Where to go for travel insurance?

[dreed]

In preparation for an upcoming trip to Asia, I'm thinking about what I need for travel insurance.

I usually organise this via American Express, but their agents in the USA have a limit of $2,000 on luggage items - and that's their premium level travel insurance! This is barely enough to cover a laptop and accessories, never mind camera equipment.

With LL organising expeditions to Africa, Antartica and Asia, I was wondering of there are any insurance agents (or brokers) that people can recommend?

My goal, in this case, would be cover luggage up to a total of around $20,000.

Any suggestions?

[Marlyn]

I would strongly suggest insuring camera equipment seperatly, through a specialised insurer.

In any investigations i've done for travel coverage from standard 'travel insurance', they won't touch it with a barge pole.    

Regards

Mark

[Bob Peterson]

I would strongly suggest insuring camera equipment seperatly, through a specialised insurer.

In any investigations i've done for travel coverage from standard 'travel insurance', they won't touch it with a barge pole.    

Regards

Mark

I agree that a separate policy for equipment should be seriously considered.  Your equipment is at risk all the time, not just when you're away from your home turf.

Before traveling with Michael to Antarctica last year I insured my photo equipment separately.  The policy itemizes each piece of equipment, shows my estimate the replacement cost (which is the amount of insurance on that item), and covers pretty much all risks.  The policy, which I purchased from State Farm, cost about $130/year for $9000 of coverage. (I'm not a professional, so expensive liability coverage wasn't needed.)

During the trip I damaged a lens.  The repair cost covered by the policy exceeded the premium.  The claim process amounted dropping off a copy of the repair receipt provided by Canon, and shortly after a couple of phone conversations to clarify the details of the incident I received a check.

I insured the trip (cancellation, delay, lost luggage, medical evacuation, etc.) separately.  Fortunately I had no claim for travel troubles.

Bob

[neile]

Others have given you good suggestions for insuring your gear. If you need actual travel insurance for you (medical, evacuation, trip cancellation, etc.) I highly recommend http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/. The website looks totally 1990s, but I used them to get travel insurance prior to going to Antarctica with Michael, and my wife used them to get insurance before going to Paris. Excellent service and good prices.

Neil

[dreed]

I would strongly suggest insuring camera equipment seperatly, through a specialised insurer.

In any investigations i've done for travel coverage from standard 'travel insurance', they won't touch it with a barge pole.    

Regards

Mark

Mark, can you suggest any such insurers?

(I realise this is some time after the above question, but you get side tracked...)

Thanks,
Darren

[neile]

Mark, can you suggest any such insurers?

(I realise this is some time after the above question, but you get side tracked...)

Is your gear business gear or personal gear? If it's just personal gear your regular homeowners policy should be able to cover it. Call your insurance company and ask about adding "listed items" to your existing plan. Before I launched my own business I had all my gear listed on my homeowner's policy and it covered all losses.

If it's business gear you can get a business policy from any number of insurance brokers. I am currently with State Farm. If you are a member of PPA they have special deals through Liberty (http://www.ppa.com/benefits/insurance.php).

Neil

[PeterAit]

In preparation for an upcoming trip to Asia, I'm thinking about what I need for travel insurance.

I usually organise this via American Express, but their agents in the USA have a limit of $2,000 on luggage items - and that's their premium level travel insurance! This is barely enough to cover a laptop and accessories, never mind camera equipment.

With LL organising expeditions to Africa, Antartica and Asia, I was wondering of there are any insurance agents (or brokers) that people can recommend?

My goal, in this case, would be cover luggage up to a total of around $20,000.

Any suggestions?

Your equipment may already be covered by home owner's insurance. If not, they may offer a travel rider.