Travel Insurance Feed back

[Deleted member 29185]

I've just been reseaching travel insurance, predominantly for alliviation of rental car excess reduction insurance. I hire enough cars per year to pay for a comprehensive travel policy simply by redirecting my spend on excess reduction to a travel policy.

What I've come up with is:

1. TID - $354
2. 1 Cover - $499
3. Columbus - $540
4. Kango - $500 something (sorry can't remember)

These seems to be the cheapest for business annual worldwide cover (with at least some or all of them including family leisure travel as well). I'll now start the tiresome job of comparisons of benefits, which will determine my final choice, but a quick question to all you policy holders...........any reason why I should exclude any of the above policies (poor payout history, difficult to deal with etc), or in fact include any others? Any of the CC cards cover excess reduction and domestic travel??

Obviously the big benefit I can see, is having insurance with a far wider coverage than just rental car excess at no extra cost, so all comments of extreme (or not so extreme) wisdom most welcome.

 

[dfcatch]

I've just been reseaching travel insurance, predominantly for alliviation of rental car excess reduction insurance. I hire enough cars per year to pay for a comprehensive travel policy simply by redirecting my spend on excess reduction to a travel policy.

What I've come up with is:

1. TID - $354
2. 1 Cover - $499
3. Columbus - $540
4. Kango - $500 something (sorry can't remember)

These seems to be the cheapest for business annual worldwide cover (with at least some or all of them including family leisure travel as well). I'll now start the tiresome job of comparisons of benefits, which will determine my final choice, but a quick question to all you policy holders...........any reason why I should exclude any of the above policies (poor payout history, difficult to deal with etc), or in fact include any others? Any of the CC cards cover excess reduction and domestic travel??

Obviously the big benefit I can see, is having insurance with a far wider coverage than just rental car excess at no extra cost, so all comments of extreme (or not so extreme) wisdom most welcome.

My Westpac Altitude platinum gives me domestic rental excess reduction so simply have it as my Hertz profile card and decline all extras when hiring domestically.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

My Westpac Altitude platinum gives me domestic rental excess reduction so simply have it as my Hertz profile card and decline all extras when hiring domestically.

I'll add it to the list. Thanks. I've got Altitude, but Gold. Maybe I should upgrade.

 

[AdMEL]

I've just been reseaching travel insurance, predominantly for alliviation of rental car excess reduction insurance. I hire enough cars per year to pay for a comprehensive travel policy simply by redirecting my spend on excess reduction to a travel policy.<br>
<br>
What I've come up with is:<ol class="decimal"><li>TID - $354</li><li>1 Cover - $499</li><li>Columbus - $540</li><li>Kango - $500 something (sorry can't remember)</li></ol>These seems to be the cheapest for business annual worldwide cover (with at least some or all of them including family leisure travel as well). I'll now start the tiresome job of comparisons of benefits, which will determine my final choice, but a quick question to all you policy holders...........any reason why I should exclude any of the above policies (poor payout history, difficult to deal with etc), or in fact include any others? Any of the CC cards cover excess reduction and domestic travel??<br>
<br>
Obviously the big benefit I can see, is having insurance with a far wider coverage than just rental car excess at no extra cost, so all comments of extreme (or not so extreme) wisdom most welcome.<br>
<br>

My Westpac Altitude platinum gives me domestic rental excess reduction so simply have it as my Hertz profile card and decline all extras when hiring domestically.

To further clarify, Westpac Altitude Platinum provides the following cover:

- Rental car excess of $5,500 in Australia with no excess;
- Rental car excess of either $5,000 or $5,500 overseas (note that this is of no use in the US)
- Unlimited medical cover anywhere in the world;
- Limited domestic inconvenience cover for flight delays, etc.
- Various other coverage

At an annual cost of $295. Note that you need to pay your entire flight cost (excluding taxes) on the card to receive the overseas cover. $200 excess for the overseas components. Cover provided by Zurich.

I rely on this for both Aust. rental car excess cover and overseas travel insurance.

All Westpac platinum cards provide almost identical cover.

All ANZ cards can also provide Australian rental car excess cover at a cost of $2 per month or $24 per year. Provides $2,400 cover with $350 excess.

If you are looking at rental car cover for the US, as far as I am aware, Amex Platinum Charge card is the only card that will provide cover and even then, it's only part cover - it covers the rental car, but excludes third party legal liability when using a motorised vehicle (as do most, if not all, Australian issued travel insurance policies).

No other credit cards provide domestic rental car excess cover, as far as I am aware. Overseas rental car excess cover is not as good either.

Have at look at my other posts - I have posted on this subject many times.

 

[JohnK]

Have you had a look at annual travel insurance from TravelInsurance.com.au?

It is a QBE product and I am not sure how old you are but for someone not over 49 years age the cost is $192 and you can probably get another 10% off with discount. Cost goes up with age with some examples $262 for up to 55 year old and $309 for up to 65 year old.

 

[straitman]

Have you had a look at annual travel insurance from TravelInsurance.com.au?

It is a QBE product and I am not sure how old you are but for someone not over 49 years age the cost is $192 and you can probably get another 10% off with discount. Cost goes up with age with some examples $262 for up to 55 year old and $309 for up to 65 year old.

This rises to $320 if you include USA in the trip.

Defence Health is also worth a look. Not the cheapest at $436 (worldwide) but very comprehensive.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Thanks all.....I'll add those to the mix, but I'm still considering Velocity Amex Plat for the 3xpoints with DJ and of course, the 30000 point bonus so if that were the case, the Westpac would be no good to me, but I'll look anyway!

 

[serfty]

Does that TID quote include the easily obtainable 10% discount?

As mentioned, the Westpac card referred to is pretty useless for USA car rental hires - many other countries as well.

You can get around this relatively cheaply by using the inclusive rentals available from "argus car hire" and the like.

There are insurances available on an annual basis purely for car hire.

See here for a mention: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....sa-car-hire-help-needed-20771.html#post283701

e.g. For £139 you can be covered. (Car Hire Excess Insurance Products | Insurance4carhire.com)

 

[Major]

I have health insurance with Medibank Private and their annual travel insurance is $442.80

 

[Jacques Vert]

All ANZ cards can also provide Australian rental car excess cover at a cost of $2 per month or $24 per year. Provides $2,400 cover with $350 excess.

ANZ cover is free for the platinum cards.

JV

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Does that TID quote include the easily obtainable 10% discount?

As mentioned, the Westpac card referred to is pretty useless for USA car rental hires - many other countries as well.

You can get around this relatively cheaply by using the inclusive rentals available from "argus car hire" and the like.

There are insurances available on an annual basis purely for car hire.

See here for a mention: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....sa-car-hire-help-needed-20771.html#post283701

e.g. For £139 you can be covered. (Car Hire Excess Insurance Products | Insurance4carhire.com)

I did try the 10% promo disc mentioned in another few posts here on AFF, but the offer had expired so no, the TID quote is straight off their web quote, but I did see a promo code for a 5% disc, which I haven't tried yet.

I'm also a bit confused about this "difference" with US car hire excesses. I note most of the insurances state "worldwide" and the TID excess limit for car rentals is $4000. I haven't looked into the typical insurance excess payable in the States so are you saying that the rental car excess benefit ($4000 in the case of TID, selectable up to about $6000 with premium adjustment) is not enough, or that they won't pay up for a US based claim? I've pretty much ruled out the CC insurances and TID is looking preferable at the moment.

Is the insurance effective as soon as you buy it (immediately), or are there processing times of weeks?

 

[drron]

The main problem I have with annual policies is the duration of trip limits.I used to throw in a conference to make it a business trip but everyone has obviously caught on to this loop hole and now defines a business trip as only that part of the trip you are on business-the rest comes under the leisure limit which for most is 30 days.
There are some that offer longer durations for leisure such as 1Cover and multitrip(QBE) but they limit those longer durations to the under 60s.
The only one I have come up with for us oldies is Covermore where you can choose 30,45 or 60 day limits.
Anyone know of others giving longer durations for leisure trips with annual policies?

 

[serfty]

TIDTHANKS

The issue is that in the USA, the concept of insurance "excess" rarely exists for car rentals.

You break the car - you pay for the repair and all other costs in full. It is unlikely "excess" cover would apply, and, if it did, only to the policy maximum.

That's what CDW/LDW (collision/loss damage waiver) insurance is about - reduces liability for the vehicle to basically Nil.

You can pay:

• [*=1]the extra as a daily rate with the car rental company,[*=1]rent using a fully inclusive provider such as Argus or[*=1] find another form of insurance such as the £139 annual policy I mentioned above.

Note that "Liability Insurance Supplement" which is basically third party person/property when using the vehicle is not generally covered by most Oz travel insurances. e.g TID has "Personal Liability" which is "Protection for you being legally liable for injuring other people or causing damage to their property, including legal defence costs.". However, among the exclusions is "Arising out of your ownership, possession or use (including as a passenger) of a mechanically propelled vehicle, or any aircraft or watercraft.".

 

[dfcatch]

The main problem I have with annual policies is the duration of trip limits.I used to throw in a conference to make it a business trip but everyone has obviously caught on to this loop hole and now defines a business trip as only that part of the trip you are on business-the rest comes under the leisure limit which for most is 30 days.
There are some that offer longer durations for leisure such as 1Cover and multitrip(QBE) but they limit those longer durations to the under 60s.
The only one I have come up with for us oldies is Covermore where you can choose 30,45 or 60 day limits.
Anyone know of others giving longer durations for leisure trips with annual policies?

That's why I was relying on Platinum CC coverage for some time. Depending on the card - it gave 6 or 12 months coverage per trip

 

[Pushka]

Based on a claim we had to make in Thailand, which included motor bike accidents, surgery, two hospital stays and a medical evacuation I can highly recommend TID.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Well I've gone with TID. I do note mixed feedback on TID. It seems most of the negative feedback relates to their reluctance to pay theft claims but the more major claims seem to be dealt with. Hopefully I won't get to find out (touch wood), but there is always the insurance ombudsman if a genuine claim goes pear shaped.

Serfty, thanks for the tip. 10% off.

 

[Pushka]

Well I've gone with TID. I do note mixed feedback on TID. It seems most of the negative feedback relates to their reluctance to pay theft claims but the more major claims seem to be dealt with. Hopefully I won't get to find out (touch wood), but there is always the insurance ombudsman if a genuine claim goes pear shaped.

Serfty, thanks for the tip. 10% off.

one thing I know about claiming for thefts is that usually the claim is denied first time round, and so many people give up at that point. So if that does happen, resubmit the claim with further detail and if it looks legit, it will be approved. But claiming for theft when the property has been left in a public area, eg on a bus, will never be successful. I did claim for a theft and robbery in Ho Chi Minh - it was one of those robberies where a cycle driver drives past and the passenger rips the bag out of your arms/off your body. luckily the strap broke and i didn't get dragged along the road. But lost phone, money, and the hotel room key. Everything got paid back as I had a translated police report and a letter from the hotel security where we reported it too immediately. I also had another claim in New York (using gold credit card insurance this time) when a taxi drove off with a package in the taxi. if it had been a bus it wouldn't have been paid but a taxi is regarded as private transport.