Travel Insurance options

[Jude Starr]

There seem to be so many different options for travel insurance out there, and short of spending countless hours that I can't spare trying to read product disclosure statements written in incomprehensible legalese, I thought I would pick the brains of the marvellous and helpful frequent flyers here.

So, I am off Singapore/Sweden/Netherlands in June. Travelling alone, I am a 49 year old female non-smoker with no pre-existing medical conditions. I am flying Singapore airlines for the main flights (with a couple of internal flights on other airlines). Will the travel insurance offered by Sinapore Airlines cover me of the usual stuff (lost luggage, delayed or cancelled flights, medical issues) or should I be looking elsewhere?

I thank you all in advance for your kind help.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Definitely shop around. You can use sites like compare the market or iselect to get an idea. Prices vary wildly. Quotes are quick.

Essentially you're looking for medical (unlimited, but in reality anything over $1 million is going to cover you). Delays - yes - most policies will cover hotel and meal for delays over 6 hours. But as you are travelling in the EU the airlines will cover you for food and accommodation if your flight is delayed, and will pay you compensation if the delay was within their control. Baggage - $2000 is probably enough unless you're going to take expensive stuff. Your policy will be cheaper if you exclude either of the latter two things.

The rest - will you be hiring a car? Excess waiver can be handy. Most insurances won't cover missed connections on separate tickets (ie pay for a new flight if your inbound is late, or you arrive at the airport late).

 

[neil37]

I don't know what Singapore Airlines offers or its cost, but before paying for insurance I would check the insurance offered by your credit card to see if you think that is sufficient.

 

[serfty]

How long will be away for and exactly what countries are you going to?

To be honest, many insurances offered by carriers are not as cost effective they would like you to think. (These are often third [or fourth] party products with commissions on commissions.)

You might want to look at online providers such as www.travelinsurancedirect.com.au, www.Columbusdirect.com.au, etc.

Often discount codes can be found for these (Gold AFF members get a 20% discount on Columbus).

 

[Deleted member]

While there are many experienced travellers on this site, and much of what they / we say. At the end of the day I have chosen to use a qualified & experienced broker. Subjective comparison sites are all well and good, but frankly nothing compares to quality advice based on education, training and experience!
We looked closely at Amex Platinum Business charge card with the "Free" travel insurance. Frankly I wouldn't care to put it to the test , I know that most , if not all of the potential problems I might endure when traveling, are covered by my policy.

 

[opusman]

Have claimed successfully on ANZ credit card insurance twice, no problems. It's just a normal travel policy.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have claimed successfully on ANZ credit card insurance twice, no problems. It's just a normal travel policy.

This. There's zero point in being double insured.

Business itineraries, perhaps those without a return to Australia, might benefit from an annual policy.

 

[Pushka]

I'm double insured. Triple if you count free credit card policies. The thing is that each of them have different spend requirements in order to qualify for it and I don't have time to check. I don't consider them to be normal cover but depending on the nature of the claim they do work. I now have to be covered for pre existing medical conditions so have a specialist medical cover as a once off each trip. But MrP has an annual cover required for his multiple trips that has no pre existing health cover and I am covered on that for non health issues. If I need to claim as long as its not pre existing cover then I use the policy that best suits. Sometimes it's the credit card one, sometimes the annual one. Luckily not the health one yet. I've claimed a few times and always been successful.

 

[straitman]

We looked closely at Amex Platinum Business charge card with the "Free" travel insurance. Frankly I wouldn't care to put it to the test , I know that most , if not all of the potential problems I might endure when traveling, are covered by my policy.

We used this in the past before it was 'enhanced' and I had to threaten them with their own rules and conditions to get a payment from them. Not a chance I would use them now.

(They tried to insist there was a relevant pre-existing condition even though the doctor stated otherwise)

 

[Jude Starr]

Thank you all for your input. I did a bit of reading today and ended up going with Travel Insurance Direct. I have used them before (many years ago) though luckily have never had to make a claim, and the Product Disclosure Statement looks to cover everything I need.

 

[pjm99au]

A big thumbs up for Travel Insurance Direct. We've had policies with them for a number of years and recently made our first claim with them for lost accomodation costs due to a cyclone delaying our departure. Whilst the online claim process was a bit tedious they paid the claimed amount without any issues

 

[theblank]

We looked closely at Amex Platinum Business charge card with the "Free" travel insurance. Frankly I wouldn't care to put it to the test , I know that most , if not all of the potential problems I might endure when traveling, are covered by my policy.

Such as? Please help us understand what sort of requirement really needs a brokers help

The only claims I have ever made in my lifetime is from leaving stuff in taxis, and never had an issue getting paid out, even though the amoungt is pittance and the effort required to get a police report is hardly worth the trouble (and I am flapping hopeless, I still do it often enough but now with Uber i always am able to get my stuff back!).

The only other thing I feel like I need insurance for is;
- replacing a missed connecting flights when the next airline is a LCC, but I dont think anyone insures that. Only get paid out for some tea and bikkies.
- my golf cough, which has a total replacement value of around $5k, and most events that I am frightened of are uninsurable anyway. Like the caddy nicking my 5 iron.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The only other thing I feel like I need insurance for is;
- replacing a missed connecting flights when the next airline is a LCC, but I dont think anyone insures that. Only get paid out for some tea and bikkies.

There are a couple of insurance companies (Australian) that will cover missed connections (other than connections for missed events, which is covered by most policies).

The condition is that you must have planned to arrive at the connecting point no later than the scheduled time checkin opens for your connecting flight... so if checkin opens three hours prior, you have to have a connecting flight arriving no later than three hours (etc). I think nomads was one company. I don't have the other company handy ATM.

 

[Ansett]

How long will be away for and exactly what countries are you going to?

To be honest, many insurances offered by carriers are not as cost effective they would like you to think. (These are often third [or fourth] party products with commissions on commissions.)

You might want to look at online providers such as www.travelinsurancedirect.com.au, www.Columbusdirect.com.au, etc.

Often discount codes can be found for these (Gold AFF members get a 20% discount on Columbus).

Where do I find the code for the discount?

 

[serfty]

Where do I find the code for the discount?

As far as AFF and a Columbus discount goes, those AFF members with membership levels to access this discount can find the it in the appropriate thread.

In relation to TID, there's an open thread in this website that generally provides contemporary discount codes.

 

[straitman]

Such as? Please help us understand what sort of requirement really needs a brokers help

The only claims I have ever made in my lifetime is from leaving stuff in taxis, and never had an issue getting paid out, even though the amoungt is pittance and the effort required to get a police report is hardly worth the trouble (and I am flapping hopeless, I still do it often enough but now with Uber i always am able to get my stuff back!).

The only other thing I feel like I need insurance for is;
- replacing a missed connecting flights when the next airline is a LCC, but I dont think anyone insures that. Only get paid out for some tea and bikkies.
- my golf cough, which has a total replacement value of around $5k, and most events that I am frightened of are uninsurable anyway. Like the caddy nicking my 5 iron.

Have you considered illness prior to a trip?

The only major claim we have ever made was for this and it was $10,000+ and several hundred FF points.

 

[theblank]

Have you considered illness prior to a trip?.

Yes i have but there is nothing special about that cover is there, I have never heard of a travel insurance policy that would not cover that. Its one of the two basics of travel cover, getting sick before you go, or after.

 

[Major]

How long will be away for and exactly what countries are you going to?To be honest, many insurances offered by carriers are not as cost effective they would like you to think. (These are often third [or fourth] party products with commissions on commissions.)You might want to look at online providers such as www.travelinsurancedirect.com.au, Travel Insurance - Cheap Quotes | Columbus Direct Australia, etc.Often discount codes can be found for these (Gold AFF members get a 20% discount on Columbus).

Tried an online quote with Columbus but their system doesn't want to know if you are over 69. Do you know if they offer annual insurance for those over 69 ?

 

[amaroo]

For those with TID annual multi policy. I called them today to discuss an issue I have with a trip we have starting before, but ending after our current policy expires. Basically, the only way I can get total coverage with TID is to take out a seperate single trip policy covering the days that fall outside of the policy period. For 27 days they want to charge me $357 .... FWIW, the annual multi trip family policy cost around $600.

TID annual multi policies can only be taken out within 30 days before the start of period of insurance, and there is no other option other than taking out the single trip cover extension or take a risk and wait until the 30 day mark.

Given the significant amount we've pre-paid for those 27 days - looks like I'm on the hunt for a new TI company.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For those with TID annual multi policy. I called them today to discuss an issue I have with a trip we have starting before, but ending after our current policy expires. Basically, the only way I can get total coverage with TID is to take out a seperate single trip policy covering the days that fall outside of the policy period. For 27 days they want to charge me $357 .... FWIW, the annual multi trip family policy cost around $600.

TID annual multi policies can only be taken out within 30 days before the start of period of insurance, and there is no other option other than taking out the single trip cover extension or take a risk and wait until the 30 day mark.

Given the significant amount we've pre-paid for those 27 days - looks like I'm on the hunt for a new TI company.

That sucks! TIDs FAQs state you're not covered for cancellation costs for parts of the trip that fall outside the current policy expiry date. Can you book refundable hotels or cars for that period and convert them to non-ref once you renew your annual policy at the 30 day mark?