Camera gear insurance for international travel

[Thor]

The problem is in industry culture around travel insurance. As a general rule insurance companies HATE travel insurance. Absolutely hate it. The problem is the loss ratios (the $$ you pay out compared to $$ in premiums) are astronomically high. Last financial year my company only made less than $100k from travel insurance and yet we're one of the biggest providers in the country. That's why companies have absurd limits in regards to who they insure and how much for.

That is why doing what you have suggested is fraught with danger. When it comes to travel insurance claims most companies with do literally anything to weasel out of paying a claim. If they can find some barely tangible piece of evidence that your claim is even slightly below board they will deny the claim.

Depending on when you're travelling it pays to take some extra time and do some research about what is covered and compare what really matters to you (camera gear by the sounds of things). There is no point trying to beat an insurance company at their own game, it wont happen. If someone tries to tell you that they did it, it's only because it would have cost us more to deny than to pay.

If I did need to claim I would have evidence/testimonials to back it up. So it would make it hard for them to weasel their way out of logic.

I used these guys when traveling to Africa

http://www.photoinsurance.com.au/

Never had to make a claim so can't really report what they are like in that regard.

It's not my bread and butter, im an enthusiast. And from what I can tell they only insure businesses.

So why do they provide it? You would think those that hate it or don't make money from it would get out of the market and leave it to just a few companies prepared to specialise, price correctly and make a profit from it.

If it has shareholders or stakeholders there has to be money in it. Otherwise it would be a dud company in receivership imo. If it is true though the other sections of the conglomerate might be bearing the brunt of the financial loss.

[ktoopi]

I insure through PPIB (Professional Photographers Insurance Broker) and find them excellent.......I'm fairly sure you don't have to be a professional photographer to insure through them despite their name. You can always enquire.......

[Morgo]

It's not my bread and butter, im an enthusiast. And from what I can tell they only insure businesses.

Its not just for businesses or pros, you can tell right away on the photographic equipment page (2nd page you would go to) by looking at the quote estimate where it asks those questions.

I've used them and I'm just an enthusiast as well with pricey gear I wanted safe guarded and their policy was better than others I was looking at.

[Mark L]

If I did need to claim I would have evidence/testimonials to back it up. So it would make it hard for them to weasel their way out of logic.

That might just depend on the reason for your claim. This may be a bit simple but. While you can prove you owned something how can you prove it was stolen? Bloody pick-pockets.

[Thor]

That might just depend on the reason for your claim. This may be a bit simple but. While you can prove you owned something how can you prove it was stolen? Bloody pick-pockets.

Lol. Testimony I guess. from someone reputable.

Its not just for businesses or pros, you can tell right away on the photographic equipment page (2nd page you would go to) by looking at the quote estimate where it asks those questions.

I've used them and I'm just an enthusiast as well with pricey gear I wanted safe guarded and their policy was better than others I was looking at.

I will have another look.

I insure through PPIB (Professional Photographers Insurance Broker) and find them excellent.......I'm fairly sure you don't have to be a professional photographer to insure through them despite their name. You can always enquire.......

PPIB, thanks, I will look at them too.

[bcys1961]

Off topic from photography gear , but related to insurance companies making payments on claims.

A a major report in the SMH today , which will also be detailed on ABC Four Corners this Monday, about how insurance companies ( in this case Commonwealth Bank) , avoid paying out on Life and Trauma Insurance Policies. You can have a heart attack requiring your heart to be restarted with a defibrillator , but if it does not meet a strict medical ( and now outdated) definition of a heart attack , based on some levels of protein in your blood , then they would not pay out.

http://www.smh.com.au/interactive/20.../heart-attack/