Cparker:
It doesnt really matter who you pick provided they cover you for the following and that you are aware of the following:
85% of all medical situations preventing you from flying allow the CAA (UK) to SUSPEND your licence. A very FEW ailments actually allow them to REVOKE your licence [ diabetes / serious heart problems etc].
Almost all LOL insurances wont pay out on a suspended licence, only a permanent LOSS OF LICENCE claim.
The CAA mentality is that you might well be suffering from this or that, now....but it might clear up sometime in the future and they might be able to give you your category back. The insurance companies therefore wont pay up!!
Some ailments actually allow you to continue flying even with serious repairs like heart bypass, cancer etc by reclassifying you as multi crew only. This means you can no longer fly solo.
Some insurance companies pay out monthly while you are 'ill' at say 2% of the total cover amount. This might be a better option as it is more flexible.
ALWAYS tell the company anything medical that happens to you no matter how seemingly insignificant. Ask them if they want to hear from you everytime you go to the docs with a pain or cold. Most will ask only for significant changes in your health.
Read the small print over and over again...if there is any misunderstanding...call them up and talk to them about it.
DON'T TRUST THEM......they will do everything in their power to squirm out of paying. Stick to your guns and dont back down.
I tell you this from personal experience of several claims from several companies we went through for our pilots. We have ironed out most of the irregularities now but it's taken years to establish transparency with the insurance company.
good luck.
Last edited by Hawk; 5th Jul 2005 at 00:34.