Bell Travel Insurance Review

Children (including biological, step, adopted and foster children), are classified as those being under the age of 18, in full time education and residing with the main insured adult

The policy age limits (at the date of purchase) are as follows:

• Single trip policies under the age of 80.
• Annual trip policies under the age of 65.
• Backpacker policies under the age of 46.

You can take out a Bell single trip policy for up to 365 days (12 months), useful if you needed a longer stay abroad.

The annual multi-trip policies allows unlimited trips, provided each trip lasts no longer then 31 days.

The Backpacker policy also allows for trips up to twelve months and will cover a return visit to your home country during that time

You can include cover for Winter Sports for any of the levels of cover you have chosen. The policy allows for 15 standard winter sport activities which are automatically included, a further seven that you can add provided you pay an additional premium (example snowmobiliing). There is also a list of prohibitive pursuits. Check the policy for full details.

If you have an annual policy, wintersports can be included for up to 17 days maximum in any one policy year.

In addition to the standard covers, the wintersports extension includes cover for

Ski Equipment up to £500 (single article limit £250) economy and standard and £1000 (single article limit £500) Premier

Ski Pass £75 per day up to a maximum £300 economy, standard and £450 Premier

Piste Clousre £20 per day up to a maximum £200 economy, standard and £400 Premier

Avalanche or Landslide £20 per day up to a maximum of £200 economy, standard and £500 Premier

Ski Hire £25 per day up to a maximum of £250 economy, standard and £500 Premier.

To give you an idea of costs, a seven day trip to Austria for a 35 year old, including cover for wintersports would be £13.15 economy £15.48 standard £18.58 Premier approximately double the cost of a standard holiday.

The Bell policy is open to a single individual, a couple, defined as husband or wife/common law partner, a family defined as a single parent/grandparent or two parents/grandparents and their children, or children and non related children travelling as part of a family group. (Up to ten children can be included)

Finally up to twelve individuals travelling as a group.  There is no group discount available

Dependent children may travel independently of the main insured persons, but they must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult.

The Bell travel policy states you must obtain an EHIC card before you travel to a European country.

When travelling to Australia or New Zealand you must register for treatment under the national medicare scheme or the equivalent scheme in that country

Bell travel insurance divides sports and activities into five tables. Table A includes 76 different pursuits that are automatically covered. Tables B, C & D has smaller lists of additional activities, which if you wish to take part in, you must pay the relevant additional premium.

For example if you wanted to go Jet Skiing, or go walking above 4,000 metres, you would need to pay an additional premium and make sure the relevant table was included in your quotation. Table E lists sports and activities that are specifically excluded. Check the policy for clarification and if you are still uncertain, you can contact the company direct.

Any claims arising directly or indirectly from your excessive alcohol intake, being under the influence of alcohol (including but not exclusively have a blood alcohol reading of more than 150 mg per 100ml), are excluded under all Bell Travel policies.

Only the premier policy includes cover for up to £3,000 in respect of Scheduled Airline Failure.

Pre existing medical conditions are excluded under the policy. It is possible to obtain cover, but you need to phone their medical screening helpline, to see if they will cover you.

The Bell definition of a pre existing medical condition is

• Any past or current Medical Condition that has given rise to symptoms
  or  for  which  any  form  of  treatment  or  prescribed  medication, 
  medical consultation, investigation or follow up/ check-up has been
  required or received during the 2 years prior to the commencement
  of cover under the policy and/or prior to any Trip; and
• Any cardiovascular or circulatory condition  (e.g.  heart  condition, 
  hypertension, blood  clots, raised cholesterol, stroke, aneurysm) 
  that has occurred at any time prior to the commencement of cover
  and/or Trip.

Medical Expenses cover is only payable for unforeseen events and pregnancy is not considered to be either an illness or injury. Therefore only claims relating to complications in pregnancy would be covered under the policy.

Complications during pregnancy are defined as toxaemia, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole (molar pregnancy), post partum haemorrhage, retained placenta membrane, placental abruption, hyperemesis gravidarum, placenta praevia, stillbirths, miscarriage, medically necessary emergency Caesarean sections/medically necessary termination and any premature births more than 8 weeks (or 16 weeks in the case of a known multiple pregnancy) prior to the expected delivery date.

Manual work is excluded under the policy and defined as Work that is physical, including, but not limited to construction, installation, assembly and building work. If you wish to work whilst abroad and not sure if you will be covered, check directly and make sure you get any confirmation in writing.

If you are claims for goods that were stolen or lost, you should produce proof of purchase, by way of receipts, credit card or bank statements as failure to do so may affect the assessment of any claim.

Note that any settlement will include a deduction for wear and tear, taking into account the age of the items.

Any claim in respect of terrorist activity is excluded under the policy, however this does not apply to claims for medical  emergency & repatriation and personal accident.

All policies provide cover for similar accommodation if your existing dwelling cannot be used because of fire, flood, earthquake or storm.

However it is possible to include optional extended catastrophe cover, which includes cover against natural disasters and civil unrest and includes travel delay, missed departure and catastrophe.

You must have lived in the United Kingdom for at least six months prior to taking out any travel insurance policy.