Travel insurance - optional or essential?

[MEL_Traveller]

That's a worry. It's one of the only things that I look for in a policy, together with the usual medical expenses and legal liability. I usually like to have at least $1m for evac, preferably unlimited. Thankfully, that's very easy to get from a SIN-based policy.

DFAT has estimated the maximum cost of a medical evacuation from the USA at $300,000. is there an advantage in $1m cover?

 

[Awesom Andy]

DFAT has estimated the maximum cost of a medical evacuation from the USA at $300,000. is there an advantage in $1m cover?

I might not be in the USA.
In the US, it wouldn't be too long before you would reach a medical facility with the necessary equipment/staff, but you might not be so lucky in other countries. Say, if you were in an accident in a rural area and get evac'ed to a local general hospital, and then they decided that they can't fix you and have to either send you to the capital city a couple of hours flight away, or even a different country altogether, $1m doesn't sound all that much anymore.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I might not be in the USA.
In the US, it wouldn't be too long before you would reach a medical facility with the necessary equipment/staff, but you might not be so lucky in other countries. Say, if you were in an accident in a rural area and get evac'ed to a local general hospital, and then they decided that they can't fix you and have to either send you to the capital city a couple of hours flight away, or even a different country altogether, $1m doesn't sound all that much anymore.

that was from the usa right back to Australia.

 

[Awesom Andy]

that was from the usa right back to Australia.

Having read the DFAT website now, it states "medical evacuations to Australia from the United States can range from $75,000-$300,000". Not sure if that includes what happenes while inside the US as well, before the actual evac to AU?

Anyway, whether it's $300k or $1m, if you don't have insurance, you're probably going to lose your house (or at least a sizable portion of it) either way.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Just had a read of the QF Ult Amex T&C .....medical capped at $2.5m I.E. bugger all!

Getting some quotes for our trip to USA/Canada in two weeks - family cover

QBE $1097
TID $344
Medibank Private $405......interestingly, no mention of Medical Evac and Repatriation...

QBE have a strange pricing system. Good policy however.

have you tried 1Cover? 5star can star awards and easy to deal with

 

[amaroo]

QBE have a strange pricing system. Good policy however.

have you tried 1Cover? 5star can star awards and easy to deal with

I did check them out.

I decided to go with TID - annual family policy including Snow sports for $605.82

 

[SFSC]

If you decide (or are forced) to self-underwrite don't forget that your outgoings are likely to be perhaps 10-20% higher than an insurer who knows the nuts and bolts of overseas hospitalisation and medical evacuation.
If you have become incapable of managing the process yourself then the person who holds your power of attorney will face a very steep learning curve indeed. They should beware because I am certain there are sharks out there.

 

[Ennoh]

yikes! this is a good reminder...... my 23 yo son is going to Hawaii on Sunday and I bet he hasnt even thought about travel insurance. Any suggestions on a good travel insurer?

 

[FirstClass]

As a nearly 50 year veteran (OWE etc) of biz travel, I have yet to find out what 'travel insurance' is actually for.
Whilst its offered as a matter of course, no explanation is ever provided as to what purpose it serves.
Accordingly, I tick the 'no' box, along with all the other absurd nonsense like carbon offset (???!!).

 

[pugwombat]

yikes! this is a good reminder...... my 23 yo son is going to Hawaii on Sunday and I bet he hasn't even thought about travel insurance. Any suggestions on a good travel insurer?

I have just arranged insurance via TID. They were cheaper than the one fronted by the dopy looking bloke with the ugly headband (1Cover) or Medibank Private. I'm also going heliskiing in February and went with the Canadian operator's insurance company (Manulife Global) - because it offers cancellation without penalty for any reason and all sorts of evacuation cover. When you're an old bloke doing a young man's sport, who knows what might come up (or down).

Whoops, forgot to add that my niece was in the US and broke her foot. She hobbled around for a few days till she could escape that primitive country to get to France where she had her foot fixed for free.

 

[legroom]

My son is planning to do some guided trekking (not climbing) in Nepal with an Aust-based company.

Would you know of any "specialist" insurer for that sort of trip ?

TID, for example, excludes any activity above 3000m [Kathmandu itself is 4000m above sea level].

I read of World Nomads but are there any other reliable ones?

Thanks in advance.

 

[legroom]

Amaroo

TID excludes activity at any height > 30000m

I did check them out.

I decided to go with TID - annual family policy including Snow sports for $605.82

 

[Limewood]

If you can - have a look at ANZ platinum cred card insurance. $79 annual fee and $250 spend of ANY pre-paid travel to get comprehensive insurance (don't need to put your airline ticket on the card - connecting flights and/or taxes for award travel, or a couple nights pre-paid hotel is all it takes). Cover is 6 months per trip.

Have relied on the ANZ Plat card insurance, never had to use it though, after reading the travel policy some time ago its very comprehensive, from memory as long as some part of the travel as paid by the card its in order.

 

[diana]

Ennoh does your son have medical insurance? Firstly get a quote from them, then try 1Cover, I have found them very easy to deal with.
I am now a Senior (very senior) traveller and have been using them for some years now, fortunately never needed them for anything major but for simple claims have not had any problems dealing with them.

 

[Mardi]

I use TID each time we go to the USA but when we went this year I was considering not bothering. Luckily I did take out insurance because at the end of the first week of a four week holiday in NYC my husband, who has severe myopia, suffered a massively detached retina and ended up having surgery. It would have cost well over $20k without the insurance. For $100 or so for a policy each year we are well and truly ahead.

I've heard CoverMore do a good annual policy but I haven't looked into it.

 

[amaroo]

Amaroo

TID excludes activity at any height > 30000m

Thats cool - we're only doing dogsledding in the wilds of Quebec.

Q - what does one do at that height? Assuming you mean 30,000ft......other than climb big mountains....

 

[Pat2065]

Travel insurance is essential. Experience has taught us its value for a range of issues and not to rely on airlines for making acceptable arrangements for delays/cancellations. Make sure you buy out the excess. It normally only costs $25 to do so. Without it, you may end up paying the excess on every individual part of a claim (e.g. doctor visit, prescriptions, etc) and get virtually nothing back. If you don't have an annual policy, make sure you take out insurance from the moment you have non-refundable commitments or start paying for your trip.

 

[Ennoh]

My son has HCF medical insurance - I will get a quote from them first. I got an online quote from TID - only $82 for unlimited medicals - but if he smashes his teeth he only gets about $250 in dental care - go figure!!! I will check with 1Cover and with HCF and see if there is better cover around. He doesnt have a platinum card. Buying out excess makes a lot of sense - who covers for that?

 

[JohnCarrWestwood]

I pay for my travel on Visa and rely on their free travel insurance. I had one claim for a lost iPad which went ok..
Any others with experience of Visa travel Insurance?

 

[legroom]

A: Kathmandu is 4,000m above sea level.

Any hiking from there is upwards !

Thats cool - we're only doing dogsledding in the wilds of Quebec.

Q - what does one do at that height? Assuming you mean 30,000ft......other than climb big mountains....