so people know what's going on, on behalf of BCA I rang AMEX yesterday to discuss this. The lady on the phone was not able to confirm that self rescue would be covered - she said someone would get back to me about this. I pointed out that if BCA are going to recommend the AMEX scheme as covering all the risks we know our members want cover for then we would need something from them in writing to confirm this. I gather that might turn out to be a problem.

I've heard nothing from AMEX as of 24 hours later, but I have also been speaking to Snowcard who seem to have a much better grasp of what we need.

I will report more as soon as I have something definite to say. In the meanwhile, if you are going to buy the AMEX cover for caving I suggest you ring them to confirm that the activity which you are planning will be covered, and make sure you keep notes of who you spoke to and when, and what they said. I'll happily act as an independent repository of those notes if you want to send me an e-mail or a PM recording the conversation.

Nick

(BCA Insurance Manager)

 

nickwilliams

Well-known member
Yes, I got the message.

I had a quick look at the site you suggested but could not find any mention of caving insurance. Then I got sidetracked by some paying work and have not had time to go back to it. I'll try to look into it again in the next few days.

I have to say that I don't think BCA is ever going to be in a position where we can vet and comment on every possible provider of travel insurance. I think it's important that we try to ensure that there is at least one provider of insurance who will definitely cover self rescue for expeditions, but it's simply beyond the resources available to us to provide any kind of comprehensive comparison between providers. It also raises an ugly problem of liability if we get it wrong.

Nick.
 

Rob

Well-known member
Nick, or anyone else, did AMEX ever get back? Be good to have "exploratory caving" written in their official documentation... Also, do you have to be a card holder?
 

Aubrey

Member
I have just looked at the terms and conditions for the AMEX insurance and found caving is in section D which is a list of activities which are specifically excluded.

Has the policy been 'updated' or is caving also in some other section?

 

Benfool

Member
Yeah its been updated, just checked the Terms and conditions on my policy - it covers me for Potholing, Caving and Mountineering all of which have been specifically excluded in the new terms and conditions. Looks like that answers your question Rob!

B
 

paul

Moderator
It is also worth finding out EXACTLY what is covered.

Just because 'Potholing' or 'Caving' are mentioned it doesn't mean you are covered for ALL eventualities.

I know of a caver not being allowed on a chartered flight back home due to an injury suffered whilst caving and having to make alternative arrangements. These were NOT covered by the insurer despite mentioning 'Potholing' or 'Caving' were covered in the Policy.
 

estelle

Member
Are we any closer to recommendations for any insurance company that will cover for original exploratory caving/self rescue and if the sh*t hits the fan, arrange to get rescue assistance brought in? I get the feeling from talking to a few people that snowcard tends to be commonly used, but are people just accepting there is an element of risk that just won't be covered by insurance easily?
 

Rob

Well-known member
Dogtag have recently (this week) changed their website to include caving and potholing in the Extreme cover.  (y)
 

kay

Well-known member
estelle said:
Are we any closer to recommendations for any insurance company that will cover for original exploratory caving/self rescue and if the sh*t hits the fan, arrange to get rescue assistance brought in? I get the feeling from talking to a few people that snowcard tends to be commonly used, but are people just accepting there is an element of risk that just won't be covered by insurance easily?

Snowcard cover exploratory caving as category 5, caving in caves that are already known as category 3 (the same category as bolted climbs). The people at Snowcard seem to take an intelligent view of caving. It's worth talking to them.
 

estelle

Member
i suppose the proof of the pudding is in the eating... Has anyone ever claimed on any of these policies and had good or bad experiences?
 

Alex

Well-known member
Dogtag have recently (this week) changed their website to include caving and potholing in the Extreme cover

Probbably because I sent them an e-mail over a month ago saying there was no real difference and why was one covered and the other not. It seems they may have listened, because it cost them ?30 as I did not take out cover with them.
 

Rhys

Moderator
estelle said:
i suppose the proof of the pudding is in the eating... Has anyone ever claimed on any of these policies and had good or bad experiences?

I've never needed to claim for rescue or medical stuff.

I claimed for an accidentally broken camera on a ski trip with Snowcard. They paid straight up no worries. I've used Snowcard for tourist and exploratory caving but never claimed.

Rhys
 
Top