Hi All

I’ve been browsing this forum for years now and as I’m in a dilemma I thought I’d post to get some of the worldly knowledge that people have on here.

Myself and my other half fly to Canada this Saturday on a years working holiday visa.  We’re first heading to whistler for the season followed by other outdoor fun stuff for the summer.  We only have a one way ticket as we plan to apply for a 2nd visa and so hopefully staying in Canada for 2 years.

My dilemma? Insurance arrrrr!!! I’ve never had a problem before and don’t skimp usually opting for the BMC or the policy provided by snowboard club UK. Now for a variety of different reasons including trip length, working, one way flight etc. non of the specialist policy’s can provided cover, this included BMC, SCUK, SCGB, Snowcard.

We only need insurance for the 1st 3/4 months of our trip as we’re eligible for Canadian health care after this waiting period. I’m kinda looking for a top up insurance but I’m looking for a top up which will cover repatriation for the 1st year.

We were going to join the Austrian alpine club whose membership benefits include rescue insurance, limited medical costs and unlimited repatriation.  I thought I was sorted with this but reading the policy medical costs and repatriation are only coved for the 1st 8 weeks of anytrip

So next option does anyone know much about au vieux campeur insurance with vie privee??  I have the website link (http://www.auvieuxcampeur.fr/assurance)but cant find any policy wording. Maybe someone has used this before and know’s a bit about the insurance provided and how long repatriation is insured for? Can I join online?

Any and all other suggestions are appreciated as ive been looking for suitable insurance for 3 weeks now.  I must have read the policy wording for every UK insurance company out there. I’ve emailed and spoke to underwriters and still haven’t found anything.  Its backcountry off piste and snowpark I’m having trouble finding insurance for whist on a one way flight.
Maybe someone know an expat company?? Ive checked visitors to canada insurance but the medical limits are very low ($50000).  Also checked ihi Bupa but this is prohibitively expensive and we’d still need rescue insurance

Sorry for the essay and thanks so much
tee

What is the situation wrt to rescue costs in Canada? What happens in the first 3 months if you have an accident? How much could it cost?

davidof - 02 October 2011 08:09 PM

What is the situation wrt to rescue costs in Canada? What happens in the first 3 months if you have an accident? How much could it cost?

Hey

Rescue off the mountain by ski patrol is actually free in Canada but if I were to have an accident ambulance at the bottom of the hill is a $530 flat fee and $2,746 per hour for helicopter if air rescue is needed.  Could add up to quite a sum plus the North American priced medical expenses.  Done bit of searching and something like a broken leg with surgery is about $35000, ouch!!  Not sure on the price of a major emergency but most likely into the hundreds of thousands

Any help is really appreciated
tee

I will have to take another look at the Vieux Campeur insurance but I thought medical costs were just “top up” of around $5000. You know, GP visit, injections, prescriptions type things.

davidof - 02 October 2011 10:25 PM

I will have to take another look at the Vieux Campeur insurance but I thought medical costs were just “top up” of around $5000. You know, GP visit, injections, prescriptions type things.

Yeah the medical costs are low but but I will have other insurance for that.  Its top up that would cover resuce and repatriation i’m after.  My french is not that great so was hoping someone might have some experience of the vieux insurance?  Wonderimg if there is a trip limit and if their easy to deal with in a claim? If anyone knows

Thanks

If your French is not great, will you be content dealing with a claim in that language, in a country at one remove again from the one you’re in...?

BASI may be worth checking out.  Their policy is tailored towards instructors (so includes off piste, rando, race training, ski jumping… it goes on).  Normally single trip limit is 180 days, but this may be negotiable.  Only available to members, but I think you may be able to join BASI before becoming an instructor, as an ‘associate’.

Don’t mix this up with the offer on the BASI website - that’s different.  The policy I describe above can only be accessed once you have logged in to the site with your member dets. so you may have to do some ringing to find out more.  If you get stuck but still want to follow up, post again and I may be able to pull down the fine print and forward it.

BobSki - 04 October 2011 03:04 PM

If your French is not great, will you be content dealing with a claim in that language, in a country at one remove again from the one you’re in...?

BASI may be worth checking out.  Their policy is tailored towards instructors (so includes off piste, rando, race training, ski jumping… it goes on).  Normally single trip limit is 180 days, but this may be negotiable.  Only available to members, but I think you may be able to join BASI before becoming an instructor, as an ‘associate’.

Don’t mix this up with the offer on the BASI website - that’s different.  The policy I describe above can only be accessed once you have logged in to the site with your member dets. so you may have to do some ringing to find out more.  If you get stuck but still want to follow up, post again and I may be able to pull down the fine print and forward it.

Thanks bobski
I’m OK with the policy being French, other half’s parents live in France so we have them and native speakers if needs be. If you do have the fine print of the au vieux campeur insurance I would really appreciate it if you could forward it on to me.
I will double check the basi insurance, I did have a look at it but their underwriters have very strict definitions on off piste. I’m not too sure what basi think but the underwriters define off piste as “skiing on areas in and around the resort but off the actual marked pistes,such as skiing/snowboarding on the hillside between marked pistes or skiing/snowboarding down slopes adjacent to marked runs, but always finishing up at the bottom of tows or lifts within the resort”.  The underwriter said this applies to all policy’s they U/W including BASI, dogtag, snowsports England and those arranged by P J Haymen

Its because of these types of definitions/small print that I’m looking for insurance from Alpine country’s where Outdoor activities are approached with a more relaxed viewpoint. Its Rescue insurance i’m after as the travel policy I’m thinking of buying does not have any.

Thanks
Tee

I have taken out the Vieux Campeur insurance in the past however I don’t remember whether I used it or my French Mountaineering Federation policy when I had an accident. I think they both used Mondial Assistance at the time. I took out the Vieux Campeur with “vie privee” option on the suggestion of some friends who had it while trekking in India. One of them had some kind of problem which required a few days hospital stay and an operation and the medical cover was actually enough to cover all their bills. No problem using it.

There may be some altitude or country restrictions worth checking.

Hi Tee,

I only have the BASI/Instructors fine print, not the V-C one.

Curious about the off-piste limitations, as it (the BASI cover) specifically includes heli skiing, ski randonee and ski touring.

Cheers, Bob.