six steps to

buying travel insurance

There are hundreds of companies in the market from supermarket giants such as Coles and Woolworths to specialist travel insurance brands like 1Cover, Travel Insuranz and Zoom all offering cover for Australian travellers. So where do you start? You can jump online and compare travel cover quotes online using a comparison site like ours, go directly to the insurers, or even buy over the phone. Whichever method you decide is right for you, you still need to follow the same steps. From where you're going, to what you're going to do when you get there...we take you through the six steps to buy travel insurance.

1. Where are you going?

When quoting, some insurers ask you to select the countries you are travelling to and others ask you to choose a region. Hover our uber cool interactive map which helps you pick the right region for your trip.

Worldwide Means anywhere in the world.

Europe Means all European countries, including UK.

Asia Generally means Asia and the India subcontinent excluding Japan.

Pacific Means the South-West Pacific including Australia, Indonesia/Bali, Fiji.

Perhaps you're taking a cruise...

Even if you’re going on a cruise in Australian waters, once your ship has left port, you’re no longer covered for hospital or medical expenses by Medicare (or your usual private health care provider). So even if you’re going on a domestic cruise you’ll need to purchase a Pacific policy.

2. How long for

When buying travel insurance online you’ll need to enter a start date, and end date of travel. The start date should be the date that you leave home (not the date you land in your destination if you’re flying) and the return date should be the date you return from your trip. If you travel often you may save some cash by purchasing an annual multi-trip policy rather than a single trip each time you go away.

3. Who are you travelling with?

You’ll need to select the number of travellers to be included in the policy, and enter the name and date of birth of each traveller. In most cases kids are included for no additional cost within your policy as long as they’re under 21, not in full-time employment and named on your policy. Yippee!

4. What are you doing when you get there?

It’s easy to get caught out by participating in 'extreme' sports before realising you’re not covered! Quite a few sports and activities are excluded from standard policies, so it’s always a good idea to check whether your intended adrenaline activity is covered:

Activities that are usually covered:

• Cycling
• Kayaking
• Swimming
• Trekking
• Recreational sports
• Surfing
• Zorbing
• Horse riding

Activities that are sometimes covered:

• Skiing
• Abseiling
• Rock climbing
• Heli-skiing
• Sailing
• Bungee jumping
• Scuba diving
• White water rafting

Activities that are typically never covered:

• Skiing off season
• Base jumping
• Cross country charity
• Motorbiking
• Motor racing
• Professional sports
• Running with bulls
• Hunting/shooting

5. What are you taking with you?

Watch out for single item limits within your cover. If you’re taking your Louis Vuitton luggage, surfboard, DSLR camera, golf clubs, laptop, or even your wedding rings you should make sure your policy covers for these high-value items. You can increase the amount you are covered for by paying an additional premium. The average comprehensive travel policy generally limits individual items to between $500 and $3000.

6. Do you have any medical conditions?

Travel insurance exists to cover the unforeseen, not medical conditions you’re already aware of. Medical conditions that exist prior to purchasing your policy may not be covered. Whether you’ve broken your arm, undergone hip replacement surgery, or suffered a bout of bronchitis, you’ll need to disclose any injuries, illnesses and major procedures to your insurer. Depending upon your condition, you might have to fill out a medical declaration signed by your doctor and have it assessed by the travel insurance company before you buy your policy. Pre-existing medical conditions apply to everyone listed on the certificate of insurance. So, the person who buys the travel insurance policy, travelling companions, and close relatives too. In the instance of cancellation, it also applies to close relatives that aren’t necessarily travelling with you.

typical exclusions - what's not covered?

Travel insurance is a must-have for any holiday, but like any type of insurance it’s important to realise there are cases where you will not be covered. Because holidays don’t always go to plan, it’s a good idea to understand your policy before you head off. Keep reading to learn the most common travel insurance exclusions. You’ll find a full list of general exclusions within your chosen Product Disclosure Statement.

Unattended Items

In a nutshell, look after your stuff! Anything you leave out of reach, that isn’t properly supervised, or isn’t safely locked away will be considered unattended and (most probably) won't be covered if you try to claim for it being lost or stolen. E.g. you wouldn’t be covered if you left your phone in the back of a taxi, or on the table in a restaurant. Luggage that is left in a storage room of a hotel once checked out is also considered unattended!

Being reckless

We know that travel is all about new and exciting experiences, but if you deliberately put your life in danger (like jumping off a cliff into the sea) you wouldn't be covered. Injuries or loss when alcohol or drugs have been involved may not be covered either. Not too many piña coladas now!

High risk activities

Hey there adrenaline junkie! Many high risk activities and extreme sports (e.g. American football, boxing, skydiving, competitive cycling , rock climbing, polo and motor sports) are not covered. Always check whether your planned activities are covered before you go jumping out of a plane (for example.)

Travel supplier financial default

Does your tour operator sound a bit dodgy ? Travel insurance does not always cover for insolvency of travel agents, tour wholesalers, tour operators or booking agents. Make sure you’re confident in the operator making your travel arrangements.

Countries With Travel Warnings

If you visit a destination or region that Smart Traveller has issued a travel warning for you would not be covered for an incident relating to that warning. This can range from natural disasters, terrorist threats and riots. Similarly, if you are heading to a natural disaster zone or region of civil unrest, you would no longer be able to purchase cover for the events taking place in the media.

Some Cancellations

Cancellation covers you for transport and accommodation expenses if you experience delays or cancellation of your travel plans because of illness, accidents, or other unforeseen circumstances such as a sudden natural disaster. You can’t just cancel your trip for any reason and be reimbursed. You’re won't be covered if your flight is cancelled due to a mechanical fault, overbooking or airline company closure. This is the airlines responsibility.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Some medical conditions that exist before you travel won’t be covered. But if you do have a pre-existing condition, it’s not to say that you will be travelling without any cover at all. You can still buy a policy that would cover you for all other benefits, and for any unrelated illness or injury to your pre-existing condition would of course still be covered.

Conditions that are usually covered:

• Asthma
• Cataracts
• Diabetes
• DVT
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Migraine
• Osteoporosis

Conditions that may require a medical assessment:

• Mental illness
• Cystic fibrosis
• Epilepsy
• Heart problems
• Lung problems
• Organ transplant
• Pacemakers
• Stroke

Conditions that are NOT typically covered:

• Blood-thinning meds
• Childbirth
• Alcohol or drug addiction
• Elective surgery
• Awaiting surgery
• STD
• Recent surgery
• Terminal illness

Pregnancy

A few insurers consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition, so it’s sometimes trickier to get cover in the later stages. Most insurers cover until 26 weeks, but some exclude cover for pregnancy altogether. Find out who offers travel insurance while pregnant.

Unlicenced travel

Travelling in/on a vehicle that you (or the driver) are not licenced to drive is not covered. Riding a motorcycle or scooter in Thailand or Bali is a common one. Make sure you wear a helmet too!