Insurance Coup; Triumph for AFF

[TonyB]

Does the Amex Plat Card insurance cover family members?

Cheers,

JOBU

I know that the Plat credit card covers the cardholder, their spouse and dependent children provided the travel is paid for with the card and in my experience (based on one claim last year) they pay out quickly with no trouble at all. I pay for all my travel with my AMEX and that is the only insurance cover I have when I travel (which averages 12-13 overseas trips a year).

[lvabarg]

i have had the misfortune of having to make a claim through Amex Platinum Travel Insurance. The underwriting company they deal with has the WORST customer service i have ever encountered. It took over 3 months to get anywhere with the claim , and in the end the only reason it was sorted was because I wrote and complained to the insurance ombudsman. i would NEVER travel without another type of travel insurance if only to avoid the frustration that arose due to their inaction and unreasonable red tape. My total claim was about $1000.

[RB]

i have had the misfortune of having to make a claim through Amex Platinum Travel Insurance. The underwriting company they deal with has the WORST customer service i have ever encountered. It took over 3 months to get anywhere with the claim , and in the end the only reason it was sorted was because I wrote and complained to the insurance ombudsman. i would NEVER travel without another type of travel insurance if only to avoid the frustration that arose due to their inaction and unreasonable red tape. My total claim was about $1000.

To help me evaluate things further it would be great if you could provide a few general (non-personal) details of the complications you encountered.

[Bunty]

I know that the Plat credit card covers the cardholder, their spouse and dependent children provided the travel is paid for with the card and in my experience (based on one claim last year) they pay out quickly with no trouble at all. I pay for all my travel with my AMEX and that is the only insurance cover I have when I travel (which averages 12-13 overseas trips a year).

Amex Platinum Charge Card (circa $990p.a.) does indeed automatically cover the cardholder, spouse and dependant children, but also the Supplementary Card holder(s) and their spouse and dependant children. Pretty good value, considering you could have several Supplementary cardholders and they could have numerous spouses/dependent children!

Also, the Platinum Amex Charge card does not require the travel (or any part of it) to be paid on the card to qualify for the travel insurance, just being an Amex Platinum Charge Card member is adequate qualification.

[Bunty]

i have had the misfortune of having to make a claim through Amex Platinum Travel Insurance. The underwriting company they deal with has the WORST customer service i have ever encountered. It took over 3 months to get anywhere with the claim , and in the end the only reason it was sorted was because I wrote and complained to the insurance ombudsman. i would NEVER travel without another type of travel insurance if only to avoid the frustration that arose due to their inaction and unreasonable red tape. My total claim was about $1000.

I am aware of an Amex Platinum Cardmember who claimed urgent dental work that was completed while travelling through the USA. No problems were experienced with the claim following their return.

I believe the insurer Amex uses is ACE and the claims handler is AXA.

[haydensydney]

I am aware of an Amex Platinum Cardmember who claimed urgent dental work that was completed while travelling through the USA. No problems were experienced with the claim following their return.

I believe the insurer Amex uses is ACE and the claims handler is AXA.

I agree - we claimed through ACE/AXA for a stolen LV jacket and we received prompt payment after completing the documentation. The whole process was far from difficult so I have no real concerns on relying on this cover in future.

[straitman]

i have had the misfortune of having to make a claim through Amex Platinum Travel Insurance. The underwriting company they deal with has the WORST customer service i have ever encountered. It took over 3 months to get anywhere with the claim , and in the end the only reason it was sorted was because I wrote and complained to the insurance ombudsman. i would NEVER travel without another type of travel insurance if only to avoid the frustration that arose due to their inaction and unreasonable red tape. My total claim was about $1000.

lvabarg,

Welcome to AFF.

Could you confirm that you are talking about the travel insurance associated with the Amex Platinum Credit card rather than the Platinum Charge Card

[sandiefran]

Last year I used One Cover annual policy but the price jumped by almost $200, so this year I am covered by TID but it is only for up to 39 days per trip.

I have found that the Sydney Morning Herald has a policy - annual for couples up to 75 years, trips to 90 days = $595. To insure for our single trip of 48 days would be $786! Crazy!!!

I shall buy this one when my current one expires - the only thing is that I cannot forward purchase it - it is in effect from the day you sign up, but I am covered until mid October, with TID so will have to wait until then to take up the new cover.

Take a look at "smh.aceinsurance.com.au"

[themaiz]

But it would certainly be good to have some more feedback from other users of Travellers Insurance Direct. Has their experience been good, indifferent or bad, and if bad, in what way? Does anyone have any regrets over having bought a TID policy?

Cocitus 23.

I've been using TID's annual policy for a heap of years, and so far none of my trips has exceeded the policy cover for a single trip (38 days personal/90 days business). I asked about the definition of "trip", and it's pretty much as soon as you head out of town.

About two months ago I was in the US and needed to get medical attention for an allergic reaction... nothing drastic, but the treatment involved three hospital visits in two states. This is the first time I've had a claim with TID, which is handled by Mondial, and I'm really impressed:

• They confirmed within 12 hours of my submitting the first paperwork that my case was under management, and that I was covered by the policy
• To my question "have I done the right thing by going to the emergency room", the answer was "do whatever it takes".
• I got several calls from Oz to discuss the case and check how I was going - they happily phoned my US cellphone
• There was no problem getting through to a case manager or medical advisor, even in the middle of the Australian night
• The mantra is "keep receipts and make a claim"

My experience of medical treatment in the US has been universally good, with one exception (last point below). It's pretty much like you see on TV: the hospitals are overloaded, staff are overworked, but the doctors and nurses do care a lot for the 30 seconds that they can spend with you. What you don't see on TV is that, just ahead of the medicos, is a limpet-like admin person who needs every last billing detail from you before they will let go.

Mondial has an agent in New York who acts as a clearing house for paperwork and claims by US medical practitioners/hospitals. In theory, the hospital sends the bill to the agent, who then does whatever liaison is needed with Mondial, and the agent pays the US provider onshore. Since no US provider has any concept of out-of-country clients or that "insurance" might not mean a US policy, that's the sticking point. I had one bill follow me to my home address, but Mondial is going to sort that out.

Two things I can add from the experience:

* fine print: the TID policy covers you for cancelled/changed/additional airfares if you are on a trip and need to come home because of a medical emergency with family in Oz. But it DOES NOT cover you if you need to extend a trip to cover a medical emergency involving family who are at the overseas location.

* choice of provider is yours, and is important: I was directed (by a hospital, not by TID) to a "family clinic" for a check up, presumably because it was going to be cheaper than a hospital admission. First clue that I was in the wrong place for my demographic: the form which asked me to identify "how many times have you been victim of domestic violence". Aargh. Don't feel the need to go back there again. And the doctor was crap.

[JoanieLG]

I'm going through the exercise at the moment for a 70+ and 23 year old. One is for 6 weeks the other 3 and I need snow sports cover. I always used Toursafe which QBE has now taken over and they have gone through the roof. They had increased their cost last year and we used CHI. I found GIO travel insurance which is through Vero Insurance and coverage appears the same and costing is very reasonable. I will check TID for their cover.