Travel insurance - How to choose?

supbah on 04/06/2016 - 14:06
Last edited 18/06/2016 - 03:24 by 1 other user

Hi, I'm a young guy about to travel in less than a month to stay in Europe for about 7 weeks.
Decided travel insurance is probably a good idea… But I've never bought insurance before.
Where do I start?
How do I make sure I don't get scammed?

I've heard some stories about not getting covered because of some obscure clause.

To be honest, I don't really know what I'm doing or what I need, I just want to cover my bases.

Any help would be greatly appreciated
Cheers

Edit: So far these are the recommendations:
covermore (from aus post)
southern cross travel insurance
TID

Any other recommended ones? How about using sites like compare the market?
https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/travel-insurance/
Are these just showing me the expensive options?

Travel Insurance Travel Insurance

Comments

  • StewBalls on 04/06/2016 - 14:16
    +1

    I like Covermore, been using them for years now, their prices are very reasonable, and on the few occasions we've had to lodge a claim it's been relatively painless & very straightforward (all done online). They've never once tried to diddle us out of a claim, so they have my loyalty. Just my two cents worth…

    [edit] Oh, I forgot, always pay the tiny bit extra to get $0 excess…you'll thank yourself for that if you ever have to claim, including if your itinerary goes tits-up! ;)

    • jimbobaus on 04/06/2016 - 16:00
      +3

      If you like covermore.. buy from Aus Post they use Covermore and are generally cheaper :)

      • StewBalls on 04/06/2016 - 19:22

        Thanks for the heads-up, I'll give that a whirl next time I'm travelling! :)

      • Utopian on 07/06/2016 - 02:18
        +1

        I just gave it a go… and it was as smooth as anything-else AusPost (read: Not-At-All). :-/

        Search for Ireland… nothing comes-up.
        Look all over, and you'll eventually find Republic Of Ireland, hiding under UK & Asia. Rookie mistake.

        Chose Ireland, 3 week trip dates, 2 adults, 1 child… No Products.

      • rjstev on 14/06/2016 - 14:32

        I always use Auspost, I've read the PDS and their pre existing medical is better than many. A trick with them though is that it cheaper across the counter than online.

  • indium on 04/06/2016 - 14:16
    +2

    I've pretty much always gone with southern cross travel insurance, it's cheap, has good reviews and being young you don't want to be paying for unnecessary extras.

  • Rashed on 04/06/2016 - 14:34

    Most credit cards comes with travel insurance. So if you have one, check if it does.

    • supbah on 05/06/2016 - 02:39

      I'm using debit card (mastercard from commbank). I'm only in my low 20's - don't really think I need credit cards yet lol

      • Rashed on 05/06/2016 - 02:49
        +1

        still, you may consider getting one?

        check out CBA low rate gold CC, for $89 per year you get travel insurance, no fee travel money card, extended warranty, purchase security insurance, etc. and for your travel insurance you dont even have to make any purchase with your CC, you can generate an insurance certificate from netbank.

        • supbah on 05/06/2016 - 02:53

          Thanks! will consider actually…

    • Utopian on 07/06/2016 - 02:11
      +1

      They all come with conditions, limitations. Definitely don't trust it on face value. Read the small print, and ensure it's the right one for your needs.

      • Rashed on 07/06/2016 - 02:21
        +1

        CC travel insurance, and independent insurance provider, all of them comes with conditions, and limitations, and its true for every types of insurance, so yeah, read the small print / PDS

        • Utopian on 07/06/2016 - 02:23
          +1

          I don't think you understand the ones I'm referring to. Such as a minimum % of the trip must be purchased on the card for it to be activated/valid.

        • Rashed on 07/06/2016 - 06:31
          +1

          @Utopian: CBA credit card offered insurance doesnt require it anymore. Now as long as you have the right card, you will be able to generate a travel insurance certificate online. That's all.

  • Ryugen on 04/06/2016 - 15:57
    +4

    With all travel insurance, just make sure you read the Product Disclosure Statement(PDS) as that should outline everything you need to know. Two things to keep in mind are:

    Extreme activities (snow, motorbike, bungee all that fun stuff)
    Pre-existing medical conditions (Someone like Covermore will cover a small range for free but more serious conditions you must declare them in order to be covered for them)

    If these affect you, just double check what the insurance you are interested in covers and what situations they won't.

    Heaps of horror stories or 'insurance companies are scams' stories out there but a lot of the times when you hear the full story, you just think…welp makes sense that person wasn't covered. Going bungee jumping with a bad back you didn't let the insurance company know about…welllllll.

  • oscargamer on 04/06/2016 - 17:40
    +3

    TID

  • garffi on 04/06/2016 - 21:06
    +1

    ^ TID
    I've used them a couple of times, they're relatively cheap and cover lots of things. You do need to pay extra for winter sports etc.
    But I've never claimed from them so unsure if the process is easy or a headache…

    • Wampus on 08/06/2016 - 13:37
      +2

      I've used TID about five times, half the price of some of the other insurance quotes usually, with as good if not better coverage especially in the USA where you don't want to mess around with no medical insurance.

      Claimed with them once, was a breeze. Rental car company wanted to charge me for a flat tyre I had on one of their cars, I put them onto TID and that was the last I heard of it.

      • garffi on 08/06/2016 - 19:13
        +1

        Oh thats great to hear! Gonna stick with TID then.

      • supbah on 09/06/2016 - 23:51
        +1

        Cheers, I ended up going with TID using a coupon code I found. (here if you want to use it: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/251825)
        Good to know they're easy to deal with

    • colin1 on 05/06/2016 - 07:48
      +3

      Forget compare the market as they only show companies that they get a "kick back from".

      Have a look here :http://www.canstar.com.au/travel-insurance/

      Hope it helps

    • cmc on 07/06/2016 - 22:16
      +1

      Yes I've bought from them recently for 2 domestic trips, based on price, good reviews and no obvious bad points in the PDS.

      Cheapest by quite a bit when I compared with others and easy online buying process.

      Haven't travelled yet so no claim experience.

  • supbah on 07/06/2016 - 12:56

    So guys in leaning towards TID now. Mostly because they're the most easiest to understand but also because they seem to cover all the bases.

    Anything else I should know before I pull the trigger?
    Anyone have had experience with TID?

  • GabSleeman on 07/06/2016 - 22:07

    TID best…

  • PeteM on 08/06/2016 - 13:38

    Any one have feedback on 1cover? Seem to be underwritten by "certain underwriters at Lloyd's" just like TID (Travel Insurance Direct). Also their website is suspiciously similar to TID….
    I like them because they will cover if your pre-arranged leave is cancelled, provided you are "a full time member of the Australian Defence Force or of federal, state or territory emergency services.

  • maximum on 12/06/2016 - 10:45

    Insure and go were the cheapest and when my son had a significant medical event they were very helpful and covered without any hassles. I use commonwealth bank free insurance now there are no minimum spends - thank goodness haven't had to claim (yet). They covered pre existing medical conditions no extra charge as well.

    Most important thing as a young person travelling is that most exclude if you are affected by alcohol or drugs. I know from my travels around Europe that could be an issue.

  • downhillmtbr on 18/06/2016 - 02:15

    I've used Ouch (Covered by QBE). Had two separate claims for lost & damaged items processed without issue. They seemed to be the cheapest for what I needed,

    • Spizz on 23/06/2016 - 15:46

      They are very, very good with claims. But the policy is $$$. Worth it for less hassle when claiming and if travelling to the USA with the dental they include. Also rated the highest in the choice reviews.

      Was looking for travel insurance for the parents whom needed to cover pre-existing.

      InsureandGo came out the cheapest and I though I was in luck until I started to read on how poor they are with claims-

      http://www.productreview.com.au/p/insure-and-go.html

      So now I know why they were so cheap and gave them a wide birth.

      Went with Good2Go- The Works Policy (highly rated with choice and good for claims) for one as it covered 1 pre-existing for 1 parent but not for the other so went with Covermore for the other as it covered also only covered 1 parent and not the other.

      As with all Policies read the PDS carefully and see what fits your needs.

  • savemore on 03/07/2016 - 11:13

    Hi All,
    I am travelling to New Zealand mid July and will be getting travel insurance. After receiving a quote from SureSave as an individual for $117 (and knowing that the people who I am travelling with, 1 adult and 2 kids also had the same quote), I thought that I would be able to shop around for a better price. I have read through the thread and at this stage am thinking about getting it from Covermore (through Australia Post). Are there any current promo codes for Covermore? I noticed that 1CoverTravel are offering 10% and Insure and Go (through Groupon) have 20% off. Has anyone had any dealings (good or bad) with any of these insurers?

    Thanks

  • arctan on 08/09/2016 - 10:47

    Does anyone know which travel insurance covers checked in baggages? I have searched a few and none of them cover the checked in baggages (i lost my baggages during transition at Singapore airline by Scootfly and my travel insurance company refused to pay for it as they dont cover any checked in luggages).

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