Current best option for annual travel insurance

[Ansett]

Hi everyone

We are in the throws of renewing our annual travel insurance for Mrs Ansett and myself. We are currently with TID and have made no claim, we are concerned with some of the recent comments about claims with TID so now we seek assistance to identify other good policies or assurance that TID is still a valid option.

Look forward to some feed back and suggestions.

Thank you

 

[Inver]

I just use the cover that comes with my credit card. I did some research before my last international flight and there are bad reviews for all of them the good thing it gave me a little idea what is and what isn't covered.

For example theft, if you have a pair of expensive sunglasses and put them down at a restaurant table they won't be covered they will only be covered if you are wearing them (or left in the hotel room).

 

[RooFlyer]

Its going to be a hard one to decide!

I've used Covermore via a TA for about 4 years. Had to make 2 claims, both starting from o/s (both for local thefts, "on the streets", nothing to do with baggage). Both times the initial phone call was answered quickly, details taken and clear discussion had about what I could do immediately prior to the claim being formally lodged (let alone approved).

Bit annoyed one time when they wanted me to first claim on my household policy (and the household policy wanted me to first claim on the travel insurance), but resolved that by just lodging the claim on Covermore and told them to sort it out with the household policy. Covermore paid the claim.

I can't make comparison with any other policy, sorry; just to say I find this a decent product.

 

[moa999]

I recently went with Colombus using the GoldMember discount having reviewed a few policies.

 

[robd]

I chose 1Cover Annual Multi trip for Jnr#1 last year. The policy covered trips up to 90 days and is underwritten by Allianz. Many of the other Annual Multitrip policies, only cover 30 days.

I have a mate in the insurance industry, who highly recommends Allianz.

 

[get me outta here]

How much do people rely on the Ins covered by a cc, eg Amex Express Velocity Platinum CC via ACE?

 

[Ansett]

How much do people rely on the Ins covered by a cc, eg Amex Express Velocity Platinum CC via ACE?

Whilst it is handy to have have found way too many exclusions and conditions apply so have normally carried more flexable annual cover in the past

 

[moa999]

How much do people rely on the Ins covered by a cc, eg Amex Express Velocity Platinum CC via ACE?

Used to rely on it until they changed the T&Cs to make it all travel expenses had to be paid on the card.
Made it next to useless so I dumped the Charge card, and went back to Credit card plus paid annual policy.

 

[get me outta here]

I called Ace insurance (who has heard of ACE anyway), and they said as long as flts booked on Amex card I'm covered.

I specifically asked them as I bought the tkt from ebay (that's a whole other story). They said, best if you carry a print out of the paypal charges showing AMEX for a return flt, then you're sweet. Still don't feel comfortable somehow, esp for the US.

 

[moa999]

If the policy was meant to say "as long as flight booked" it would have said so, or it could have said a minimum of $xx_, or a substantial portion.
but it doesn't...

and where insurance is concerned, I will always trust the written T&Cs over some call centre person reading from a script

 

[get me outta here]

If the policy was meant to say "as long as flight booked" it would have said so, or it could have said a minimum of $xx_, or a substantial portion.
but it doesn't...

and where insurance is concerned, I will always trust the written T&Cs over some call centre person reading from a script

Well, it does say "Cover is effective when you You pay the full fare on ..." Perhaps the ambiguity is with "full fare"? Or maybe the cap "Y", seeing as I paid via ebay / paypal. It's a worry.

Anyway, the OP was about annual ins - that's also an interesting question.

 

[cgichard]

I looked at ACE because of reward points. They have a ceiling age of 65. Best I've found for seniors with a minor health issue (e.g. osteopenia) is FastCover (underwritten by Allianz) but have never had to claim.

Also their 'Europe' area is very broad, includes all former Soviet countries, not just EU.

 

[get me outta here]

Also their 'Europe' area is very broad, includes all former Soviet countries, not just EU.[/QUOTE]

Now that IS ambiguous isn't the EU in Europe.

Just looked at FastCover and for multi trips and have to be under 59yo.

 

[cgichard]

Now that IS ambiguous isn't the EU in Europe.

What I meant was that for many policies UK & EU are a single area, not including the former Soviet bloc, so if you want to go to Rumania or Georgia, for example, you have to pay 'Rest of the World' (higher) rates.

Just looked at FastCover and for multi trips and have to be under 59yo.

Many apologies: I simply looked on the 'Seniors Travel Insurance' page, note the tabbed heading 'Annual multi-trip' and made the (incorrect) assumption that they offered that cover for seniors. Agree: that is a very misleading page.

 

[get me outta here]

Apparently, Choice magazine looked at Tvl Ins late last year. Maybe that will give some pointers.

 

[ethernet]

I cant think where, But underwriters (Sumimoto) and LLoyds have entered the Australian Market (and why not when Australians are charged 4 times as much as UK residents). But a 1 or 2 week Asian holiday showed little difference. Lets hope the new post election ACCC spends more on this sore point (as well as petrol prices).

 

[pangwen]

TID were good for us on a recent (less than 2 months ago) trip. They guided us through the process (from before we went to the hospital), and when I finally submitted the claim, it was approved within 48 hours.

 

[james4321]

TID were good for us on a recent (less than 2 months ago) trip. They guided us through the process (from before we went to the hospital), and when I finally submitted the claim, it was approved within 48 hours.

+1 for TID. Excellent service on claim recently. Very happy

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Used to rely on it until they changed the T&Cs to make it all travel expenses had to be paid on the card.
Made it next to useless so I dumped the Charge card, and went back to Credit card plus paid annual policy.

Does this vary by Amex Plat?

The Reserve just indicates full fare, and not all travel expenses.

ACTIVATION OF TRAVEL INSURANCE COVER:
Cover is effective when You pay the full fare for a Trip on the
American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card Account or with
American Express Membership Rewards points.

So would fare not mean transportation charges only, and not hotel charges? ie Plane, train cruise?

 

[Sprucegoose]

I just use the cover that comes with my credit card. I did some research before my last international flight and there are bad reviews for all of them the good thing it gave me a little idea what is and what isn't covered.

For example theft, if you have a pair of expensive sunglasses and put them down at a restaurant table they won't be covered they will only be covered if you are wearing them (or left in the hotel room).

Be careful there. You wouldn't want to be invalidated on a technicality and have $250plus in medicals to pay