Insurance

Under booking condition number 13, Birdfinders insists upon adequate travel insurance being taken out by participants on all overseas tours. It is not a condition of booking that travel insurance is taken out through Birdfinders but, when the final balance is sent, I do need to have a photocopy of the policy document if an alternative policy is purchased, to ensure that the cover is adequate.

Birdfinders is able to provide competitive travel insurance from Gold Cover Travel Insurance. The decision as to which travel protection insurance is selected is entirely the participant’s and without Birdfinder's recommendation. A summary of the limits of the sums covered by Gold Cover Advance Premier is as follows. Excesses apply but can be waived for an additional £6 premium irrespective of age:

Pre-existing medical conditions are covered subject to prior approval by insurers and if travelling with doctor's approval. Premiums include IPT at 17.5%.

Excess waiver for all policies £9.40 irrespective of age or duration.

Cheques for travel insurance should be sent as soon as possible and, in any event, not less than one month prior to the final payment date, and made payable to Birdfinders for the policy to be effected. In the event of a holiday being cancelled by Birdfinders due to insufficient participants, the premium will be returned in full. The policy documents will be sent out with the final joining instructions after payment of the final balance. Please note that travel insurance is inadequate to cover specialist optical equipment such as binoculars, telescopes and cameras. It is common practice for these to be insured under the ‘all risks’ section of house insurance. Please contact your insurance company in this respect. Also, for all European holidays you will be expected to have a European Health Insurance Card available free of charge from the NHS www.dh.gov.uk/travellers.