Motorbike Touring Travel Insurance

Motorbike Touring Travel Insurance FAQs

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   Do BeMoto do travel insurance?

   Yes, BeMoto offers travel insurance for bikers who want to tour in Europe, take part on overseas trackdays or off-road riding (whether that's Enduro, Motocross or cross-country adventure riding).

   Most normal travel insurance policies exclude cover for riding large capacity motorbikes overseas, in other words they'll cover you for riding a 50cc moped or 125cc scooter but nothing more, so if you decide last minute to jump on a quad tour or hire a cruiser for the day you may not be covered for emergency medical and repatriation costs unless you buy specialist cover like ours.

   BeMoto Travel and Repatriation Insurance (often known as "Repat") is also widely used for Euro trackdays and dirt bike holidays, including amateur racing events if you choose the additional options/packages on our policy - no cover is available for professional racing overseas.

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   Is it BeMoto who deal with the Travel Insurance and Repatriation claims?

   No. BeMoto does not handle travel claims. The insurer has appointed CEGA Assistance to handle claims, including 24/7 emergency medical assistance and non-emergency claims. It is important to call CEGA Assistance on the number in the table above as soon as possible if any medical expenses are likely to exceed £500 or if you are admitted to hospital.

   We can’t risk being a middleman delaying the process of getting you vital emergency treatment and we certainly don’t have specialist medical claims handlers, relationships with hospitals and medical experts or a team of foreign language speakers...

   You, or someone in your party, should always call the CEGA 24 hour emergency assistance team on +44 (0) 1243 621 501 as soon as possible to get the insurer involved to ensure (a) you are taken to the most appropriate public/state medical facility and (b) it’s better if they agree treatment with the hospital in advance, where practical or possible, to avoid you committing to things they won’t agree to pay for.

   For non-emergencies the CEGA general claims number is +44 (0) 345 258 7172. Open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (closed at the weekends).

   Clearly if you’re unconscious or in no fit state to make phone calls then that may mean calling them later, at the earliest possible opportunity. If you wind up in a private hospital through no fault of your own, the insurer reserves the right to move you to a public/state hospital at an appropriate time (being careful not to risk your recovery).

   NEVER provide your payment card details to a hospital or clinic.

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   What's the difference between a "Repat" policy and my GHIC card?

   EEA member states are obliged to treat UK citizens showing a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), however in some cases (for example hazardous sports injuries) EHIC/GHIC is sometimes rejected by the hospital – rightly or wrongly - or it may only cover part of the costs. That’s why travel and repatriation insurance is required for overseas trackdays and off-road riding, even at public hospitals the bills can quickly rack up.

   Significantly neither does the EHIC or GHIC get you repatriated home (where medically necessary and safe to do so) or where necessary repatriate one other person who is required for medical reasons to stay with you.

   Remember repatriation can be very costly, for example if you can't safely travel in a normal plane seat, or the airline won't accept the risk of travelling without medical supervision for the journey. BeMoto Emergency repatriation cover is on top of the medical limits (£100k limit alive, or £50k in a body bag).

   In some cases insurers have paid for relatives to fly out, including accommodation, to support customers when stranded overseas whilst receiving treatment. Again an EHIC or GHIC card won't provide this kind of support when needed.

   Find out more about the GHIC here (please note residents of the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands are not eligible): Travelling Outside the EEA (NHS page)

   Note: Make sure you answer all medical questions honestly and accurately when buying any travel insurance policy. Pre-Existing conditions will always be excluded unless declared and accepted by the insurer (sometimes for additional premium). Ensure you buy the cover whilst still in the UK, before you leave, and it must cover the whole duration of your trip.

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   Does Repatriation Insurance cover private hospital treatment?

   BeMoto Repatriation Insurance is a travel insurance policy (not private medical insurance). It's intended to cover emergency medical and repatriation costs, and much like with the NHS, you'd be expected to go to the local emergency department, if medically capable public facilities are available.

   However, the insurers do understand that if you have an accident, e.g. whilst participating in a track or off-road event, you will be taken to the nearest appropriate medical facility, which could be public or private for initial treatment and assessment.

   If you are admitted to a private facility, call the Emergency Assistance Helpline as soon as possible and the insurers assistance team will advise what options are best for you.

   Never give a private hospital your payment information, and don't agree to any costs without prior authorisation from the insurer. Once the insurer has agreed to treatment, they will deal with any requests for payment from any private facility, so you should resist any request from them to make payment.

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   What's the issue with private hospitals?

   Travel insurance policies generally exclude medical treatment in private facilities (unless absolutely necessary and pre-authorised).

   Just like in the UK, private hospitals may not be equipped to deal with accident and emergency admissions, or have the range of staff needed to provide such treatment, investigation and care.
   

   As businesses, private hospitals also exist to make profit and are often unregulated with less frequent inspections compared to public/state facilities. This means that private hospitals have been known to over-treat, delay treatment or discharge, over-inflate costs and allegedly have been known to claim for treatment that never actually happened (ever wondered why you need multiple scans or had to stay longer than necessary?).

   Be aware that some hospitals provide private ambulances or encourage taxi's to ensure you end up in their clinics, which if you're not careful can lead to you being trapped in their care with large bills to pay.

   However, we appreciate that some countries, even within the EEA, do not offer the same high standard of care we are used to with the NHS, plus the language barrier can be daunting when you're on your own in a foreign hospital. Research the local facilities in advance and make sure you call the emergency assistance team at the very earliest opportunity.

   NEVER provide your payment card details to a hospital or clinic.