Encountering the unexpected is often one of the best parts about traveling – finding that great little hotel, discovering a lively street celebration, experiencing new adventures. It’s when you encounter the unexpected that is painful, costly, or dangerous that you will find your travel insurance most useful.

Q. Can I get Travel Insurance with a pre-existing condition?

Having a pre-existing medical condition can make dealing with insurance companies difficult. Be it diabetes or a heart condition or countless other ailments, these illnesses have a high risk that the insurance company is going to have to pay. The travel insurance company will want to know about it before they give you a policy. Most companies will not cover hospitalisation or medical care that stems from a pre-existing condition. Travel insurance is designed to cover claims that are specific of your trip and would not have happened if you had stayed home. You can still get coverage for accidents and injuries that can occur on your trip, even if you have a pre-existing medical condition.

It's important to disclose any pre-existing information to the insurance company. Failing to do so could result in your claim being unpaid when you need it most, resulting in high medical costs for you or your family.

Q. How do I find out about Government warnings on travel destinations?

Visit www.smartraveller.gov.au - this site is kept up to date on any travel warnings.

Q. How far ahead can I buy travel insurance?

We recommend you take out travel insurance as soon as you have paid for your trip (or put down a deposit). That way you can be covered for loss of deposits or payments for unused travel and accommodation in the event that you must cancel your trip due to a covered event (for example, if you are too ill to travel).

Q. What countries that I travel to are covered by the policy?

Most insurance policies provides cover for travel to countries that are deemed safe to travel to by a government’s department of foreign affairs. Each policy has exclusions relating to travel advice, war, terrorism, civil unrest and weather, where the event is known about (where the advice is provided by either a government’s department of foreign affairs or from within the mass media) prior to the policy purchase. Please refer to the specific policy wording for more details.

Q. What if I'm pregnant?

You'll find that both airlines and insurance companies impose restrictions on expectant mothers. For example with Qantas, 'international travel is not permitted after the 36th week for routine pregnancies or the 32nd week for routine multiple pregnancies'. See: www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/beforeYouTravel/specialNeeds/medicalAssistance
Most insurers will cover a pregnant woman for up to 28 weeks into the pregnancy, but cover varies.

* Check with the airline you intend to travel with that you are able to travel before you book your ticket
* Make sure you have purchased adequate cover. Also ensure you are below any limit on the number of weeks pregnant you can be for cover to be valid.


Q. What if my luggage is stolen whilst I am overseas?

Within 24 hours of becoming aware of the loss, you should notify the police or the responsible officer in the aircraft, vessel, train or motor coach you are travelling in or in the hotel in which you are staying and then send in their written report of the incident when you make the claim.

Q. What is an Excess?

If an excess applies to a claim it means that you need to pay the stated amount towards the claim. For example, if you have a covered claim for $500 and an excess of $100 applies to the cover you are claiming under, you will only receive $400 in settlement of the claim. Excesses only apply to certain sections of policies, as set out in the relevant Policy Disclosure Document.

Q. What's the difference between Overseas Medical Expenses and Hospital Cash Allowance?

Overseas Medical Expenses provides cover for the cost of your treatment in respect of emergency medical, surgical and hospital treatment, doctor's fees and transportation fees for sending you to hospital whilst outside your Country of Residence. The Hospital Cash Benefit is a daily allowance towards your personal expenses (for example calls home) in the event that you are hospitalised during your trip.

Q. When does my insurance cover begin?

Your cover commences once you depart on your journey. We do cover cancellation of pre-paid travel due to a range of defined events, such as family illness and severe weather, from the date of issue of your policy.

Q. When is the best time to purchase Travel Insurance?

The best time to purchase your policy is immediately after paying your initial deposits for your trip. This provides you with the maximum coverage period for cancellation.

Qi Should I buy insurance from the cruise line or an independent company?

One of the ways cruise operators make additional money is by selling their own insurance policies. Unfortunately, their coverage won’t apply to airline tickets, tour operators, or side excursions – it only covers the cruise. Plus, if you have to make a claim, you may be reimbursed with non transferable credits that have to be used on the same cruise line within a certain period of time.