Booked to U.S via Westpac points-can I solely rely on free Westpac Travel Insurance

[tassietiger]

I'm a Westpac Platinum Credit Card holder & have used my points to book return flights to the U.S with my wife.

Westpac has complimentary Travel Insurance - should I just solely rely on this, given we're going to the U.S?:?:

 

[eric2011]

Re: Booked to U.S via Westpac points-can I solely rely on free Westpac Travel Insuran

I dont have much faith in the credit card insurance. Last trip to the states I spent a time in the emergency room at a hospital. Costed out at around $1000 per hour for the hospital and another 2 grand for a doctor to see me for 15 minutes. Glad I had real insurance from a real insurance company.

 

[Doug_Westcott]

Get a copy of the Westpac and a commercial travel insurance policy and compare the cover, excesses and method of policy activation . I always rely on my credit card insurance policy and know of several people who have successfully claimed without any problems.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Booked to U.S via Westpac points-can I solely rely on free Westpac Travel Insuran

I dont have much faith in the credit card insurance. Last trip to the states I spent a time in the emergency room at a hospital. Costed out at around $1000 per hour for the hospital and another 2 grand for a doctor to see me for 15 minutes. Glad I had real insurance from a real insurance company.

did your credit card insurance company refuse to pay out? that's really bad and should be reported to the appropriate ombudsman.

I'm a Westpac Platinum Credit Card holder & have used my points to book return flights to the U.S with my wife.

Westpac has complimentary Travel Insurance - should I just solely rely on this, given we're going to the U.S?:?:

sure - there is no problem with this. Have a quick search of the internet and there are plenty of reports that credit card insurance is more than adequte, along with normal processing times. Provided the Westpac card covers everything you need then you will be fine. Basics it should cover:

• medical - unlimited
• baggage (most importantly I guess for lap-tops or ipads or cameras)
• travel delay (after 6 hours or whatever it is) you get food and accommodation
• personal liability
• cash in hospital
• going home if a relative is taken ill (not pre-existing)

I don't think there are many policies that will cover paying for alternative transport in the event you miss a connection (for example on two separate tickets) unless you are attending an event 'that cannot wait for you' - and the general examples most policies give are 'attending a wedding' or you are 'the keynote speaker at a conference' etc etc.

Incidentals like hijack cash probably don't really matter so much