Travel Insurance, a reminder!!

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
15/01/2010 20:39

This topic comes up quite often especially from people who are on flight only, staying in their holiday homes etc. Should we buy it???



A friend has recently had a fall, received what was apparently a minor head injury but they actually had a brain aneurism. There wasn't a surgeon here in TRNC who could do the necessary surgery so it was a choice of Turkey or Dark Side. Went south because of language.



The insurance company were informed and they took over straight away with paying costs and making all arrangements. These will include price of brain surgery and all associated clinical care plus the ICU costs of about £350 per day, already up to 10 days. Next will be the air ambulance cost back to UK.



You do not need to be a rocket scientist to have a stab at final costs.



So next time you ask the question, shall we save a few quid and not have insurance????????????

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
15/01/2010 21:19

David, Thank you!



I keep on telling customers and they don't like it. Sometimes they seem to think I'm not just after a fast buck.



We can help people who are "normal" or with "special conditions" be it age or disease - the most important thing is get well insured, one small claim will cover the costs for the rest of your life.

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
15/01/2010 21:42

It's the same David with house insurance, then when something happens they expect others to help them out

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
15/01/2010 21:45

100% agree better to be safe than sorry later

Panchocat


Joined: 29/11/2009
Posts: 1333

Message Posted:
15/01/2010 22:24

So can anyone give me the name of an insurance company that will give us, as residents of the TRNC, an annual travel policy? Because so far we have been hitting our heads against a brick wall. HSBC in Turkey went through all the details of the policy and then said; "But you are not eligible because you live in the TRNC!" So answers please would be appreciated.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
15/01/2010 22:29

These days travel insurance is so cheap and readily available in UK that it's madness not to buy it, best buy is usually annual insurance. About 10 years ago we were going to Bulgaria and the advice was to take sterling in cash. My husband took the kids to WH Smith in Gatwick Airport whilst we were waiting to check-in and had his wallet lifted with half the cash in it. Fortunately, we were insured and as we reported it to the police at the airport and had receipts to prove we had withdrawn the cash we got most of it refunded. It was enough to cover a few more years of insurance. The wallet was recovered minus the cash but with all the credit/debit cards intact but by that time all the cards had been cancelled.

One lesson learned is make sure that each traveller holds cards for different bank accounts, that way if one of you has cards stolen which then have to be cancelled you can still get money from other accounts.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
15/01/2010 22:33

Panchocat

Try IPH - we got an annual policy through them a couple of years ago. email info@iph.uk.com. We were even covered from travelling South but not in Turkey (if I remember correctly). Also World Nomads will insure you - I had lots of correspondence with them to confirm - but it's much less comprehensive than IPH.

everon


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 956

Message Posted:
15/01/2010 22:43

re message 5 where can we buy travel insurance if we live in the Trnc, we are off to the USA this year plus central America , who will insure us, Uk cover no good ,got to be resident in Uk to get cover ,anyone know insurance company that will cover us for trip or annual cover.

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
15/01/2010 22:54

everon



We keep an address in the UK, naughty!!!!!!!



Maybe but with somethings it helps. eg UK driving licence, UK medical address etc. Have paid in for 40 years so damn sure not going to miss out on some requirments.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
16/01/2010 08:07

I would advise caution when dealing with insurance companies because if they suspect anything dodgy they will research it to avoid paying out. When we made a claim we had to supply lots of evidence such air ticket stubs, itinerary, receipts even the brochure we booked from. Normally they only cover you for 30 days outside your 'home' country so if you use a UK address and can't provide these items for a journey originating from UK within that time period you may well be scuppered.

Everon see msg 7

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
16/01/2010 08:18

msg 10,



I do agree with your point about being careful.



I really just want to make the point about getting cover, I am sure Tom must go spare sometimes when he has to afterwardssort out the C*** of people trying to save money.



One thing, I refuse 100% to chip in for people who have had incidents here and then plead for help.



It is same with car hire, you only get 3rd party insurance for car rental here at most companies. Nowhere else in the world would people take car hire with so little cover. It seems some think they will always be bailed out.

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
16/01/2010 08:35

Soooooooooooo,

has anyone taken out a ligitimate holiday insurance from north Cyprus to their holiday

destination?????????

if so, who did you use please?



So far I've only found one company who can quote us,that is with iktisatbank.

Panchocat


Joined: 29/11/2009
Posts: 1333

Message Posted:
16/01/2010 08:55

Thanks come on aylin, I will look into that.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
16/01/2010 09:27

As mentioned in msg 7 we used IPH who are International Private Healthcare Ltd. We went on a skiing holiday from TRNC. We purchased an annual policy through FMA, though you can go to IPH direct: info@iph.uk.com. We purchased an annual family policy and it was very comprehensive and covered us for travel to South of Cyprus not sure if it covered us in Turkey though. World Nomads will also insure you but it is really only medical insurance.

Don't know if IPH still do this cover but contact them, if not try FMA 0392 821 8761 who will probably be able to help.

Tom of IAH may be able to help too.

Just be very clear about where you live, no point paying for insurance that is then invalidated because there is a 'mix up' about your home country. When I did my research a few years ago TRNC was not classed as being in EU, it is in EEA.