Should I bother getting travel insurance for cycle touring in Aus/NZ?

[dannyfrankszzz]

I’m going off cycle touring in Aus and NZ, and then a brief stint of backpacking in Thailand. I’ve searched around for insurance policies for my needs but there’s nothing that really fits the bill. They seem overpriced and they don’t cover my bicycle??

I’m from the UK but I’m also a NZ passport holder. Also, there’s a healthcare agreement between the UK and Australia to treat respective nationals of each country. So in that respect I’m covered.

I guess my main concerns would be: if I’m hit by a driver (but then I don’t need to be covered in order to take out a claim against the offending party); personal accident i.e. hit and run and I don’t see the other drivers details; loss from theft etc.

The thing is I live in the UK, I've been cycling most days for the last 4 years and I have never taken out insurance for cycling and so I guess I'm wondering why I should start now.

I’m thinking that I should just get backpackers insurance for two weeks for when I get to Thailand.

 

[Peter Clinch]

dannyfrankszzz wrote:
> I’m going off cycle touring in Aus and NZ, and then a brief stint of
> backpacking in Thailand. I’ve searched around for insurance policies
> for my needs but there’s nothing that really fits the bill. They seem
> overpriced and they don’t cover my bicycle??

For active holidays we use Snowcard. Despite the "snow" (they started
up specifically doing skiers' policies) they cover most things with an
active component, including backpacking, and have options to cover
equipment. Worth a look, at any rate: http://www.snowcard.co.uk/

As with many of these things from specialists, if your particular needs
aren't obviously covered in a convenient box on the website you can
'phone and speak to Someone Real That Knows What They're Talking About,
which is handy.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[[email protected]]

dannyfrankszzz wrote:
> I'm going off cycle touring in Aus and NZ, and then a brief stint of
> backpacking in Thailand. I've searched around for insurance policies
> for my needs but there's nothing that really fits the bill. They seem
> overpriced and they don't cover my bicycle??
>
> I'm from the UK but I'm also a NZ passport holder. Also, there's a
> healthcare agreement between the UK and Australia to treat respective
> nationals of each country. So in that respect I'm covered.

I also have second hand positive experience of claims handling by sbow
card (I have never had to claim myself). The most likely large expense
you /could/ incurr in addition to medical expenses would be
repatriation costs. Think three of four plane seats and nursing costs
on a flight back to the UK. Replacement costs of equipment are likely
to be small by comparison and more likely to be in the range where you
consider self insuring

best wishes
james

 

[Peter Clinch]

[email protected] wrote:

> I also have second hand positive experience of claims handling by sbow
> card (I have never had to claim myself).

I've claimed some minor losses from stuff that I've destroyed: a pair of
prescription glacier glasses and a carbon skate pole. Aside from the
standard bureaucracy of form filling it's been pretty painless. We now
have an annual policy rather than insure individual trips, which can be
worth it if you regularly go abroad more than once a year.

> The most likely large expense
> you /could/ incurr in addition to medical expenses would be
> repatriation costs. Think three of four plane seats and nursing costs
> on a flight back to the UK. Replacement costs of equipment are likely
> to be small by comparison and more likely to be in the range where you
> consider self insuring

Other Biggie that might happen is a claim against you in the event you
cause someone some problem.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>,
dannyfrankszzz ('[email protected]')
wrote:

> I’m going off cycle touring in Aus and NZ, and then a brief stint of
> backpacking in Thailand. I’ve searched around for insurance policies
> for my needs but there’s nothing that really fits the bill. They seem
> overpriced and they don’t cover my bicycle??
>
> I’m from the UK but I’m also a NZ passport holder. Also, there’s a
> healthcare agreement between the UK and Australia to treat respective
> nationals of each country. So in that respect I’m covered.

Ish. As I've learned over the past couple of months, there are
considerable costs in recovering from major injury (in a bike accident)
other than the merely medical ones.

> I guess my main concerns would be: if I’m hit by a driver (but then I
> don’t need to be covered in order to take out a claim against the
> offending party);

No, but you need to be conscious, compos mentis and have a certain amount
of energy. If you are too badly injured for one or all of those things
then you are going to need some sort of agent, which will cost, and you
may need to find some of that upfront. When you're in a strange place
where you know nobody and your access to a telephone is restricted or
expensive or both.

> personal accident i.e. hit and run and I don’t see
> the other drivers details; loss from theft etc.
>
> The thing is I live in the UK, I've been cycling most days for the last
> 4 years and I have never taken out insurance for cycling and so I guess
> I'm wondering why I should start now.

I had been cycling most days for thirty-mumble years two months ago, and
in all that time had only ever had two stitches in one hand as a result
of cycling accidents. A bit different now - I've had a month in
hospital, and two and a half weeks home but not able to do very much.

> I’m thinking that I should just get backpackers insurance for two
> weeks for when I get to Thailand.

Well, if you do, at least make sure there's someone back home who could
wire you out a chunk of cash in the event of something bad happening.
Insurance as such may not be necessary but being able to get hold of
some rainy day money in a hurry may well be.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; not so much a refugee from reality, more a bogus
;; asylum seeker

 

[Nigel Cliffe]

[email protected] wrote:
> dannyfrankszzz wrote:
>> I'm going off cycle touring in Aus and NZ, and then a brief stint of
>> backpacking in Thailand. I've searched around for insurance policies
>> for my needs but there's nothing that really fits the bill. They
>> seem overpriced and they don't cover my bicycle??
>>
>> I'm from the UK but I'm also a NZ passport holder. Also, there's a
>> healthcare agreement between the UK and Australia to treat respective
>> nationals of each country. So in that respect I'm covered.
>
> I also have second hand positive experience of claims handling by sbow
> card (I have never had to claim myself). The most likely large
> expense you /could/ incurr in addition to medical expenses would be
> repatriation costs. Think three of four plane seats and nursing costs
> on a flight back to the UK. Replacement costs of equipment are likely
> to be small by comparison and more likely to be in the range where you
> consider self insuring

This brings up another bit of Snowcard which is worth looking at; only
insuring the stuff which is of worry.

I have insurance from them for medical/rescue/hospital costs/repatriation
(the financially massive expenses for which one needs travel insurance) and
cancellation/travel problems (because it makes me feel more comfortable
knowing I've alternative insured backup if needed). I don't have equipment
cover because there is no point paying twice for insurance!

My belongings (including skis and bicycles) are covered all-risks on my
house policy for anywhere, and at full new-for-old. This is better cover
than most travel policies.


(I'm another snowcard customer)

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/