Recommendation : Travel Medical Insurance For Overseas Travels

whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 06:34

I'm trying to pick the OzB Brains Trust (OzBrainGang ?) for recommendations into a decent travel medical insurance cover.

More than a decade ago, I had excellent Travel Medical Insurance coverage via IHI BUPA (Denmark), which was annual product/service, and covered me for unlimited travels globally, for a maximum travel-period of 4-weeks each time.

It also included helicopter evacuation for high-altitude activities, eg. mountain hiking above 4,000m A.S.L., etc., which is also why I chose that insurance product.

During the C19 years, of 2020-2021, that company stopped this insurance product completely.

I know Credit Cards also give travel insurance, and mine do too, but I was looking for specific Travel Medical Insurance, that is good value?

Does anyone have any tips for Travel Medical Insurance ,
for example:
- Frequent Travels (eg. 2-3 overseas trip annually?)
- Medical Evacuations included ?
- Global Coverage ? (excluding USA? )
- Annual Pricing

Travel Insurance Travel Insurance

Comments

EightImmortals on 15/02/2025 - 06:38

We've used TID a few times and never had any problems. Only had to make one claim but that went pretty smoothly.

whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 16:52

When you used TID, did you pay for each time you traveled ?

I am looking for something that covers for the whole year, for multiple travels, without needing to sign up every travel, which I find quite expensive.

EightImmortals on 15/02/2025 - 17:30

Yeah we paid per trip.

whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 18:34

I'm on the TID site now, and it's very interesting, that when choosing a quote for Annual Travel Insurance, the 2 options are:

• Worldwide
• Worldwide (excluding USA and Nepal)

I didn't realize Nepal became an expensive / "risky" destination, but that's good to know now.

A quote for TID's "Annual Multi-Travel Insurance" is AU$ 461

Age: 35
Start: 01 APR 2025 → 31 MAR 2026

Limits, sub-limits & excesses apply … Exclusions apply

Cancellation or holiday deferment costs $2000

Emergency travel arrangements & accommodation expenses Unlimited

Post-hospital accommodation $500

Coronavirus travel costs $2,500

Overseas medical expenses Unlimited ^

Dental expenses due to sudden and acute pain $1,000

Medical evacuation and repatriation Unlimited

Hospital compensation $8,000

Travel delay $2,000

Missed connection – special events $2,000

Resumption of trip $3,000

Emergency accommodation due to terrorism $3,000

Emergency expenses to avoid disaster $1,000

Early return home $2,000

Rental vehicle insurance excess $6,000

Return of rental vehicle $750

Luggage and personal effects $12,000

Hiring replacement golf and surf equipment $200

Emergency luggage $500

Stolen cash $250

Replacement passports and travel documents $3,000

Fraudulent use of credit or debit cards $3,000

Accidental death $25,000

Funeral expenses overseas $25,000

Total permanent disability $12,500

Loss of income $10,000

Personal liability $2,500,000

Limits, sub-limits & excesses apply …	Exclusions apply
Cancellation or holiday deferment costs	$2000
Emergency travel arrangements & accommodation expenses	Unlimited
Post-hospital accommodation	$500
Coronavirus travel costs	$2,500
Overseas medical expenses	Unlimited ^
Dental expenses due to sudden and acute pain	$1,000
Medical evacuation and repatriation	Unlimited
Hospital compensation	$8,000
Travel delay	$2,000
Missed connection – special events	$2,000
Resumption of trip	$3,000
Emergency accommodation due to terrorism	$3,000
Emergency expenses to avoid disaster	$1,000
Early return home	$2,000
Rental vehicle insurance excess	$6,000
Return of rental vehicle	$750
Luggage and personal effects	$12,000
Hiring replacement golf and surf equipment	$200
Emergency luggage	$500
Stolen cash	$250
Replacement passports and travel documents	$3,000
Fraudulent use of credit or debit cards	$3,000
Accidental death	$25,000
Funeral expenses overseas	$25,000
Total permanent disability	$12,500
Loss of income	$10,000
Personal liability	$2,500,000

EightImmortals on 15/02/2025 - 18:37

+1

@whyisave: Price looks reasonable to me?
- whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 21:25
  
  @EightImmortals: I've found TID, BUPA and World2Cover [TokioMarine] to be around the same price range, but they all offer slightly different coverage, so it's tricky to compare them all !
  
  I was trying to avoid companies in AU , because in the past, I found the insurance prices higher here than buying them through overseas company, but with exchange rate now, AU seems more attractive.

Nuclearvodka on 15/02/2025 - 07:58

+1

What credit card do you have?
Amex will cover you as long as you're paying for your trip using the credit card. (so frequent travel is not a problem)
Medical evacuation is based on the quality of medical treatment you'll get in the country you are (so if you need a heart transplant in Nairobi, they might take you somewhere else)
And also the cost (so if you need a heart transplant in Hawaii, you're 100% being evacuated back to Oz)

Most travel insurance cover the same risks, the real difference is the amount covered.

It's up to you to decide how much you want to be covered for.

source: over 10 years in claims and medical emergency repatriation
- whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 17:00
  
  +1
  
  What credit card do you have?
  
  I churn, so I have/had Citi, AMEX, Velocity, St. George, ANZ, etc.
  Currently, it's with Citi, AMEX.
  
  Amex will cover you as long as you're paying for your trip using the credit card. (so frequent travel is not a problem)
  The thing is, I don't always use the AMEX card locally or overseas, and many places, when traveling, does not accept AMEX either.
  I'm not looking for insurances which are conditionally tied to the product/service purchased.
  
  I was looking for "card-agnositc" travel medical insurance, which covers any multiple outside-of-Australia travels,
  eg. in the past I had 3 or 4 overseas trips which were all under 4-weeks, and that BUPA (.DK) insurance that I had always had be covered,
  but I would only need renew it for US$ 150 every year.
  
  Most travel insurance cover the same risks, the real difference is the amount covered.
  
  Really ?
  I thought travel insurance covers the inconveniences around travel, like flight cancellations, hotel cancelling booking, etc.
  I did not know that travel insurance would cover the medical needs, unless they specified it…or maybe I'm too used to thinking travel insurance is only the one that is linked to my Credit Card, because in the past I never needed to take out a separate travel insurance at all (I was covered by that BUPA travel medical insurance)
  
  It's up to you to decide how much you want to be covered for.
  
  Well, not only that. I was seeking advice and suggestions on OzB, for which companies are providing decent travel medical insurances, with reasonable annual price which would suit 2-3 travels a year (excluding the USA, which is always too expensive and if I need to go there ever, I will take out a separate insurance just for that trip).
  
  I found it expensive, when doing quotes, each time there was an overseas travel, and then if you ticked multiple countries for that quote, the insurance price jumped up even more.
  - Nuclearvodka on 15/02/2025 - 21:33
    
    Happy to have a chat if you want.
    I have worked for multiple insurance in Australia (or medical emergency assistance teams, who were doing the assistance for different insurer - including AMEX)
    
    The Himalaya base camp is usually included, and mandatory I believe now to be able to climb.
    
    From the top of my head Insure&Go had decent "extreme" cover.
    Tick is the cheaper version of the same policy.
    
    They both cover medical expenses overseas.
try2bhelpful on 15/02/2025 - 09:27

+1

We just use our Platinum card travel insurance. However, I think the exclusions might not work for you. They tend to exclude a lot of higher risk activities. If you have specific activities in mind maybe look at relevant clubs or equipment shops and see what other people there do there. Best of luck.
- whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 17:01
  
  They tend to exclude a lot of higher risk activities.
  
  Yes, this is the fine-print.
  I was looking for travel medical insurance, which has specific allowance for high-altitude coverage too, eg. above 4000-metres above sea level.
  
  Thanks for the tip for looking at the niche clubs and/or equipment shops, to see if they are more aware of such medical insurances.
  - try2bhelpful on 15/02/2025 - 17:09
    
    +1
    
    No probs. Always best to chat to people who have solved this issue before. Things like hang gliding and even ballooning are excluded from a lot of policies. Boat cruises insist on insurance in case people are medivaced off. I made a point of inquiring if my card provided travel insurance covered me for our boat trip in Norway. It did.
    - whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 17:20
      
      +1
      
      Always best to chat to people who have solved this issue before.
      
      I found this list, with respect to mountain hiking, and it's the kind of thing I was looking for,
      but I just need to narrow something like this down, to an annual cover product.
      
      NB: A tourist must have a proper Travel Insurance which covers medical evacuation on high altitude activities of up to 6000m (20,000ft) above sea level. Recommended List
      
      REDPOINT TRAVEL PROTECTION —Highly recommended
      
      ALLIANZ TRAVEL
      
      BIG CAT
      
      SPORTS COVER DIRECT
      
      JS TRAVEL INSURANCE
      
      GJENSIDIGE
      
      LV INSURANCE
      
      CAMPBELL IRVINE
      
      GOUDA
      
      FASTCOVER INSURANCE
      
      TRYG FORSIKRING DK
      
      LAERESTANDENS BRANDFORSIKRING
      
      IF EUROPEISKE REISEFORSIKRING
      
      ADAC VERSICHERUNG AG
      
      HELSANA 16.ANWB
      
      FASTCOVER INSURANCE
      
      TRAVEL COVER
      
      TRUE TRAVELLER
      
      LIVA INSURANCE
      
      TRAVELEX
      
      BALCIA INSURANCE
      
      GEO BLUE
      
      DISCOVERY
      
      MALAYAN INSURANCE 26.ASC360 (India)
      
      BRYTE TRAVEL INSURANCE
      - try2bhelpful on 15/02/2025 - 17:28
        
        @whyisave: Sounds like clubs, equipment stores and websites. I wish you well but I’m sorry I can’t help. The highest I’ve been is the peaks at Zermatt and I felt sick just walking around up there.
        
        whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 17:43
        
        @try2bhelpful:
        
        the peaks at Zermatt and I felt sick just walking around up there.
        
        I had to look up where/what Zermatt was, as I wasn't familiar with that name (or the area, as it's expensive! ).
        
        Besides, the elevation there is only about 1,200m too, so that's not even half of Kosciuszko !
        
        try2bhelpful on 16/02/2025 - 00:24
        
        +1
        
        @whyisave: It was the peaks above Zermatt.
        “The heights of some peaks in Zermatt, Switzerland range from 3,089 meters to 4,634 meters”
        
        It isn’t cheap, nothing in Switzerland is, but it is absolutely magnificent. You can get a two day transport pass that lets you traverse a lot of the terrain.
        
        https://www.gornergrat.ch/en/products/peak-pass
        
        whyisave on 16/02/2025 - 00:39
        
        @try2bhelpful:
        
        It was the peaks above Zermatt.
        Ah,…the town area is 1,000+ metres above sea level.
        
        “The heights of some peaks in Zermatt, Switzerland range from 3,089 meters to 4,634 meters”
        
        Well, if you're already at 3,000 metres ASL , you are going to start feeling the symptoms of high altitude.
        I don't like that feeling at all, and so I can totally relate to you.
        
        try2bhelpful on 16/02/2025 - 00:47
        
        +1
        
        @whyisave: I felt very lethargic and physically sick. I suspect the life of a Sherpa is off the table. There was an external viewing platform that gives a great view of the Matterhorn. Magnificent.
        
        https://www.matterhornparadise.ch/en/experience/peaks/matter…
        
        We’ve done a bit of travel in Switzerland, including a few of the scenic trains, but that was the first time we went up one of the really steep mountains. The Swiss pass brings the cost of train rides down considerably. Creating meals from stuff you buy at Supermarkets helps as well. The Swiss also believe in good hiking trails. Although they are now discouraging nude hiking.
        
        whyisave on 16/02/2025 - 01:59
        
        +1
        
        @try2bhelpful:
        
        I felt very lethargic and physically sick.
        
        I know that feeling. Errrr….
        
        I suspect the life of a Sherpa is off the table.
        
        The Sherpas have very different blood chemistry, which biologically helps them at those altitudes.
        Many people who live in high-altitude regions, eg. Kenya or Peru, have a biological advantage, with their blood chemistry carrying more oxygen within the body.
        
        European marathon runners go to Kenya, just to train at high altitude.
Benoffie on 15/02/2025 - 09:27

+1

Haven't looked into this policy but RAA were using them for a bit (think they just switched to Allianz?). Anyway, during my OS injury and claim last year they were very easy to deal with (even via RAA).

https://www.tokiomarine.com.au/products-services/personal-tr…
- whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 17:08
  
  Thanks for your link.
  
  I just saw your 'TokioMarine' link mentioned here
  → https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/hiking-trekking-t…
  
  This is an old (circa 2018) but still a most useful guide I found, for high-altitude activities.
  A few recommendations are out of date, but most are still relevant.
  - Benoffie on 15/02/2025 - 17:55
    
    +1
    
    Mine wasn't anything as fancy or as complex as hiking but I was travelling throughout Asia and it included a cruise. It was on an excursion in Indonesia that I was injured and treated on the ship. It took 2 weeks to get back to Australia (nothing to do with insurance just bad medical advice) but the bills were extortionate (and in USD and with an EU company).
    
    They accepted immediately, and it was settled in maybe a week? Ridiculously easy.
    - whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 21:22
      
      Did you need to pay excess for your Medical Insurance claim ?
      
      Also, did that increase your premium or renewal fee afterwards ?
      ( I am presuming you took an annual travel insurance )
      - Benoffie on 15/02/2025 - 21:53
        
        +1
        
        @whyisave: No only trip insurance as I was only gone a few months so no excess etc.
Protractor on 15/02/2025 - 09:40

+5

What a breath of fresh air. Somebody planning ahead, and it's insurance as well.
100+
- try2bhelpful on 15/02/2025 - 09:51
  
  +1
  
  Saves on the mspaint diagram afterwards.
  - Protractor on 15/02/2025 - 09:59
    
    +2
    
    And the usual crowd funding for munted Bintang gargling bogans welding themselves to road surfaces
    - try2bhelpful on 15/02/2025 - 10:05
      
      If you can’t afford the insurance you can’t afford to travel.
      - Protractor on 15/02/2025 - 10:22
        
        @try2bhelpful: Amen
      - whyisave on 15/02/2025 - 17:11
        
        -1
        
        @try2bhelpful:
        
        If you can’t afford the insurance you can’t afford to travel.
        
        Can that analogy be applied to:
        
        If you can't afford an anti-virus, you should not use the Internet ?
        
        try2bhelpful on 15/02/2025 - 17:24
        
        +1
        
        @whyisave: In my case I do have the antivirus software. However, you can rebuild your computer from factory default mode if necessary. You trash your body and it may not be so possible, especially if you don’t get timely medical intervention to begin with. Also the costs you rack up can be eye watering especially if you are medivaced out or are in the USA. I never travel without unlimited medical cover.
        
        Nuclearvodka on 15/02/2025 - 21:43
        
        +2
        
        @whyisave: Medical bills overseas can bankrupt you, literally.
whyisave on 16/02/2025 - 00:36

After some quick researching, I found:

• SquareMouth | https://www.squaremouth.com/
Nice U.S.-centric search tool, to compare and choose travel insurances.

• IMG | https://www.imglobal.com/travel-insurance
Reasonable quotes for travel medical insurance, with generous medical evacuation cover costs.
Being U.S.-based, I could get some favourable conditions part of the plans,
and when comparing the insurance policies they have, you can see all the various inclusions / exclusions:
→ https://www.imglobal.com/img-insurance-plans?sort=popularity…

Recommendation : Travel Medical Insurance For Overseas Travels

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