Travel Insurance via CBA Plat AMEX/Visa : is it sufficient?

[Rodelus]

This is not entirely correct. The insurance is activated by spending $950 on any aspect of the trip - not just flights. So you can book your hotel/s for example, and if the cost is > $950 it doesn't matter how you pay for your ticket, FF points or not.

From the PDS:

Cardholders, their spouses and dependent children become eligible for this International Travel Insurance when, before leaving Australia on an overseas journey, they have a return overseas travel ticket, and at least:
(a) A$950 of each of the cardholder’s, spouse’s and dependent child(ren)’s prepaid travel costs (i.e. costs of the return overseas travel ticket; and/or airport/departure taxes; and/or prepaid overseas accommodation/travel; and/or other prepaid overseas itinerary items); or
(b) 90% of each of the cardholder’s, spouse’s and dependent child(ren)’s return overseas travel ticket(s);
is paid for by one or a combination of the following payment methods:
• charged to the cardholder’s eligible credit card account; or
• paid for by the redemption of the cardholder’s Commonwealth Awards points through the Commonwealth Awards Program, this excludes points redeemed for Frequent Flyer programs;
and, in the case of the spouse and/or dependent child, they are travelling with the cardholder for the entire journey.

I have just rang up Zurich to confirm that I am covered for my travels . The new PDS as of this 28th Oct 2013, states the amount at $1,000 as a minimum spend. I have paid all of my flights by using Qantas FF points but paid >$1,000 on other fees, and all my accommodation costs through my CBA Diamond AMEX. I spoke to a representative named Alex on 132 687 (0800am WAST) and he was helpful enough to clarify/verify that I am still covered by the complimentary credit card insurance though I have used QFF to pay for my tickets. I was told that as long as I have paid any component of my trip (flights & fees /accommodation/activities) exceeds the >$1,000 threshold, it automatically activates the complimentary travel insurance. This is for a single traveler.

 

[jj92]

That is a relief. I was worried re: upcoming trip as I will have flights already paid for, however will need to book the tour myself on commbank card which will cost roughly 4k

 

[stux]

Was just reading through the PDS.

I was a bit concerned, because it can be very hard to pay >1000$ for an infant

The PDS makes clear that if the infant travels with the cardholder, then then infant is covered if the cardholder is covered.

My reading thus is you have to spend over 1000$ per person, except infants, on prepaid costs on the card.

So, 2 adults + 1 child + 1 infant means >3000$ spend.

Interestingly I normally have to get a set of 'administration fees' paid to cover various pre-existing nut alergies... I wonder if that is part of the pre-paid travel cost!

I'm sure when I first got my Gold card over a decade ago it wasn't this expensive to use the insurance

 

[nickfromeastryde]

I'm sure when I first got my Gold card over a decade ago it wasn't this expensive to use the insurance

I'm sure 10 years ago you were earning a hell of a lot less as well so maybe in real terms it isn't any more

Seriously, 1K per person is hardly much of a hurdle to get over

 

[stux]

I'm sure 10 years ago you were earning a hell of a lot less as well so maybe in real terms it isn't any more

Seriously, 1K per person is hardly much of a hurdle to get over

if all your hotel bookings aren't prepaid, and it's not international long haul, taking kids with 50% fares, it can actually be tricky.

The Westpac Black has a $500 pp trigger rather than 1000$. As far as I can see the big difference is the excess on extended warranty (but it's +24 months), 45d instead of 55d interest free, and you can transfer to KrysFlyer

 

[sabre1]

BE AWARE OF CONDITIONS ON TRAVEL INSURANCE VIA CARDS.

I recently paid for a cruise ($14,000) and premium economy with Cathay to HK. As these expenses had to be paid some months ahead I did not arrange return travel SIN - PER as there are plenty of flights to choose from. My wife became ill a few weeks before departure and we had to cancel. A claim to QBE was rejected because I did not hold a return ticket to Australia.

However if I had purchased travel insurance with QBE directly there is no requirement to hold a return ticket and indeed no requirement to hold any tickets at all at the time the policy issued. The card insurance has an obvious trick to avoid claims. The crazy part is that if I had purchased the cheapest flight from, say, Bali to Darwin ($150) our $5,500 cancellation would have been honoured - even though we were not planning to go to Bali nor do we live in Darwin!

There are many other conditions given in the small print of the 77 page document on the ANZ/QBE insurance. Read carefully if you intend to rely on this insurance. As for me - I am going to save the approx $500 cost of black cards and use a straight forward direct purchase policy.

 

[vitagen]

I don't use CC insurance and I always have a standalone annual Policy for the wife and i

 

[Austman]

BE AWARE OF CONDITIONS ON TRAVEL INSURANCE VIA CARDS.

A claim to QBE was rejected because I did not hold a return ticket to Australia. .

Not nice! But, as with purchased TI, what CC free TI covers can vary.

Mine, through Citibank using Zurich states:

'overseas travel ticket’ means either:
• a one way ticket from Australia to an overseas destination; or
• a return ticket to an overseas destination and returning to Australia.

 

[mooingchicken]

There are many other conditions given in the small print of the 77 page document on the ANZ/QBE insurance..

Sorry for the unfortunate situation. but as per any insurance you always need to read the PDS. These conditions are always summarised and under clear headings. These types of exclusions also do apply to some brought polices as well. you always need to read everything and make the decision that best suits you. There is many posts on this forum of CC vs brought polices and many travel and had straightforward claims with both CC and paided polices. Its upto you to make sure you have covered yourself to your conditions. This isnt really something you can blame them for as the information is readily available.

 

[Cynicor]

BE AWARE OF CONDITIONS ON TRAVEL INSURANCE VIA CARDS.

I recently paid for a cruise ($14,000) and premium economy with Cathay to HK. As these expenses had to be paid some months ahead I did not arrange return travel SIN - PER as there are plenty of flights to choose from. My wife became ill a few weeks before departure and we had to cancel. A claim to QBE was rejected because I did not hold a return ticket to Australia.

However if I had purchased travel insurance with QBE directly there is no requirement to hold a return ticket and indeed no requirement to hold any tickets at all at the time the policy issued. The card insurance has an obvious trick to avoid claims. The crazy part is that if I had purchased the cheapest flight from, say, Bali to Darwin ($150) our $5,500 cancellation would have been honoured - even though we were not planning to go to Bali nor do we live in Darwin!

There are many other conditions given in the small print of the 77 page document on the ANZ/QBE insurance. Read carefully if you intend to rely on this insurance. As for me - I am going to save the approx $500 cost of black cards and use a straight forward direct purchase policy.

Have you thought about the industry ombudsman? If the quote bit is accurate, it doesn't say return airfare, just "ticket". I would count a cruise ticket as eligible.
Regardless, I'd be trying another avenue for that amount of $.

Best of luck!

 

[Austman]

The eligibility criteria for ANZ/QBE CC TI cover includes:

you must: hold a ticket to return you to Australia.

Seems sabre1 only had a return ticket as far as Singapore.

 

[sabre1]

Thanks for the 'heads up' on Citibank insurance with Zurich. No age limits and no return ticket required.

 

[stux]

if all your hotel bookings aren't prepaid, and it's not international long haul, taking kids with 50% fares, it can actually be tricky.

The Westpac Black has a $500 pp trigger rather than 1000$. As far as I can see the big difference is the excess on extended warranty (but it's +24 months), 45d instead of 55d interest free, and you can transfer to KrysFlyer

Its worth pointing out that CBA recently changed their insurer (June 2015?), and now this 1000$ limit is gone

In its place, you have a Basic policy and a Better policy. The better policy is activated in Netbank before you leave, and is worth doing.

Quite happy with the new terms and conditions.

They no longer specifically disallow mechanical bull riding, rather you can't take part in a rodeo

Has a bunch of add-on options for Snow sports.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Its worth pointing out that CBA recently changed their insurer (June 2015?), and now this 1000$ limit is gone

In its place, you have a Basic policy and a Better policy. The better policy is activated in Netbank before you leave, and is worth doing.

Quite happy with the new terms and conditions.

They no longer specifically disallow mechanical bull riding, rather you can't take part in a rodeo

Has a bunch of add-on options for Snow sports.

Thanks for that - I must have ignored the advice of the change - now covered thanks to you.

 

[Skrambled]

has anyone activated their commbank insurance recently?

When I click Assess now on pre-existing conditions it loads but then I get an error "An error has occurred. Please try again or contact us for assistance." and I can't then do anything.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I have activated it but I have no pre-existing conditions so I didn't go through that process.

 

[JohnJa]

Its worth pointing out that CBA recently changed their insurer (June 2015?), and now this 1000$ limit is gone

In its place, you have a Basic policy and a Better policy. The better policy is activated in Netbank before you leave, and is worth doing.

Quite happy with the new terms and conditions.

They no longer specifically disallow mechanical bull riding, rather you can't take part in a rodeo

Has a bunch of add-on options for Snow sports.

Is the increased insurance cover that's activated online (in Netbank) provided without anything being charged to the card? ie just having the card and activating the cover (for free) is all that's needed be covered?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Is the increased insurance cover that's activated online (in Netbank) provided without anything being charged to the card? ie just having the card and activating the cover (for free) is all that's needed be covered?

Yes.
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[Skrambled]

so has anyone claimed on the insurance since it moved to Allianz?

 

[Skrambled]

any one had a review of the PDS and got a view about the Allianz coverage?