Travel insurance for Russia

[Petal12]

Not my plans and I ultimately disagree with it but not my place to argue - my boss has asked me to research travel insurance for him to Russia. His wife is Russian and they have a lot of friends out there one of who is in bad health. My boss would like to go out there and visit him for 10 days or so. His wife will go later in the year. He is flying to turkey and then onward to russia from there. Boss is early 60s no real health problems but would obviously like some repatriation coverage for the worst case scenario. I have googled! Can anyone suggest or recommend somewhere I could research for this please? Money for the policy is not an issue. Thanks very much

He may need a specialist, given that the Foreign Office recommends against all travel to Russia. I would go to a broker.

Is he even likely to get a visa?

Is he a British national?. If so he will also need a visa.

He also needs to read the Russia travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Dual British-Russian nationals are treated as Russian nationals by local authorities. The consular support FCDO can provide is severely limited. If you are arrested or detained, Russian authorities are unlikely to allow consular access.
His travel insurance could be invalidated if he travels against FCDO advice. Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.

Look at "extreme" travel or dark tourism agencies (which is something slightly different but anyway) and see if any of them have insurers that they recommend. There are plenty of places that offer tours to Iraq, Iran, Yemen and the Stans, etc. Also try those that arrange tours to DPRK. All agencies will recommend insurance and they'll know regularly insurers won't offer cover to tourists going against FCDO advice so they are bound to know of specialist insurers.

Although if Russia fancies arresting a British passport holder insurance will probably do bugger all for him in reality. But as you said, not your issue. Just make sure you'll still have a job if your boss doesn't come back for a while. I wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about it but I would give it a wee thought so it isn't a total shock if no boss = no job.