Life Insurance for cavers

Bump

Bump

New member
I'm having a few problems getting life insurance to go hand in hand with my mortgage. After speaking to numerous insurance companies I have compiled a list of silly questions that I have been asked when trying to get a quotation.

1. We will insure you for caving but not potholing
2. Do you go caving by yourself?
3. Do you go more than 1000m underground?
4. Do you use ropes when you go abseiling?
5. What is the total time you spend underground?
6. Do you use lights?

Obviously, these questions are written by non cavers and when I finally get a quotation it is generally sky high, when I have questioned why the premiums are so high they tell me that there has been quite a few claims recently!


Can anyone shed any light on this and recommend an insurance policy :confused:
 
D

dunc

New member
Can't recommend one and to be honest I wouldn't give the weasels the benefit.

Obviously written by non cavers and the "quite a few claims" line sounds like a piss poor excuse to ramp up the premium, I doubt there have been quite a few claims recently, I can't imagine that many cavers having it and using it.. It's just insurance companies trying to con more money out of us because they have probably suffered in this economic downturn, my car insurance quote was almost double what it was last year for no good reason.

I hope you answered that you were a solo-potholer that undertakes only 1km+ deep pots with no ropes, no lights and spending days underground at a time.
 
anfieldman

anfieldman

New member
Hi Bump.
My wife and I both cave, though nothing too serious such as expeditions but we do cave abroad occasionally. We went with Aviva who charged about ?19-00 per month for both of us. The questions asked were reasonable and non stupid.
Obviously you do actually need this even though they are 'weasels'.
Good luck.
Mark
 
Bump

Bump

New member
Cheers Mark

I will look into this and see how i get on. I just got so fed up answering the same old stupid questions time and time again, do they think our sport is dangerous  :cautious:
 
O

owd git

Active member
You should see the hoops i was told to jump through when i said i worked on 'my own' ladders, and ropes.
then added caving / mine exploring, as a hobby ! :LOL:
Weasels indeed :mad:
Owd Git.
 
beardedboy

beardedboy

Member
We got several quotes over ?70 per month which would not cover all of our activities.

Ended up getting it with Aviva, through Summit, as suggested by Damian, about ?20 each per month.

I vaguely remember a conversation stating that if you went caving less than about 25 times per year Aviva will insure you with their standard policy.

It was definitely worth me going through Summit, think the broker's name was David. Give them a ring.

Will
 
Bump

Bump

New member
Cheers Will,

That is a very good price and I will endeavour to get a quote from Ariva, anything to save money  ;)
 
S

SpeleoTrog

Member
Just had a wonderful quote for life insurance. Can't remember what company as it came via a broker, but they said the premium would be ?2 for every ?1000 of cover required. Not bad, I thought, until I discovered that they meant the MONTHLY premium. So, to get the required ?250k cover for me and the missus, that'll be ?500 per month, each! Nice!
 
SamT

SamT

Moderator
Big shout out for Summit insurance (as advertised by the BMC). 
(y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

Needed to get L.I. sorted at short notice before going on exped to Albania (at my wifes insistence - she was convinced I was not coming back)

Tried Aviva who were allright - and a decent online quote - but needed forms filling in via post etc.

Tried Summit - the guy there is ex CRO and NCP so knew the sketch. Fine with expeditions to far flung places etc. Rock climbing etc 
All forms filled out over the phone, emailed to me, I signed, scanned and returned via email. All sorted in a day.

Funny thing is, the policy was actually through Aviva, but summit got me more cover than was being quoted online via Aviva.

All for 25quid a month.

Top job  ;)

 
S

sluka

New member
Check:

http://www.alpenverein.com/portal/Mitgliedwerden_Vorteile/index_sic.php?navid=166
http://www.alpenverein.com/portal/Mitgliedwerden_Vorteile/0100_weltweit_versichert.php


Members are insured world-wide
Unrivalled: The Alpine Club World-wide Service is included in the membership fee.
Search and rescue costs up to ? 22.000,-
Repatriation with no upper cost limit
Reimbursement of expenses due to hospitalisation after accidents occurring in the course of leisure activities or business as well as illness, up to ? 7.500,-
Personal Liability insurance within Europe for many sporting activities, up to ? 3.000.000,-
Legal expenses insurance within Europe for many sporting activities, up to ? 32.703,-
For further information:
Alpine association worldwide service (English) Download
Claim form for Rescue Costs, Costs for Repatriation and Medical Treatment. Download
 
D

damian

Active member
SamT said:
Big shout out for Summit insurance (as advertised by the BMC). 
(y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y)
Click to expand...
2 points to add: firstly they also go under the name of Sports Financial Services now that they have taken on caving (and maybe other sports) as well as mountaineering, and secondly they offer preferential rates to BCA members so do mention your membership.
 
SamT

SamT

Moderator
damian said:
SamT said:
Big shout out for Summit insurance (as advertised by the BMC). 
(y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y)
Click to expand...
2 points to add: firstly they also go under the name of Sports Financial Services now that they have taken on caving (and maybe other sports) as well as mountaineering, and secondly they offer preferential rates to BCA members so do mention your membership.
Click to expand...

SamT said:
Big shout out for Summit insurance (as advertised by the BMC) AND PREVIOUSLY DAMIAN. 
(y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y)
Click to expand...

:-[ didn't spot your early post Damian  :)
 
zippy

zippy

Member
We had a similar round of stupidity/numpty questions some years back... 

We ended up writing a very strong letter to the insurance company in question pointing out that their questionnaire was utter sh1te, and why,

e.g. 

"How many hours a year do you go caving" could mean - "are you an experienced, regular caver that is competent and knows your limits" or it could mean "are you a total numpty that dips underground for 1/2 an hour a year with nowt more than a fag lighter..."


and


"Are you a member of a cave rescue organisation" could mean - "are an experienced, well-trained  regular caver who assists others in need", or "are you a gung-ho risk taker" or "do you make the teas and help out with street collections"...


We got insurance at normal rates. 
 
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