Travel Insurance which covers COVID-19?

[Telemachus]

It seems like Allianz is a good travel insurance provider.

What paid options exist for Allianz (apart from Allianz itself)? Do they underwrite for any other providers?

Allianz is the issuer and underwriter for Worldcare (Travel Insurance Quotes: Compare Online Now! | Worldcare Australia). Found this out when doing research in late 2021 for travel insurance: I can't offer any experience of using them as I went elsewhere (Medibank) after a mind-numbing comparison of PDS docs.

 

[MARTINE]

Further updates: After writing an unflattering review on productreview.com.au, it gave me the option to send the review to a Company Rep for mediation before publishing. I had my claim assessed and approved the following day. After the money hit my account I still published my review. I wonder how many reviews don't get published?

I forgot that I also had insurance through my NAB card so I claimed the remainder I was out pocket through that insurance and their underwriter, Allianz, who also paid out. No issues.

My NAB insurance is actually more generous than the Insure and Go policy. I don't see any glaring gotchas in the NAB PDS so going to rely on this for an upcoming trip to Turkey and Greece and also have a backup insurance policy with Covermore, provided 'free' through the Commbank Ultimate credit card.

It appears the Commbank Covermore policy is similar to the paid Covermore comprehensive policy and only requires activation through internet banking with no spend requirement on the card (return ticket, etc). If you are going to take out a paid comprehensive Covermore policy directly with Covermore, a more affordable alternative may be getting a Commbank Ultimate credit card instead (no annual fee when you spend a certain amount on the card each month and no foreign transaction fees) and activating the insurance before you leave. I only discovered this card yesterday when looking for no foreign transaction fee credit cards and haven't read the PDS yet so take this information with care.

Cheers

Thanks for the productreview.com angle
Good to know

 

[markz]

Guys, can you advise on "28° Platinum Mastercard Travel Insurance" please?
OK to just rely on it or it's better to get another, paid one?
Back in April I bought tickets to Europe with this CC. So got travel insurance with that as well (and as far as I remember, it has No Excess). Am traveling in October and I have started thinking "should I get a paid one or not".
Would very much appreciate the help.

 

[Port Power]

Guys, can you advise on "28° Platinum Mastercard Travel Insurance" please?
OK to just rely on it or it's better to get another, paid one?
Back in April I bought tickets to Europe with this CC. So got travel insurance with that as well (and as far as I remember, it has No Excess). Am traveling in October and I have started thinking "should I get a paid one or not".
Would very much appreciate the help.

There is no need to buy a “paid” travel insurance policy if the 28Degrees one covers what you need. Read the PDS to find that out. Also check you have activated it. Various credit cards have different rules like paying the return flights of the trip, or the whole trip, or just a certain $$. And trip must originate in Australia. Only the PDS will show you.

 

[markz]

Thanks @Port Power
Much appreciate your reply and help.

 

[sanne]

Allianz is the issuer and underwriter for Worldcare (Travel Insurance Quotes: Compare Online Now! | Worldcare Australia). Found this out when doing research in late 2021 for travel insurance: I can't offer any experience of using them as I went elsewhere (Medibank) after a mind-numbing comparison of PDS docs.

I have used Worldcare several times and continue use to use them for future trips.

After heaps of research I found them the best value for us ( 75/80 with pre existing medical ).

Their web site is easy to use and also to claim.

I had to make a large claim early 2020 when one of us was not well enough to go on a cruise … no problems at all. All done easily and swiftly.

Their Covid cover for both cancellation pre trip and medical was good too. A lot of companies have max $5000 trip cancellation for Covid.

 

[markz]

I have used Worldcare several times and continue use to use them for future trips.

After heaps of research I found them the best value for us ( 75/80 with pre existing medical ).

Their web site is easy to use and also to claim.

I had to make a large claim early 2020 when one of us was not well enough to go on a cruise … no problems at all. All done easily and swiftly.

Their Covid cover for both cancellation pre trip and medical was good too. A lot of companies have max $5000 trip cancellation for Covid.

Price wise they look to be one of the best ones. And that's without their Promo code (please advise if you know it). Was considering GoInsurance but they are at least 100% more expensive.

 

[sanne]

Unfortunately I do not have a promo code.

I guess with TI you just have to spend the time to find one that fits you. Once you get to our age with expensive trips to insure, there are limited options.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I'm back in the market for an annual multi-trip policy. I note that now most do not cover cancellations in the event of a "Do Not Travel" or other border closure. So if a border gets closed after taking out the policy, nothing is covered for the cancellation - flights, hotels, transits etc?

Is this on the basis they believe most providers of those services will refund money directly? Or is this just the new world of risk?

 

[CMA222]

Is this on the basis they believe most providers of those services will refund money directly? Or is this just the new world of risk?

They expect you to use your crystal ball given you have forward cover, but if the crystal ball gets it wrong, they win. Sounds like any typical insurance company - they insure risks except when they don't.

 

[Edge]

I have an Amex Elevate Premium and successfully made an insurance claim after my wife caught COVID in Fiji

 

[SeatBackForward]

They expect you to use your crystal ball given you have forward cover, but if the crystal ball gets it wrong, they win. Sounds like any typical insurance company - they insure risks except when they don't.

Yeah I'm not a fan of the insurance industry either, but almost a necessity these days.

 

[VPS]

I have a friend who has decided to come from England aged 76 and can't get TI because of hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes so isn't going to worry about insurance and take the risk

 

[Port Power]

I have a friend who has decided to come from England aged 76 and can't get TI because of hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes so isn't going to worry about insurance and take the risk

Is she not even going to take out TI for the lost luggage/missed connections/delays, etc?

 

[TheRealTMA]

I have a friend who has decided to come from England aged 76 and can't get TI because of hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes so isn't going to worry about insurance and take the risk

Advise the friend to reconsider. IMHO. Those conditions are quite common for older people and quite a few insurance companies will cover them. Not promoting any particular company but InsureandGo will cover these for example. Travel insurance for medical conditions

Other companies will also cover those. Worldcover/Allianz are another.

ps: It seems the PostOffice.co.uk advertises TI with pre-existing medical. Travel Insurance with Medical Conditions | Post Office

 

[Port Power]

I had friends call me this morning asking about travel insurance as they are doing a combined ocean cruise/land stay/river cruise in Europe next March that is 45 days all up. Their credit card limits trips to 31 days and cannot extend. They thought they could get away with just "not being insured" that last two weeks, or buying a policy for two weeks. No can do. They found retail TI to be extremely expensive for two people. They were also wondering about COVID related insurance. Fortunately I am pretty aware of things due to this thread! Besides which I had been investigating because a World Cruise in 2025 means I will be away from home for 5 months. I saw another CC that covered six months, but really did not want to apply for yet another credit card. Today I had a look at my own ANZ Platinum Visa travel insurance through Allianz and saw that it covers international trips up to 6 months! After having a good look at the PDF they are applying for the same ANZ FF Platinum card. So not only will they be well covered, and for much less than they expected, they will earn a bonus 70,000 QFF points when paying the balance of their trip. COVID hardly rates a mention on insurance these days, but I do recall Allianz making changes to their policy earlier this year.

 

[VPS]

Is she not even going to take out TI for the lost luggage/missed connections/delays, etc?

God knows - she's a law unto herself. She didn't insure her car either until someone borrowed it and wrote it off

Advise the friend to reconsider. IMHO. Those conditions are quite common for older people and quite a few insurance companies will cover them. Not promoting any particular company but InsureandGo will cover these for example. Travel insurance for medical conditions

Other companies will also cover those. Worldcover/Allianz are another.

ps: It seems the PostOffice.co.uk advertises TI with pre-existing medical. Travel Insurance with Medical Conditions | Post Office

I'll pass them on to her and she what she says. Thanks

Apparently some insurance she has limits the trip to 55 days and she's about 4 days over that. Her fare to Oz is 1000GBP and they want 500 to change it

 

[rginoz]

I had friends call me this morning asking about travel insurance as they are doing a combined ocean cruise/land stay/river cruise in Europe next March that is 45 days all up. Their credit card limits trips to 31 days and cannot extend. They thought they could get away with just "not being insured" that last two weeks, or buying a policy for two weeks. No can do. They found retail TI to be extremely expensive for two people. They were also wondering about COVID related insurance. Fortunately I am pretty aware of things due to this thread! Besides which I had been investigating because a World Cruise in 2025 means I will be away from home for 5 months. I saw another CC that covered six months, but really did not want to apply for yet another credit card. Today I had a look at my own ANZ Platinum Visa travel insurance through Allianz and saw that it covers international trips up to 6 months! After having a good look at the PDF they are applying for the same ANZ FF Platinum card. So not only will they be well covered, and for much less than they expected, they will earn a bonus 70,000 QFF points when paying the balance of their trip. COVID hardly rates a mention on insurance these days, but I do recall Allianz making changes to their policy earlier this year.

I have a Westpac Altitude Black credit card, which includes travel insurance provided by Allianz. From my study of the details, I believe that recent changes to the PDS have confirmed that while the insurance does not cover pandemics or epidemics, Covid-19 is not now considered to be a pandemic. The insurance covers trips up to six months long, and covers to age 80.

 

[VPS]

Advise the friend to reconsider. IMHO. Those conditions are quite common for older people and quite a few insurance companies will cover them. Not promoting any particular company but InsureandGo will cover these for example. Travel insurance for medical conditions

Other companies will also cover those. Worldcover/Allianz are another.

ps: It seems the PostOffice.co.uk advertises TI with pre-existing medical. Travel Insurance with Medical Conditions | Post Office

Just did the Insure and Go - minimum is 425 GPB and PO doesn't cover pre existing if you're over 75

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just did the Insure and Go - minimum is 425 GPB and PO doesn't cover pre existing if you're over 75

In Australia they will be covered by reciprocal Medicare for health issues I believe but not general TI. There are many TIs that should offer cover but GIYF.