Travel Insurance [Credit Card] Query

[Owen Bentley]

Hi,

We want to travel overseas next year and pay for the trip with our credit card.
Is travel insurance included if we do this?
Specifically, cancellation insurance? I'm mainly concerned if my mother gets ill or dies and we have to cancel our trip is this covered?

Many Thanks, Owen.

 

[Silvia]

Hey Owen,

It depends whether your card has insurance included, may be best to check the type of CC you have.
It's important to read PDS of policy of each insurance company. Most companies offer it, but they may have a limit on how much they cover you, so depends on that as well.

I've used travel insurance direct in the past and claiming process was good. I did have to check the excess that my policy had but worked out to be reasonable.

 

[Pushka]

We always get a dedicated travel insurance policy. As far as cover for your mother is concerned, if there is a pre existing condition then this will not be covered. And if over a certain age (80 plus depending on policy) then that too would not be covered. And that applies for credit and dedicated insurance policies.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi,

We want to travel overseas next year and pay for the trip with our credit card.
Is travel insurance included if we do this?
Specifically, cancellation insurance? I'm mainly concerned if my mother gets ill or dies and we have to cancel our trip is this covered?

Many Thanks, Owen.

Just confirming what others have said.

IF your CC has insurance it will more than likely cover cancellations. But there will be exclusions... many pre-existing conditions and age are the two big ones. But you'll have the same problem with a purchased policy.

If something happens to your mother and you're not covered you might be able to change your dates (for a fee, but better than losing the entire amount - this might be more readily available for simple airfares rather than some other forms of transport such as cruises or packaged holidays), and you might want to consider booking hotels with free cancellation (and change those over to lower non-cancellable rates closer to departure).

 

[Blinky]

Read the small print. I was about to get Amex insurance for a trip to Nepal. There was an excluding for trekking. Try spending time in Nepal without trekking!

I will however use Amex for my trip to Japan and Singapore next year.

 

[VPS]

Qantas, why am I still stuck on bronze status?

There is a letter in here about insurance for parents over 80

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Qantas, why am I still stuck on bronze status?

There is a letter in here about insurance for parents over 80

Good find!

I've just had a look at the CGU PDS... for some reason it won't let me copy and past the actual text... but the cover is outlined on page 11: https://www.cgu.com.au/sites/default/files/media/Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement.pdf

It will cover the sudden hospitalisation or death of a (non-travelling) relative over 70 provided:

• at the time of taking out the policy and at time of departure the hospitalisation/death was completely unexpected and
• the pre-existing condition was stable.

Maximum cover is $2000 single and $4000 for a couple. Which should cover most things (although I've heard cruises can charge up to 80% of something for a cancellation at last minute?)

 

[amaroo]

We always get a dedicated travel insurance policy. As far as cover for your mother is concerned, if there is a pre existing condition then this will not be covered. And if over a certain age (80 plus depending on policy) then that too would not be covered. And that applies for credit and dedicated insurance policies.

If you have elderly or sick family members with pre-existing conditions, these things need to be understood prior to travel. Once you go.... you have to be prepared to wear the consequences.

 

[Pushka]

If you have elderly or sick family members with pre-existing conditions, these things need to be understood prior to travel. Once you go.... you have to be prepared to wear the consequences.

Indeed. Which is why we siblings had agreements in place should something go wrong with my ageing parents.

 

[Pushka]

Good find!

I've just had a look at the CGU PDS... for some reason it won't let me copy and past the actual text... but the cover is outlined on page 11: https://www.cgu.com.au/sites/default/files/media/Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement.pdf

It will cover the sudden hospitalisation or death of a (non-travelling) relative over 70 provided:

• at the time of taking out the policy and at time of departure the hospitalisation/death was completely unexpected and
• the pre-existing condition was stable.

Maximum cover is $2000 single and $4000 for a couple. Which should cover most things (although I've heard cruises can charge up to 80% of something for a cancellation at last minute?)

Try 100 %. Those amounts would barely scratch the surface for Europe and US.