RTW insurance for the over-40s

Cross posted on "Gap Year & RTW"

What have they done to this forum? Horrible! Anyway, the real reason for logging in was to see what middle-agers do about travel insurance from the UK for long-term travel (maybe a year or so)? It seems Endleigh stops at 36yo, but I don't know about others.

The details are highly sketchy at the moment, but are based on sailing round the world (so minimal on land) and because of that I'd probably be happy to forego North American cover.

It's a long time off yet, but I'd like to have an idea of how people have managed insurance requirements when they get past "a certain age".

Ta!

I use www.flexicover.com</a> for 100-day trips but they also cover long-term trips.

Dave

Thanks Dave, will take a look.

If you are planning on doing this trip by boat, post on the Life on the Ocean Wave branch.

I meant to write in about my recent travel insurance exploration.

I wanted cancellation plus the usual medical coverage for a 5 week trip to Vietnam, am 63 years old, and have no scary pre-existing conditions. I used a student travel agency, Travel Cuts (also called The Adventure Travel Company and a few others). The plan through Bon Voyage which included baggage and passport insurance as well cost $98. They will cover up to age 65.

www.travelcuts.com

Thanks lotusland2 - the more suggestions, the better.

Wayworn1 - I've been looking at the 'ocean waves' forum and probably will be posting on there later for more specific things. For the insurance though, I thought a more general branch would be better. Obviously I need to find a company that doesn't exclude sailing. For the moment, I'm compiling a list of potential companies to try.

The travel insurance company that is generally accepted as the yardstick by which others are measured, is WorldNomads. If you are going to be travelling for more than a year, it is also important to check on whether any company you chose, will re-new on the road. Nomads will, many will not.

....like most moving machinery the body thrives on preventative maintenance & risk assessment

...there's a reason those insurance companies own so much real estate...they wrote the book on risk assessment

Are you sailing in your own boat? If so might it be possible to arrange your insurance through your boat insurers? There are a lot of older sailers out there.

To answer your specific question I am 64 and have annual multitrip insurance from Saga.

Best of luck with your voyage and please keep posting as to how it goes.

Rory

Hi Rory - no, it's not my own boat, and there will be more to the trip than just sailing, so it will be more general insurance that I need. As to Saga, for that, I'm still too young ;-)

I'd like to second the World Nomads suggestion. For my own purposes I've found them to be considerably more reasonable than any of the other options I've checked.

One proviso though, you should check age limits for your country. For myself as a Canadian I can get coverage up to age 61 so I don't know what happens in 2011 when I hit that age.

Yes, please do let us know how your trip goes. I love to live vicariously through the travels of others.

We used World Nomads for a 4 month trip to Vietnam and they were fine. Hubby caught nasty flu and a visit to English speaking dr and antibiotics cost $300! Most drugs can be bought over counter but may be out of date. French drs are good value.