LONG TERM EUROPEAN TRAVEL INSURANCE QUESTION? (1 Viewer)

Skeggysue

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Sep 26, 2007
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Hi, can someone advise me re a travel insurance query I have please?

If you travel into Europe and are away for slightly longer than the policy permits is there any way if you had to make a claim, that they can check exactly how long you have been away for? I ask this question because when you travel by ferry or euro tunnel etc I've never seen the check point guys stamp our passports.

I'm not trying to pull a fast one or anything but I'm just wondering how it works.

Our policy states 90 days but we can extend it to longer upon request.

Thank you.

Sue
 
2

2657

Deleted User
Passports are scanned these days but I don't know whether the insurance companies have access to the data.

I was told by the C&CC that unless i had a return crossing booked breakdown cover would be invalid, don't know whether that applies to travel insurance, never had it until now as it comes with with the Nationwide Flexplus account, extended to 120 days at a cost.

I would imagine that they would want to see embarkation tickets in your names at the very least.

A lot of people that need longer than 90/120 days get cheap flights home for a few days to break the time up.
 

Flamenca

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Jun 21, 2013
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If you travel into Europe and are away for slightly longer than the policy permits is there any way if you had to make a claim, that they can check exactly how long you have been away for? I ask this question because when you travel by ferry or euro tunnel etc I've never seen the check point guys stamp our passports.

Travelling with Brittany Ferries all passports are scanned at the check-in booth and the vehicle registration is recorded. Many insurers require that the overseas trip is pre-booked (ie including return journey). Maybe you should look for an insurer who includes for single trips longer than 90 days.

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BreweryDave

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The insurance company will ask for proof, and that will be your crossing ticket.
The difficulty comes booking a return trip, as for us that's impossible as we are away for longer than the booking systems allow you to book that far ahead.
 

BreweryDave

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This thread prompted me to sort our insurance out as we are on the tunnel on 15th and not intending to return till end of July 2018, and can't book a return that far ahead, or do I want to!

A quick search on travelsupermarket led me to the cheapest policy I could find ( alpha insurance, £168 for a couple, europewide, no pre existing conditions. Really only want it to supplement ehic card in a worst case scenario like an accident or illness, not so worried about trip cancellation and luggage etc! Just want to make sure we have some medical and repatriation cover)

Below is a copy of my chat with an online adviser. I did call the claim line too, and they confirmed you don't need to have a return actually booked, but must be able to show an intent to return. A motorhome requiring an MOT will satisfy that condition ( as will the other things they listed, including my landlord insurance for the house we own.) basically, it's to satisfy them you've not become an ex-pat.
Hope this may be usefull.
IMG_1245.PNG
 
Apr 26, 2015
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I noticed that Alpha only cover people up to 55 years of age under there long stay policy, does anyone know of a company that can provide long stay insurance for older people?

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Dec 4, 2014
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Been around the block a few times😉
We took out a 6 month cover (insure & go) cost £244 for us 2 age 58 & 61
We also had to pay extra (included) as we were traveling in a few regions.
The Backpackers policy could have been extended up to 18 months if required (y)
And no we weren't walking to Fuertventura :LOL:
 
May 8, 2016
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According to the Financial Ombudsman the burden to disprove any claim rests with the insurers, and does not rest with the claimant to prove.

This means that the claimant's account of events is generally considered to be honest, but that the insurer has the right to make enquiries to ascertain compliance with their terms. Get caught trying to deceive them, you will end up on their database of fraudulent claimants, you will have your claim denied, future insurance may become impossible and you could end up with a criminal record

I'm sure that if someone could prove that their return was delayed for reasons outside of their control, insurers would have to exhibit a degree of tolerance. But a contract is a contract, and it would be costly to challenge a refusal to meet a claim once it has expired.

Cover under the EHIC scheme is variable, in some countries it is really excellent, others it isn't quite so.

A point that needs to be born in mind is that EHIC cover is also technically limited to the period you are lawfully entitled to remain in that other EU country. Your rights to stay in another EU country without registering your presence may be affected by the 3 month rule:
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizen...ormalities/registering-residence/index_en.htm

After 3 months in your new country, you may be required to register your residence with the relevant authority (often the town hall or local police station), and to be issued with a registration certificate.

(Note: This does not affect your tax residency status, another process entirely, but forms the first step to acquiring permanent resident status))

And if such conditions are in force in your destination, and you do not comply, any claim could be challenged on the basis that you shouldn't have been there for longer than 3 months without formal registration. With the holiday "food poisoning" insurance scams of late, insurers are becoming increasingly vigilant in their investigation of holiday claims. Only you can decide if there is a risk, and if it is worth taking.

In this day and age of online business, it is a surprising fact that most good old fashioned independent brokers (sometimes hard to find nowadays) will be happy to research the options for you, often get you a better policy and at an equal or better price than an online quote and offer full back up in the event of a claim. OK, you don't get another Meerkat, but how many of those can you house?
.
Hope this helps
 
Aug 18, 2011
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Met a couple in Portugal early this year and the husband was ill and needed repatriating to uk. Insurance flatly refused because they had no return ferry booked,, Luckily she was able to fly him home with the aid of a wheelchair,,BUSBY,,

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Northernraider

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Something else I need to look in to, I currently have travel insurance included in my bank account but that won't cover me I'm guessing.

Its complicated this long term touring thing eh
 

Dazzlin

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Just travel cover . Com......I think

We have a policy that with no cancellation and no baggage covrer is reasonable.........until you claim?

Try it and see!
 

John & Joan

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Why do UK policies have such restrictions.

We have spoken to many Germans who query what we are talking about when we say we had Full Timing insurance. They take out an insurance policy and it covers them all over Europe without trip limits.

As for travel insurances they are designed for travel by boat or air. Loss of baggage, flight delays flight or crossing cancellation. Health is only a tiny part of the policy, but you pay for everything. There is not a suitable policy in my opinion that covers what a motorhome tourist requires without other unnecessary bells and whistles.

We were insured by Comfort and their policy would repatriate the vehicle if there was no available driver. In six years of overwintering we used our EHIC card for treatment once. Drugs were available over the counter on production of a pack showing it had been prescribed previously for you. I appreciate holiday makers are on tight fixed schedules, but if you feel unwell on holiday, it is easy and cheap to book a flight home and get the motorhome repatriated later. I know accidents can happen but read your motorhome policy there are clauses that cover this and payments for treatment. Some people over think issues and pay through the nose for thing they really don't need.

We never booked a return, as we were never certain even to a week or so in advance when we would be returning.

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Jul 29, 2007
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Why not pre-book a return and then amend it as necessary later? Its usually cheap to change.
 
Jul 29, 2013
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We have this travel insurance :
International Travel and Healthcare Limited
Caravan and Motorhome Travel insurance cover ONESTOP4

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Shrimp

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ADAC gives you breakdown cover and some personal medical cover as well as repatriation and even a driver if the driver is ill.
It covers both of us individually in whatever vehicle we are in-doesn't have to belong to us, both our van & car, and the above, all for around the £100 mark, that's in EU countries and for the whole year.
 
2

2657

Deleted User
ADAC gives you breakdown cover and some personal medical cover as well as repatriation and even a driver if the driver is ill.
It covers both of us individually in whatever vehicle we are in-doesn't have to belong to us, both our van & car, and the above, all for around the £100 mark, that's in EU countries and for the whole year.

I have been a member of ADAC for several years and I think the key word in your post is some , I have never been able to figure out exactly what is covered.

Having said that I have not had any other form of travel/medical insurance until this year when, because of advancing age, I have upgraded my Nationwide current account to Flexplus and extended the travel insurance to 120 days, still keeping the ADAC though as a safeguard, the Flexplus breakdown cover only covers 180 days a year not per trip.
 
Aug 18, 2011
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Something else I need to look in to, I currently have travel insurance included in my bank account but that won't cover me I'm guessing.

Its complicated this long term touring thing eh

I have Nationwide travel cover and pay extra to extend the period of cover,,BUSBY,,

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Northernraider

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I have Nationwide travel cover and pay extra to extend the period of cover,,BUSBY,,
Yeah problem is the account I have requires an income of £1000 a month to be paid in and whilst I'm travelling I won't be earning as I'm effectively taking a year out so I won't have a wage being paid in to that account, I'll be living off savings for a year unless I find somewhere in Spain I'd like to settle and find work. So I'll have to look in to addition life and travel insurance
 
Aug 18, 2011
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Yeah problem is the account I have requires an income of £1000 a month to be paid in and whilst I'm travelling I won't be earning as I'm effectively taking a year out so I won't have a wage being paid in to that account, I'll be living off savings for a year unless I find somewhere in Spain I'd like to settle and find work. So I'll have to look in to addition life and travel insurance

For years we never bothered,,used our E111 a few times and it worked ok..BUSBY UY
 
Aug 18, 2011
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ADAC offer repatriation with their breakdown insurance,,,,tried to bring me home from Spain when i injured my knee,,BUSBY,,

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