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The annual "Annual Insurance" thread. This time with added Covid-19.

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
nickH wrote:
thats fine thanks @cad99uk, if I can do 3 weeks a year I'll be happy ( though I'd obviously prefer much more) snowHead


Your time will come....
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Just looking at a potential policy and noticed that "Winter Sports" cover doesn't even mention hospitalisation & medical - that's covered in the main section of the policy.

The WS cover is for things like lift passes, avalanche closure etc.

It begs the question - do I need separate WS insurance?

Is EHIC + Carte Neige sufficient???
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@NickYoung, Does Carte Neige cover Repatriation ??
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@albob, Yes, it does.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
https://carreneige.com/en/nos-offres/carre-neige-integral/

5.REPATRIATION ASSISTANCE (EUROP ASSISTANCE)
Transport & Repatriation - Actual expenses
Return trip for children under 15 years of age Coverage of 1st class return train tickets or economy-class plane tickets, with a chaperone,
if required
Transportation of the body in the event of death
Coverage of the transportation of the body, the preparations, and specific
transport adjustments for the transportation of the body
Contribution to the cost of a coffin or urn: €1,500
Replacement driver
The driver’s travel expenses and salary
or a 1st class train ticket
or an economy-class plane ticket
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Roger that -- I have been looking at the website and couldn't find any details (as you have just posted..)
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
https://carreneige.com/en/nos-offres/
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@cad99uk, snowHead snowHead
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 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
NickYoung wrote:
Just looking at a potential policy and noticed that "Winter Sports" cover doesn't even mention hospitalisation & medical - that's covered in the main section of the policy.

The WS cover is for things like lift passes, avalanche closure etc.

It begs the question - do I need separate WS insurance?

Is EHIC + Carte Neige sufficient???


Check for yourself but on policies I have had if you don't pay extra for winter sports you won't get the hospitalisation and medical cover for a winter sports accident. Pisteurs may take you to a private clinic where EHIC isn't valid...in fact very likely...so you would have to pay for expenses up front and claim it back from carre niege. That's not necessarily an issue but with both my claims the insurer settled direct with the ambulance, clinic etc
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
holidayloverxx wrote:
NickYoung wrote:
Just looking at a potential policy and noticed that "Winter Sports" cover doesn't even mention hospitalisation & medical - that's covered in the main section of the policy.

The WS cover is for things like lift passes, avalanche closure etc.

It begs the question - do I need separate WS insurance?

Is EHIC + Carte Neige sufficient???


Check for yourself but on policies I have had if you don't pay extra for winter sports you won't get the hospitalisation and medical cover for a winter sports accident. Pisteurs may take you to a private clinic where EHIC isn't valid...in fact very likely...so you would have to pay for expenses up front and claim it back from carre niege. That's not necessarily an issue but with both my claims the insurer settled direct with the ambulance, clinic etc


Yeah it seems to say CN will only cover for hospitalisation etc., that your own primary insurance DOESN'T cover - and you musta have primary cover.

Unclear whether that includes EHIC, though that's what it seems to suggest. Defo a pay out & claim back thing though.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Am in the process of organising a large school group in December and got a very good quote from Rush Insurance for around £30 per head, with full COVID cover.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@snowhound, that sounds good. Does it include cover for cancellation related to pandemics, eg Covid, do you know?
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Yes, including not being able to travel if you were to test positive before departure (in either direction).
This is on top of the usual cover you get through an ATOL bonded company-E.g. if the resort is closed, or if FCO advice is not to travel.
Worth adding it is for 15-18 years old though whose risk of illness from COVID is very low. The main insurance risk I suppose would be not to travel because they have got themselves infected, not because they need medical treatment.
ski holidays
 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Fairly academic at the moment, but just the usual comment that all this great insurance cover is useless if you don't have all the key details on you when you're helicoptered-off to the nearest trauma A&E.

I always remember being in a group and asking if everyone had all their contact, insurance and EHIC details with them - one person said "No, why? I'm with {X} - he's got it all." to which I said "And if you get separated? Or taken away on your own? What if you're unconscious or high on Morphine? How will anyone know who you are, or who else to contact? Would you leave your money and cards behind?" to which they replied "Well, {X} has got my wallet and money as well. I like to travel light. But the EHIC's in my suitcase, if that helps?"
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@LaForet, good point. I have a template with all insurance and contact information on.
Carry copy in jacket, leave one in room on side table, another in travel document wallet as a spare.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@PeakyB, Oooh that's so last century. Smile

We have the detail in a PDF, shared in a Staff What'sApp group, so end to end encryption, and everyone (staff), has the info to hand at all times.*



*With thanks to a staff colleague who knows what he's doing.
ski holidays
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@NickYoung, that sounds perfect for a group, if I only knew what WhatsApp was. wink

But what if I’m skiing on my own, get whacked from behind by an Olympic downhiller, or more likely Under 6s group local bomber?

I’m concussed, 20thC bones shattered. The St Bernard arrives, the emergency brandy revives me just enough to hand over my piece of paper with insurance and contact details. Paper in mouth, rescue dog rushes for medical assistance.

I have stuff on phone too but have been known to run out of power or have no signal in the mountains.

I like the shared group info idea but belt and braces back up is good too. Very Happy
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@PeakyB, For your own info, yeah defo - maybe one of those lockets or bracelets??

[Enters GDPR nerd mode] Group info should not be printed and carried in an insecure manner (and locking it in a brief case defeats the object), which is why WhatsApp is spot on for that [Exits GDPR nerd mode]
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@NickYoung,
Quote:

@PeakyB, For your own info, yeah defo - maybe one of those lockets or bracelets??

It takes up an A5 sized page. Would be a locket the size of a Hasselhoff medallion. Very Happy

Will certainly try the group key info on WhatsApp idea, if others in group agreed.

Already use it for general comms on ski trips. Generally works well, with TMS to fall back on if no wi fi. Yodelling as a last resort.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Having switched to MPI last year for my annual wintersports travel insurance I've just renewed it as from 1st Feb. They make clear that the policy covers you if you contract Covid-19 while overseas under the Emergency Medical Expenses section, which includes hospital costs, ambulance costs, additional accommodation costs (if you are unable to travel home as originally booked) and repatriation if medically necessary, as long as the FCDO are not warning against travel to that destination. For all new policies there is no cover under any other section in relation to the coronavirus, apart from what has just been stated, unless you have booked any of the trips prior to 13th March 2020. So what this means is that if you have booked a trip after that date and it has to be cancelled due to the Covid situation in the UK or your destination country then you won't be able to claim against any cancellation costs.

The premium has increased by 8.7% which given the changes in the travel scene and that I'm a year older isn't too bad in my view.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
Bumping this thread as Which? consumer group have done a survey of currently available travel insurance, and it sounds a bit depressing in terms of currently available policies and perhaps how quickly the travel insurance industry will respond when international travel options become less encumbered than they are now. The Which? article is behind a paywall, so comments on it are from the travel website Head for Points.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@rob@rar, thanks for the link!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
The 'Travel Restriction tool' on the Battleface website promoted on head for points looks useful
https://www.battleface.com/en-gb/travel-restrictions/
ski holidays
 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
The gov.uk stuff is probably a safer (more up to date) source of travel restrictions, which change rapidly in my direct experience.
You can subscribe to changes directly on the gov.uk site, so you know when they publish the updates, which cover both UK
restrictions and those in the target country.

rob@rar wrote:
... Which? consumer group have done a survey of currently available travel insurance... Head for Points.

Which says that... only two insurances will pay out on Covid (assuming you do not travel / book directly against "government advice") and they are:
  • Barclays Travel Pack (sold as an add-on to Barclays current accounts)
  • HSBC Select & Cover (available to current account, savings account, mortgage and credit card customers only)

Personally I just take a bit more care in ensuring that the stuff I book is cancellable with no penalty.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Our travel insurance runs out in a few days and as we are unlikely to be overseas in the summer, we will let it lapse and look at cover from when the ski season looks like it will happen

In the past, we've had the season long carre neige cover plus our usual winter sports travel policy and EHIC when the UK was in EU.

Having looked at the Carre Neige site, it seems to cover what we need medical wise as its the cost in excess of 'national healthcare system or other organisation' which seems to suggest EHIC or the new GHIC or travel ins

that sort of makes sense as I've used the French hospital before and paid the excess over the EHIC which was about 30 euro having had a CT scan

Does anyone know if that is correct ? Its mentioned in a thread back in January but no detail
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Just having a hunt around the market and I notice that the MPI website is currently saying:

"MPI is in the process of changing insurers and as a result this site will be down for updating and maintenance."

Lot of people here seem to use MPI, especially BASI Members, so this might be important. I suspect this isn't necessarily just about 'updating and maintenance' - it's unusual to have a gap in cover like this.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@Pruman, MPI have been like this since March, I've rung them a couple of times and they say that they are negotiating with underwriters so that they can offer the same type of policy that they have offered in the past.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Ok, so our MPI insurance expired in Oct 2020 and we've not been able to travel since but the prospects now look possible so the search commenced again, at first Staysure looked the favourite at just over £300 for an 15 month policy, only 21 days winter sports which would get us through to Feb 21 but at only £60 more than a single trip policy for our 3 week planned summer trip looked reasonable.

We'd planned to leave last Sunday so bought it a few days before. We then had to cancel our trip due to the new Amber plus status for France so cancelled the insurance as we were in the 14 day cooling off period and had no claim to make.

Now with the prospect of Amber plus being reversed on the 2nd I got another quote from Staysure only to find the same insurance is £400. So a bit more research including the useful tips from @rob@rar, and @philwig, I researched the Barclays product and was pleasantly surprised, decent Covid cover, 31 days winter sports in a calendar year, off piste only with a guide but I don't do off piste for £12.50 per month.

I thought this was too good to be true but went through the process anyway. The pre-existing medical questions were a bit of a pain as they had to be done over the phone and it took quite a while with the 6 conditions we had to register but at the end they gave us full cover and a reference number to put into the application process at which point I was expecting a "killer" premium increase but it didn't happen.

They also include RAC European breakdown cover in the £12.50 per month. My wife tells me that if it looks to good to be true, it probably is but I have read all the small print and I can't see a problem with it. It is underwritten by Aviva. I would appreciate any comment from existing or past policyholders just to put my mind at rest or not.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@Timc, no idea about staysure but my aviva car insurance has been excellent with 2 write offs (nor my fault) very quickly and fairly dealt with.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I've just renewed with LV= in a 'resurrection' of my previous, non-renewed policy with them. For the two of us over-65 with various pre-existing conditions, and without the winter sports option, we renewed at £178 for 12 months. If we are able to go out again as usual in December and Jan/Feb, then we'll just add the winter option, which currently would be about another +£50. This is all much less than our last renewal quote of £346. They pointed out to me that it was going to be cheaper to get an annual policy rather than 2-3 single-trips: which it was, by a big margin, when we priced both options up.


Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Mon 27-09-21 16:55; edited 3 times in total
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Pruman wrote:
Just having a hunt around the market and I notice that the MPI website is currently saying:

"MPI is in the process of changing insurers and as a result this site will be down for updating and maintenance."

Lot of people here seem to use MPI, especially BASI Members, so this might be important. I suspect this isn't necessarily just about 'updating and maintenance' - it's unusual to have a gap in cover like this.


Just tried and got the same message plus a link to two other insurance companies!! - Ill try ringing MPI n the morning

So then I tried Dogtag and got this
Quote:
All new sales have been temporarily suspended

We are currently undertaking some business changes relating to our insurer and as a result are unable to offer new policies or convert quotes at the moment. If you have an existing policy with us please be assured that there is no effect to the policy you have purchased and this remains in force should you need to use it.

If you're an existing customer, you can still access your Member Area, as usual, to manage your account or policy details.

We will continue to honour all existing policies, including our 24/7 emergency assistance support, and claims service.

If you are a new or returning customer and would like us to contact you when we resume selling policies, please enter your details using the contact form below and we will be in touch as soon as we're able to offer quotes.

We hope to be able to resume selling travel insurance in the near future.

We're sorry for any inconvenience caused.

The Dogtag Team
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@boredsurfin, This was discussed a bit on the Ski Club CEO thread. It also hit the press in the last day or so -

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9832859/Britains-biggest-travel-insurance-provider-stops-offering-new-policies.html

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/insurance-giant-pauses-new-travel-policies-pt637xj93

They own lots of brands, someone told me 26, and DogTag is one of them. I understand that the underwriter, URV, from Germany, has quite suddenly pulled out of the UK market. Brexit bonus? What this all means is that the underwriting capacity has been massively reduced and that would normally mean higher prices, less choice.

MPI's underwriter, Ageas, also pulled out a while back. MPI appear to just be signposting to another insurer's products.

Think I'm just going to wait for a few months as I'm not going anywhere or booking anything that can't be easily cancelled. BMC, Battleface, both look possibles.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Cross posting into more relevant thread:

DogTag Insurance left us high and dry with COVID cover. A policy we RENEWED on 5th Jan 2020 had a detailed section in the online version of the cover information explicitly excluding COVID when we looked in March 2020. Trouble is I didn't take a copy of the online version at the time. I am 99% sure they have rewritten it after we renewed, but have no proof.

This is the policy in force for policies taken out on 5th Jan:
https://www.dogtag.co.uk/media/1819/dogtag_pro_march_2020.pdf

Note that the URL mentions March 2020, and I guess that was when it was re-worded. But the document details show it for
Quote:

For policies purchased from 1st January 2020 to 31st January 2020


The document meta data shows it being edited on 15 March 2020. (Thanks @ousekjarr for spotting that)


Learning was never to use DogTag Insurance again after being a customer for 8 years, and always download the insurance details the day you buy it.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
ringingmaster wrote:
Cross posting into more relevant thread:

DogTag Insurance left us high and dry with COVID cover. A policy we RENEWED on 5th Jan 2020 had a detailed section in the online version of the cover information explicitly excluding COVID when we looked in March 2020. Trouble is I didn't take a copy of the online version at the time. I am 99% sure they have rewritten it after we renewed, but have no proof.

This is the policy in force for policies taken out on 5th Jan:
https://www.dogtag.co.uk/media/1819/dogtag_pro_march_2020.pdf

Note that the URL mentions March 2020, and I guess that was when it was re-worded. But the document details show it for
Quote:

For policies purchased from 1st January 2020 to 31st January 2020


The document meta data shows it being edited on 15 March 2020. (Thanks @ousekjarr for spotting that)


Learning was never to use DogTag Insurance again after being a customer for 8 years, and always download the insurance details the day you buy it.


Seriously, the Insurance Ombudsman and/or FCA would take a very dim view of that.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I've just learnt that Dogtag UK is under new ownership since just before Covid arrived.
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Has anyone got more up to date information now or good tips, . We are still waiting to hear anything from MPI, who we have used for years. Katherine said she would be in touch when they had news but so far not heard anything. We are both over 70 and expect it to be expensive now!
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
To cover the off piste side of things the Austrian Alpine Club (UK) are meant to be changing their membership portal to offer renewals at any time of the year. Not sure if that will translate to being able to join/renew in November and get 12 months membership/rescue cover from Nov-Nov or if memberships will still run Jan 1st-Jan 1st but if you join/renew in Dec. you'd only pay 1/12th the annual fee, then have to renew again in Jan.

Either way for those of us who slide down in the winter, rather than climbing up in the summer a little less painful than paying a full year's feed for the PsB in Dec, then paying again for more snow fun in Jan-May.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@Pamski, Just renewed our annual insurance with the BMC. Europe only and no trip greater than 45 days but still very expensive - almost £500 for the two of us. Since the highest mountain in Europe is 5800m the 6000m limit doesn't matter. It covers rock climbing, ski touring, mountaineering and skiing on and off piste, but not competition.

Friends have decided not to bother with insurance this year and rely the remains of EHIC and the resort recovery insurance along with the Austrian Alpine Club for the Dolomites.
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 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@Mjit, and@johnE, thank you.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Pamski, There's another thread which I started recently for this winter -Coversure IIRC is still standing.
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