There’s a lot to remember when you go on holidays
I have checked the weather, I've got extra medication,
extra muesli bars, even stuffed animals,
but what if something goes wrong?
Illness, flights cancelled, lost luggage, natural disasters
Travel insurance can be easy to overlook
but for any of us that have experienced something unplanned on a holiday,
we know it’s a good idea.
At the end of this quick video, you’ll have everything you need to get started on deciding
how and when to get your next holiday insured.
If there’s anything that helps you relax away from home,
it’s peace of mind.
Travel insurance covers you when something goes wrong when you’re travelling,
That could be in Australia or overseas.
And with most types of insurance there are varying levels of cover
from basic to comprehensive.
On the basic end, you’ll usually find cover for things like overseas medical expenses
when you’re travelling internationally, but not much else.
With more comprehensive options you can get cover for things like cancellation
(like when flights are cancelled to and from Bali because of ash clouds),
cover in case someone needs to travel to bewith you if you end up in hospital,
cover in case your luggage is lost or stolen
or extra cover in case your trip is disrupted and you need to make
it in time for a wedding or funeral.
Remember that not all comprehensive policies are the same so make sure you’re picking
the benefits that are important to you.
Sadly, not even the crème de la crème of travel insurance policies cover everything.
For example, if you’re drunk, you don’t keep an eye on your belongings,
or you don’t disclose your pre-existing condition
you're not going to be covered.
For a list of things that are NOT covered,
check the link in the description below
However, don’t let the idea of saving a few bucks make you skimp on your policy either
Because you'll end up loads more out of pocket if something happens
Before you start shopping around, think about all the details of your trip.
This includes where you’re going, whether you’ll be renting a car,
what activities you’ll be doing, how much your luggage is worth,
and how much your trip cost you in case you need to recoup the costs.
This will help you pick a policy that gives you the cover you need
Buy early.
Getting your travel insurance early means
you get more insurance for your money,
including cover for cancellations before you leave.
For instance people who bought travel insurance before the Bali volcano erupted
would have been covered; but the people who bought it afterwards would not have.
But remember that cancellation only covers you for reasons outside your control
not just because you change your mind and don’t want to go anymore.
Be upfront from the get-go and disclose all pre-existing conditions when you apply.
If you don’t, your claim could be refused or your policy could be cancelled.
If in doubt, disclose it anyway,
because a lot of conditions like asthma are generally automatically covered for no extra cost.
Just remember if you’re pregnant, that’s a pre-existing condition too.
Buy online.
If your travel agent offers you travel insurance, make sure you compare with
other offers online, because it’s generally a lot cheaper.
Shop around.
Compare lots of policies to find the one that offers
the cover you need for the best price.
If you're travelling with your family, one travel insurance policy can cover all of you
and for a lot less than getting individual policies.
Often insurers will cover children or grandchildren
under the age of 21 for free, as long as they’re
not working full time and are named on the policy
It can vary between the age of 17 to 25 so make sure you check first
Besides price, it can be convenient to have the whole family on one policy.
You’ll spend less time on insurance,
you'll understand your benefits easier
and you'll have a central contact point if you do end up having to make a claim.
No matter where you’re going, for how long, and who you’re with,
it’s important to make sure you’re covered.
A bit of extra cash to cover the many risks of travel
can make sure you get the most of your trip.
As the Australian Government says, if you can’t afford travel insurance,
you can’t afford to travel.
So if you have a holiday coming up and want to get travel insurance, compare you options
via the link below.