Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Staying Healthy on the Road
Medical insurance vs. Travel Insurance Medical insurance vs. Travel Insurance
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Staying Healthy on the Road Medical info, e.g. malaria, vaccinations, travel medical tips, medical insurance, where to find a doctor.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 14 Jan 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Munich
Posts: 50
Medical insurance vs. Travel Insurance
I have BUPA International medical insurance already that covers me for medical treatment the world over, except for in the USA (an expensive option I declined).

Do I need to get another "Travel insurance" policy to supplement this too, or could I just get a MedJet policy to get me to a hospital, where the treatment would then be paid for by BUPA.

I've only briefly looked at the MedJet site, but would they repatriate me to the UK from North America to get treatment, since I'm not covered by BUPA there...?

I think I can live without the theft, hijacking cover etc etc...

Anybody else done this? How did it work out?

Nick
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 15 Jan 2008
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,362
Think you'll find that MediJet (and other medical evac policies) have to have some medical treatment in the country where the injory/whatever occured .. so they have a medical person to say you need medical evacuatiuon .. rather than a trip home at their expense. If reasonable treatment is avalible where you are then I dought any insurance is going to fly you to get treatment eleswhere .. just adds too much risk and $$$$$

Travel insurance is for baggage, passports .. cancled flights .. lost things ..
__________________
---
Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 15 Jan 2008
DarrenM's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Coventry
Posts: 126
You may find Bupa cover does not include high risk activities, its becoming increasingly difficult to get cover for motorcycle touring especially from UK companies.

Depending on where you are going you may not need it except in case of death or real serious injuries.

In India I paid £10 to have an infected mosquito bite surgically removed from my head. For £5 in Guatemala I had a consultation and treatment for a serious viral infection. I lived in Thailand for a while and regularly visited the Doctor and Dentist and rarely paid more than £5.

I would be happy with a policy which ships home my remains unless going to the US where cover is a neccesity.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 16 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ripley, Derbyshire
Posts: 373
Travel insurance make sure it covers everything that you want to do, and get it in writing and file it with someone that will watch your back and doesn't mind pushing people to get things done.

Mine left me high and dry when I informed them that I need an operation abroad, I even had to fly myself home to get an operation on the NHS I now have a limp and loss of movement because it took so long to get an operation.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 16 Jan 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 1
Check out this option
I don't usually jump into these threads, but US and Canadian residents may want to check out another medical evacuation option... some of these services have fewer of restrictions mentioned by Frank Warner. A company I work with, Air Ambulance Card, flies sick or injured members home to the US or Canadian hospital of their choice when they are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home. It is the member's choice, as long as the doctors say it is safe for the member to be transported. Check out the website and compare to other standard travel insurance. There's no fine print,
no conditions and restrictions.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 8 Feb 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: London
Posts: 9
Medjet not enough, get other cover
I had a bike crash in Peru and got flown back to the UK by Medjet with a nurse they supplied. No problems with Medjet, I recommend the company.

However, I wasn't in a condition to fly for two weeks, having surgeries and recovery in a private Cuzco hospital.
None of those costs (£6000) were covered by Medjet. I paid them myself as I had exceeded the trip length limit of my normal travel insurance.

If you need Medjet's services then you are going to be in bad shape, and if you're in bad shape you're likely to need some immediate local treatment. Given that USA treatment would be of high quality then you should take it, as opposed to perhaps insisting on being repatriated from a country with bad health care.

If you don't need any local treatment then you really don't need Medjet.
If your BUPA doesn't cover USA you will need some other travel insurance.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 19 Jun 2008
Scavenger07's Avatar
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Suffolk, England
Posts: 28
Hello!
we were looking into the subject of travel insurance and got some interesting results from American Express and Footman James, to name but two.
They both cover bike's over 125cc if you are licenced to ride them and as long as you were wearing the cover required by English law, and they offer repatreation, which was a surprise. The detail is something you would need to address personally but I / we thought Footman James whilst costly offered the better deal for us.

I hope we never need it, but hey, we do ride bike's, mmmmmm!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 21 Jun 2008
Banned
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Monaco
Posts: 336
Has anyone ever used the medical insurance provided by a credit card?

My credit card (VISA, French Bank) claims to pay for medical care when travelling, if the card is used on the trip.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 23 Jun 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,116
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scavenger07 View Post
and as long as you were wearing the cover required by English law
I presume you mean wearing a crash helmet.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 8 Jul 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 4
Red face Hello,
I am Prashant from India now to tackle such problems it is compulsoryto get some extra riders for any such type of uncertainty in the sector of insurance in medical and travelling is the better option
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12 Jul 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: On the road, Homeward bound :-(
Posts: 127
Health Ins.
Me and the Mrs are starting a round the world trip in Jan '09. We've been trying to get medical cover, we've tried BUPA, Footman James and Medjet amongst others, but because of the length of the trip and the countries we are visiting, we are finding it hard to get any cover, looks like we are going without any!
Anybody managed to get cover from the UK for longer than 12 months???
__________________
RTW Jan 2009 - Aug 2012. Currently in Europe waiting for the next ride
www.takingthelongwayhome.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 22 Aug 2013
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1
GLOBAL + Rescue insurance
Anyone had any experience with GLOBAL + Rescue. I will be travelling through South and Central America for 5 months. I am looking at their Medical insurance. Anyone made any claims?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 22 Aug 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: On the road to Africa
Posts: 83
Quote:
Originally Posted by richted View Post
Anyone had any experience with GLOBAL + Rescue. I will be travelling through South and Central America for 5 months. I am looking at their Medical insurance. Anyone made any claims?
I had a look at their Terms & Conditions. It seems to me (I could be wrong) that they don't provide any medical insurance or cover for treatment. What they do provide is emergency evacuation from place (possibly to a hospital) but all medical bills and treatment costs are excluded.
__________________
All who wander are not lost - JRR Tolkien
www.wearthefoxhat.us
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 22 Aug 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: On the road to Africa
Posts: 83
Quote:
Originally Posted by panhandle1300 View Post
Anybody managed to get cover from the UK for longer than 12 months???
We've been looking into the same thing. One of the most comprehensive we've come up with is World Nomads (through Lonely Planet). Covers most activities for 12 months continuous travel and can be renewed while you are on the road.
Check carefully the terms regarding size of bikes that can be ridden if you're on motorbikes though (we're travelling by car so not relevant to us).
__________________
All who wander are not lost - JRR Tolkien
www.wearthefoxhat.us
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 28 Sep 2013
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 75
note that world nomads have different rules depending on where you say you are a permanent resident of, and that there is some potential to change this info. we're currently travelling as australian PR's - which would mean that we would be evacuated to australia if we were in a bad way

we did look at cover as residents of the UK (my partner is british), but with british cover we would not have been covered on the bike

they have also just changed their paperwork, to include different levels of cover for on and off road riding - i'm currently renewing our cover, so am waiting to hear back from them at the moment as to what their definition of 'road' is (mine tends to be a bit different from most peoples'). i'll try to remember to post something here if WN now requires a higher level of cover for countries that have bad roads
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Long-term Health Insurance coverage for Americans quastdog Staying Healthy on the Road 10 8 Jul 2008 18:33
Security in Niger roro North Africa 2 11 Jun 2004 23:47
Travel Insurance for Canadian residents Sojourner Staying Healthy on the Road 7 28 Jan 2004 20:48
South America 3rd Party and/or medical Insurance AJ Trip Paperwork 2 30 Jun 2002 05:09
Do I need travel, medical insurance and Carnet de Passage? Jose Mª Garcia Trip Paperwork 1 7 Oct 2000 07:16

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 16:10.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top