Please take out Travel Insurance

[theblank]

I still think it would be better if there was a basic medical emergency product - maybe with opt-in or opt-out for specific activities that me or may not be covered medically.

Such covers have always been widely available, pretty much all TI provider has 3 levels, basic, middle and deluxe with easy to read comparison charts.

 

[trooper]

There should be no fine print in insurance policies

Sounds good, not sure how it would actually be possible..... there will always have to be "fine print" surely to cover things like self harm/drunkenness etc....

 

[Scarlett]

I am "trying" to buy a policy atm, the exec summary is that it's a freaking minefield.
Each pds needs to be examined word by word.
Some of the gotcha's are interesting , ie no rental excess cover for that benz the nice rental agent offered you as it's a "prestige" vehicle.

Am I the only one who thinks that what you’ve described is deliberate?
Insurance policies are designed to be confusing; they’re designed to minimise easy comparisons with other policies; and they’re designed to allow the issuing company an “out” as easily as possible. Remember of course that the policies are sold by companies designed to make money: they’re not charities, so they’re effectively incentivised to minimise claims and payouts.

The element I hate most is that almost every PDS is online or designed to be read online, yet almost everyone still uses a layout or format with small font in 3 columns as though it was a folded up hard copy document from the 1990’s. Deliberately designed like that to make it hard to read, rather than like most modern webpages!

 

[tgh]

Indeed Scarlett, my current best prospect is issued by a not for profit company.. reason enough to buy it

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The really important thing for Cuba is to ensure the printed policy clearly mentions coverage for Cuba and medical evacuation. As you know its mandatory to have TI policy which includes medical evacuation in order to enter Cuba, and to have it at hand on entry.

I didn't get asked to show my Policy, but an Aussie couple on the same flight from Cancun (who had been on my tour of Mexico) went through separate gates but were listed on one policy, the wife went through but her hubby got detained when he couldnt show the policy - it was a bit of an ordeal for her to get paperwork back to him - we waited a while has had a shared ride.

If like Cuba it was mandatory to have TI to enter all countries we see much less crowd funding requests or lobbying govt to rescue travellers who are too cheap/lazy to get cover.

We've been to Cuba three times arriving into HAV ex MIA on AA twice and the other time on B6 ex FLL. We were never asked for proof of travel insurance on any of those occasions.

I am "trying" to buy a policy atm, the exec summary is that it's a freaking minefield.
Each pds needs to be examined word by word.
Some of the gotcha's are interesting , ie no rental excess cover for that benz the nice rental agent offered you as it's a "prestige" vehicle.

A good place to start is the section "we will not cover" and go from there.

Sounds good, not sure how it would actually be possible..... there will always have to be "fine print" surely to cover things like self harm/drunkenness etc....

You mean like when you hire a moped in Thailand after handing over your passport as surety then crash the bike when you are drunk then can't get the passport back unless you fork out thousands to 'fix' the bike or whatever. The tv series The Embassy was such a testament for what not to do in Thailand (or Bali).

 

[Cappuccino99]

I just got caught out on my travel insurance. There's a clause that covers the traveller for interrupted travel due to serious illness of a 'relative' . I was on a round the world trip when I found out that my father (British citizen/resident) had a stroke in London so had to change my travel plans to go there.

I spoke to the insurance company and they said that the 'relative' must be a resident of New Zealand or Australia for my insurance cover to kick in!
I have subsequently found out that there is no Aus travel policy that would cover for a relative who is not an Aus or NZ resident!!!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I just got caught out on my travel insurance. There's a clause that covers the traveller for interrupted travel due to serious illness of a 'relative' . I was on a round the world trip when I found out that my father (British citizen/resident) had a stroke in London so had to change my travel plans to go there.

I spoke to the insurance company and they said that the 'relative' must be a resident of New Zealand or Australia for my insurance cover to kick in!
I have subsequently found out that there is no Aus travel policy that would cover for a relative who is not an Aus or NZ resident!!!

This sort of makes sense... TI is designed to put you back in the [financial] position you would have been... that is, no finaincial loss. If you had a sick relative in Australia/NZ you have to interrupt your trip and fly back, likely incurring financial loss. If your relative is overseas, you'd have had to purchase a ticket from AU/NZ to that relative anyway. The TI is not going to pay that as it probably doesn't see additional loss to you.

That's a a very high level looking at the principles. I can see at the tactical level that cancelling the rest of the trip could still incur costs.

Such covers have always been widely available, pretty much all TI provider has 3 levels, basic, middle and deluxe with easy to read comparison charts.

Agree. And the TI comparison sites can help with that. I purchased a 10 day insurance policy for a family member travelling to the USA. Medical only (unlimited) and the cost was AUD38. Can't argue with that

Sounds good, not sure how it would actually be possible..... there will always have to be "fine print" surely to cover things like self harm/drunkenness etc....

Agree. With any insurance policy there needs to be responsibility on the insured to 'take care'. It would be unfair if someone deliberately went to a country on the 'no fly' list (as determined by DFAT) and then expected an air evacuation if they get in to trouble. Or if someone was to drink and drive (etc).

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I just got caught out on my travel insurance. There's a clause that covers the traveller for interrupted travel due to serious illness of a 'relative'.

I was on a round the world trip when I found out that my father (British citizen/resident) had a stroke in London so had to change my travel plans to go there.

I spoke to the insurance company and they said that the 'relative' must be a resident of New Zealand or Australia for my insurance cover to kick in!

I have subsequently found out that there is no Aus travel policy that would cover for a relative who is not an Aus or NZ resident!!!

What if the relative was a dual UK & NZ Citizen or does it depend on them being in NZ at the time & thus flying back home?

Sounds like a potential can of worms just like Senators with dual citizenship.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What if the relative was a dual UK & NZ Citizen or does it depend on them being in NZ at the time & thus flying back home?

It's a residency requirement in most (all?) of the policies I've read. I think this is related to the usual requirement to have a return trip home, which in theory I guess might be used to off-set the costs of the insurance company having to pay for new flights (ie by using the existing ticket, even if change fees apply).

 

[Renato1]

Both the article and go fund page only make sense if they had no travel insurance. If the money was for loss of his income, that means he's on $100,000 a month - and wouldn't need any help. If accommodation for him was a problem, cost for hotel accommodation for three months would only run to $40,000 to $50,000 in a good hotel.

When we went to the USA, I made sure we were covered by two complimentary credit card insurance policies with different companies - just in case something happened and there was a problem in the fine print of one.

Though the most comforting CC policy is CBA's - since they email you the policy to print out. More comforting, as I've written here before, they actually paid out promptly and professionally on two claims we made last year.
Regards,
Renato

 

[JohnK]

Yes GFM is usually setup and supported by good people wanting to help.

But generally speaking it’s very sad that people still don’t buy TI. The financial costs can be massive and adds an extra unnecessary emotional strain on family/friends.

Travel insurance is quite affordable now but I remember when travel insurance cost $200-$300 for a 6-8 week trip and was seen as unnecessary.

 

[nickykim]

In a former role I had to deal with a couple from the UK, in their 80's. No travel insurance, the husband tripped on a badly repaired Telstra pit on a footpath and broke his hip. No issues with medical treatment (reciprocal agreement with UK), but an absolute nightmare for cost of accommodation for his wife and flights back to the UK after discharge from hospital. Please take out travel insurance.

 

[mrsterryn]

Reciprocal Health Care Agreements - About reciprocal health care agreements - Australian Government Department of Human Services

Just in case people are unaware of the above

 

[Lynda2475]

We've been to Cuba three times arriving into HAV ex MIA on AA twice and the other time on B6 ex FLL. We were never asked for proof of travel insurance on any of those occasions.

Just because you haven't been asked doesn't mean it is not a requirement, as I said they dont ask everyone, but if you dont have it they can deny you entry.

Smart Traveller site states "You must present proof of comprehensive travel insurance to enter Cuba. Travellers who plan to participate in high-risk sports or sporting competitions and travellers of 70 years of age and older are required to purchase additional insurance from Asistur, the Cuban insurance provider."

To join the tour I did within Cuba - the policy had to explicitly state coverage for Cuba including medical evacuation. Its not that they give emergency treatment, but they will ship you out asap so not to become a burden on the Cuban people.

 

[JohnK]

There should be no fine print in insurance policies

Good luck with that one.

"You didn't tell us your car had a rear spoiler. Your policy is null and void as we wouldn't have insured you had we known there was a rear spoiler. And as your policy is null and void we will withdraw your current claim." Yes off topic but true story. Client was a policyholder for years.

 

[Mistress]

I have a mate who claimed medical through his travel insurance associated with his credit card. They would only pay some expenses and tried to make it extremely difficult for claiming others such as business class seat back to australia as he had to have a elevated foot which he could not do in economy. They iniatially agreed they would pay things then renegged. Unfortunately for the insurance company he is a ex lawyer. He ended up having to send 600 page documentation twice because they "lost" it the first time. Second time by signed registered post. He did get his claim back but the screw around from them was terrible and took over 6 months to get the money back.

So has anyone good any good stories of travel insurance claims? Who is easy to deal with? My TID annual policy is about to expire and am looking around at others. Ive never needed to do a claim thankfully. I did see the qantas assure seems to insure more in regards to camera gear/laptops as opposed to $700 per item with TID and someone else in the peru thread did say they had a good experience with them. I never want to do a travel insurance claim, but as Denali said I'd rather be over insured then to rely on CC insurance kicking in.

 

[Pushka]

I have a mate who claimed medical through his travel insurance associated with his credit card. They would only pay some expenses and tried to make it extremely difficult for claiming others such as business class seat back to australia as he had to have a elevated foot which he could not do in economy. They iniatially agreed they would pay things then renegged. Unfortunately for the insurance company he is a ex lawyer. He ended up having to send 600 page documentation twice because they "lost" it the first time. Second time by signed registered post. He did get his claim back but the screw around from them was terrible and took over 6 months to get the money back.

So has anyone good any good stories of travel insurance claims? Who is easy to deal with? My TID annual policy is about to expire and am looking around at others. Ive never needed to do a claim thankfully. I did see the qantas assure seems to insure more in regards to camera gear/laptops as opposed to $700 per item with TID and someone else in the peru thread did say they had a good experience with them. I never want to do a travel insurance claim, but as Denali said I'd rather be over insured then to rely on CC insurance kicking in.

We claimed successfully using TID for a scooter accident in a remote part of Thailand. They were fabulous and went above and beyond. They paid all expenses upfront. And they were large. Arranged for an interpreter. Communicated with family back home. Sent the injured person back in J. He had already had 2 surgeries by then and more when he came home. I can’t use them anymore because of pre existing health issues and unless things have changed ( this incident occurred a few years ago now) then they are who I’d use.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a mate who claimed medical through his travel insurance associated with his credit card. They would only pay some expenses and tried to make it extremely difficult for claiming others such as business class seat back to australia as he had to have a elevated foot which he could not do in economy. They iniatially agreed they would pay things then renegged. Unfortunately for the insurance company he is a ex lawyer. He ended up having to send 600 page documentation twice because they "lost" it the first time. Second time by signed registered post. He did get his claim back but the screw around from them was terrible and took over 6 months to get the money back.

Your mate’s experience may not be related to the fact it is credit card insurance.

Insurance companies must authorise a change in travel class, and in some cases may even arrange it for the insured (so that you are not out of pocket for large expenses). If it was in writing they would pay for business class (which they later reneged), that could have been an issue with any insurance company.

 

[get me outta here]

I always email TID to get in writing that they will bring me back in the class I originally booked which is J or F, as a reward.

I assume that if I am injured and require a higher class to get back they will cover it. In all my years of flying, I have never had to claim ... so far.

 

[dajop]

Your mate’s experience may not be related to the fact it is credit card insurance.

Yes paid policies with the same underwriter could present the same sorts of problems.