BCA expedition insurance

[Juniper]

I think people here are likely to make allowances for potential sour grapes in negative postings.

Equally, I guess most people would be wary of postings that (however genuine) do rather come across looking like they've been written by an evangelistic PR droid.

Cavers do tend to be skeptical buggers by nature, especially when someone just arrives to make a particular point. I doubt either posting made many people think much differently about the company.

In advance to an anticipated response, first-time posters on one forum aren't necessarily first-time posters on 'forums' in general.

I do hate to disappoint you, but I think you anticipated wrongly.
How would anyone know whether a newbie here was new to forums in general?
Whay would it matter anyway?

 

[nickwilliams]

I'd appreciate it if anyone who has recently used the Towergate, Snowcard or ADAC policies could (a) tell me what it cost them, for how long and where and (b) send me a copy of the policy documents which they received.

PM me or e-mail via n-dot-williams-at-bcra-dot-org-dot-uk if you prefer not to go public.

Nick.

 

[nickwilliams]

I've now got a copies of the Snowcard (thanks, Andy) and the Austrian Alpine Club stuff.

Towergate, ADAC, any others, anyone?

Nick.

 

[littletitan]

FYI - The UK Alpine Guides website offers a warning about the Austrian Alpine Association insurance.  It states that several of its' clients have had to sell their houses to cover the shortfall in their Austrian Alpine Club insurance.  It is not difficult to imagine the sums insured being woefully inadequate.  I also noted with interest the ADAC limit for rescue was far less than the AAA offering, it is also uncertain as to whether this insurance covers caving or expeditions at all.

Tim Allen - not littletitan

 

[Joel Corrigan]

Nick, I'll put you in touch with a friend of mine who is works for ADAC, as I'm sure he can fill you in on their details.  I'm not sure if I can send private messages on here so if not I'll try to find your email address and send it that way.

 

[Les W]

I'll try to find your email address and send it that way.

Joel, Nick listed it above in this thread

http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php/topic,6701.msg97893.html#msg97893

 

[SamT]

Just re-igniting this thread.

Have read all the above.

Looking for insurance this year for two week 'exploratory' expedition and wondering what folks did last year, any advice?

Sounds like if you catch snowcard on the right day, they'll cover you under their level 3 as per Dave's experience.

 

[El Agreb]

You have to have somebody rescue you first in order to pay them for that service.
Who do you think may give you a bill? 
Seriously though I went through it with Snow Card last year for the same place and the end result was a resounding no, they do not insure that sort of trip. I even offered to absolve them of any costs incurred sub surface with a signed declaration, as in truth there is no one to get you to the surface other than your mercenary team mates. By the time a team from Italy, UK or elsewhere arrived you would be long past caring who foots the bill.
Worth checking with whoever you finally insure with is that they can actually provide the service whose costs are what you are paying to insure against. 

 

[Alex]

When I went to Matienzo I used insurance called Dog Tag insutance which including caving expeditions in thier level 3 policy I dont think it was more then ?40 either, but that was just for one week.

 

[El Agreb]

The most honest / transparent insurance company I know is the Cumberland-Toulouse. 
They guarantee to charge you the highest premiums, offer the least cover and will save your time and effort in making a claim as they do not waste paper in printing claim forms as they are regarded as unnecessary. Their mission statement is "We never pay out, just wriggle out" 
Rest assured you will never sleep at night if you insure with us them.
PM for details if you are interested. 5% discount if you pay by a signed blank cheque.

 

[Maisie Syntax]

I've had personal experience of this Cumberland-Toulouse outfit.
What a set of rogues they are and no mistake.
It's people like this which bring the highly regulated and controlled world of caving which we know and love a bad name.

 

[NOZ]

I have been using annual insurance from the BMC for a few years, caving expeditions are covered and you can remove the 93 day single trip limit with an extra premium. They are expensive, but I do know they pay out on mountaineering accidents, and they are very easy to deal with. They also do single trip policies.

 

[mandypoo]

Anyone looked into the Post Office travel insurance? Annual European cover comes to ?45 plus ?35 hazardous sport = ?81

Seems they'll cover as long as its not professional/semi-professional/competitve/tournaments? Nothing excluding expeditions...

Also, only "potholing" is down on the list, but not caving itself?

Hmmm  :-\

Have called up to try and clarify things, but seems the lady on the other end couldn't tell me anything that I've not already read!

LINK here: http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/jump1?catId=62900708&mediaId=63300708

 

[Les W]

As the Post Office policy is actually with Fortis, I would expect the cover and the premium would be quite similar to Snowcard as they are also with Fortis.

A quick look at the Post Office policy seems to suggest that is the case.

If I was Snowcard I think I might be a bit upset about this as it seems like the policy they negotiated (i.e. their product) is being sold by others (Post Office). Not sure of the ethics here but I for one will certainly stay with Snowcard (at least until a comparable but significantly cheaper product comes along).

 

[kay]

Also, I have always found Snowcard to give excellent service - another good reason for staying with them.

 

[wookey]

I've had various insurances over the years (BCRA, snwocard, AAC) but for Austria have now stopped bothering and self-insure. Firstly it makes you careful, secondly so far as I can tell Austrian cave rescue won't charge you if you don't have any insurance, thirdly Austria is in the EHIC scheme so some significant portion of medical costs is covered. You might end up paying for a chopper ride but I can live with that. I am a bit vague on the hosptial status though. Some hospitals are in the public scheme, some are private. Anyone ending up knackered on a CUCC trip will end up in the Bad Aussee krankenhaus. I haven't really had a definitive answer on whether they are in the public health scheme or not. If they aren't it could expensive quickly. I did email them to ask but the answer did not really clarify much.

If our Austrian adviser could explain how to find out which hospitals the EHIC arrangements apply to (is it actually a per-hospital thing, or a per-person thing?), and what proprtion of costs you end up liable for in public/private schemes, that would be most helpful.