Am I covered?

The best single piece of advice we can give is to READ THE POLICY WORDING CAREFULLY.

Let's repeat that again: Take your time. Have a cup of tea. Sit down quietly and read the policy fine print. Especially the exclusions.

No policy will cover you for everything in all circumstances. Some of the typical clauses you may find in your policy wording include: "involving alcohol or drugs", "expenses relating to HIV or STD's" or "deliberately put your life in danger".

Probably the best advice that can be given regarding travel insurance, is to act as though you are uninsured. Initially this sounds contradictory, but if you think about it, if you have acted and behaved as though uninsured you will likely behave in a more careful manner.

Government Travel Warnings

These are issued by DFAT in Australia or the the FCO in the UK. These typically have three levels of warning: avoid all travel there, avoid travel to certain regions of said country and avoid all but essential travel. Most travel insurance policies won't cover you for the first of these, and often won't cover you for the second. If in doubt, contact the insurance company you had in mind and ask (preferably in writing).

Terrorism

No company covers cancellation expenses if you decide you no longer want to travel because of a terrorist incident at your destination. You may not be covered if you cut short your trip to return to Australia after a terrorist event (you may feel unsafe and want to get out of the country immediately). As you’d expect, if you’re injured because of terrorism your medical expenses or evacuation should be covered but check your policy or ask the insurer. Columbus Direct, for example, limits the cover to 1% of the total medical limit in its policy.

Bird Flu

Bird Flu is a great unknown. Nobody, certainly not your insurance company, really has any idea what would happen. IF this happened and countries closed their borders, your insurance company isn't going to be able to get you home no matter what's in the wording. It's worth asking what's their policy on cover but since nobody really knows it's all a bit academic.

Cover with your Credit Card

If you have a credit card, you may have free overseas travel insurance. However these policies work differently from normal travel insurance policies since you usually don’t need to apply for the cover, simply pay for all or sometimes part of your travel costs with your card and you’re automatically covered.

However, it’s essential read the terms of the policy carefully and in full since compared with normal travel insurance policies there are some special conditions:

Cover is usually only provided if you pay the full cost of your travel costs with your card.
Cover is only available for international travel.
There are usually restrictions on the duration of cover
Policies usually have an automatic policy excess.
Pre-existing medical conditions may be covered but only if you specifically apply.
Car hire excess is usually only covered if you’ve paid for the hire on your card.
Specific activities may not be covered.
If it is a business credit card you may not be covered at all.

Customer Comments (8)

John Mills

30/9/2008 10:17 PM

I am enquiring for a Canadian friend who lives in Cambodia and is visiting India for four months. He is 72. Can he be insured? If the answer is "yes" what would be the cost?

c.moore

3/6/2008 01:37 PM

Would like to get insurance for my 86 yr old mother who wants to travel with my partner and I to Belgium in October, could you let me know what I will be required to do... and pay for this insurance??

Tina Nichols

15/3/2006 02:14 PM

My parents are planning to travel to Australia from the UK between November 06 and January 07. Mums age is 65 (turning 66 on 30 Dec 06) Dad's age is 60 Mum has a medical history - a stroke 5 years ago and is on medication for high blood pressure. She is also undergoing tests due to reflux problems. Dad has let ulcers and fibulating heart so is on medication too. They need to be covered during their stay in Australia and enroute to/from Australia as they will have to change planes in either Singapore or Malayasia or elsewhere. Please could you give me insurance options for both. They don't necessarily have to be with the same insurance company. Dad will stay less than 30 days and is a younger age group than mum. Mum will be staying longer than 30 days but less than 2 months and is 65 years old. Problem I'm having is that ticketing agent doesn't want to issue them with tickets until they get insurance and insurance won't give them insurance until mum's results of reflux have been received. This won't be until April or May and the flights are already pretty full. I'm worried they won't be able to come when they want if they leave it any longer. Many thanks for your response.

Dianne March

6/3/2006 09:42 AM

I wish to travel to Greece and Turkey in May. Is there any insurance to cover the, at the moment unlikely death of my 93yr old mother?

Luz Murillo

27/2/2006 01:15 AM

I am Travelling to Colombia, South America from Australia stopping over Los Angeles a couple of days. The trip will last 3 months

Kelly B.

26/10/2005 08:44 PM

Hi I am travelling to England & Europe on a 12 month working visa. So will work & backpack my way around with a friend. I will have a laptop, handycam wo=ith me worth about $2000 together & my other personal items worth about $1000. What would be the best insurance to get. I may also travel to Japan at a later date so would like it to be flexible.

Alan Cockram

26/10/2005 06:02 PM

Taking ateam of 11 people to India in February 2006 . 9 will be away10 days 2 away 14days. Can you provide information for a package deal

Elizabeth Nekula

2/9/2005 02:48 PM

I just turned 80 and in good health generaly except some arthritis and slightly elevated blood preassure (1 tablet Moduretic daily). I require Travel insurance for holidays in Tahiti in October 2005(13 days). Any suggestions?

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