News

Almost 3,000 UK Citizens A Week Claim On Travel Insurance For Medical Treatment Abroad

It is that time of year when people are looking forward to a much needed holiday abroad whether that is a week or two across the English Channel in France or Spain or further afield to the likes of the USA or Mexico. Unfortunately, not everyone bothers to arrange travel insurance that includes medical cover but having read the following statistics published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) we are sure you will agree it would be sensible to do so.

According to the ABI, in 2018 there were 153,000 people who claimed successfully on their travel insurance policy for overseas medical treatment. That is not far off 3,000 people a week – a significant number.

The average amount paid out per medical claim reached a record level – £1,368. That is almost twice what it was 10 years ago when the figure was £768. That equates to around £209 million.

In total, £400 million was paid out last year relating to all sorts of travel insurance claims with an average amount of around £800 per claim with this being a record.

The amount paid out in 2018 for cancellation of holidays amounted to a huge £145 million. This was made up of 167,000 successful claims with the average amount paid per claim reaching a record level of £869.

£17 million was paid out to 79,000 people who had lost money or baggage with the average amount of a claim being paid out totaling £214.

In some cases, claims can run into tens of thousands of pounds so it is important that travellers have suitable cover in place. In one case, a couple on holiday in America were seriously injured having been hit by a drunk driver and the medical bill amounted to £587,000.

So, what has happened to premiums for travel insurance in 2018? Well, you would have thought they had increased but this is not the case as the average cost of travel insurance has fallen by £38 per annum.

You will be pleased to read that, if you are shortly to embark on an overseas trip, either on your own, with your partner or your family here at AIB Insurance we have many years experience in helping arrange suitable, quality, competitive overseas travel insurance to most countries around the world. So, why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a knowledgeable, friendly member of our team who will discuss your requirements and obtain a quotation without any obligation.

Chris Moon Joins AIB Insurance

Airsports Insurance Bureau is thrilled to announce strengthening our Eastleigh team further with the appointment of experienced insurance professional, Chris Moon.

Chris joins our busy team as one of our specialist Niche & High Net Worth Insurance Consultants adding his many years’ experience within the insurance broking industry.  His previous position was at Savage and Holdsworth in Romsey where he joined after 3 successful years at Aston Scott in Alton.  Prior to that he worked for over 12 years at Apex Insurance in Eastleigh (which during his tenure was purchased by Swinton Insurance).

He joins the team where he will deal with every aspect of an expanding, predominantly high net worth personal lines insurance broker, including motor, travel, home and commercial insurance.

A delighted Chris said:” This is a perfect opportunity for me to develop my career further in a fast-paced expanding broker.  I’m really looking forward to getting my teeth into and growing the high net worth motor and home book.

At AIB we pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and the professional relationships we are able to build with clients and insurer partners alike. We encourage our team to reach their full potential and give them the tools and resources for a rewarding career in a satisfying but demanding environment. If you are interested in a position with us please send your CV and accompanying letter to info@www.aib-insurance.co.uk

Chris lives locally in Eastleigh with his partner of 19 years and 3 children.  Most of his spare time is taken up with the family and his claim to fame is he got to meet Rodd Hull and Emu as a child!

Becca Milles Joins AIB

We are extremely happy to welcome Becca Milles to our company. We have a busy and successful team of professionals at Airsports Insurance Bureau (AIB) and Becca joins as our Administration Manager.

Prior to joining us Becca had her own photography business with her own studio having graduated with a First Class Honours Degree from the Arts University at Bournemouth.

AIB representative Leah Burt confirmed “this is fantastic news for our company and our newest employee Becca is fitting in very well. She is a fast learner and adaptable and even been on a few staff social nights out. She will be a valuable asset within the team and enhance our clients’ experience when doing business with us”.

Becca lives locally in Chandlers Ford and her claim to fame is she once had dinner with both Danny DeVito and Elton John dressed in a chicken outfit. A childhood fact is when she was very young she once got a Tic-Tak stuck up her nose which despite every attempt, couldn’t get recovered until the Fire Service arrived!

AIB are fabulous at motor and home insurance so if you need a quotation, please call our team on 02380 268351 or please feel free to complete an enquiry form just now here: www.aib.co.uk

Good luck Becca and welcome on board!

An MP Is More Likely To Have A Driving Conviction

The price comparison website GoComapre.com has carried out some analysis of car insurance quotes over a 12 month period that reveals a Member Of Parliament is most likely to have a driving conviction than any other occupation. This may come as a surprise to many of you.

As you are probably aware, what you do for a living is one of the factors that affect how much a car insurance provider charges you for your cover. The greater the risk that you are perceived to be in danger of being involved in a road traffic accident the more you are likely to pay for your motor insurance.

 

Total Convictions

Their research revealed that 24.4% of quotes they looked at for Members of Parliament involved that person having one or more driving convictions. In second place were Sales Directors at 20.8%. In third place were Managing Directors at 19.7%. In fourth place were Bailiffs at 19.4%. In fifth place were Radio Presenters at 19.2%. In sixth place were Riggers at 19.1%. In seventh place were Money Brokers at 18.8%. In eighth place were Operations Directors at 18.7%. In ninth place were Company Chairmen at 18.2%. In tenth place were Surgeons at 17.6%.

 

Convictions for Speeding

If you look at the occupations that have the most speeding convictions it is interesting that 22.1% of car insurance quotes for Members of Parliament revealed such a conviction. In second place were Radio Presenters at 19.2%. In third place were Sales Directors at 18.9%. In fourth place were Managing Directors at 17.7%. In fifth place were Operations Directors at 17.4%. In sixth place were Bailiffs at 16.7%. In joint seventh place were Money Brokers and Company Chairmen at 16.6%. In ninth place were Surgeons at 16.5%. In tenth place were Chartered Surveyors at 16.3%.

 

At-Fault Claims   

The occupation with the most at-fault claims when looking at the above car insurance quotes was a Paediatrician at 17.0%. In second place was a Psychiatrist at 14.0%. In third place was an Usher at 13.1%. In fourth place was a General Practitioner at 12.4%. In joint fifth place were a Surgeon and Hospital Consultant at 12.2%. In seventh place was a Museum Consultant at 11.6%. In eighth place was a Radiologist at 11.5%. In joint ninth place were a Transcriber and Vicar at 11.3%.

All the above factors can impact upon how much a motor insurance provider charges you for the cover you require. It is important that when looking to obtain cover that you use the likes of an insurance broker that has an extensive panel of insurers at their disposal. In this respect, why not get in touch with us here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 and speak with an experienced member of our team. He or she will discuss your requirements in detail so that a competitive quotation can be provided for your perusal and consideration. We look forward to being of assistance.

 

Enjoying the Grand National with our friends at United Legal

A big thank you for the invitation from United Legal to join them at the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool.

The day started with a beautiful sun drenched spring morning, champagne reception and food that tasted as good as it looked. It finished with the much fancied 4-1 favourite Tiger Rolls marching home becoming the first horse since Red Rum, some 45 years ago, to win back to back Grand Nationals.

Ridden by Davy Russell, Tiger Rolls was level with Magic of Light (66-1) going over the last fence, but pulled clear to repeat last year’s win.Ruby Walsh finished third on Rathvinden (8-1) with Walk in the Mill (25-1) fourth.

Not since the legendary Red Rum in 1974 had a horse successfully defended the Grand National. Red Rum added a third in 1977 to become one of the all-time greats, and now Tiger Roll has sealed his place in Aintree folklore – the question is of course, will owner Michael O’Leary allow him to defend his title in 2020?

A brilliant day was made even better when our very own Jenna backed the winner, Tiger Rolls!!

United Legal are specialist providers of Legal Expenses Insurance, meaning if you have an accident or if you want to claim, they will provide a hassle free service to reduce the risk of high legal fees if something goes wrong.

With over 25 years experience in the insurance industry, they also provide the uninsured loss recovery, credit hire and repair and third party intervention to Insurance Brokers clients in the United Kingdom.

Kangaroo Attacks Paraglider In Australia

KangarooThose of you who are keen paragliders no doubt love the thrill and excitement of taking to the air and pitting yourself against the elements in the sky. Once airborne, you are faced with many challenges but this is just one of the many attractions of the sport.

Having spent some time travelling many miles paragliding, you are then faced with the danger of having to make a safe landing. Most paragliders land without a problem but some suffer broken limbs if they mis-judge their landing perhaps due to a sudden gust of wind putting them of course and leaving them stranded in the branches of a large oak tree.

It is no doubt a great sense of relief having put two feet safely on the earth without suffering any mishap. Surely nothing untoward can then happen?

Well, this was not the case for a 35-year-old paraglider over in Australia. Apparently, the man in question had enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours paragliding. He descended and both feet safely touched the ground at the Orroral Valley Space Tracking Station near Canberra. However, even before he had had the opportunity to gather his parachute and get out of his gear he saw a kangaroo skipping hastily towards him. Having then warmly greeted the approaching kangaroo the marsupial then proceeded to attack him not once but twice by punching him.

Fortunately, he did not suffer any serious injury and hopefully the unexpected experience will not have put him off paragliding in the future although he will no doubt be on the look out for any kangaroos in the vicinity of where he next plans to land.

Fortunately, coming face to face with a kangaroo is not something that paragliders taking to the air here in the UK are likely to encounter when landing although no doubt some people have probably come down in a field of cattle and felt a little uneasy.

Lady Accused Of Severing Hand And Claiming On Insurance Policy

Apparently, a female has been accused by the police force in Slovenia of deliberately getting a member of her family to help her cut off one of her hands. So, why would someone do such a thing?

Well, it is claimed that the 21-year-old lady, not too long ago, took out an insurance policy that would pay out in the event of an injury. This policy is believed to have provided cover in the event of such a claim for in the region of a lump sum of 400,000 Euros plus 3,000 Euros per month. We are sure that you will agree these are significant sums of money.

It is claimed that a circular saw was used to severe the woman’s hand from just above her wrist. We are sure that you will agree this does sound rather gruesome and, if proved to be correct, shows what extreme lengths someone will go to try to defraud an insurance company.

Apparently, the woman in question along with a relative of hers are in police custody and could end up spending as long as 8 years in prison if found guilty of what they have been accused of.

It is also claimed that some relatives of the woman who is under investigation got her to the hospital but did not bring the hand that had been cut off with them and informed hospital staff she had been sawing some branches at the time the injury took place. Subsequently, the lady’s hand has been located and re-attached to her arm.

If her and the detained relative are found guilty then they could face as long as 8 years in prison.

Here in the UK, a Personal Accident Plan will usually pay out a lump sum for a legitimate claim due to a certain occurrence such as the loss of a limb. If this is something you are interested in then why not give us a call here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 and a member of our team will be pleased to discuss your requirements and obtain a competitive quotation for your consideration without any obligation.

25% Of UK Households Have No Contents Insurance

Whilst it is not a legal requirement to insure the contents and personal possessions in your home, surely it is a sensible thing to cover against the likes of fire, theft or accidental damage. After all, the cost of replacing things like your furniture, white goods and clothes could run into many thousands of pounds.

Well, according to the recently published ABI’s Home Insurance Premium Tracker covering 2018, a staggering one in four households here in the UK have not bothered to arrange such cover. That equates to around six million households.

Yet, the average cost of insuring home contents is only £127 per annum. That is a mere £2.44 per week – a small price to pay for the peace of mind of knowing that you can replace your contents if they are damaged in a fire and only have to pay the excess towards the cost of the items replaced.

Below is a list of the percentage of households in the UK that do not have home contents insurance broken down on a regional basis: –

Northern Ireland                      18%

South East                               19%

East Midlands                         21%

Yorkshire & Humberside        22%

East Anglia                             22%

South West                              22%

Wales                                      22%

North West                              24%

Scotland                                  26%

West Midlands                        28%

North East                               32%

London                                    45%

As you can see, Northern Ireland has the lowest percentage of households without contents cover at 18% and London has the highest percentage at 45%.

The above tracker also revealed that the average premium for buildings insurance in 2018 stood at £258 per annum with this being a drop of 8% when compared with the previous year. The average cost of combined buildings and contents insurance was £307 per annum with this being 1% more than in 2017.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have an extensive panel of closely vetted insurance companies that provide buildings and contents cover. So, if you are a single person living in rented accommodation looking to insure your contents or a family living in your own home looking to cover the buildings and contents, why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a friendly, experienced member of our team. He or she will discuss your requirements and then look to obtain a no-obligation quotation from one of our panel members with a view to providing you and your family with complete peace of mind. We look forward to being of assistance.

Azur Group Joins Our Panel Of Insurers

We are pleased to announce that we have added the Azur Group to our closely vetted panel of Azur Underwritinginsurers. The company specialises in providing high net worth clients with home and motor insurance through an arrangement with AIG that used to be shirt sponsors of Manchester United FC.

Azur has a reputation for providing bespoke insurance products for the discerning client to ensure that their high value home, contents and personal belongings are covered in the event of the likes of a fire, theft or accidental damage and that their executive motor vehicle is insured for the same risks

Home Insurance

Azur’s home insurance provides numerous benefits including clients having peace of mind in knowing that their residential properties have comprehensive cover with contents being insured for up to an impressive 50% of the amount that the building is covered for. Their all risks cover is renowned for being one of the best in the insurance industry.

Any newly purchased items are covered immediately with a period of 90 days being allowed to add something to the home insurance policy. It is pleasing to read that wherever a client takes their contents around the world they will be covered. Another interesting benefit is that even if the cost of rebuilding or repairing a property is more than the amount insured it will still be covered. The cost of providing alternative accommodation is met for up to 3 years. With the ever-increasing threat of cyber attack such cover for up to £100,000 is provided.

Motor Insurance

Azur has a reputation for insuring the likes of luxury and high performance cars providing comprehensive cover. An interesting benefit is that if a vehicle is stolen or damaged beyond repair and is less than 3 years of age it will be replaced with a new one of the identical make and model. If a client or their spouse drives another car that they or a family member does not own that is not mentioned in the schedule of the policy he or she will be insured on a fully comprehensive basis.

For the duration of a claim for repair damage, the cost of providing the insured with a hire car of a similar value to the one that is being repaired will be met. A client can choose anyone to repair their vehicle with manufacturer’s original parts being used wherever possible. Car rental cover is provided for up to 90 days.

Our clients will be pleased to read that Azur are renowned for providing a quality service in all their departments from producing the tailor-made quotation, setting up the home or motor insurance policy and processing any claims.

Here at AIB Insurance, we look forward to working closely with Azur for the benefit of our high net worth clients wishing to arrange quality cover for their residential properties and/or motor vehicles.

Driving in the EEA after Brexit 29th March 2019

 

Here at AIB (Airsports Insurance Bureau Limited), the team are busy ensuring we are all prepared to minimise the impact to our valued clients if Britain leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement in place, and in the absence of a specific agreement to the contrary.

As it stands, if you take your vehicle to Europe, after the 29th March 2019, you will need to ensure you carry a physical Green Card while driving your vehicle in the European Economic Area (EEA) and some other countries (Andorra, Serbia and Switzerland). A list of EEA countries is available on the Gov.uk web site:-  https://www.gov.uk/eu-eea

 

What is a Green card?

A Green Card is an International Certificate issued by your insurer, and acts as evidence that the minimum legal cover required is in force for the country visited whilst driving outside the UK. The Green Card is a physical document which is printed on green paper and cannot be issued in an electronic format. You must therefore ensure you have a green card before you travel.

 

Who needs a green card?

  • If you are travelling to the EU and will return prior to 29th March 2019, you do not need a Green Card and do not need to contact us for a Green Card.
  • If you are planning to be driving your vehicle in the EU on or after 29th March 2019, please contact us 7 to 14 days before you plan to travel so we can understand your needs and issue you with a Green Card if you require one.
  • In the event there is no deal, a Green Card will be required for all vehicles which travel in the EU after 29 March to prove that you have the required insurance, regardless of the level of motor cover provided on your policy. This is true even if you have a foreign use extension on your motor policy.
  • Please note that you will need a Green Card when driving from Northern Ireland to Ireland.

 

Important:

  • Green Cards must be physically presented in the country of travel, as a hard copy, and cannot be presented in a digital format or soft copy.
  • Only printed original Green Cards will be accepted in the country of travel, not copies of any kind.
  • In addition to a Green Card, all drivers will require an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) which can be obtained from The Post Office. Without both documents, the vehicle will not be allowed in to the country. Please refer to the following link for further information: www.postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-permit

 

What if a policyholder travels without a Green Card?

They will be breaking the law and may be accused of driving without insurance. They could be subject to a fine, have their vehicle seized or face prosecution. The only other legal option available would be to purchase insurance locally when they arrive in the country (often known as ‘frontier insurance’). However, such insurance cover may not be widely available and may be more expensive than UK issued policies.

 

Action Required: Contact the team

To request a green card, please contact us 7-14 days prior to travelling with appropriate notice.   Please be aware the cost for this depends on your insurer, however, currently most insurers are not charging (this could change in the future).

 

 Contact us by phone

Telephone:         02380 268 351

 Contact us by email

Email us:              info@aib-insurance.co.uk

Given that Brexit is an ever-changing landscape, please keep an eye on any communications released by industry bodies such as BIBA and the ABI, who have created a Q&A document for consumers – https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/choosing-the-right-insurance/motor-insurance/travelling-to-the-eu-if-a-no-deal-brexit/