I need to renew my travel insurance to cover ski touring/mountaineering in the Alps and Arctic Norway (rules out AAC), valid for age 70. Currently BMC seems to be the only sensible option. Any other suggestions welcome?
Does the clubs affiliation with Mountaineering Scotland mean we are affiliated to the BMC?
dphelan
Hi Sue - Not sure about the wider options - but Yes ", as a member of a Mountaineering Scotland club you are eligible to access BMC Travel and Activity insurance cover"
MarkAdams
Hi Sue, it’s a commonly held belief that the AAC Rescue Service doesn’t cover Arctic Norway. It isn’t true. Have a look at the AWS document on the AAC website. Remember though that it is purely a rescue and repatriation service - it’s not travel insurance.
Mark.
MarkAdams
To save you time….
https://oeav.mitgliederversicherungsservice.at/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/oav_versicherungsbroschuere_EN_2020_fin_screen.pdf
DaveSmith
Mountain rescue in Norway is free in any case but that is an interesting clarification by the AAC on Norway cover. The definition has been changing over the last years as the original exclusion was the Arctic defined as being north of the Arctic Circle, then it was changed to cover Arctic mainland excluding islands, now further clarified as cover extending to islands you can reach by tunnel or bridge. Unfortunately that would still exclude some popular excursions in e.g the Lyngen area, but probably now would be sufficient for most people.
SueHurst
thanks for the comments, info and suggestions. My trip to Norway is outside the area covered by the AAC. I decided to go with BMC. It seemd the best deal, here's hoping I don't need it.
GeoffGaunt
Haven't checked details of AAC extension cover recently, but from memory (Eagles Sailboat ski-tour to Iceland) they will readily upgrade insurance cover if it's outside their basic cover.
Also have just taken out a Revolut Premium account (great 0% commission FX exchange @ bank-rate) which includes annual holiday insurance cover up to age 75 (including piste skiing)
NeilThompson
I recently emailed the Bmc for clarity and as I understand it their insurance doesn't cover any isolation hotel costs, extra test costs or similar though it does cover emergency medical and repatriation costs and some cancellation cover. It is invalidated if you are with someone not vaccinated. Have a good read, not sure if there's anything better out there.