Would You Donate to People Who Haven't Taken out Travel Insurance?

cookie2 on 20/01/2023 - 07:34
Last edited 20/01/2023 - 09:29 by 1 other user

Another day, another non bargain related question…or 2.

Perth man’s Bali holiday turns to horror after brutal mugging incident

Interested in people's opinion regarding holidays and travel insurance. I see various posts and news articles about people that have travelled overseas and end up in hospital with $$$ expenses and starting go fund me pages and donation drives. The articles never mention travel insurance and it always makes me annoyed. Does nobody else sit there thinking 'you got yourself into this mess'?

Why would people support someone else's bad decisions to not get travel insurance? If they end up with debt, wouldn't that be a good life lesson? Maybe the people donating are just kinder than me.

Do you think travel insurance should always be purchased? International or domestic too?

I feel like the people without insurance that I see in these situations (obviously not the whole cohort) all seem to visit Bali, Vietnam and south east Asian countries.

Is it a certain kind of person that doesn't think, have responsibilities and doesn't consider the risks or am I unfairly labelling them all together as immature, impulsive?

If you can't get insurance due to medical etc that's understandable, still travel. But otherwise should insurance be a prerequisite for visiting certain or all countries?

Anyone got any crazy stories about insurance costs or situations?

Poll Options

  • 21
    I buy travel insurance for O/S and WOULD donate to others that haven't.
  • 773
    I buy O/S insurance and WOULDN'T donate to others that haven't.
  • 5
    I don't buy O/S insurance and I WOULD donate.
  • 57
    I don't buy O/S insurance and I WOULDN'T donate.
Travel Insurance Travel Insurance

Comments

    • cookie2 on 20/01/2023 - 15:13

      Interesting idea. I think in general lessons are learnt moreso through adversity and suffering. Not that I'm saying I want anyone to suffer.

    • gromit on 22/01/2023 - 07:52
      +1

      Finally, consider what insurance is. If nobody bought insurance, and everybody chipped in to go fund me campaigns, we would self insure without the loss to profit making using an insurance company requires.

      except everyone wouldn't chip in, that is the problem here. Those same people that take the risk also won't chip in. Sure in a perfect world we could do that, it isn't a perfect world and personal responsibility is a thing.

      Sure I have made plenty of mistakes in my life, but I don't expect others to pay for them. Similarly their are litterally millions of people and charities in the world where people didn't have the luxury of getting to make a mistake that are far more deserving of assistance.

    • cnrmlj on 22/01/2023 - 11:13

      The problem with that approach is some pages would be heavily undersubscribed and others would be heavily oversubscribed so money won't be making it to where it is actually required and some who don't need it or perhaps deserve it will end up with it.

    • helpme on 23/01/2023 - 01:20

      Is the lesson learned much more readily if you make them suffer to the maximum?

      Yes. I'm sick of seeing at least one Bali bike accident go fund me every year. We can't keep bailing people out. Let them be in financial ruin or die. It's up to them.

    • Papa Huggies on 23/01/2023 - 09:47

      Pretty sure the lesson is "you're on your own buddy"

  • AustriaBargain on 20/01/2023 - 09:45
    +1

    I only travel to places I have automatic ancestral citizenship, and who have universal healthcare.

  • bobbified on 20/01/2023 - 09:56
    +12

    Does nobody else sit there thinking 'you got yourself into this mess'?

    If it's someone I know, like a friend or acquaintance, I'd give, donate or help in any way I can regardless of what mess they "got themselves into" - especially if it's something life-threatening.

    Perth man’s Bali holiday turns to horror after brutal mugging incident

    Reading the article, it reminds me of a particular type/group of people I see and really hate in SE Asia (not suggesting this guy is one of those). It's those that go over, have a few drinks and start thinking they're king shit with their money and acting like they own the place. They tend to be Aussie, American or British. I've seen quite a few get their shitty attitude smacked out of them on the street and I'll admit that I just stood around and watched with a smile on my face. I've got no sympathy for them whatsoever - but then, why should I? They got the free lesson on 'respect' that their parents never gave them!

  • GG57 on 20/01/2023 - 10:06
    +13

    Same with people who think that Australian Embassies and High Commissions are there to lend them money, get them out of jail, etc., etc.
    Some people just shouldn't travel.

  • brendanm on 20/01/2023 - 10:42
    +22

    Tattoos all over arms and legs, in Bali, drunk as all get out. Probably thought he was an MMA fighter and was being mouthy to the locals and got his ass handed to him. No insurance, not my problem.

    Go fund me is simply full of entitled bogans.

    • bobbified on 20/01/2023 - 11:06
      +3

      Probably thought he was an MMA fighter and was being mouthy to the locals and got his ass handed to him.

      haha ^^ this! That was my first thought!

      It's pretty funny to watch that shit in the bars and on the streets. I'm often amazed at how much restraint the locals show. I guess their tolerance is quite high because they're forced to deal with these idiots all the time.

      • GG57 on 20/01/2023 - 11:40
        +9

        The locals show incredible restraint. They would hate it, but their business or income is dependant on it so they have a public face of acceptance. They might add a bit to the bill, or water down the drinks, or whatever, but they put up with it.

        Meanwhile, it is an embarrassment for the rest of us when fellow people from our country behave like this. As a result of their behaviours, we are assumed by the locals to be the same (until proven otherwise).

        • bobbified on 20/01/2023 - 12:22
          +2

          …an embarrassment for the rest of us when fellow people from our country behave like this

          It is a major embarrassment for us all! I hate it. But I'm lucky in that I'm asian so people don't lump me together with them.

        • Richmond Tigers on 20/01/2023 - 14:32
          +1

          The locals in places more upmarket or remote than Kuta do not expect Aussies to be shit.

          But any Aussie in Kuta, especially well after dark is automatically assumed to be a shit.

    • Seraphin7 on 20/01/2023 - 11:40

      You forgot the ears tucked into the cap look. FMD, where did that ever come from?

      • BartholemewH on 24/01/2023 - 07:10

        Wingnut Association of Australia (WAA) guidelines.

    • Ozb101 on 23/01/2023 - 21:23

      Having been to Bali, bashings and muggings are not the norm. I really wonder if he provoked the attack

  • Seraphin7 on 20/01/2023 - 11:40

    GTFO.

    Use the money saved on travel insurance to pay your expenses.

  • djsweet on 20/01/2023 - 11:46

    A lot of people seem to get themselves into trouble because they are too dumb to consider and mitigate risk. But just because someone is less intelligent than you doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy of help. It’s not like people get to decide what IQ they are given at birth, or what basic education their parents provision for them.

    Same goes for homelessness. Vast majority of homeless people could have a accomodation if “they weren’t too lazy to work / took advantage of welfare programs / didn’t smoke and drink / didn’t take illicit drugs” etc.

    • cookie2 on 20/01/2023 - 15:16

      But if you have a limited amount of help to offer, would you deem them less worthy of your help? I do anyway.

    • tabitha731 on 21/01/2023 - 08:43
      -1

      Homelessness is a choice but some.. i have spoken to a few homeless folks in sydney CBD, and i know the local charities have provided them a stable home, but they chose live out on the street, coz they just prefer it, or dont like the accomodation they were given. Its all about taking accountability of wats in front of you

    • Papa Huggies on 23/01/2023 - 09:56

      Would you not think letting them dig themselves out would make them learn their lesson better than giving them the handout? I personally don't feel like I'm accountable for helping this guy out at all…

      • djsweet on 23/01/2023 - 10:13

        You are not accountable and you do not have to lift a finger. That’s kind of the point of mercy and compassion - you do something when you don’t have to

  • Autonomic on 20/01/2023 - 11:50
    +2

    Does nobody else sit there thinking 'you got yourself into this mess'?

    Surely the person who bashed him is the one who "got him into this mess"?

    • cookie2 on 20/01/2023 - 15:17

      Not the way I see it. the mess is the financial burden that is the reason for the charity drive. That individual made the decision to travel for recreation without purchasing travel insurance.

  • Richmond Tigers on 20/01/2023 - 11:56
    +9

    I wouldn't bloody donate, he rolled the dice and payed the price.

    Its unfortunate but if you can afford flights, accommodation, meals and spending money, you can afford a few hundred dollars extra for insurance.

    • Almost Banned on 20/01/2023 - 12:09
      +3

      Travelling to Bali you can get travel insurance for under AU$100.

      • GG57 on 20/01/2023 - 12:58
        +5

        But, but, but, that's almost 100 Bintangs

    • 2esc on 21/01/2023 - 10:34

      Spot on.

  • Drakesy on 20/01/2023 - 12:33
    +3

    Ah the double edged sword of having free healthcare at home and thinking it applies around the world.

    I do want to know though how the locals get healthcare if this is the cost, or is it a two tiered system?

    But as unfortunate as it is in that he was mugged at no fault of his own, you do run the gauntlet by not taking it out. Could've easily been in a motorcycle accident which would've stuffed him as well. Very limited sympathy from me personally.

  • Hardlyworkin on 20/01/2023 - 13:10
    +6

    Like any insurance, it's risk versus reward. For me, the risk is too great. One serious medical episode in North America for instance and I could easily be looking into a bill in the hundreds of thousands. For me, this would be a life changing amount if I didn't have insurance.

    And being an Ozbargainer, I have travel insurance via my credit card that for most trips will be fine. The yearly cost of my credit card easily outweighs the risks IMO.

  • Motek Benzona on 20/01/2023 - 13:11
    +1

    A good no excess travel insurance is a must. For what it costs in relation to an actual holiday it is peanuts and can save you.. well save your life.
    Its a no brainer.. people think they are good not to have it until… they wish they did.

    Last year we spent well over 14k total on a 4 week break in thailand and the insurance was only $430 with no excess for all of us (2 kids 2 adults) incuding my existing conditions. Its nothing in the scheme of things

    No way would i donate….

    • movieman on 21/01/2023 - 22:14

      Which insurer did you use?

    • bobbified on 23/01/2023 - 23:11

      Last year we spent well over 14k total on a 4 week break in thailand….

      I think I know where you spent the majority of that money! 🤭

      • Motek Benzona on 24/01/2023 - 08:45

        Possibly, trying to link a comment about my life (which is true) over 57 years to paying for sex is more a reflection on your own life than mine.

        Never really had to do that TBH

    • stirlo on 25/01/2023 - 02:08
      -1

      I don't agree with getting a "no excess" policy.

      Insurance is to protect against catastrophic outcomes (long overseas hospital stays, loss of an entire cruise, permanent injury or death) that no reasonable person can save for. If any of these things happen paying a few hundred dollars excess still puts you way in front.

      Paying for a no excess policy is just over insuring, your holiday shouldn't be ruined if you had to pay an excess for an extra night in a hotel, replacement passport or some new clothes when your bag is delayed. All these things are manageable and you can easily self insure for them.

      I definitely wouldn't contribute to a go fund me for someone reckless either though.

      • Motek Benzona on 25/01/2023 - 07:44
        -1

        As a family Of for the extra $80 to remove the excess has saved me a couple of thousand $$ of dollars in the past as every condition or claim has a separate excess. In fact if you read policies it actually says you might be charged more than one

        I don't know where you get the idea of 1 excess from…on a $200 excess 4 claims for 4 people is $800 alone. Why on Earth would I pay that if I don't Have to?

        It's simple economics

        • stirlo on 26/01/2023 - 04:38

          I've never paid multiple excesses when making a claim for different/multiple losses arising from one incident, I think your understanding of how this works is wrong.

          I've certainly never paid an excess for both myself and my partner the only time I've claimed (for flight delay). We got some money for a hotel, food and a new train ticket the following day after we missed our prebooked non refundable one. 1 excess was paid for both of us for all these benefits.

          You are essentially paying an extra $80 (if thats accurate) to avoid paying $200. The simple economics is unless you're the most unlucky person out there or love making claims over the most minor of things it's not a good deal.

          • Motek Benzona on 26/01/2023 - 08:27

            @stirlo: I don't know what the hell you are on about but if you think that travel insurance only covers big ticket items at hospitals you obviously do not travel that much

            I also suggest you read product disclosure statements of most insurers which quite clearly say that you may be charged more than one excess

            I don't care what you have paid in the past it is irrelevant

            As for your ridiculous comment about not claiming for minor things what kind of planet do you actually live on that you take out a policy and then not use it? is it some kind of moral standpoint you have?

            If I have a policy I claim on every single thing I can, I could not give a toss about the insurer.

            What a joker you are

            • stirlo on 27/01/2023 - 06:06

              @Motek Benzona: You can certainly buy insurance to cover everything (with no excess) but the way insurers pool risk and take their profit margins the cost of taking insurance will be higher than the aggregate profit on any claims. This is not smart.

              By taking a $0 excess policy and claiming frequently in the long run you are ultimately just getting back what you put in minus the insurers profit and overhead.

              Whereas if you have a reasonably low excess policy you can still have coverage for catastrophic events like the example above. While you personally may never make a claim, the benefit comes from those 1/10,000 events where your life would be totally (profanity) without it. This way because the total cost of insurance is lower (with less benefits) you're contributing less money to the insurers profit.

              Paying $80 extra to insure against a $200 excess is plain dumb unless you plan to claim every 2.5 trips.

              • Motek Benzona on 27/01/2023 - 07:14
                -1

                @stirlo: What I would tend to say is what you are trying to crap on about is plain dumb

                So how about you just do what a hell you like and when I go to holiday I will pay a relatively small Amount to cancel my excess and you can just pay what you like to when you like With what other ridiculous justifications you want to come out with for doing it

                Honestly I couldn't give a toss what you think Because from this end you are talking nonsense.

                • stirlo on 28/01/2023 - 00:22

                  @Motek Benzona: Not sure why you're so upset and taking this personally. I've just stated the maths for why insuring with zero excess is normally not a good idea.

                  That said, you may get extra comfort from the fact you know that no extra money is payable when your holiday goes even a little bit wrong and you can claim easily (with the only loss being your time lodging/progressing the claim).

                  Thats a benefit some people would value but personally I think for the average ozbargainer who is interested in squeezing every penny it's not a good idea.

  • Gunnar on 20/01/2023 - 13:42
    +11

    Looking at the bloke from the above article I'm putting money that he started a fight, lost, and now is claiming he was mugged

  • Ghost47 on 20/01/2023 - 13:57
    +3

    I voted the first option; if it was a family member or mate of mine I would consider helping.

    I wouldn’t help this bozo.

    • morse on 23/01/2023 - 08:31

      I agree with your first point, but why is this guy a ‘bozo’?

      • Ghost47 on 23/01/2023 - 09:22
        +1

        Good point. Maybe I jumped the gun, I assumed that the full story wasn’t told and it’s possible he did something to deserve the bashing. Maybe he isn’t a bozo.

        • morse on 23/01/2023 - 19:52
          +1

          It is hard to tell from the post. He may or may not be a bozo. I guess that’s why it’s why people are more likely to chip in if they know more about the person and the situation.

          • Ghost47 on 23/01/2023 - 22:11

            @morse: Yes, true. I'm surprised so many people have voted no; what if it was a family member (e.g. cousin) or friend of theirs? But then again in a way I'm not surprised…

            • BartholemewH on 24/01/2023 - 07:16

              @Ghost47: I took it as being about internet randos, not your direct family.

  • JIMB0 on 20/01/2023 - 17:17

    Everybody contributing to a go fund me for these incidents is kind of like crowd sourced insurance.

    • TEER3X on 23/01/2023 - 20:05

      But gfm still takes a cut, probably no where near as bad as what the insurance companies charge though.

  • Thenarrator on 20/01/2023 - 17:17
    -3

    insurance is insurance. its a product for risk. There is no blanket rule that stipulates consciously or unconsciously, socially or morally that "all travellers need travel insurance". its a product just like any other product you buy from coles. You dont go around telling people "if you dont buy biscuits, youre a dhead". Some people need insurance, some dont.

    There are mandatory insurance like CTP thats compulsory. Travel insurance is not mandatory exactly for the reason that not everyone needs it. I still have sympathy for those who didnt buy it and got in trouble in the same way that if your loved ones died and they didnt buy life insurance that you'd want others to be sympathetic of your loved one.

    Do you have income protection insurance? Bottom line, not every insurance deserves to be bought and is subject to individual risk apetite. Your sympathy to them should not be hinged from that and is irrelevant to whether they bought insurance.

    • brendanm on 20/01/2023 - 23:17
      +11

      It's 100% relevant to them not buying insurance. They have wanted to save money not getting it, and now expect everyone else to pay for them instead. Maximum entitlement.

    • gromit on 22/01/2023 - 08:24
      +2

      insurance is for people that can't afford to gamble, if you can't afford to be on the losing side of the insurance bet then you need insurance. Simple rule is if you can't afford insurance you NEED it and if you aren't purchasing it you shouldn't be buying or doing the thing you need insurance for.

    • StalkingIbis on 22/01/2023 - 08:43
      +2

      If i put money on shares, and lose out, is it fair to ask people to cover my loss or pay for the things i now cant afford?

      Would I have been equally winning to share any profits that I made?

      People want to save money and have other people take the risk.

  • tabitha731 on 21/01/2023 - 08:40
    +14

    I also dont donate to those affected by flooding, when they live in an area known for flooding, but dont buy home insurance coz its too expensive.. it’s expensive coz u live in a flood-plain area!

    • sheebies on 22/01/2023 - 17:12

      Or they literally can’t get insurance. I used to live in an area that flooded although my house did not flood and literally up the end of my street people couldn’t be insured because of the flood risk, no one would offer them insurance.

      They were the kind of people that would get on tv claim they had no knowledge of the area flooding and cry that they couldn’t get insured.

  • 2esc on 21/01/2023 - 10:32

    Many years ago a local from my area visited the US and had a major accident crashing a car into 2 other cars at 200klms while drunk. Locals did heaps of fund raising to pay for all his medical costs etc i think mainly as he was a good footballer at the time.

  • Tommyaka on 21/01/2023 - 11:07
    +5

    I think the Department of Foreign Affairs puts it nicely, "If you can't afford insurance, you can't afford to travel."

  • Sensiekatie on 21/01/2023 - 14:29
    +2

    I am not a fan of the Go Fund Me pages full stop. I have never donated to one. I think there are exceptional cases that may be deserving, but in the main I don't think they should be seeking funding.

    House burns down and no insurance is the same sort of example as what OP has given. Sure it would be a horrible position to be in. We have.charities here for people rebuilding their lives and all sorts of household items are available to them. People often offer accommodation to these families privately so between the two, why do they need to raise money.

    There also seems to be a lot of pages for raising funds for a funeral after various traumas. There was a recent tragedy where multiple pages were set up for the same family. Then there is the raising the money for children left behind. Again, an awful situation. However, why didn't the deceased have life insurance or make other arrangements so their kids would be looked after should something happen to them. This is especially true if their job is high risk like say a police officer.

    The ones I see as being worthwhile are where medical treatment (sound treatments or surgeries with a good deal of supportive research and clinical evidence showing a good track record) is available overseas and a community rallies together to make it happen.

  • Blargman2001 on 21/01/2023 - 18:37

    I know someone who likes to travel without travel insurance. He's a new age, spiritual type who claims karma will determine his fate. He says bad things don't happen to him. Apart from that he's a pretty good guy.

  • Herbse on 21/01/2023 - 18:41
    +3

    Nope.

    Also I'm not a fan of the government spending people's taxes to pay out people who live in known flood affected areas because it's cheap, don't pay the high prices for insurance, or risk no insurance if no one will insure them, then hage have their houses flooded because who knew this would ever happen.

    • kaleidoscope on 22/01/2023 - 19:39
      +2

      It's not usually the government but the greedy councils that give permits to build in those areas. People fall for it because its so called 'water front' and other marketing crap.

  • Seaeagles on 21/01/2023 - 20:04

    Go Fund Me seems to be the new insurance.

    See so many social media posts asking to help someone who has no insurance and expects everyone else to cover their cost.

    I take out insurance as soon as I book the holiday so I’m covered incase something happens between the booking and travelling.

  • cktftw on 21/01/2023 - 20:36

    Yeah nah not gonna take responsibility for myself
    You muppets can do that for me instead

  • IM-Cheap on 21/01/2023 - 21:27

    If you are heading overseas uninsured you need to own the decision and shouldn't expect help with payments when things go wrong

    Also when so many credit cards package travel insurance into the service its suprising to see aussies overseas without some basic form of travel insurance.

    • Ponsonby on 22/01/2023 - 17:18

      Some credit card insurance policies have so many conditions and exclusions that they are not worth much. You need to read the fine print and decide.

  • gromit on 21/01/2023 - 22:26

    No i would not give them a cent. Same goes for those in bushfire or flood zones without insurance. Having no insurance is a choice and you get to live with the consequences. Cant afford the insurance then you cant afford whatever you needed to insure be that car house holiday etc. There are enough worthy charities in need that these people should be the bottom of you list to help.

    • Heaps for Cheaps on 22/01/2023 - 12:55
      -4

      "these people should be the bottom of you list to help."

      So the sex-offenders and KKK members are more worthy, sitting above them on your list?

      • gromit on 22/01/2023 - 13:04
        +4

        since when are the sex offenders and KKK members asking for charity hand outs. Personally my list would not include them, obviously you have a different position if you think they should be on peoples lists.

  • Alexxx on 22/01/2023 - 07:19

    I voted for the last option as I don't buy travel insurance sometimes but I do have it automatically included with my credit card.

  • Marty-69 on 22/01/2023 - 07:29

    When I was staying in a little country town there was a news item on the local TV about a house fire. The owner was upset he lost his garage and had no insurance. When the reporter asked how the fire started he told: "I was having a smoke in the garage and the jerrycans with fuel for my jetskis caught fire. Luckily my 4WD was still parked outside".

    It was not in a bushfire zone or flooding zone so I'm sure insurance was affordable. I did not go to the community fundraiser the next day.

    [edit]
    Gofundme: $23,778 raised of $30,000 goal
    We need a poll option: Instead of taking out insurance, I rely on Gofundme.

  • maximum on 22/01/2023 - 08:36
    +1

    I would never donate to a go fund me. They take a % of the money which is fair enough but if you know the person why wouldn't you put it straight into their account.

    I alway have travel insurance. Luckily as a few years ago my son (who has always been healthy - never vomited except as a baby when he drank too much milk) got a slight cold in the USA. This turned into a fever and he fell unconscious for about 5 days. The first hour - ambulance and er would have been $20000. After they checked our insurance he was taken to an icu isolation ward where there were 6 glass rooms with 6 Dr's and lots of nurses to give him 24 hour care. All up it would have been close to a million dollars.

    It would have devastated our future if we had to pay even half of this. I have credit card insurance so most of the time I would use that but in the US I would pay to get the best level of insurance.

  • Cusack on 22/01/2023 - 09:13

    What about the same question for home insurance, and the houses that burnt during the 2019-20 bushfires?

    • MrThing on 22/01/2023 - 11:52

      Anyone who isn’t adequately insured to prevent loss receives zero sympathy from me

      • sheebies on 22/01/2023 - 17:16
        -1

        I feel differently about natural disasters at home.. it’s reasonable to think some people might not be able to afford insurance.. especially if you’re renting etc.

        But if you have the means to travel overseas and don’t buy travel insurance then you’re just trying to cut costs and I have no sympathy. If you can’t afford the travel insurance, don’t travel.

        • freefall101 on 22/01/2023 - 23:57

          You don’t pay for house insurance if you’re renting, you pay for content insurance which, if you’re not insuring much, is usually about $10 a month.

          Personally I think there should be a national insurance scheme. Because when people don’t buy house insurance they just become a huge cost to the community and we pay for them anyway.

          • dylo on 24/01/2023 - 05:25

            @freefall101: Can you name insurers that insure contents for $10 a month?

            • freefall101 on 24/01/2023 - 12:33

              @dylo: Bit of an assumption on my behalf, I paid $130 in 2019 and insured more than the minimum.

              I was on $220 last year with a huge increase in assets covered. So maybe $15 a month?

  • A90990 on 22/01/2023 - 10:16
    +4

    If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to go.

  • MrThing on 22/01/2023 - 11:50

    Not getting insurance or getting insurance and not reading the pds and getting denied after a claim…

    Serious Darwin Award material there.

    Int travel insurance is cheap when u compare it to the rest of ur holiday

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 22/01/2023 - 12:52
    -7

    95% of the OzBargain vote: "I buy O/S insurance and WOULDN'T donate to others that haven't. "
    …I wouldn't be surprised if most OzB'rs sell their parents into slavery to make extra $.

    • umoddbro on 22/01/2023 - 16:22
      +2

      What does selling your parents have to do with donating to someone's bad life decisions?

      • BartholemewH on 24/01/2023 - 07:29

        Wait….we could sell our parents?

  • ego22 on 22/01/2023 - 17:22
    +2

    I actually know a guy that got hurt badly in Greece with no insurance and he needed a private jet "hospital" to take him back to aus..this was only a few months ago and the story made news.com and 7news. He had a gofundme and needed around 450k. And because of the coverage, he got it. But he actually has tons money and many investment apartments and houses and could have easily afforded it.

    • Herbse on 22/01/2023 - 19:53
      +3

      You don't get rich by spending your own money

    • Stopback on 24/01/2023 - 10:34

      https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/darw…

      https://www.gofundme.com/f/b5rpzf-help-bring-charlie-home

      We want more than anything to bring Charlie home to Australia where we have a healthcare system that can help him. We are in contact with the hospitals in Australia that can perform the many surgeries Charlie requires.

      This is the only avenue left open to us to save our brother my mum's son. What we are now faced with, is the prospect of trying to raise the money required to bring him home. We have obtained multiple quotes to medivac Charlie from Rhodes to Australia, between $300,000 - $400,000. This amount is staggering.

      We are in the process of collating all our funds, but humbly and with deep embarrassment, we need help to reach this massive target. We cannot and will not, lose sight of saving our beloved Charlie.

      $123,118 raised of $150,000 goal

      Its more from the family, I don't think they are as greedy as you think.

      • ego22 on 24/01/2023 - 10:36
        +1

        no thats not the story. But wow that so similar

  • BeeJayBAV on 22/01/2023 - 20:29
    +1

    If you can't afford travel insurance you can't afford to travel!

  • tororm on 22/01/2023 - 23:29
    +1

    Tip for ozbargain: Always get insurance and then book tight connections: for a baggage delay over 3 hours due to bag missing plane we got $750- enough for a couple new outfits and some warm clothes- bags arrived next day. We were going to buy the clothes anyways. Apparently Amex card travel insurance is particularly generous with this. Essentially made the insurance cost free.

    • girafficlight on 23/01/2023 - 12:36

      not sure why you got the downvote, just gonna even that out. I agree on the travel insurance, my parents are cursed when it comes to flights and always get a new closet of clothes, not ideal in some circumstances but when the opportunity arises, it's great to have

  • da1andonly on 23/01/2023 - 00:46
    -4

    If you're travelling through Asia, travel insurance is a scam. The majority of local people don't have any form of insurance so why should international people need it. Just be careful and do what the locals do and you'll be fine.

    • cashews on 23/01/2023 - 10:29

      This is the worst advice I've read in this thread yet.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 23/01/2023 - 14:23

      Because accidents and incidents needing medical treatment are entirely avoidable, do what the locals do as they never need medical treatment and you'll pay the same minimal cost for treatment as the locals 😂

  • charzy on 23/01/2023 - 08:21
    +3

    I know someone who has a good start to life, having multiple businesses and houses at around early 30s. In Sydney as well.
    Drives and shows off performance cars that they own on social media.
    Goes to Thailand and gets in a motorbike accident. No helmet no insurance. Looked like a completely f"Ed up accident.
    Once he gets home sets up a donation fund for all their hospital bills.
    A few months later you see another new car added to their collection.
    Sickens me.

  • morse on 23/01/2023 - 08:24

    I buy travel insurance but would consider donating depending on the circumstances. I’d be more likely to help out if it was someone I knew. People make poor choices, and whilst it might be stupid, if they need help to get home or access medical treatment I would sometimes consider assisting as I don’t like to see others suffer. People do stupid things that land them in public hospitals all the time and whilst I’d rather they didn’t I also happy for my taxes to pay for their treatment. It’s also worth noting not all insurance covers everything, so sometimes people are unknowingly under insured.

  • Cluster on 23/01/2023 - 10:33

    I know someone who had her ~65 year old father visit Australia from China. While here he developed severe abdominal pain and required emergency surgery and a week long hospital stay. $30,000 hospital bill. Did he have travel insurance? Nope. The daughter had to go into debt and ask friends for loans to pay the bill.

    $200 spent on insurance sure looks like a good deal!

    On the other hand I quite often hear from friends lamenting about their latest home or car insurance bill, stating it's "wasted money". Umm, no it's not. The company is buying something real: risk. If you think avoiding a $1k insurance bill on a $600k home is a good deal then good for you, but don't come running when a forest fire takes out your house and the bank wonders why you broke their T&Cs and didn't have insurance.

  • liongalahad on 23/01/2023 - 10:56
    +2

    Few years ago I went to Bali with a mate, planning to hire motorbikes and ride around the island. He didn't want to get insurance for himself. Mind he has children, and he has not much sense of danger on the road. Recipe for disaster.. some people are just idiots (as much as he's a good friend of mine..) I had to threaten him I would not go if he did't get insurance, so he eventually got it…

    It's just so effing dumb not to have it. Also because many 90-day interest free credit cards with no monthly fee offer free travel insurance. Which makes it basically free travel insurance.

  • girafficlight on 23/01/2023 - 12:33

    We also don't even really know the other side of the story "mugging and Australian", was he mugged or did he start shit with the wrong person, and got smashed up and the title is changed? Then having to ask someone for money because he could of been at fault. I don't like to donate to a lot of these gofundme's

  • Dack Smith on 23/01/2023 - 12:52
    +1

    Only morons donate to idiots like that.

    Why would you not take out travel insurance?

    Its almost like common sense has become uncommon?

    The human gene pool is really becoming tainted……….

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join