Travel insurance - optional or essential?

[Pushka]

I think it should be compulsory to have travel insurance.

20 years ago I took out domestic insurance for a family holiday. A month before we travelled I ruptured a disc in my spine and needed neurosurgery. All travel costs refunded.

A couple of years ago number 2 son was travelling with a friend involved in a motor bike accident in Chiangmai. TID provided a lot of support including a translator so his family in Sydney could understand the Thai doctors. (He was in a bad way). Surgery in Chiangmai then medivacced to Bangkok for more surgery. My son and his friend were put up in a Bangkok hotel all expenses paid. Finally the lad was well enough to travel so was flown home J class as well as son in Y class. Can highly recommend TID based on service and claims.

 

[Rebekkap]

Can highly recommend TID based on service and claims.

That's really good to know - I've had my annual policy with them for about four years now, and have never had to make a claim (knock on wood!) but have wondered how good they are if you need to. I was also delighted a couple of days ago when booking a car for the UK over Christmas when I looked up our policy to see if they cover car rental excess, which they do - to the tune of $4000.

 

[rlarosa]

When I was younger (ie in my 20s) i never worried. I now always buy cover and am pretty careful about who I choose.

I now work with one of the companies that might be getting you out of a far flung place if something happens to you and I have to say after seeing what can go wrong I just think it's absolutely mad to travel overseas without insurance.

 

[Awesom Andy]

When I buy travel insurance, I only ever check a few sections, such as medical expenses and evacs. I don't really care about delays or baggage lost - a few hundred dollars here or there is something I can easily replace, and it's all part and parcel with travelling. However, the insurance is there for things that I can never pay for - helicopters taking you to hospital can be rather costly (or simply walking into a medical facility in the US). :shock:

 

[cove]

Have never claimed in over 40 years of travel but I would not leave home without my Chubb insurance.

 

[deka2]

Have had a TID Annual Policy for the last few years.

One claim which was handled professionally.

I don't understand how you could take the risk of travelling overseas without it.

 

[fersea]

When I buy travel insurance, I only ever check a few sections, such as medical expenses and evacs. I don't really care about delays or baggage lost - a few hundred dollars here or there is something I can easily replace, and it's all part and parcel with travelling. However, the insurance is there for things that I can never pay for - helicopters taking you to hospital can be rather costly (or simply walking into a medical facility in the US). :shock:

You have hit the nail on the head there. The absolute must is medical insurance. It is the one thing that can financially cripple you. Everything else is really just a bonus. For most on here an extra nights hotel room or replacing the luggage is going to be inconvenient but you are hardly going to lose your house over it.

A $100k medical bill is a bit different.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Never leave home without it. Who is the underwriter and who makes the call on your medical treatment and evac uplift are the two aspects I review.

DO NOT RELY ON CREDIT CARD INSURANCE. IF NECESSARY IT IS BETTER TO BE OVERINSURED THAN OTHERWISE.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Just thought I would take a quick look at the Citibank card policy (since I still have one of their cards)... it's underwritten by Zurich, and while it states that medical expenses are unlimited except for a set limit on incidentals when you're a bed care patient (which in some countries can be a surprisingly large portion of the bill) and does not cover for per-existing conditions, it only states that some overseas emergency services can be provided without stating any sort of claims available.

Guess if I fall and break my leg when I go bushwalking in another country, I better drag myself out rather than getting a helicopter.

On the other hand, even the most basic plan on 1cover (which is one of the more basic providers) has unlimited medical evac.

 

[marki]

Always essential but how many times do we forget about claiming ?

 

[Pushka]

Always essential but how many times do we forget about claiming ?

Never. . But I usually have no need to.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Always essential but how many times do we forget about claiming ?

I wouldnt bother for the little things, I see my time as too valuable, we will all have a view on this.

You are really only talking about a claim when the big one happens. I have organised a few of these cases where people required brain surgury in HKG or a mystery illness and flown to SIN. You can be talking about many months recovery in a $1500 suite (hospital bed).


to get a jet in the air with a general surgeon, anesthetist, and a few nurses doesnt happen under $50k and usally goes into alot more. There is alot to consider, how it happens and when is important to manage.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Never leave home without it. Who is the underwriter and who makes the call on your medical treatment and evac uplift are the two aspects I review.

DO NOT RELY ON CREDIT CARD INSURANCE. IF NECESSARY IT IS BETTER TO BE OVERINSURED THAN OTHERWISE.

It's just a case of sitting down and understanding your policy.

There is simply no reason to be over-insured, or to take out an additional paid policy if your credit card fully covers you.

Always essential but how many times do we forget about claiming ?

given many policies will have an excess then a trip to the doctor for a bad tummy probably is't claimable anyway.

but a $100k medial bill - don't think you'd forget to claim

 

[footy99]

Anyone know any insurers that only cover medical for a significant discount?

I keep paying $1000/year through TID single-trip because all the other annual covers run out after about 6 weeks. Have never actually claimed anything, despite maybe a dozen chances on the travel delay and delayed luggage sections. The only purpose for it for me is just in case for medical. Love to find something around $500/year for that, but might be a bit optimistic.

 

[Ansett]

Anyone know any insurers that only cover medical for a significant discount?

I keep paying $1000/year through TID single-trip because all the other annual covers run out after about 6 weeks. Have never actually claimed anything, despite maybe a dozen chances on the travel delay and delayed luggage sections. The only purpose for it for me is just in case for medical. Love to find something around $500/year for that, but might be a bit optimistic.

Try Medibank Private annual cover for medical only should be around 3-600 dollars

 

[footy99]

Try Medibank Private annual cover for medical only should be around 3-600 dollars

$1081 for medical only on single trip one year! TID is $999 with all the other stuff.

And the annual packages are the usual joke. Covers the period which is covered by the credit card anyway (45 days). Beyond that, not covered.

 

[Simo]

I always take Travel Insurance when going OS.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

$1081 for medical only on single trip one year! TID is $999 with all the other stuff.

And the annual packages are the usual joke. Covers the period which is covered by the credit card anyway (45 days). Beyond that, not covered.

If you can - have a look at ANZ platinum cred card insurance. $79 annual fee and $250 spend of ANY pre-paid travel to get comprehensive insurance (don't need to put your airline ticket on the card - connecting flights and/or taxes for award travel, or a couple nights pre-paid hotel is all it takes). Cover is 6 months per trip.

 

[amaroo]

With some Plat. CC you get travel insurance like my ANZ card I've relied on that but not used it, anyone have thoughts on this type of insurance.

Just had a read of the QF Ult Amex T&C .....medical capped at $2.5m I.E. bugger all!

Getting some quotes for our trip to USA/Canada in two weeks - family cover

QBE $1097
TID $344
Medibank Private $405......interestingly, no mention of Medical Evac and Repatriation...

 

[Awesom Andy]

Medibank Private $405......interestingly, no mention of Medical Evac and Repatriation...

That's a worry. It's one of the only things that I look for in a policy, together with the usual medical expenses and legal liability. I usually like to have at least $1m for evac, preferably unlimited. Thankfully, that's very easy to get from a SIN-based policy.