Choosing the Right Travel Insurance For You

Travel insurance is as essential as your passport, regardless of your travel destination. If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel!

  1. Price isn’t always the best indication of a good policy. If you only look at the prices you could end up with a policy that doesn’t provide the right level of cover. Reviewing the benefits and reading the policy wording is the best way to decide.

  2. Buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your travel. With most policies the cancellation component of your policy is active as soon as you buy your policy, not just from the date of departure. Buy your travel insurance as early as you can.

  3. Rental Vehicle Insurance Excess Cover provided in most comprehensive travel insurance policies is normally more cost effective then paying the rental company to reduce the excess in event of an accident.

  4. Read your Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement. Policies offer different benefits and levels of cover. Make sure you understand which events are covered under each benefit.

  5. Make sure you are covered for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions. Travel insurance policies do not automatically cover you for all of your Pre-Existing Medical Conditions. Whilst many simple conditions may be covered, you may need to complete a medical form and possibly pay an additional premium.

  6. Make sure all your planned activities are covered by your travel insurance policy. Many potentially dangerous activities aren’t covered, like running with the bulls or base jumping. Whilst unlikely to affect the average traveller, some activities such as Skiing or Cruising may not be covered or there may be an additional premium payable.

  7. Reciprocal health agreements are not a substitute for Travel Insurance. It will not cover you if a doctor recommends medical evacuation back to Australia. Services are only provided when it would be unreasonable to delay treatment.

  8. Know how to make a claim before you need to make one. Save yourself a lot of extra stress, know when to use your emergency contact numbers and what you need to do if something goes wrong. This information is available in the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) brochure.

  9. You may require an international policy even for a domestic cruise. You may not be covered by Medicare on a domestic cruise with an international cruise line. You may need a comprehensive policy. If you are unsure please contact the cruise company or your cruise booking agent.