New Travel Insurance Policy - Already Left Australia

Mark1159 on 14/06/2022 - 11:49
Last edited 14/06/2022 - 12:50 by 1 other user

I urgently need to extend basic Australian travel insurance while currently on tour. I am in Philippines.

Earlier this trip I extended basic Covermore travel insurance for two months. My son managed to call Sydney office from Melbourne for me. Four hours on hold. Renewed existing policy - no changes apart from extra 2 months - via credit card.
All good and revised policy emailed to me. Now I wish to repeat for extra 2 months. I cannot call Covermore from here, even the “outside Australia” number - line drops out after 10 minutes. I buy sufficient credit and phone coy gives you half that etc etc. Covermore don’t respond my to emails, now or before.

Is there an Australian travel insurance company who will provide basic travel insurance for 2 months while already on tour? I don’t want to fly back to Melbourne “point of original departure” to renew insurance, within Australia, and fly out again.

I strongly believe in travel insurance, ex health industry worker. I don’t qualify under my platinum credit card cover (read the PDS). I can only communicate with Oz via Wi-Fi/email/internet - basically not by phone. Philippines has removed earlier requirement to have insurance, but I still want to have cover. Melbourne travel agent will only help with ticket I got from her in February - not insurance, although they sell over more, I purchased it online myself predeparture.
I ventured inside Insurance office here in Luzon - I have trouble ordering dinner here never mind trying to explain my requirements in the off chance they could help.

In summary -

I urgently need to extend basic Australian travel insurance while currently on tour. Any ideas are welcome.

Thankyou.

• 

  Hybroid on 14/06/2022 - 11:56

  +3

  Already Overseas Travel Insurance

  https://www.comparetravelinsurance.com.au/travel-insurance-t…

• 

  dazweeja on 14/06/2022 - 12:36

  A call to Covermore's 1300 number should only cost 40c (plus a small connection fee) in Skype credit?

  • 

    AndyC1 on 14/06/2022 - 12:55

    1300 numbers do not work from overseas.

    • 

      dazweeja on 14/06/2022 - 17:26

      I made a mistake - I should have said "per minute" - but Skype have pricing specifically for 1300 calls using Skype credit on their website (search for "Australia" in "See rates for the destinations you want to call"):

      https://www.skype.com/en/credit

      For example, calling from the UK it's 44c per minute plus 15.1c connection fee to 1300 numbers in Australia. I couldn't check the Phillipines but Singapore is US26c per minutes plus 8.9c connection fee.

      That said, I'd still try Covermore's 02 number through Skype first in case the problem is actually with the phone company the OP is using.

• 

  bobbified on 14/06/2022 - 13:11

  +2

  My son managed to call Sydney office from Melbourne for me.

  Why dont you ask your son to do it again?

  Or hop online and buy a new policy.

• 

  Agarwal on 14/06/2022 - 15:51

  I had to do this once and used World Nomads

• 

  Mechz on 14/06/2022 - 20:26

  -1

  Why wouldn't you just get another policy from tomorrow morning from their website? You clearly have the internet.

  • 

    CaptainHoltisDad on 15/06/2022 - 18:39

    Buying a new travel insurance policy usually requires that you are departing from Australia. Not the same as extending an existing policy. Reading the PDS is important.

    • 

      Mark1159 on 19/06/2022 - 22:51

      Covermore allow renewals while OS.
      Now done 2 renewals (4 months)

  • 

    Mark1159 on 19/06/2022 - 22:48

    Not sure I can do this.
    First two months are $799

    Last time my son renewed 2 months for me was $376

    Now renewed - son only waited an hour on phone in Melbourne. Final 2 months of six months cover was $332

• 

  Mark1159 on 19/06/2022 - 22:49

  Resolved.

  Thx everyone.

  Son called Melb to Sydney - one hour wait.
  Final 2 months are $322 instead of $799 first two months.

  See you late August.