An Australian travel insurance specialist has revealed how you can make sure your holiday insurance is in check so you can enjoy a drama-free break.
According to Jonathan Etkind of InsureandGo, people assume their standard policy will cover everything – then are shocked when their claims are rejected.
He said common mistakes people make when buying insurance is not requesting extra cover for expensive items or assuming their insurer will foot the bill for self-inflicted injuries.
Mr Etkind has outlined seven things to be aware of when it comes to taking out travel insurance – and how to protect yourself when you’re away.
If you have expensive items like laptops or cameras, make sure these are with you at all times while travelling (stock image)
1. Never leave your belongings unattended
If you are travelling with valuable items, make sure these are with you at all times, or you have taken the precautionary measure of locking them in a hotel safe.
Mr Etkind explained insurers won’t honour a claim if items have been stolen or gone missing if they’ve been left unattended in public places.
These include airports or hotel rooms after you’ve checked out.
‘As long as you carry your belongings with you, or they are locked in a safe at your accommodation, you can be reimbursed by your policy for items that are lost, stolen, or damaged during your trip,’ he said.
He said insurers will also deny a claim when you’ve left your belongings with someone who isn’t travelling with you for more than 50 per cent of your trip.
2. Keep all your receipts and travel details handy
One simple way to avoid travel insurance problems when making a claim is to ensure you keep all receipts for expenses, as well as itineraries and travel contacts.
‘The key thing is to ensure you keep a copy of anything that will verify that your lost, stolen or damaged possessions are yours,’ Mr Etkind said.
If you need to make a claim, your insurer will request proof of purchase, although it is likely you will be able to provide this once you have returned home.
3. Don’t assume expensive items are automatically covered
Items such as phones, laptops, cameras and jewellery are not automatically covered by your insurer.
Mr Etkind said these items are often excluded from standard or basic travel insurance policies or cover is capped at just a few hundred dollars.
‘However, each insurer has a maximum benefit or limit they will pay for high-value items, and some have the option of customising the sub-limit on each individual item,’ he said.
Mr Etkind said if you are travelling with anything extremely valuable, it would be better to insure this under a separate policy.
One simple way to avoid travel insurance problems when making a claim is to ensure you keep all receipts for expenses, as well as itineraries and travel contacts (stock image)
4. Keep details of your mobile separate from your phone
If you lose, or have your mobile phone stolen, to make a claim you will need to be able to provide a Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.
This is a 15 – 17 digit unique number found within settings of mobile devices, and used to identify them.
‘You will also need to provide proof that you have blocked this number by an Australian telecommunications provider, to be eligible for a claim,’ Mr Etkind said.
When blocked, your device is inoperable, preventing its misuse and minimising call costs to you if it is being operated by another user.
Don’t automatically assume you are covered for all injuries by your insurer when you are travelling
5. Most self-inflicted injuries won’t be covered
While travelling, if you injure yourself or contract an illness through high-risk activities, it’s possible your insurer won’t cover the cost.
‘In general, reckless activities will not be covered by your travel insurer,’ Mr Etkind said.
‘Likewise, if you ignore official advice by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) Smartraveller website, and suffer an incident, your claim could be invalid.’
For instance, if you were to catch a tropical disease because you did not get the recommended vaccinations, your claim for medical services may be denied.
6. Read the fine print on cancellation claims
You cannot make a cancellation claim because of the illness of a close relative or friend, and your claim may also be rejected if the person knew about an existing medical condition, when you purchased your policy.
However, if the person wasn’t ill before you purchased your policy, you may be able to make a cancellation claim.
‘It’s also important to note that some providers may not provide coverage for close relatives that aren’t Australian residents, who are present in Australia at the time the illness occurs,’ Mr Etkind said.
7. Travel delay cover applies to flights only
One thing to be careful of when taking out standard insurance is travel delay cover.
Mr Etkind said standard insurance policies will only cover flight delays, not delays with other forms of transport.
‘The reimbursable costs in relation to flight delays will include accommodation and meals that you had to pay for, as a result of the delay,’ he said.
The expert said those planning on taking a cruise should be aware there is a specific type of cover for this mode of transport.
‘With InsureandGo, cruise-goers can purchase a tailored cruise travel insurance policy that will cover them for any delays on their trip,’ he said.