Best Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance in the new COVID World?

[desafinado74]

Has anyone tried to call Southern Cross lately ?
I am finding it difficult to get through them, and their call centre is only opened between 10am to 4pm. And do they reply to emails at all ?

 

[KingHuang]

Totally novice question here, and i read through all 6 pages!

I understand that broadly speaking TI (purchased separately) > CC TI (thought Amex platinum doesn't seem to bad??)

Would the deciding factor be on age and pre existing conditions? Got a small family 31/35 and almost 3, and I feel like CC insurance MIGHT be enough. But I am a massive fan of extra insurance for a just in case.. as luck never seems to be on my side haha! Anything else I might be missing out on/not considering when looking at TI in general?

 

[Cynicor]

Amex CC coverage is pretty good, but you just need to make sure you’ll hit the criteria to activate it.

I only double cover for atypical trips. If I’m just going to a city then I’m happy with cc cover

 

[gethsemene]

Just bumping this, going to take out an annual plan as have several trips planned in the next 15 months. First of those is in May, question is when should I start the policy. Theoretically I’m risking some event that would stop me going in May happening now, but that’s a small list.

With a 12 month policy, isn’t the best value to start the policy closer (1-2 months) before first trip?

 

[Cynicor]

Normally they cover 12 months from your trip date, so you are best buying now.

 

[DC3]

Normally they cover 12 months from your trip date …

 

[Cynicor]

You put your upcoming trip dates in, and cover expires a year from then.
If you fly prior you won’t be covered but if you break your leg at home and can’t fly on the planned trip you will

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

I rely on CC insurance particularly as ANZ and WESPAC
have policies nearly the same as AMEX however age will be
the big decider once, and if, I reach 80.
As we seem to spend most of our time OS in Italy I take into
account the reciprocal healthcare arrangements that Australians
have.
Used it a few years ago after a spectacular ski accident breaking
lots of bones. Ambulance, Hospital, Multitude of X-Rays, Treatment and more. Presented with an account and when I reminded them of our countries reciprocal agreement appologies
and account withdrawn. I might add that the treatment in hospital
was 1st class in a modern hospital and far exceeded my expectations.

 

[p--and--t]

My partner and I always used to buy an annual policy thru QF (QBE??) that covered us domestically and internationally including the US.

However the last few years we have relied on our ANZ Black card free travel insurance after reviewing several policies and finding we were getting nothing extra for the money buying a policy. Prior to sailing 3 times last year the cruise line got all uppity at us not buying a seperate Ti policy. I contacted ANZ and they sent me 3 seperate letters (one per cruise) confirming we were fully covered for covid and cruising after which the cruise line shut up and didn't mention insurance again.

Caveats: Neither of us have PEC that were excluded or drew attention from ANZ, and I haven't reached 75 yet.

 

[GrahamBRI]

Normally they cover 12 months from your trip date, so you are best buying now.

Agree 100%. Buy your insurance as soon as you pay for your first tickets. Your 12 months time limit won't start until your first trip, but the policy (pre-trip clauses) start as soon as you pay for the insurance. Insolvency is one clause I have been able to use pre-trip to get my ticket money back. Long Medical conditions that will prevent your travel (like the broken leg example) the same - covered...... note you can also ring up your insurance provider a week before your travels and say, I am now travelling to country X and it was not mentioned on my multi-trip when I bought it can I get it added - so long as it is a low risk country similar to what they had already quoted, they will add that country to your multi-trip at no cost..... so re-confirming my support of buying early!

 

[tassie6]

Hi All, wondering if any pearls of wisdom here. Have an annual policy (1Cover, with an additional premium for a pre-existing condition) that will expire half way through a 6 week trip to Europe in the coming months. It seems I have the following options:

1. Buy a new annual policy that starts before we leave
2. Buy a single trip policy
3. Buy 'Already Overseas' cover for when the annual policy ends, but this can't cover any pre-existing conditions (at 1Cover at least)

Any other ideas I haven't thought of?
Cheers

 

[Cynicor]

I can’t see any option being cheaper than another AMT unless you are planning on not travelling again within a year.

 

[tassie6]

I can’t see any option being cheaper than another AMT unless you are planning on not travelling again within a year.

Only have a short Bali trip later in the year, which could get a pretty cheap single policy for. But you never know what may change of course..

 

[Murmal]

If taking out travel insurance, always read the T & C's carefully.
They DO change. They ARE NOT the same for every underwriter.
Try to think of every possible scenario which gives reason to taking out the insurance.
Typically this would involve (a) medical costs (b) travel disruption costs.
Having in the past relied on Qantas Comprehensive Travel insurance, underwritten by NIB (it has changed recently), without ever needing to claim, I was made aware of its uselessness last year when a cancelled Qantas flight had me stranded for 3 extra days in New York. Considerable extra cost was involved well over and above the $300 Qantas compensated for hotel, transportation and food charges. When lodging a claim with Qantas Insurance for excess costs incurred, it was refused because of a sub clause in the T & C's that said 'we will not pay any claim for disruption to journey costs where the reason for the delay is a mechanical fault in the means of transportation'. Amazing. Of course, the airline had cancelled the flight due to a 'complex mechanical issue'.
NIB, any current underwriter of Qantas and other insurances may or may not still have the same sub clause. There may be other definitions which exclude the most obvious reasons for taking out insurance. The insurance industry expects you to imagine all possible scenarios and check each against all the T & C's.

A more positive outcome was experienced when making the same claim against the CC I had used to make all travel bookings. The claim was accepted speedily and came with an apology for travel inconvenience experienced (it was in no way their fault!) I could not believe the difference in customer service.

I would question the need now for additional travel insurance if your bank CC includes it.

 

[CaptJCool]

I too would question the need for a “free” CC Travel insurance and a paid second one well unless one is to be away longer than the coverage period (noting 45 days, 3 months and 6 months seem to be markers used by travel insurers to cap their exposure)

I can understand two “free” CC insurances (which I may indulge in for the next trip) noting travel delay expenses are often capped not unlimited or none at all (and with excesses of $500) and alternative transport expenses capped too)

I’m still stuck on max periods

One little gem I did pick up was Covermore offer to upgrade for those 80 and over
The premium quadruples
3 months in Europe

 

[VPS]

Hi All, wondering if any pearls of wisdom here. Have an annual policy (1Cover, with an additional premium for a pre-existing condition) that will expire half way through a 6 week trip to Europe in the coming months. It seems I have the following options:

1. Buy a new annual policy that starts before we leave
2. Buy a single trip policy
3. Buy 'Already Overseas' cover for when the annual policy ends, but this can't cover any pre-existing conditions (at 1Cover at least)

Any other ideas I haven't thought of?
Cheers

contact the insurance company and see what they will do

 

[tdimdad]

While confirming the details of my current annual policy and a credit card complimentary insurance cover, I came across some funny limitations. That's some narrow thinking, again. And there are a few other little gems in the same policy. Me thinks reading this warrants a small stiff drink to survive it...

When growing up, cross-country skiing was my thing. There were communal tracks crissing and crossing all over the place and especially in the suburbs and countryside, people just ploughed through the snow to make their own tracks.
From this viewpoint, expecting to go skiing in a commercial area only is really strange. There really aren't any commercial areas there for cross-country.



And I'm yet to see someone wearing a helmet during cross-country. They don't do that in competitions, even less when on leisure time.


Looks like my favourite, low risk winter sport is excluded. At the same time, I could happily go tobogganing which is much higher risk and where I have injured myself properly as a kid. Go figure...

 

[tdimdad]

I'm diving into the PDS's to see the cover levels and inclusions of a number of options for an annual multi-trip travel insurance.

On my list for companies to go through are now 1Cover, Allianz, CoverMore, NIB, RACQ, Southern Cross, and TID (and BankWest MC 'upgraded benefits', as they call it). Any other companies I ought to check while at it?

 

[Cynicor]

Your credit card?

 

[tdimdad]

Your credit card?

That was the 'BankWest MC'. With that one, they have made it difficult to get a quote for the 'upgraded benefits' which would make the cover comparable to other ones but I'll get that sorted at some point.