Cassie Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 I have just discovered that in the event of a medical condition my medical insurance does not cover for transporting the van to a safe place or repatriation to England. I am a solo traveller so this could result in the van being abandoned on a street or anywhere if, for example, I was taken Ill at the wheel and rushed to hospital or otherwise unable to drive They suggested that the van insurers could cover this but I can find no reference in the policy. Is this standard practice with travel insurance or does anyone know a company that covers this eventually...and insures over 70’s for a minimum of 45 days. Multi-trip Thanks ....in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayc Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 My vehicle breakdown and repatriation cover is with the vehicle insurer. It is in addition to the normal comprehensive insurance. Personal cover including repatriation is with my medical insurer. I guess for a single source vehicle and medical recovery you need something like the Camping and Motorhome Club Red Pennant Personal and Vehicle cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 Cassie - 2020-07-22 4:00 PM..................…. They suggested that the van insurers could cover this but I can find no reference in the policy. Is this standard practice with travel insurance or does anyone know a company that covers this eventually...and insures over 70’s for a minimum of 45 days. Multi-trip Thanks ....in advance Many vehicle insurance policies offer options that can include vehicle recovery if the only driver is incapacitated. You may find your insurer can offer this, but the option you selected does not include it. We are insured with Comfort, and their policies provide the recovery option. In respect of "standard practice", I don't think anything in insurance is standard! :-) Each company offers protections against various risks, with various exclusions and conditions - with opt-ins and opt-outs to be selected at the time of purchase. One has to read the policy before signing up, which is doubtless why it is common for the policy booklets to be conveniently sat on until after purchase. They don't want you comparing covers, only price! Make sure you ask for a sample policy document, or can read one on the company website, before you buy. If they refuse, just buy elsewhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattwg Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 I agree with what others have said. Vehicle repatriation is included with the vehicle breakdown insurance. Personal repatriation is covered with the travel medical insurance. These are options that I always ensure are included in the policies. Cattwg :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassie Posted July 23, 2020 Author Share Posted July 23, 2020 I have continued to research this and so far I have found that... It is not included in health insurance It is not included in vehicle insurance It can be, but rarely, included in breakdown insurance. My breakdown cover is with VW which is underwritten by the AA which does not include it. It seems that the RAC is one of the few that do. At the moment it is my medical travel insurance that is up for renewal. I have only just paid for breakdown cover so I’ll hope for the best and reconsider providers next year unless anyone does know a provider that will cover vehicle repatriation for medical reasons in their travel insurance Thanks for the replies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattwg Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Two companies who offer the vehicle repatriation you are looking for are Comfort and Safeguard - it’s included with the breakdown cover. Cattwg :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayc Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 As a result of this topic I have looked at the Comfort Breakdown cover and would be grateful if anyone can point me to 'Vehicle Recovery in the event of incapacitation to insured drivers' section. I have looked in the 2020 Comfort Policy 'MC-Assist-Booklet' and cannot see it https://www.comfort-insurance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/MC-Assist-Booklet.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 rayc - 2020-07-23 10:38 AM As a result of this topic I have looked at the Comfort Breakdown cover and would be grateful if anyone can point me to 'Vehicle Recovery in the event of incapacitation to insured drivers' section. I have looked in the 2020 Comfort Policy 'MC-Assist-Booklet' and cannot see it https://www.comfort-insurance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/MC-Assist-Booklet.pdf Comfort Motorhome Insurance Policy booklet, page 15, Section VIII, "vehicle recovery in the event of illness". The "M/C Assist Breakdown Insurance Policy booklet merely overs what is insured in the event of vehicle breakdown. This includes repatriation of both vehicle and passengers back to the UK. See page 3, Item 3 "Getting you to your destination" (a). It could be clearer in its wording, and I have encouraged Comfort to pursue this with DAS in certain areas. The main policy appears to cover repatriation of the vehicle in the event that the only driver is unable to continue driving as a result of illness whether or not breakdown cover has been selected. Repatriation of the driver/passenger/s should be covered under a separate health insurance policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 I was assuming that your breakdown cover is via VW/AA because it is a "new" vehicle with such cover included, but subsequent posts indicate that you have renewed. Nonetheless, it is worthwhile carefully perusing your terms and conditions, as the current VW Roadside Assistance (admittedly for cars) provided by the AA has the following: Replacement driver We may in Our absolute discretion arrange and cover the costs of a replacement driver to drive the Vehicle and Your Party to Your destination or Home, if a registered doctor declares You medically unfit to drive and You are the only qualified driver. A replacement driver will not be arranged if there is another qualified driver in The Party who is fit to drive. Replacement drivers are limited to one per journey abroad. There are a few weasel words in there, but it appears that you might have recourse to some service under your VW/AA arrangements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayc Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Brian Kirby - 2020-07-23 11:33 AM rayc - 2020-07-23 10:38 AM As a result of this topic I have looked at the Comfort Breakdown cover and would be grateful if anyone can point me to 'Vehicle Recovery in the event of incapacitation to insured drivers' section. I have looked in the 2020 Comfort Policy 'MC-Assist-Booklet' and cannot see it https://www.comfort-insurance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/MC-Assist-Booklet.pdf Comfort Motorhome Insurance Policy booklet, page 15, Section VIII, "vehicle recovery in the event of illness". The "M/C Assist Breakdown Insurance Policy booklet merely overs what is insured in the event of vehicle breakdown. This includes repatriation of both vehicle and passengers back to the UK. See page 3, Item 3 "Getting you to your destination" (a). It could be clearer in its wording, and I have encouraged Comfort to pursue this with DAS in certain areas. The main policy appears to cover repatriation of the vehicle in the event that the only driver is unable to continue driving as a result of illness whether or not breakdown cover has been selected. Repatriation of the driver/passenger/s should be covered under a separate health insurance policy. Brian, Thank you. In addition Comfort have confirmed to me in email: " I can confirm that with regards to breakdown, repatriation is included. The insurance will also cover repatriation if the driver or any named drivers are unable to drive the vehicle and are able to provide a certificate stating as much." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Cassie - 2020-07-23 9:32 AM I have continued to research this and so far I have found that... It is not included in health insurance It is not included in vehicle insurance It can be, but rarely, included in breakdown insurance. My breakdown cover is with VW which is underwritten by the AA which does not include it. It seems that the RAC is one of the few that do. At the moment it is my medical travel insurance that is up for renewal. I have only just paid for breakdown cover so I’ll hope for the best and reconsider providers next year unless anyone does know a provider that will cover vehicle repatriation for medical reasons in their travel insurance Thanks for the replies Clive, I think the above statements should really have read: "It is not covered in my health insurance", etc, etc. These facilities are all available from insurers, but it seems the insurances you have don't cover them. I assume the reason you have VW insurance is that your vehicle is a VW Transporter based camper? The problem there seems to be that what VW have sold you is a standard car insurance, and not one that is geared toward motorhome usage. I think you really need to turn to a specialist motorhome insurer such as those already mentioned above. Certainly, as I pointed out above, the covers you require are available, but may well be spread across more than one policy/policy option. For example, our travel/health insurance (which provides for our personal repatriation) is provided by Nationwide and is a part of our current account provision - albeit we have selected various additional options. Our home and contents, vehicle (which provides for the repatriation of the vehicle if the only driver is incapicated), and breakdown insurances (which provides repatriation of both vehicle and occupants if the vehicle breaks down and cannot be repaired locally) are with Comfort, because they provide an integrated comprehensive package of insurances within which items such as unoccupancy periods and trip durations can be harmonised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattwg Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Must admit you had me re-checking my documents. The vehicle repatriation as a result of an incapacitated driver is covered under the Motorhome Insurance Policy not the Breakdown Assistance as I first said. But it’s definitely there. I purposely took my wife off the motorhome insurance so that in the event of my incapacitation she could not be forced to drive the vehicle; she would be very nervous of driving it on the Continent. The cover seems to be slightly different to that quoted by Robinhood. i.e." If the permitted driver of your motorhome as shown on the certificate of insurance is etc." Whereas Robinhood’s says "qualified driver" a subtle but potentially important difference. Cattwg :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassie Posted July 23, 2020 Author Share Posted July 23, 2020 Thanks for that .i will check Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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