When you're researching travel insurance it's important not to focus on the price alone.
What's important is getting cover that's right for you. So if something does go wrong, you've got the reassurance that your policy can be there.
Know what’s excluded: That way you’ll avoid a nasty surprise when you come to make a claim. A Product Disclosure Statement is a crucial piece of reading and can help you decide whether a travel insurance policy is right for you or not.
Don’t assume you’re covered for every activity either – check first. And if you’re off on a winter holiday but not covered to hurtle down a mountain on a snowboard for example, you may be able to add this cover insurance package. If not, then choose a policy where you are covered.
Get covered from the start: To make the most of the benefits of having travel insurance, take it out as soon as you know your travel dates – when you’re leaving and returning to Australia. Some credit cards include travel insurance, but make sure you meet the eligibility conditions before you go away in order to be covered.
For eligible credit cards, you must spend at least $500 in a single transaction on your prepaid travel costs and activate to ensure you receive any cover, including Overseas Medical cover#. For World Debit Mastercards, you need to activate to receive comprehensive cover. Overseas Medical cover and personal liability insurance is automatically included.
Discover more about international travel insurance included with eligible CommBank credit cards.
Be upfront about your health: You must tell the insurer of any pre-existing medical issues. If you don’t, you run the risk of having no cover for any of your pre-existing medical conditions.
Act on travel warnings: You do yourself no favours by purposefully putting yourself in harm’s way. Getting travel insurance retrospectively after a travel warning won’t wash either. Don’t ignore a travel warning – it could invalidate your travel insurance.
Register with smartraveller to get up-to-date travel advice from around the world. Doing this also means it’s easier for the Australian government to contact you and your family in an emergency.
Take note of the ‘little things’
Insurers do make payouts, they’re not trying to catch anyone out (insurers are governed by the General Insurance Code of Practice). But you’ve got a responsibility to read the fine print.
Some things to look out for:
- Trekking: Many insurers limit the height you can trek up to
- Diving: Many insurers limit the depth you can dive to
- Surface water sports including fishing: Many insurers state a limit on the number of nautical miles you can be from a land mass
- Riding a motorcycle, scooter or moped: Many insurers require you to hold a certain type of licence and limit the engine capacity of any vehicle you may ride on as a driver or passenger
- Cruises: Many insurers ask you to purchase a cover variation for specific cruise related items like evacuation from a ship, loss or damage to formal clothes, excursion cancellations, confinement to your cabin due to illness
- Competitive sports: These tend to be excluded
- Being under the influence: This is likely to invalidate your policy
- Valuables: Your belongings are often covered - up to a certain limit – but being careless with them may cause problems if you need to make a claim. If you don’t need it, don’t take it
- Pregnancy: Past complications and your due date are important - most insurance policies offer cover up to 23 – 26 weeks
- Stopovers: Many insurers state a limit on the number of hours you’re covered during a stopover – generally 48 hours
Exclusions vary from insurer to insurer though, the information above is only a general guide.
If you’re unclear about anything give the insurance provider a call before you purchase a policy.
All insurance policies include a cooling-off period but why go through the hassle of cancelling when you can get it right first time?
If something happens
It’s always best to get in touch with your insurer straight away – especially for medical emergencies.
There are a few things you can do to make it easier for you and your travel insurer before you submit a claim.
1. Keep receipts of items you take with you (or evidence of ownership) so if they’re lost or stolen you know how much to claim. And keep receipts for the things you’ve had to buy as a result of an unexpected event
2. Make copies of key documents including your travel insurance certificate, car rental vehicle certificate, passport and driver’s licence. It’s worth taking photos of important belongings too
3. Don’t admit fault or liability for an accident or event, or promise to pay any money without checking with your insurer first
4. Get a police report ASAP to confirm any items that have been lost or stolen. It’s extremely difficult to get a police report for an incident that happened overseas after you return to Australia. Also check whether you need to report the loss or theft to anyone else e.g. the theft of a credit card to your bank.
Check your policy or call your insurer to avoid inadvertently invalidating your claim before you’ve even submitted it.
And give them your current contact details – it’s important you’re available to assist your insurer if they need to get in touch with you.
Making a claim
Knowing how to make a claim should be part of your research process. If you ever need to make a claim you want it to be straightforward and stress-free.
Times vary but give your insurer around 10 business days to consider your claim. Although some claims, especially medical emergencies, maybe be assessed on the spot.
If you have international travel insurance included with your CommBank Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Smart or Ultimate credit card, or have purchased CBA Travel Insurance, you can make a claim either:
- Online directly with the insurer, Cover-More
- By calling 1300 467 951 (in Australia), 8am-5pm Monday - Friday, 9am-4pm Saturday (Sydney/Melbourne time)
It helps everyone involved if you’ve got everything you need at hand including your insurance policy number (it’s usually on your travel insurance certificate).
It’s also worth being aware that the Australian Government provides 24/7 consular assistance. Call +612 62613305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (in Australia) if you need their help.
When you book a holiday, consider getting travel insurance at the same time. This could save you money especially if you have to cancel your holiday for an unexpected reason.
CommBank emergency details
- Lock, Block, Limit your CommBank credit card or lock your Travel Money Card for added security
- Cancel and order replacement CommBank cards in NetBank or the CommBank app
- Call us 24/7 on +61 2 9999 3283 to report lost or stolen CommBank cards
For 24 hour travel insurance emergency assistance, call Cover-More in Australia direct and toll free on +61 2 8907 5641. You can also call from:
- Canada on 1844 345 1662
- New Zealand on 0800 632 031
- UK on 0808 234 3737
- USA on 1844 345 1662
Charges apply if calling from a pay phone or a mobile phone.
