Urgently need a new annual travel insurance policy

[Gotogate]

My current annual business travel policy is about to expire 31st August and I'm about to retire. I can renew for 1 more year but at a cost of $1500, almost double what it was last year because we planned a couple of o/seas trips including a long one for next year. I'm having trouble finding a new policy to fit the case so any advice is appreciated.
Facts: We are both 64, will travel both in Aus and overseas, 1 big trip of 68 days to US and Europe which includes cruises. Some of the problems I'm finding are: Length of the big trip, having to nominate every country we might visit and if you don't include somewhere and decide to go later you can't add it, policy that won't be able to renew once 65, having to take out additional cruise coverage.
I purchase everything with Citi Prestige visa and am about to have a fun read of their 74 page document to see if I can get away with credit card coverage unless I can find a better alternative.

 

[mrsterryn]

That's some serious $$$.
I just paid 1Cover a fraction under $600 for an annual. Doesn't cover US or cruising and won't cover anything related to my disclosed cancer situation. Fine by me. When I go on a cruise next year I can always ring and pay a bit extra or given its only on Australian waters take my chances.

Husband's tumour is not and never will be fully excised . Funnily enough that is the biggest ....charge so to speak on our insurance. My part is about 1/3 and I have a few modern issues (blood pressure , cholesterol , fat etc )

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Husband's tumour is not and never will be fully excised . Funnily enough that is the biggest ....charge so to speak on our insurance. My part is about 1/3 and I have a few modern issues (blood pressure , cholesterol , fat etc )

I guess the issue is whether or not the tumor itself will lead to complications that require medical assistance while you are away. If not, standard insurance will cover everything else. Also worth considering the need for specific cover if travelling to a country where there is reciprocal cover with medicare - which I think is about 11 countries in Europe.

Blood pressure, cholesterol etc are covered by many polices free of charge as 'standard' pre-existing conditions that don't require notification.

 

[DC3]

… Blood pressure, cholesterol etc are covered by many polices free of charge as 'standard' pre-existing conditions that don't require notification.

That's my understanding as well.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Yes, but a helicopter evacuation, and pretty much anything on the ship is expensive. It’s a risk that one takes if you choose the no cruise option cover.

Yes fully agree, which is why I emphasised that only the on-shore costs would be covered by Australian Medical Insurances.

This is the same as any overseas trip, or domestic cruise (with our without TI) where as soon as you get back on-shore that your Australian Coverage, whatever that is, takes over.

 

[serfty]

Blood pressure, cholesterol etc are covered by many polices free of charge as 'standard' pre-existing conditions that don't require notification.

Often the PDS's refer to thos and controlled diabetes as well, but in many cases you can generally only have one such pre-existing for automatic cover. If you have more than one, say, both hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia then no.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Often the PDS's refer to thos and controlled diabetes as well, but in many cases you can generally only have one such pre-existing for automatic cover. If you have more than one, say, both hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia then no.

This may vary between providers, but ANZ CC insurance has no such restriction. Each of the listed conditoons - provided they are stable - are not considered to fall within the exclusion of 'pre-existing' (and therefore covered). This includes diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol. You can have all three.

 

[mrsterryn]

I also found with the three conditions mentioned above that my age was against me .
I needed to have been diagnosed years ago

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I also found with the three conditions mentioned above that my age was against me .
I needed to have been diagnosed years ago

This might be another case of checking for the right policy. ANZ CC insurance covers you until your 81st birthday. There is no age limit with the 'accepted' pre-conditions... just that they must be 'stable' (that is, you are taking medication if it has been prescribed, and you're not on the waiting list to have an operation or procedure to fix any of them, etc.)

For the $79 annual fee and just $250 of spend, the ANZ card was a huge benefit for my folks up until they no longer became eligible for cover due to age. Saved them thousands of dollars they would have been up for under regular paid policies. But they also travelled on the basis they felt they were fit enough to do so and that hopefully nothing would go wrong. They didn't travel expecting something was likely to go wrong which insurance would then cover. Everyone will have different needs.

 

[mrsterryn]

@MEL_Traveller thank you very much for that .
Will have to look into it .

 

[serfty]

This may vary between providers, but ANZ CC insurance has no such restriction. Each of the listed conditoons - provided they are stable - are not considered to fall within the exclusion of 'pre-existing' (and therefore covered). This includes diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol. You can have all three.

Yes, the ANZ policy does vary somewhat from the norm, but there are conditions to Diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus (Types 1 and 2), but not if you:
(a) were diagnosed in 12 months before you activated cover
for a trip;
(b) have any known cardiovascular, hypertensive, vascular
disease, related kidney, eye or neuropathy complications.

That precludes automatic cover for Diabetics where they also have some other conditions. These can include High Blood pressure and/or High Cholesterol.

https://www.anz.com.au/content/dam/anzcomau/documents/pdf/premium-cards-insurances.pdf

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, the ANZ policy does vary somewhat from the norm, but there are conditions to Diabetes.
That precludes automatic cover for Diabetics where they also have other issues. These issue can include High Blood pressure and/or High Cholesterol.

https://www.anz.com.au/content/dam/anzcomau/documents/pdf/premium-cards-insurances.pdf

I think a combination of issues related to, or possibly exacerbated by diabetes warrants a proper authorisation as a pre-existing condition.

This isn't medicare!! (I wonder if, or how much, anyone would be charged for this combination if seeking authorisation as a pre-existing anyway).

 

[VPS]

Does anyone know what the income for the ANZ card is - I can't find a limit

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Does anyone know what the income for the ANZ card is - I can't find a limit

I'd be surprised if it's high - I think the card has a initial credit limit of $10K? (Or at least it used to, might have gone up slightly due to inflation).

 

[Carrots]

The DUAL cover is pretty reasonable. Although I can't recall what their attitude to Leisure Travel is these days (most of the Corporate Travel insurer providers are pushing for majority business and minimal leisure it would seem).
I would be holding onto a Corporate policy as long as you can - the lack of pre-ex medical on the Medical / Additional Expenses section is a massive perk. (There are some sections that do have a pre-ex exclusion - ie capital benefits type covers, so in essence not an issue really.)

If memory serves, Dual wouldn't be too phased about having to list what countries you're going - the only insurer we've come across that are black and white on this is Travel Card. Unless it's been driven by the over 60 day trips.

As an aside a recent policy I saw for a clients parents was about $700 each for a North American trip (cruise across the top of Canada). So when you consider that $1500 for an annual is pretty good value, and no pre-ex issues.

 

[Pele]

Gday

Has anyone found an annual multi trip policy for a family where everyone is covered even if not travelling with the main policy holder?

Most trips my wife and child take we either start or end the trip apart due to work commitments. The child will always be with one of us.

All the annual multi trip family policies i have looked at usually specify that the main policy holder can take independent trips and be covered but the spouse cannot. This is bloody annoying.

At this stage it looks like i will have to buy two annual multi trip family policies for my family. One for me and child and one for wife and child.

Pele.

 

[mrsterryn]

@Pele I didn't know that. Husband and I were about to take a policy together.. I need to read more of the fine print
Thanks for that

 

[Happy Dude]

I had a poor experience with 1cover in 2007.

I just had a look at the exclusions for cancellations/lost deposits for 1cover, and they're pretty much all-encompassing. Hard to imagine a scenario where they would pay. Not covering mechanical breakdown of an aircraft is ludicrous. They did it then and it hasn't changed. That's a deal-breaker if you're planning to catch a few planes.

 

[Oakdene]

This might be another case of checking for the right policy. ANZ CC insurance covers you until your 81st birthday. There is no age limit with the 'accepted' pre-conditions... just that they must be 'stable' (that is, you are taking medication if it has been prescribed, and you're not on the waiting list to have an operation or procedure to fix any of them, etc.)

For the $79 annual fee and just $250 of spend, the ANZ card was a huge benefit for my folks up until they no longer became eligible for cover due to age. Saved them thousands of dollars they would have been up for under regular paid policies. But they also travelled on the basis they felt they were fit enough to do so and that hopefully nothing would go wrong. They didn't travel expecting something was likely to go wrong which insurance would then cover. Everyone will have different needs.

Great information thanks

 

[Redcentre]

This may vary between providers, but ANZ CC insurance has no such restriction. Each of the listed conditoons - provided they are stable - are not considered to fall within the exclusion of 'pre-existing' (and therefore covered). This includes diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol. You can have all three.

We have used our ANZ cc for cover for about five years, needed to activate when I broke a bone in my foot before a big European vacation a couple of years ago, a lot of straight forward paper work but we got all $$$ expended less the $250 excess fee. Can not recommend more highly

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I have had 3 or differnt Annual policies over the years deppending on my situation and proposed trips/destinations. Recently I looked at an annual policy as recommended by Choice Magazine "Good 2 Go" - Compare the best travel insurance - CHOICE. On the face of it looked pretty good but when I declared Hypercholesterolaemia with no other medical issues at all - they insisted on an online medical assessment which cost a minimum of $100 - non refundable. Three questions later I was told I was covered - which was a total rip-off. All other policies have a collection of basic "accepted" conditions which do NOT require a medical review or letter. In addition they insist that you notify them in writing of all trips prior top leaving Australia. I had 3 booked and did so - and was told I had to do it one at a time. So beware. As I was still in the cooling off period I walked away from this policy as I was getting some bad vibes about the "corporate culture " of this insurer.