BCRA > Information > Travel Insurance

The British Caving Association now offers a travel insurance policy specifically written for caving expeditions, and which includes the cost of cave rescue, as well as loss or damage to baggage and personal effects. Please note...

• Because the policy includes benefits typical of any travel insurance policy, the period of insurance must cover the entire period you are outside the UK otherwise it may be declared invalid.
• You do not have to be a member of BCA to purchase insurance cover under this policy, but there is a discount for individual members of BCA.
• This Travel Insurance Scheme is not sold to you by BCA; it is provided by an independent company, Towergate Risk Solutions, who essentially 'sponsor' the scheme by agreeing to provide it at a discount to Individual BCA members.
• As with all insurance schemes, you should check carefully that you will be adaquately covered. The BCA scheme is specifically written for caving expeditions, and it includes the cost of cave rescue services, although the cover is limited to £50,000. However, few travel insurance policies are likely to offer you a significantly higher level of cover for cave rescue, and if you come across one with more attractive terms you should check that this includes 'expedition caving' and 'original exploration'. (We have had reports that the 'small print' that describes such exclusions does not appear on web pages and is not known about by telephone sales people).
• BCA's insurance policy covers search and rescue costs provided by a 'recognised rescue service', and it defines this to include 'self-rescue' provided certain conditions are met. Other comparable policies may define 'recognised rescue service' in more restricted way. Clearly, if you are on an expedition in a country without an official cave rescue service, you should take care to choose an insurance policy that covers you for self-rescue, or for the despatch of a rescue team from the UK (which the BCA policy covers).
• Obviously it would be in your own interests to ask for a printed copy of any policy you are considering purchasing, and you should check the wording very carefully. There is little point in paying for an insurance policy if it does not, in fact, cover you for the risks you thought it did.
• If you are searching for other providers of Travel Insurance for Caving, see the Insurance Policy Comparisons below. BCA does not, of course, endorse any information given on other web sites.

The BCA Travel Insurance Scheme is administered by Towergate Risk Solutions and any enquiries regarding the scheme should be directed to them via the contact information on their web site.

• Cancellation/Curtailment
• Personal Accident
• Medical Expenses
• including Search and Rescue
• Hospital Benefit
• Baggage/Personal Effects/Caving equipment
• Travel Delay & Abandonment
• Personal Liability
• Hijack