Travel Insurance Need Recommendations

Siasia on 20/04/2018 - 09:38

I will be traveling to Japan in 3 weeks time for 10 days

With lots of horror story of people who didn't not have enough travel insurance coverage for medical evacuation, can I please have recommendation on Good and TRUSTED travel insurance company.

The complimentary travel insurance I got from the credit card only cover very minimal for medical evacuation.

Also if anyone can recommend travel insurance that cover if there is an earthquake while we were there, if we can get evacuated immediately

Thanks in advanced for the recommendations

Travel

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2018 - 09:45

    TID

    • playswithfire on 20/04/2018 - 12:14

      +1 - used them a few times now. they replaced my snowboard after the core broke when I came off a mogul in NZ in 2015. claims process was pretty simple.

  • Succulent Synth on 20/04/2018 - 10:09

    Another vote for TID. I have used them many times before, I have also claimed with no probs when I got Giardia and Dysentary and had to change my itinerary.

    There are usually coupons floating around such as 'TIDSAVE' to get a discount.

  • John Kimble on 20/04/2018 - 10:22

    SCTI. Have never claimed though.

    *You should always check the PDS to determine whether this product suits your needs.

  • pantsparty on 20/04/2018 - 10:27

    Another vote for Travel Insurance Direct

  • mskeggs on 20/04/2018 - 11:59

    With lots of horror story of people who didn't not have enough travel insurance coverage for medical evacuation

    I am not aware of these, except for people with no cover.
    What is your card's coverage limit? Just looking at the PDS of mine it covers $2.5m of medical expenses with no separate limit for repatriation.
    EDIT: less reassuringly, it also includes $15,000 for local burial!

    • Siasia on 20/04/2018 - 13:15

      There was a story recently about a man who suffer stroke while holiday in Bali, he has travel insurance that only cover $40,000 for medic evacuation, the real cost is $100,000

      I checked my free credit card travel insurance with Alianz only cover $12,500 for medical evacuation, it cost minimum $100,000 for medical evac

      https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/39846185/elderly-wa-man-stranded…

      • mskeggs on 20/04/2018 - 15:41

        $100,000 is much more like the top not the bottom (cue somebody coming along to tell me they needed a helicopter off the side of Everest to prove me wrong).
        It would include attendant doctors and nurses by the patient's side for the whole trip.
        The story you linked is about an elderly man who purchased travel insurance, not free credit card insurance, and it actually quotes the insurer saying that the patient will get transported once medically able to do so, and the only person saying there is a possible issue is the patient's son who has "heard" it can be up to $100,000.
        And presumably the 7 news reporters.
        They did get an interview from a rival insurer saying "$1million" is the minimum for medical, but his job is selling insurance policies, so he is hardly a disinterested source.

        I'd suggest the son is being pessimistic because he wants to maximise contributions to his father's GoFundMe fundraiser, either because he is distressed and not thinking straight, or because people are worrying him by spreading scary stories.

        Interestingly, there is no media update to this story from a week ago, and the gofundme page has been taken down. There is a cached version here:
        https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:VBXgF9…

        So I think it might have been a bit of a media beat up, to scare people about insurance.
        The other interesting thing, is the PDS for his insurer shows the standard policy includes unlimited medivac cover, but this drops to $40,000 if you are over 80yrs old.

        With your policy, $12500 for medivac seems very low, and I couldn't find a limit like that in any of the bank credit card PDS' I looked at. Maybe you are misreading and it is the limit for another type of claim? If it is correct, I agree you need better insurance.

        Ultimately, everyone needs to decide their level of risk, and how much they will pay for insurance to deal with it.
        The insurance companies very much want us to have extreme cover, even though the risk of needing it is very, very small.

  • samfisher5986 on 20/04/2018 - 12:02

    Are you saying there is some kind of travel insurance that can evacuate you after an earthquake in some other way then simply buying you a ticket home?

    • Siasia on 20/04/2018 - 13:20

      Depend on how bad is the earthquake and probably tsunami after, there is no way airport or infrastructure will open. I am just thinking of worst case scenario.

      • samfisher5986 on 20/04/2018 - 13:29

        Yes but my point is, will they actually do anything?

        I'm assuming they won't.

        At best you can probably assume they will helicopter you from a remote island that doesn't normally have infrastructure, but they would just take you to the nearby city.

        I don't think any insurance company would take a private helicopter/jet and pick you up from a city.

        • Siasia on 20/04/2018 - 13:50

          So, how am I suppose to get out of the country in case of earthquake and/or tsunami?

        • samfisher5986 on 20/04/2018 - 13:51

          @marset:

          You don't… you are stuck like everyone else.

          If you attempted to complain you needed to be moved back to Australia, they would mention that Japan's healthcare is high quality and its not necessary.

          If you want a special evacuation, hire a private jet for a few million?

          As far as I know there are no travel insurance plans with emergency evacuation for natural disasters.

          This is also not considered a medical expense since you don't need medical assistance.

        • Siasia on 20/04/2018 - 13:59

          @samfisher5986:

          My only concern is during earthquake their hospital resources will be stretched to the limit and my children won't be getting the best care

          I would rather my children be evacuated to aust to receive the best medical care

        • samfisher5986 on 20/04/2018 - 14:00

          @marset:

          Thats an interesting problem.

          You should call an insurance company and ask what they would do.

          As I said before, I doubt they will hire a private jet for you.

  • samfisher5986 on 20/04/2018 - 13:42

    Which bank are you with?

    With Bankwest no annual free complimentary travel insurance it says

    Medical expenses - Unlimited

    By medical expenses we mean:

    Expenses for emergency evacuation to Australia or another country, if the local medical services are inadequate or not available. The evacuation must be authorised and arranged by Allianz Global Assistance

    • Siasia on 20/04/2018 - 13:48

      Commonwealth Bank

      • samfisher5986 on 20/04/2018 - 13:49

        Time to switch banks for the next time you travel.

        Also you are going to Japan, they won't fly you outside of Japan because their health system is good enough.

        So your concern isn't warranted.

      • mskeggs on 20/04/2018 - 15:45

        The CBA cards PDS says you have unlimited medical coverage, and doesn't split out a separate limit for medivac:
        https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/personal/ap…

  • Caped Baldy on 20/04/2018 - 14:05

    I went with woollies insurance with a 10% off code. You should be fine in Japan as it's pretty safe and well structured.

    Just make sure to review the PDS and don't participate in activities that aren't covered by the insurance.

    • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2018 - 14:28

      Lol woolies insurance
      Have you ever tried to make a claim with any of their other insurance products?

  • TimOfEastBNE on 20/04/2018 - 15:46

    We always buy annual multitrip policies. We travel a fair bit.

    Had QBE, made a couple of claims, wow they are difficult to deal with…. currently have Webjet/Alliance (used code off of OzB) haven't had to make a claim. Policy inclusions and price were good.

    ToM

  • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2018 - 16:11

    I have used TID, SCTI and Woolworths Travel Insurance in the past. All three provided good value and adequate levels of medical coverage.

    Travel insurance should provide you support if you get injured/sick etc, on regular run of the mill days when society is functioning regularly.

    If there is an earthquake (your "worst case scenario"), then the normal functionings of society will be disrupted. I don't think you can assume normal levels of service in such a situation. It might take longer to get help, based on the extent of disruption and your situation.

    Read the PDS of any policy in detail. Each company has different policies in relation to natural disasters. Also evacuation on medical ground (b/c you are sick or injured) is a different scenario than if you just need alternative transport b/c of disruption like an earthquake (but you're not sick/injured).

  • Brucet on 20/04/2018 - 18:30

    If you concern earthquake and/or tsunami.Just stay home and you will be SAFE 100% guarantee. lol.

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