Travel insurance for short trip. Has anyone used "Travel Insuranz"?

[Febs]

Hi all,

5 day trip coming up to Singapore (guess where I booked the tickets?) so looking at travel insurance options. I don't have an annual policy because most of my travel is for work, and when we do take longer personal trips, we use my work travel insurance (which is fantastic, reliable, but costs about $130/family for up to 6 months, world-wide). Granted $130 isn't a huge amount, but given this is a short trip, we're both young and healthy, and don't plan to do anything dangerous, don't need a car, won't have much luggage etc...I'm looking around at cheaper options.

"Travel Insuranz" (horrible name) came up for under $60 for the two of us. $5m in medical expenses, cancellation cover, $2,500 in personal items (although our valuable items are independently insured for short trips anyway) and a $125 excess.

Has anyone used them before? Most quotes are coming in around the $80-$100 mark (at which point I'd probably just go with my work travel insurance because it's so reliable), but given the short trip, if I can get away with paying $60 I will.

Thoughts? Appreciate any input.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Febs]

Umm, so I completely forgot (thanks hossein.au in the expedia brazil thread for the reminder) that I booked this on a card that has complimentary travel insurance (CBA Plat). Sorted then.
Edit: Or maybe not...

[h=4]Who does it cover?[/h]You, your spouse and your dependent children will be automatically covered for complimentary International Travel Insurance on your journey. As long as you travel together for the entirejourney, you each have your return overseas travel ticket(s) purchased before leaving Australia, and you spend at least A$1,000 each on prepaid travel costs (this includes the cost of your return overseas travel ticket(s), airport /departure taxes, prepaid overseas accommodation/travel, and/or prepaid overseas itinerary items) and these costs are paid by one or a combination of the following payment methods:

Back to my original question then I guess. Our accommodation isn't pre-paid (and even if it was - total would juuust be under $2000 beween us).

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

This won't directly answer your question in this instance, but just something to consider in the future - the HSBC Plat QF card has free travel insurance (a very similar policy to CBA, though with slightly smaller limits and allowances it seems). The best thing is HSBC's policy wording - they only require you to charge 90% of the return international airfare to the card in order qualify for the insurance... with no minimum amount. They also award 2 points per $1 spent overseas

 

[Sprucegoose]

I never rely on cards.

You are young and healthy......I've organised EVACs for a few young and healthy people.....

Dont skimp here, the extra is only a few good bottles of wine versus a decade of debt if things go horribly wrong.

 

[chrisb]

I'd just pay the $130 for the work insurance. At least you know they'll look after you because you're part of a large account.

 

[feezable]

I use travelinsurancedirect.com.au underwritten by Lloyds London. Great prices and no fuss forms

 

[serfty]

Never come across that one before.

I check online TravelnsuranceDirect, Covermore and the Columbus available for paid AFF members and use the best fitting for my needs including trip length.

I'm currently investigating a newish Australia Post Product for a flat $5 per day with much of Asia and Europe¹ and $10 per day for the USA and much of the rest of the world².

Travel Insurance - Australia Post

¹ China, Italy, Domestic Cruising, New Caledonia, Fiji, New Zealand, France, Phillipines, Germany, Singapore, Greece, Spain, Hong Kong, Thailand, India, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Vanuatu. (http://www.travelinsurancepartners.com.au/tip/pdf/auspost/APO0214_Travel_$5.pdf)

² All (¹) and Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, South Africa & United States of America. (http://www.travelinsurancepartners.com.au/tip/pdf/auspost/APO0214_Travel_$10.pdf)

 

[Pushka]

I highly recommend TID due to superb claims experience for a major accident. But they don't cover things like paragliding which my husband has been known to do from time to time. So then I use cover more. In both cases their premiums are good value.

 

[docjames]

I tend to use TID when I can't rely on the CC provided insurance.

Agree also $130 is cheap.

 

[Febs]

Thanks all. Agree $130 isn't huge in the grand scheme of things. I'll need to call when at work tomorrow though, because there's usually a few day turnaround on getting confirmation.

This won't directly answer your question in this instance, but just something to consider in the future - the HSBC Plat QF card has free travel insurance (a very similar policy to CBA, though with slightly smaller limits and allowances it seems). The best thing is HSBC's policy wording - they only require you to charge 90% of the return international airfare to the card in order qualify for the insurance... with no minimum amount. They also award 2 points per $1 spent overseas

Thanks for the tip. We've got CBA cards though because they're free with our home loan. Ideally I would've used my AMEX Plat (which has free travel insurance too), but Expedia Brazil only take Visa/MC.

I never rely on cards.

You are young and healthy......I've organised EVACs for a few young and healthy people.....

Dont skimp here, the extra is only a few good bottles of wine versus a decade of debt if things go horribly wrong.

Oh don't get me wrong - I agree and don't plan to skimp. The $60 travel insurance I was referring to above actually had considerably more medical coverage than TID (who were $101)! The things it didn't cover, I don't need for this trip (car rental, huge personal items coverage etc..). I was moreso curious to see if anyone had any personal experiences with them. Further reading suggests they don't cover anyone over 65 (blanket rule), which may partially explain the lower premiums.

I use travelinsurancedirect.com.au underwritten by Lloyds London. Great prices and no fuss forms

Agreed - I've heard good things but for $101, I'd rather pay $130 with an insurer I know to be very reliable.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Sprucegoose]

We are very happy with TID/Covermore.

 

[Buzzard]

I spent a month in UK/Europe earlier this year.
Didn't use my CC insurance because of the conditions.
Contacted my private health insurer (AHM) and got a discount on Covermore.
Based on this I would suggest 2 things - check with you private health insurer (if you have it) and shop around.

 

[JohnK]

I have never heard of Travel Insuranz either but they are coming up the cheapest on some aggregator websites.

I would never rely on any credit card for travel insurance. Not to save ~$170 I am spending for an annual travel insurance policy.

 

[serfty]

I have a need for 8 days insurance for a USA trip - the Travel Insuranz was the cheapest online with their "Classic" for $48 but cover was extremely limited. They also had a "premier" product for $59 with a wider range of cover.

I compared several and eventually went with the Columbus with the 20% discount available to members of this forum for $63 - it still provided a greater coverage the Insuranz.

TID with TIDthanks was $81 and Auspost's online was $103. The Auspost $10 per day lost out obviously ...

 

[Pushka]

I've recently booked a cruise and the Travel Agents price was $284 which included a 15% discount. Does anyone ever buy such an overpriced product? And who gets the inflated profit, the TA or the Insurance cover?

 

[Bazzi]

I've recently booked a cruise and the Travel Agents price was $284 which included a 15% discount. Does anyone ever buy such an overpriced product? And who gets the inflated profit, the TA or the Insurance cover?

The TA (business not individual) gets approx 40% commission.

 

[Bazzi]

I use Travel Insurance Australia | Travel Insurance Quote | Worldcare - underwritten by Allianz - and I like that you 'customise your cover' on the comprehensive insurance to bring the price down for say luggage cover etc. 5 days is coming up at $108 - provided that is departure on day 1 and being on the ground in AUS on day 5. We were stranded in Sweden during the Icelandic Volcano eruption - Worldcare emailed their clients immediately flights were disrupted and basically said, don't worry, every claim will be honoured, keep receipts for rearranged travel and/or accommodation and, above all, try and enjoy the rest of your holiday.

In my experience, people make 4 major mistakes with travel insurance

1. Wait till just before departing to take it out therefore you are stuffed (and uninsured) if you break your leg a week after you've booked the trip. My personal rule - as soon as I have paid for flights, I buy the insurance.

2. Not being insured up until the date you arrive back in Australia - not just the date you leave your last stop

3. Paying for insurance through a TA

4. Relying on comp insurance that is issued with credit cards without reading the policy fully as to how much you have to spend on the card pre departure in order for the insurance to kick in, especially in relation to how the issuer views using award flights for all or part of your journey - particularly in F or J. And if it's not clear, then speak with the provider and ask them to clarify it in writing.