Travel Insurance which covers COVID-19?

[garybatz]

Unlimited. “Not limited or restricted in terms of number, quantity, or extent” according to a definition that I came across.

Sure, but we're talking about bureaucratic border policies/practices. Rational definitions may or may not apply

 

[DC3]

Sure, but we're talking about bureaucratic border policies/practices. Rational definitions may or may not apply

You did ask about unlimited/minimum coverage.

Anyway, my money’s on unlimited.

 

[DC3]

… At the end of the day it’s your responsibility. I’m off to USA in three weeks and understand there’s a lot to take in.

That would be unlimited medical coverage?

 

[garybatz]

That would be unlimited medical coverage?

Yes, that's correct.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You did ask about unlimited/minimum coverage.

Anyway, my money’s on unlimited.

With thailand for example you need a policy with a minimum USD20,000 medical cover. Is the border official going to want your policy to have ‘$20,000’ actually stated on the certificate of insurance, or will they understand if it simply says ‘unlimited’, with no numerical amount written.

 

[garybatz]

With thailand for example you need a policy with a minimum USD20,000 medical cover. Is the border official going to want your policy to have ‘$20,000’ actually stated on the certificate of insurance, or will they understand if it simply says ‘unlimited’, with no numerical amount written.

Yes, that's a perfect example. Being an ex-bureaucrat myself I can see this being the kind of nuance that gets problematic when someone is applying a strict rule.

 

[drron]

With thailand for example you need a policy with a minimum USD20,000 medical cover. Is the border official going to want your policy to have ‘$20,000’ actually stated on the certificate of insurance, or will they understand if it simply says ‘unlimited’, with no numerical amount written.

The problem is for Thailand if you have a policy with unlimited medical cover but it has an exclusion for Covid or a limit for Covid under $US 20000 then it would not be acceptable. They specify Covid insurance cover.

 

[SYD]

The problem is for Thailand if you have a policy with unlimited medical cover but it has an exclusion for Covid or a limit for Covid under $US 20000 then it would not be acceptable. They specify Covid insurance cover.

It’s probably been mentioned earlier, but Medibank provide you with a seperate Covid medical cover certificate/letter in addition to the usual certificate of insurance (for the total insurance coverage).

 

[get me outta here]

I emailed a TI co re a clause that seemed to say that if you caught Covid and ran over the original policy dates, you would / may need to take out another policy. I sought clarification on that. Here is the answer which I don’t find any clearer. I wouldn’t be taking out this policy based on this answer. Any thoughts? :

“In the instance you caught COVID-19 and would need to stay longer you're best to contact our claims team, depending on the situation you're policy may be automatically extended in line with your recovery period. However if you're looking to extend your policy then there would be an additional premium to pay and a new policy would be taken to cover the additional time.”

 

[DC3]

… My question is this - I keep seeing references to many countries requiring a minimum level of medical coverage …

Someone has already asked this, above, but are you looking at travel to a particular country (or countries)?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I emailed a TI co re a clause that seemed to say that if you caught Covid and ran over the original policy dates, you would / may need to take out another policy. I sought clarification on that. Here is the answer which I don’t find any clearer. I wouldn’t be taking out this policy based on this answer. Any thoughts? :

“In the instance you caught COVID-19 and would need to stay longer you're best to contact our claims team, depending on the situation you're policy may be automatically extended in line with your recovery period. However if you're looking to extend your policy then there would be an additional premium to pay and a new policy would be taken to cover the additional time.”

I think that’s fairly standard… my interpretation of that is that if you get sick just before you come home the policy is automatically extended to cover the immediate illness and your direct return home.

That’s compared to say getting sick at the beginning of your trip, or part way through, and you want to stay away longer to complete your original trip/itinerary. You may then have to purchase additional days to cover your voluntary extension.

I guess some policies might include policy extensions as part of the benefits under travel disruption.

 

[DC3]

I think that’s fairly standard… my interpretation of that is that if you get sick just before you come home the policy is automatically extended to cover the immediate illness and your direct return home …

This has always been my understanding as well.

 

[DC3]

Just a general comment. As far as travel insurance goes, at some stage we end up biting the bullet and taking out a policy. It may do your head in if you overthink it.

 

[garybatz]

Someone has already asked this, above, but are you looking at travel to a particular country (or countries)?

Somewhat optimistically I have three trips booked this year - Bali, Western Europe and the US.

 

[DC3]

Somewhat optimistically I have three trips booked this year - Bali, Western Europe and the US.

My upcoming trip to the US will be unlimited for medical coverage. Nothing less. So, that will determine the policy cover for a world-wide/international (multi-trip) annual policy, or similar.

Bali would have seen plenty of ‘unlimited’ policies.

 

[SuePa]

Just a general comment. As far as travel insurance goes, at some stage we end up biting the bullet and taking out a policy. It may do your head in if you overthink it.

Exactly what I have just done!
I have read so many PDSs that my head is spinning. I eventually went with Allianz and I think I'm covered for 30 days USA and Canada, as well as can be expected at the moment. Fingers crossed, I won't need any of it!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Just a general comment. As far as travel insurance goes, at some stage we end up biting the bullet and taking out a policy. It may do your head in if you overthink it.

Once one starts to outlay any significant expense, one needs to have an activated TI as a key benefit is if something happens and you cannot travel.

Too many people get TI just before they depart. It still costs the same then, but they have foregone a big benefit.

 

[sanne]

I’ve just done a heap of research into travel insurance for an expensive upcoming domestic trip including a Kimberley cruise.

We are older and have some pre existing conditions. Sufficient Covid insurance was necessary in case we had to cancel prior to going. We finally decided on Worldcover who use Allianz… it was less expensive for same cover and T&C.

But what was interesting…by chance I noticed that the price had changed from when I started making dummy policies to when I finally decided to buy the policy. The further out the policy was from the date of departure the dearer it was. So I decided that even though it would cost more to buy sooner rather than later I had locked in the coverage of our pre exiting conditions.

 

[http_x92]

Medibank is indeed an interesting one and there are options for the single trip or the annual plan. Are you guys going for the single trip option?

If I go on multiple trips this year then the annual plan is the way to go it looks like.

 

[DC3]

Once one starts to outlay any significant expense, one needs to have an activated TI as a key benefit is if something happens and you cannot travel.

Too many people get TI just before they depart. It still costs the same then, but they have foregone a big benefit.

Yes, I agree. However, for my US and Canada trip later this year, all flights, accommodation and car rental bookings, which have already been made, are cancellable at no charge. So, I have no actual expenses until the trip.

Also, I tend to take out annual multi-trip cover, so as to provide for a trip-or two later on.

Of course, not everyone does it this way.