Travel Insurance which covers COVID-19?

[MEL_Traveller]

Medibank is indeed an interesting one and there are options for the single trip or the annual plan. Are you guys going for the single trip option?

If I go on multiple trips this year then the annual plan is the way to go it looks like.

I bought a single for my upcoming trip. ANZ's CC insurance will be back up and running from the end of April so I'll go back to that one, which now includes cover for covid. If we still need it by then!

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

Just looking at the Go Insurance policy and i am a little confused by some of the wording around the frequent flyer points below

Claims for points lost under Frequent Flyer or similar loyalty reward programs following cancellation or curtailment will be reimbursed based on the cash value of those points nominated by the program operator.

So the scenario could be, I am in Thailand and i get coronavirus how do i get home? If i have FF Bus class seats home does the above wording mean i am on my own and they will just give me a refund? (Based on what the program deems to be the same value in cash)

They won't get me a Biz class seat home? They will just give me some cash and not a biz class seat home?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just looking at the Go Insurance policy and i am a little confused by some of the wording around the frequent flyer points below

Claims for points lost under Frequent Flyer or similar loyalty reward programs following cancellation or curtailment will be reimbursed based on the cash value of those points nominated by the program operator.

So the scenario could be, I am in Thailand and i get coronavirus how do i get home? If i have FF Bus class seats home does the above wording mean i am on my own and they will just give me a refund? (Based on what the program deems to be the same value in cash)

They won't get me a Biz class seat home? They will just give me some cash and not a biz class seat home?

There might be another section in the policy dealing with how they get you home.

If they fly you home you generally wouldn’t also get the value of any FF points for the return ticket… it’s one or the other. But you could have used FF points for hotel bookings, or side trips, etc. Those should be refundable.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

There might be another section in the policy dealing with how they get you home.

If they fly you home you generally wouldn’t also get the value of any FF points for the return ticket… it’s one or the other. But you could have used FF points for hotel bookings, or side trips, etc. Those should be refundable.

Oh no i don't want to double dip... All i really care about is getting home and getting home in biz class as per my original booking. I don't want the points back i just want a biz class seat back


It does show this but I can't see in their policy if it 'like for like' as in, I had a biz seat home so they will replace with a biz seat home. I think i am just going to have to call them so i don't make that assumption

Post automatically merged: Mar 20, 2022

What I did find which is interesting that the Go Insurance policy will cover pet boarding if you are delayed. That did not even cross my mind but it is great to know and consider

 

[DC3]

… the Go Insurance policy will cover pet boarding if you are delayed. That did not even cross my mind but it is great to know and consider

Oh, no. Now we have to go and buy a pet in order to maximise the policy benefits, should there be a trip delay.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Oh, no. Now we have to go and buy a pet in order to maximise the policy benefits, should there be a trip delay.

Gotta spend money to make money

 

[levelnine]

I'm surprised to discover that the Amex Qantas Ultimate travel insurance is quite good when it comes to COVID-19 cover. Covers you if you have to cancel/change your trip due to you or immediate family contracting COVID-19 up to $12.5K per person with only a $250 excess. No cover if you cancel your trip due to attending a special event (eg a wedding or conference) that is cancelled due to COVID-19.

 

[http_x92]

I'm surprised to discover that the Amex Qantas Ultimate travel insurance is quite good when it comes to COVID-19 cover. Covers you if you have to cancel/change your trip due to you or immediate family contracting COVID-19 up to $12.5K per person with only a $250 excess. No cover if you cancel your trip due to attending a special event (eg a wedding or conference) that is cancelled due to COVID-19.

I would assume that it would also work for the Platinum Charge then. Good to hear if you are planning a holiday yourself and just going for leisure.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I'm surprised to discover that the Amex Qantas Ultimate travel insurance is quite good when it comes to COVID-19 cover. Covers you if you have to cancel/change your trip due to you or immediate family contracting COVID-19 up to $12.5K per person with only a $250 excess. No cover if you cancel your trip due to attending a special event (eg a wedding or conference) that is cancelled due to COVID-19.

Does it also cover medical overseas?

 

[levelnine]

Does it also cover medical overseas?

Of course check the PDS yourself, but yes it does.

 

[Danger]

I don't see anywhere in the Amex policy that covers the cost of rescheduling transportation and accommodation following an illness. For example, you fall ill while overseas, need to spend three days in hospital, miss your onward flights as a result, need to rebook those flights and the cost has shot up $5000.

https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/au/pdfs/credit-cards/pds_ultimatecard.pdf

 

[Lynda2475]

I'm surprised to discover that the Amex Qantas Ultimate travel insurance is quite good when it comes to COVID-19 cover. Covers you if you have to cancel/change your trip due to you or immediate family contracting COVID-19 up to $12.5K per person with only a $250 excess. No cover if you cancel your trip due to attending a special event (eg a wedding or conference) that is cancelled due to COVID-19.

I will have to read the updated PDS, although traditionally the reason not to use this cover is the very low medical expenses coverage, to be safe you need unlimited medical if travelling to the USA.

 

[levelnine]

I don't see anywhere in the Amex policy that covers the cost of rescheduling transportation and accommodation following an illness. For example, you fall ill while overseas, need to spend three days in hospital, miss your onward flights as a result, need to rebook those flights and the cost has shot up $5000.

Yes, appears to be no resumption of travel cover. Though I note cover for that is quite limited in the other policy that has good COVID coverage (Go Insurance) — only covers you if you're back in your country of residence, so useless if you don't return to Australia.

 

[levelnine]

I will have to read the updated PDS, although traditionally the reason not to use this cover is the very low medical expenses coverage, to be safe you need unlimited medical if travelling to the USA.

Yes, only $2.5mil per person.

 

[Danger]

Yes, appears to be no resumption of travel cover. Though I note cover for that is quite limited in the other policy that has good COVID coverage (Go Insurance) — only covers you if you're back in your country of residence, so useless if you don't return to Australia.

Resumption of travel cover. That's what it's called.

I'm reasonably confident ANZ's credit card cover through Allianz provides for it under section 3.1, additional expenses.

https://www.anz.com.au/content/dam/anzcomau/documents/pdf/anz-platinum-and-black-complimentary-insurance-booklet.pdf

 

[levelnine]

Resumption of travel cover. That's what it's called.

I'm reasonably confident ANZ's credit card cover through Allianz provides for it under section 3.1, additional expenses.

https://www.anz.com.au/content/dam/anzcomau/documents/pdf/anz-platinum-and-black-complimentary-insurance-booklet.pdf

3.1.2(e) excludes expenses for rescheduling connecting transportation.

 

[Danger]

3.1.2(e) excludes expenses for rescheduling connecting transportation.

Interesting. I've had verbal advice (recorded by me) that it is covered, although I'm certainly not relying on that recording.

Section 3.1.2(e) does seem to be antithetical to section 3.1.1(a), though. The latter says, "If you cannot continue your journey because of an injury or sickness ... we will reimburse your reasonable additional accommodation and travel expenses." The former (the exclusion) says, "[we won't pay] for cancellations, delays, rescheduling or diversions to your scheduled or connecting transport unless it is due to a strike, riot, hijack, civil protest, weather, natural disaster or accident affecting your mode of transport ..."

 

[levelnine]

Interesting. I've had verbal advice (recorded by me) that it is covered, although I'm certainly not relying on that recording.

Section 3.1.2(e) does seem to be antithetical to section 3.1.1(a), though. The latter says, "If you cannot continue your journey because of an injury or sickness ... we will reimburse your reasonable additional accommodation and travel expenses." The former (the exclusion) says, "[we won't pay] for cancellations, delays, rescheduling or diversions to your scheduled or connecting transport unless it is due to a strike, riot, hijack, civil protest, weather, natural disaster or accident affecting your mode of transport ..."

My reading of 3.1.1(a) is that it covers things like paying for your extra nights in a hotel if you are forced to stay longer due to COVID, but 3.1.2(e) says they won't cover the costs to reschedule your transportation to connect back up to the rest of your journey.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, only $2.5mil per person.

I figure if I need more than $2.5 million of medical expenses I probably have more to worry about than whether I'm covered by insurance!! (I'm not even sure you could exceed $2.5 million in the USA for anything?)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

https://www.anz.com.au/content/dam/anzcomau/documents/pdf/anz-platinum-and-black-complimentary-insurance-booklet.pdf

Thanks for that link.

I note that this updated policy comes into effect from 27 April 2022.

And that it is Allianz who is the insurer. I wonder if the other Allianz policies provided by the other CC providers who use Allianz will adopt in the very near future similar wording to this policy with respect to Covid19?




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