There was some commentary in this thread about Travel Insuranz. They have updated their FAQs and it is actually quite useful. Clearest I have seen amongst TI providers.
Travel Insuranz has pulled together all the questions we are normally asked about travel insurance on our FAQs. If you have anything else, ask us online now.
www.travelinsuranz.com.au
Updated on 15 March 2020
For all policyholders who purchased their policies before the 7th of March 2020:
On the 7th of January 2020, Chinese authorities confirmed that they had identified a new virus originating out of China. The new virus is a coronavirus which is a family of viruses that include the common cold and viruses such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). The World Health Organization is closely monitoring the situation.
We are aware of concerns around travel and will continue to monitor the situation based on guidance issued by the relevant government travel bodies. We urge you to pay close attention to the local media and emergency services, including the DFAT Smart Traveller website for Australian travellers which you can access by clicking
here.
Section 1 – Pre-trip Cancellation/Postponement:
For those travellers who have to cancel or change their travel plans to avoid travelling to a country or a region that is classified as “Do Not Travel” or where Government regulation specifically prevents you from entering a country or a region, cover may be available for cancellation or travel postponement costs provided your policy was purchased and your trip was booked before the date upon which the ‘Do Not Travel’ or the Government Regulation was issued.
These countries / regions and dates are as follows:
- before 9.00am (AEST) on 22 January 2020 for travel to/from Hubei province;
- before 9.00am (AEST) on 2 February 2020 for travel to/from mainland China;
- before 9.00am (AEST) on 29 February 2020 for travel to/from mainland Iran;
- before 9.00am (AEST) on 11 March 2020 for travel to/from the region of Lombardy in Italy; and
- before 9.00am (AEST) on 12 March 2020 for travel to/from the following additional parts of Italy: the provinces of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio nell' Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino, Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Vercelli, Padova, Treviso, and Venezia.
There is no cover due to disinclination to travel, your personal wishes or the disinclination to travel on the part of any other person upon whom your travel depends unless the Australian Government either issues a regulation that stops you from travelling, or issues a level 4 warning “
do not travel” advising against travel to your destination.
If you wish to cancel your travel plans, please contact your service provider. Airlines, accommodation providers and tour companies may provide refunds, credit notes or alter your booking without charging additional fees. You must take all reasonable steps to limit or reduce your out of pocket expenses and we encourage you to speak with your travel agent/provider in this regard. To submit a claim, please contact the claims managers, Gallagher Basset per the contact details below.
Section 1 - Cancellation during travel:
For those travellers transiting through countries or regions that are now classified by DFAT as “Do Not Travel” or where a Government regulation prevents you from entering a country or a region, cover may be available for reasonable additional costs for travel and accommodation, a proportionate refund of unused and irrecoverable travel bookings to curtail your travel or to avoid travelling to the following affected regions, provided the country was not deemed “Do Not Travel” or the Government regulation was not in force at the time you commenced your trip.
If you wish to cancel your travel plans, please contact your service provider. Airlines, accommodation providers and tour companies may provide refunds, credit notes or alter your bookings without charging additional fees. You must take all reasonable steps to limit or reduce your out of pocket expenses and we encourage you to speak with your travel agent/provider in this regard.
For all other areas, there is no cover due to your disinclination to travel, your personal wishes or the disinclination to travel on the part of any other person upon whom your travel depends unless the Australian Government either issues a regulation that stops you from travelling, or a level 4 warning “do not travel” is issued advising against travel to your destination.
To submit a claim, please contact the claims managers, Gallagher Basset per the contact details below.
Section 2 - Overseas Medical Expenses:
If you are overseas and need medical assistance, please call our 24 hour emergency assistance team immediately on
+61 (0) 2 8907 5953 or by email at
[email protected].
Claims Information
In the event of a claim covered by your policy, you must do everything you can to minimise and reduce the cost of the claim (including seeking compensation from any travel service providers), and provide all supporting documentation of the event and expenses incurred.
Travel insurance provides cover for unforeseen events only and therefore, there is no cover for amendment or cancellation costs for travel to the following regions and / or countries booked after, or for policies purchased after, the following dates as the outbreak of the Coronavirus in each place is no longer deemed an unforeseen event:
These countries / regions and dates are as follows:
- before 9.00am (AEST) on 22 January 2020 for travel to/from Hubei province; and
- before 9.00am (AEST) on 2 February 2020 for travel to/from mainland China.
- before 9.00am (AEST) on 29 February 2020 for travel to/from mainland Iran
- before 9.00am (AEST) on 11 March 2020 for travel to/from the region of Lombardy in Italy; and
- before 9.00am (AEST) on 12 March 2020 for travel to/from the following additional parts of Italy: the provinces of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio nell' Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino, Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Vercelli, Padova, Treviso, and Venezia.
If you decide to change your travel plans, we suggest you talk with your travel agent or transport provider as soon as possible to minimise your out of pocket expenses. If you travel to a country affected by the Coronavirus (such as China) and contract the virus, there is no cover for overseas medical expenses.
General Note
No two claims are the same and accordingly, claims are assessed on a case-by-case basis. The advice provided herein is of a general nature. Claims are assessed on their individual merits and are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy wording.
Any Questions?
If you have a question regarding your claim or potential claim, please contact the claims managers Gallagher Bassett on +61 7 3005 1613 or
[email protected]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For all policies issued on or after Saturday 07 March 2020:
On the 7th of January 2020, Chinese authorities confirmed that they had identified a new virus originating out of Wuhan in the Hubei Province. The new virus is a coronavirus which is a family of viruses that include the common cold and viruses such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). The World Health Organisation has identified the Caronavirus a public health emergency.
Overseas Medical Expenses
If you incur medical expenses with associated additional expenses as a result of contracting the Coronavirus, there may be cover up to the benefit limit provided.
When assessing cover, our Claims Team will consider DFAT travel advices in place at the time you purchased your policy and where you chose to travel. You can access the DFAT Smart Traveller website for Australian travellers by clicking
here
If you are overseas and need medical assistance, please call our 24 hour emergency assistance team immediately on
+61 (0) 2 8907 5953 or by email at
[email protected]
For Cancellation and other sections of the policy
There is no cover for claims related to the Caronavirus or any derivative or mutation of such viruses (or arising directly or indirectly from these) as it relates to Pre-Trip Cancellation or Curtailment, Travel Delay, Hospital Cash and/or to Resume your trip following a medical repatriation.
If you decide to change your travel plans, we suggest you talk with your travel agent or transport provider as soon as possible to minimise your out of pocket expenses.
Claims Information
In the event of a claim covered by your policy, you must do everything you can to minimise and reduce the cost of the claim (including seeking compensation from any travel service providers), and provide all supporting documentation of the event and expenses incurred.
No two claims are the same and accordingly, claims are assessed on a case-by-case basis. The advice provided herein is of a general nature. Claims are assessed on their individual merits and are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy wording.
