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Staying Healthy on the Road Medical info, e.g. malaria, vaccinations, travel medical tips, medical insurance, where to find a doctor.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

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  #136  
Old 27 Dec 2013
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Sounds good
I have AA travel insurance made sure it covered me riding any size cc (it does) it is unlimeted travel throught out the year but only up to the Urals i.e. got to keep left side of the urals lol


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  #137  
Old 28 Jan 2014
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Hi all,

Just to update that unfortunately Navigator travel UK no longer seem to be doing motorcycle insurance for over-landers. As of the time of writing, coverage is limited to 14 days only. More so, insurance must now be booked before you leave the UK, and so policies cannot be bought once you've already left the UK. Given Navigators excellent reputation, this is most unfortunate news.

I spoke to Richard the other day and he confirmed that they are negotiating with another underwriter and should have an answer next week, and so fingers crossed they can work something out. He said that the previous underwriter scrapped the policy because of the "ridiculous" amount of claims, and that because the entire thing had become disastrously unprofitable due to sheer number of claims.

So that's it for the time being - Navigator do have something called an "Adventures" policy but can be in excess of 1000 GBP for six months, and much more depending on "age, location, type of road, etc". I'm going to call the Post Office and AA tomorrow and will post my findings back here.

Updated:

So called the POST OFFICE, seems okay - quoted* for:

Motorcycle used as primary means of travel.
No restrictions on engine size but no racing or taking part in a competition.
Policy must be bought BEFORE you leave the UK / cannot be extended (maximum coverage 1 year).

Quoted £355.22 (I'm between 21-35)

Will call AA tomorrow!!!

* NB this was for "Long-travel Trip" not the "Explorer" -- according to the nice lady I spoke to on the phone it seems the only differences are in the amounts you are insured against i.e. 5 million vs 10 million, respectively. The latter is more expensive but given that the biggest payout was 2 million for health you would have to be pretty unlucky to run up a bill past 5 million.

Last edited by ridetheworld; 29 Jan 2014 at 18:59.
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  #138  
Old 29 Jan 2014
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This is sad news.. They were always so good. Too good to be true.

I wonder where all the claims came from...

I would of happily forgone luggage, equipment cover just to know I can be re-repatriated if I have a bike accident etc.

What are the alternatives now ??
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  #139  
Old 29 Jan 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
I would of happily forgone luggage, equipment cover just to know I can be re-repatriated if I have a bike accident etc.
Ted out of curiosity are you talking about being re-repatriated if you are injured like broken leg or in a coma ect ect or are you also talking about being re-repatriated if the worst was to happen?
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  #140  
Old 29 Jan 2014
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post

What are the alternatives now ??
The Post Office sounds all good Ted and ticks all the boxes so far but it is annoying that you need to be in the UK and one year isn't quite enough! Navigator was great for these reasons and it was also reassuring as they were tried and tested. Let us hope that negotiations go well!

If anyone else has some experiences with the Post Office it'd be great to hear from them!!!!!!

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  #141  
Old 29 Jan 2014
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Does anyone have (positive or negative) experiences with Allianz Global Assistance?

regards
Patrick
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  #142  
Old 29 Jan 2014
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Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400 View Post
Ted out of curiosity are you talking about being re-repatriated if you are injured like broken leg or in a coma ect ect or are you also talking about being re-repatriated if the worst was to happen?


All I want is to know I can get proper treatment for serious injury... I've seen broken bones diagnosed/set 'on the cheap' in Africa. They just don't have the training, equipment etc. Sadly, life is cheap in many places.

If I'm dead......Just shove an acorn up my bum, throw me in a hole and water me a few times a month.

I don't see the use or ornament for 85kg of rotting carbon to be flown around the world at great expense.

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  #143  
Old 29 Jan 2014
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More updates:--

Phoned AA, more or less the same as The Post Office but you can extend while your out there. So if you're buying a year it doesn't really matter - that's all you're gonna get. Their maximum policy is 365 days though you MUST be in the UK when you purchase the quote. This seems to be the norm, rather than the exception.

Interestingly:-

I asked

"Does the travel FCO's warnings have any impact on the policies?" Short answer = absolutely! Long answer =

If they find out you've driven through an area which has been declared dangerous by the FCO it will invalidate your entire policy, so if you did 9 months in South America and stacked your bike in Argentina, but they somehow knew you crossed the boarder from Ecuador to Colombia, you would not be covered. Likewise, obviously if you had an accident in this area you would be on your own.

Here is the official advice:-
Quote:
all rural areas in Departments bordering Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador;
Can anyone clarify what they mean by 'rural' i.e. are they just talking about the boarders in general or...?

If so, no doubt if they had to payout a big claim i.e. 2million they would be looking for every excuse not to. If they asked to see you're passport and then saw the stamps at a Ecuador/Colombian boarder crossing, you'd be ****ed And so this is why I hate travel insurance companies. I'm going to call Navigator back next week and see what they say, but as far as the AA and PO are concerned, if you're enter Colombia and the area can be defined as "Rural", you're not covered.

Updated:-

So the AA ---- here we go. The main difference is that the representative said that the FCO warnings have no effect on the policy i.e. representative said "if commercial airlines fly there we will insure you*". I got quoted 240 quid for a year on the backpacker policy, again with no restrictions on motorcycle used as primary means of transport, assuming insured has full license, wears a helmet and keeps to 'public' roads.

* even Iraq one wonders?

I called back Post Office and asked the same question and got a different answer - that time I was told that while you will not be covered in given areas which went against FCO recommendations, if you did pass through without issue and later made a claim in, say Chile, this WOULD be covered.

Doesn't exactly fill you with confidence. Lets hope navigator get their act together.

Both are insured by AXA UK PLC.

Hope this helps!

Last edited by ridetheworld; 29 Jan 2014 at 18:57.
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  #144  
Old 25 Feb 2014
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Navigator

Just an update on Navigator. I confirm what was said by ridetheworld. Richard was told today (25/02/2014) that the will have something in place that will fit for my single trip to central Asia, in the next 2 weeks.

I may not hold till then as I need an insurance doc for my Kazakh visa application. I'll investigate alternatives.
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  #145  
Old 25 Feb 2014
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I haven't read the entire thread, so apologies if this has already been mentioned, but I recommend UK/European residents contact David Grist at HC Travel. They have a motorcycle specific, "Biker's Travel Insurance" that may suit.

Single trip from 1 to 365 days, up to 75 years old ...
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  #146  
Old 26 Feb 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsroynie View Post
I haven't read the entire thread, so apologies if this has already been mentioned, but I recommend UK/European residents contact David Grist at HC Travel. They have a motorcycle specific, "Biker's Travel Insurance" that may suit.

Single trip from 1 to 365 days, up to 75 years old ...
I called in to see David last week, they no longer offer that cover. Underwriter has changed it's terms. It looks like this is happening a lot.
We are struggling to find any cover for 365 days or more.
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  #147  
Old 26 Feb 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsroynie View Post
I haven't read the entire thread, so apologies if this has already been mentioned, but I recommend UK/European residents contact David Grist at HC Travel. They have a motorcycle specific, "Biker's Travel Insurance" that may suit.

Single trip from 1 to 365 days, up to 75 years old ...
Sadly I called them this morning and I have bad news! Their main page says up to 365 days but when you continue for a quote, it is only for 2 months max for single trips! I confirmed this over the phone and their main page need update
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  #148  
Old 26 Feb 2014
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InsureAndGo

As we will travel on a couple of small 125 to Mongolia I extended my research.
Not of much confort for anyone on bigger bikes (and we have bigger bikes too usually!) but InsureAndGo insure up to 125cc included, and when I phoned they confirmed I could be covered if I travel 4 months on the small 125 (as long as T&C are respected - i.e. wearing helmet etc...)

So I will buy that one for my single trip. I hope by then Richard at Navigator will have found an underwritter to cover bigger bikes for long trips!
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  #149  
Old 26 Feb 2014
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No help to us, as we are non-UK residents, but I've found a company called Holiday Safe, who do Motorcycle Holiday Insurance for UK citizens : Motorcycle Travel Insurance - Bikers Travel Insurance Policy.

I was doubtful, so I put in the details for myself and Roynie for a fictitious 115-day trip for worldwide cover (inc. US and Canada) and, sure enough, they gave me a quote. Now all we need to do is find someone who will cover Irish or French residents ...
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  #150  
Old 18 Mar 2014
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Has anyone had an update from Navigator/Richard? My wife and I embark on a multi-year trip on 18th June and I'm really struggling to find a policy that extends beyond 12 months and/or can be extended whilst you're actually away.

Cheers
Steve
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