Bengo Travel Insurance Review

The Bengo policy allows for children under the age of 18, living at home and in full time education. They can be children, grand children, step-children, adopted or foster children.

The single trip policy has a maximum age limit of 99.

The annual travel policy has a maximum age limit of 79.

The backpacker and longstay policies state they have an age limit of 55. However their website will not quote for anyone over the age of 40 in respect of the backpacker policy and 46 in respect of the longstay policy.

The Bengo single trip policy is restricted to a maximum trip of 17 days for those over the age of 85 who require worldwide cover and 21 days for all other destinations. Trips are restricted to a maximum of 24 days for adults between the age of 75 - 79, and a maximum of 31 days for those aged between 65 - 74. For all other travellers under the age of 65, the maximum trip duration is 185 days.

The annual travel policy allows unlimited trips throughout the year, as long as each trip is for no more than 31 days in total.  This can be extended to 45, 60 or 90 days with payment of the relevant additional premium.  (those aged 65 - 79 can only increase the trip limit to 45 or 60 days)

Both the backpacker and longstay policies can be taken out for up to 18 months at a time.

Wintersports can be included under the single trip or annual trip policy. (for the entire duration of the single trip, but restricted to 24 days per year in respect of the annual travel policy) However you can only include wintersports cover under the optimum policy.

The Optimum winter sports section covers ski equipment up to £500 (single article limit £500 or unreceipted items £150). Delayed ski equipment hire £50 per day up to a maximum of £300.

Loss Ski Pass £75 per day up to £450 maximum, Piste closure £50 per day up to £300 and Avalanche closure £30 per day up to £300.

Note that in respect of Piste Closure cover, you must be skiing North of the earths equator between 1st Jan - 30th April, or South of the earths equator between 1st June and 31st October and at a destination of higher than 1600 metres above sea level.

Cover is only provided where you are on piste skiing and snowboarding for leisure purposes only. If you wish to carry out any other wintersports pursuit, some are included in activity packs 2 - 8, for which you will be required to pay a further additional premium. Check the policies to make sure the activities you take part in are correctly covered.

A Bengo policy can be taken out by one individual, a couple (defined as married, common law or in a relationship of a long standing nature) A single or two parent family and up to ten children, or up to 12 individuals.

There is no group discount available where more than one individual is travelling together.

Bengo strongly recommend that you take out an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), when travelling to either a European Union country or swizterland. If any claim is reduced as a result of the card, the excess in respect of medical expenses will be reduced to zero.

It is the same policy for trips to Australia, where you must register with MEDICARE.

Sports and Activities have been divided up into activity packs listed 1 - 8. Activity pack 1 lists over 90 sports and activities which are automatically covered under the policy, provided they are not the sole purpose of the trip.

Activity packs 2 - 8 can be included but require the payment of an additional premium (the additional costs are greater the more packs you wish to include)

Note that only swimming in a pool is covered under activity pack 1. If you wish to surf, you would need to pay an additional premium for activity pack 2 and if you wish to swim in open water defined as Swimming in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, lakes and rivers, outside of  marked swimming areas and with the absence of a lifeguard, you would need to include activity pack 3.

The policy does have a definition for beach swimming: Within 50 metres of the shore, in areas marked with safety buoys and under the supervision of a lifeguard. However there is no mention of beach swimming in any of the activity packs.

Our recommendation would be to check with Bengo before you travel.

All policies exclude any claim  where you, your travelling companion, close relative or business associate are under the influence of drugs (except those prescribed by your registered doctor but not when prescribed for treatment of drug addiction)

alcohol (a blood alcohol level that exceeds 0.19%– approximately four pints or four 175ml glasses
of wine);

solvents or anything relating to you or your close relatives or business associate prior abuse of alcohol or solvents.

Only the Optimum single trip or annual travel policy provides cover in the event your scheduled airline becomes insolvent and stops trading before your departure.

Pre-existing medical conditions are excluded under the policy. They can however be included, but you need to phone the medical helpline direct. Unfortunately there is no online medical underwriting.  

The policy excludes any claim arising as a result of an existing medical condition of a non travelling close relative, the person you are intending to stay with, or a business associate or friend. For more information on taking medication abroad click here.

All Bengo policies include emergency medical expenses cover for pregnancy and childbirth from week 0 to week 28 inclusive whilst you are away. From the start of week 29 to week 40 of the pregnancy, there is no cover for claims relating to normal pregnancy and normal childbirth or cancellation, however, medical expenses and cancellation cover will be provided if  any of the pregnancy complications listed in the policy booklet arise.

Note Denial of boarding by your carrier is not covered, so you should check that you will be able to travel with the carrier/airline in advance.

It is also essential, if at the time of booking your trip you are aware that you are pregnant, that you ensure that you are able to have the required vaccinations for that trip.

All policies only exclude cover for manual labour, which is explained as work involving lifting or carrying of heavy items in excess of 25kg, work at a higher level than two storeys or any form of underground work.

The policy requires you to provide proof of purchase for items over the value of £50. If you are unable to then any payout for un-receipted items is reduced to a total of £150.

Remember that wear, tear and depreciation will be deducted from any settlement.

All policies exclude claims,  with the exception of medical expenses, in connection with war and terrorism.

Only the Optimum policy provides a small amount of cover for reasonable additional accommodation within a 20 mile radius, in the event of a natural disaster.

You must have been resident in your home country for at least six months of the year, prior to taking out any policy.