 Poster: A snowHead
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Folks, I'm looking any first hand experience and advice out there...
Despite having Level 4 Executive Annual Multi-Trip cover with SCGB, I found out recently that it won't cover me for my Ski Instructor Training course in NZ. Apparently, the policy I have covers the activity but not the duration.
I'll be training for 78 days and out of the UK for 108 days. Maximum trip cover with SCGB is 60 days, and cannot be extended as it turns out. Kind of ironic really, that the max SCGB winter sports policy won't cover a season!
My only option with SCGB is to buy a completely separate additional Singe Trip policy specifically for this trip. Apparently I can keep the other annual policy in the background but it's effectively useless to me for the 4 months I'm away, and can't be suspended or refunded in any way, the latter being 'normal' practice.
I've of course looked at alternatives: neither Snowcard nor Dog Tag are able to cover my trip.
BMC are looking interesting - they offer an annual policy (with massive single trip duration of 15 months across a renewal!) which is coming in less expensive than SCGB's 'additional single trip' policy. However, on the assumption that it would be 'risky' to have multiple insurance policies (certainly from different vendors) running concurrently (even though my existing SCGB one would be redundant for the trip) I'd have to 'bin' the SCGB one (after only a few months) which would seem like a huge waste, and one that would leave a sour taste in my mouth.
Any first hand experience out there? 
Many thanks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Have you looked at the insurance developed by DogTag for BASI?
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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?
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rob@rar, don't you have to be a BASI member or on BASI course to get that? If the OP is doing the course in NZ he might not be doing BASI?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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beanie1, possibly, not sure of the details. Certainly worth checking.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Zirynx, I'd have said Ski Club, but they have changed their policies of late. After that BASI - but membership required, so BMC looks the best option. It has a good rep (although be careful if you do a trip to say Australia).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Zirynx, you just need to be an Associate Member of BASI to buy their insurance. ie training to become a BASI Member and having paid the associate member fee which I think is £45 or thereabouts.
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rob@rar, beanie1, Sorry, I should have included that I'd already looked at BASI and yes, it requires membership. I'll be doing an NZSIA course.
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| david@mediacopy wrote: |
| Zirynx, I'd have said Ski Club, but they have changed their policies of late. After that BASI - but membership required, so BMC looks the best option. It has a good rep (although be careful if you do a trip to say Australia). |
Care to expand or enlighten us? Otherwise it's a little cryptic!
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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.
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BMC.
Nothing to worry about. Best policy out there IMHO.
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[Start ACDC style singing] B-M-C They're dynamite! [close ACDC style singing]
Sorry, just finished exams and feeling good lol.
But seriosuly, BMC are the best out there, I've only had to claim from them once, but they were ace, I had the money within two weeks.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Zirynx, I heard of an instance where someone was doing a season in country 'A' but travelled to country 'B' on a day trip \ weekender. Had a problem and then discovered they were not covered. Apparently a BMC policy but this is 2nd hand info, so worth double checking. I'd have thought it's unlikely to be an issue in NZ.
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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.
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david@mediacopy, With BMC you either have UK, Euro or World Wide coverage, so you should be fine as long as you stay within countries within your 'class.'
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clarky999, Dunno, just repeating what I've heard. No reason to suppose it was untrue. IIRC the person concerned may have been a BASI trainer, and come to think of it, it was a BASI trainer who recounted the story. This was apparently Europe. Perhaps Switzerland doesn't count 
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You know it makes sense.
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Can't really imagine getting insurance outside of BMC either, after how efficiently they've processed both my claim and a friends.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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The BMC policy does indeed look good and I especially like the simplicity of it's structure. However, I'm starting to think that it's a little too simplified because I'm struggling to find out clear information about cover for specific activities.
For example, I cannot clearly identify whether the following activities (which I am interested in) are covered under any of the different levels of policy! I have emailed them to try and find out.
Archery
Bobsleigh
Bungee Jumping
Gliding
Jet Skiing
Kite Surfing
For every other insurance company that I have considered, there has been a very detailed document online that lists just about every inclusion/exclusion. For example this webpage...
http://www.worldnomads.com/policy_wording.aspx?pid=cdb7e93069d643068fcb5f44879967bc#sports
...has virtually all the information I might need about cover for specific activities, but there doesn't seem to be a similar document on the BMC website.
In the event of an unfortunate accident, I have no doubt that all insurance companies will resort to what's printed in 'black and white' so I'm just looking to be absolutely certain about the cover I end up buying.
Can anyone tell me whether BMC policy documents are any more explicit than the website?
Thanks
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Poster: A snowHead
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We swapped from SCGB to BMC for our daughter's insurance when she was on an instructor training course. If you are likely to teach (and get paid for teaching) for a week or two during the high season you may need to upgrade to professional level, but that can probably wait. The same applies if you stay on to teach after the end of the course as our daughter did. BMC is also good if you need professional insurance for future years - our daughter still teaches during her uni holidays. Fortunately there has been no need to make a claim.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I did a ski instructor training course in NZ last year (perhaps with the same people as you Zirynx?), and I took out American Express cover. They covered me for 120 continuous days out of the country, and include most things snow when you take out the wintersports and the additional activity option. This lasted for 1 year and cost £180, so quite reasonable.
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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?
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BMC is what I use. It covers me offpiste in Europe and Extreme Wildwater in the Grand Canyon. If I wanted to, I could climb Himalayan peaks and still be covered.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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My son's just finished his CASI 2 course in Canada and he bought the BMC policy. The documents that arrived were very comprehensive and the claim for a doctor's visit and medication was paid in about 4 weeks, no quibbles. He's staying out there to work and is covered whilst he's there under the poicy too.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Hi there,
I noticed someone had insured themselves with Amex. I have an annual policy with them, but I was aware it only covered me for periods of up to 31 days of travel. When I called to upgrade for my ski instructor course, the 120 day policy sounded perfect, but when I enquired about the snow sports cover, it only insures a maximum of 30 days on piste. Caution is advised, as they will find any way they can to avoid paying out!
James
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