Check the policy against emergency medical treatment, evacuation from a remote location, ship-to-shore transfer, transport to the nearest suitable facility, medical care in transit, repatriation, and whatever minimum your operator requires in writing. Then look at trip cancellation, interruption, missed connection, delay, baggage, pre-existing conditions, weather disruption and every activity you plan to do. This is a checklist to take to an insurer, not a statement that any particular policy is adequate.
The questions worth putting to them, roughly in order of how often they turn out to matter:
- Does the policy explicitly cover Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, South Georgia and the Falklands
- Does evacuation begin while I'm still on the vessel, or only from a port
- Is ship-to-shore or ship-to-airstrip transfer covered
- Is repatriation a separate benefit from evacuation, with a separate limit
- Who decides which facility counts as the nearest adequate one
- Does the insurer arrange transport or reimburse me afterwards, and is pre-authorisation required
- Is there a 24-hour assistance line, and what happens when communication is limited
- Are pre-existing conditions covered or waived, and is there a purchase deadline for the waiver
- Are a medical escort, a travelling companion and dependent children covered
- Is repatriation of mortal remains covered
- Does it satisfy my operator's exact written minimum and the South Georgia permit wording
Ask us and we'll get the operator's requirement in writing so you have something concrete to hand the insurer.