I merged your query into this existing topic about Travel Insurance and COVID19 issues. Any answers to your query will be valuable additions to what has already been posted.
That is unfortunately the case because of the complexity of what policies do and do not cover and under what conditions.
Hopefully someone will have found one. FWIW I have discovered that travel policies issued for residents in different countries can be wildly different from other countries and those on offer to us seem pretty ordinary in comparison to some, although better than a few.
Weâre collecting more data on travel insurance covid cover now. Below (if itâs readable), is a table of cover information. Please note this data is still being verified, so there could be errors (my errors), so please donât share it outside the community. Iâm happy to share it here since I know youâll check the PDS before you buy. And if you do spot any errors, please let us know (it will help our verifiers).
Medical cover
Cancellation or amendment expenses
Additional expenses
Brand - Policy (Underwriter)
If diagnosed with Covid -19 on your trip ($)
If diagnosed with COVID-19 ($)â´
If you are deemed a close contact ($)â´
If Smartraveller advice changed to âDo Not Travelâ, after you bought the policy but before you depart
Accommodation / quarantine and travel expenses if you get COVID-19 on your trip ($)â´
1Cover - Comprehensive (Lloyds)
Unlimited
No
No
No
No
1Cover - Essentials (Lloyds)
Unlimited
No
No
No
No
1Cover - Medical (Lloyds)
Unlimited
No
No
No
No
Go Insurance - Go Basic (Lloyds)
Unlimited
5000
5000
No
5000âˇ
Go Insurance - Go Elite (Lloyds)
Unlimited
25000
25000
No
25000âˇ
Go Insurance - Go Plus (Lloyds)
Unlimited
20000
20000
No
20000âˇ
AHM - International Comprehensive (Zurich)
Unlimited
YesÂł
YesÂł
No
Unlimited
AHM - International Medical only (Zurich)
Unlimited
No
No
No
Unlimited
Allianz - Basic (Allianz)
Unlimited
No
No
No
No
Allianz - Comprehensive (Allianz)
Unlimited
YesÂł
No
No
50,000
Cover-More - International Basic (Zurich)
Unlimited
YesÂł
YesÂł
No
Unlimited
Cover-More - International Comprehensive + (Zurich)
Unlimited
YesÂł
YesÂł
No
Unlimited
Cover-More - International Comprehensive/Inbound (Zurich)
Unlimited
YesÂł
YesÂł
No
Unlimited
Fast Cover - Comprehensive (Hollard)
Unlimited
5000
No
No
5000âˇ
Fast Cover - Standard Saver (Hollard)
Unlimited
3000
No
No
3000âˇ
Flight Centre - International Essentials (Zurich)
Unlimited
YesÂł
YesÂł
No
Unlimited
Flight Centre - International Plus (Zurich)
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
No
Unlimited
Gofreely - On-Trip Policy Cover (Zurich)
Unlimited
YesÂł
YesÂł
No
Unlimited
Insure4Less - Essentials (Chase)
Unlimited
No
No
No
No
Insure4Less - Excel (Chase)
Unlimited
No
No
No
No
InsureandGo - Gold (Mitsui Sumitomo)
Unlimited
5000
No
No
5000
InsureandGo - Silver (Mitsui Sumitomo)
Unlimited
2500
No
No
2500
Jetstar - Essentials Plus (AIG)
2.5 Mil
10000âľ
No
No
2100â¸
Medibank - International Comprehensive (Zurich)
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
No
Unlimitedâˇ
Medibank - International Medical only (Zurich)
Unlimited
No
No
No
Unlimited
Qantas - (NIB)
Unlimited
2500
2500âś
No
2500âˇ
RACV - Comprehensive (Tokio Marine)
Unlimited
3500
3500
Yes
Unlimitedâˇ
Travel Insurance Direct - The Works (NIB)
Unlimited
2500
No
Yes
2500âˇ
Tick travel insurance - Standard (Mitsui Sumitomo)
Unlimited
2500
No
No
2500
Tick travel insurance - Top (Mitsui Sumitomo)
Unlimited
2500
No
No
2500
Travel Insurance Saver - Bare Essentials (Pacific International Insurance)
Unlimited²
No
No
No
No
Travel Insurance Saver - Comprehensive (Pacific International Insurance)
Unlimited
2500
2500
No
2500âˇ
Travel Insurance Saver - Essentials (Pacific International Insurance)
Unlimitedš
No
No
No
No
TravelInsuranz - Premier (Chase)
Unlimited
No
No
No
No
TravelInsuranz - Deluxe (Chase)
Unlimited
No
No
No
No
Webjet - International Travel Safe (Zurich)
Unlimited
YesÂł
YesÂł
No
Unlimited
Webjet - International Travel Safe Plus (Zurich)
Unlimited
YesÂł
YesÂł
No
Unlimited
World2Cover - International Single trip plan - Top Cover (Tokio Marine)
Unlimited
3500
3500
Yes
Unlimitedâˇ
Worldcare - Comprehensive (Allianz)
Unlimited
YesÂł
No
No
50,000
Worldcare - Essentials (Allianz)
Unlimited
YesÂł
No
No
50,000
World Nomads - Explorer (NIB)
Unlimited
2500
No
Yes
2500âˇ
1. 500k medical evacuation and repatriation costs
2. 250k medical evacuation and repatrisation costs
3. Cover provided up to amount chosen when you buy the policy
4. Limit combined across cancellation, amendment and additional expenses unless otherwise stated. Dollar limits are double for a family or duo policy
5. Jetstar doesnât cover cancellation if diagnosed with Covid-19 on your trip
6. Qantas doesnât cover cancellation if deemed a close contact before departure
7. Also covers if you are deemed a close contact while on your trip
8. $2,100 per insured person for quaratine. Additional travel costs up to $1,000 to return to Australia.
I re-checked Cover-More and for Cancellation & Amendment only âUp to $5,000 per policy if Amendment and Cancellation Cover is included in your policyâ.
Not - 3. Cover provided up to amount chosen when you buy the policy.
I have looked through most of the policies pretty carefully and have concluded that the Go Insurance (Plus and Elite) are the best in terms of providing decent cover for Cancellation.
I am currently assessing travel insurance policies, some are straightforwardly expensive. But there is far more to consider than just price and package.
So far the worst has been RACT, which is plain weird. The basic, intermediate and comprehensive policies on their website appeared great, clearly stating what is covered. But I needed to ask a question - RACT canât answer any questions as they âare not responsibleâ for the policy which their website is promoting. The website gave no indication of it being anything but an RACT-endorsed product. They are actually denying responsibility for something they are endorsing. It is from Tokio, so possibly the same as on RACV.
The alternative on offer [and available through RACT offices] is from MIB. Their policy âdoes not recognise a motor bike as a vehicleâ. For a vehicle insurance company to support and sell this policy is unbelievable. I would like to know what else a motorbike is, if it is a registered bike being driven by a licensed driver on a legal road. And of course many travellers wish to use one, not only in Indonesia where I plan to go.
It all makes me question RACTâs ethics - a company I have always had faith in, and used extensively.
You may find that is the norm rather than an exception. They âendorseâ, eg sell, the policies, but the underwriter is responsible and is the only company that can usually authoritatively answer policy questions beyond the most obvious on the brochures.
It seems almost every organisation and business is selling insurance and has an online marketplace. It has become ridiculous. As an aside, my experience with RACV has reflected your own in that their âsales agentsâ, which is all they have become, know nothing about much of anything except taking orders and can waste lots of members time or completely ignore anything they cannot or do not wish to reply to. They (RACV âsales agentsâ ) could not even answer a question about batteries they sell! A sign of our time
Oh sure - but RACT also couldnât give me any contact details for Tokio. So an amazing lack of responsibility & care. However, I have finally found a company that does respond, answer questions, provide emergency details, and cover for motorbike. Should be up up and away in 2 months.
From the PDS it indicates this contact is for âgeneral informationâ not âspecific questionsâ but are these not those who can answer policy questions?
For general information You may contact Us or TMMA by: Phone: (02) 8055 1673 Email: ractservice@tmnfatravelinsurance.com.au Mail: GPO Box 4616, SYDNEY NSW 2001.
There are quite a few insurance companies out there, but the 4 I knew of have policies that a inadequate or restrictive. Very bad if RACV staff donât know their own product. It may be a sign of the times, but not one we have to put up with. I am glad I persisted, anyway.
Itâs TravelInsuranz.com.au - I like it bieng Australian, and they responded quickly when I needed to change my travel date. Hoping that as usual, I donât need to find out about reponse to a claim! Excited to be leaving at last.
Domestic travel generally looks very limited in what is covered for Covid and varies by insurer. Despite Covid Normal, itâs different and worse than simply getting the flu while travelling. There are still isolation requirements under health directives for the infected and close contacts. The requirements for the latter vary depending âŚâŚ!
The first point to note is how âcannot recover in any other wayâ is to be interpreted. Does that exclude claims where the provider offers a credit? A credit may seem fair, but itâs not always convenient for another time. It is also possible that the original booking is part of a special deal, and may not be available with the same benefits or extended length of stay in the near future?
A second is a condition of âpre-paymentâ. Itâs not uncommon for domestic bookings to need to pre-pay, however there are no-show or cancellation costs applied if one cannot use the booking?
Noted that there have been prior comments re the policies offered by other Automobile Clubs, under writer
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co Ltd (ABN [80 000 438 291](tel:80 000 438 291) AFSL 246 548) is the issuer of RACQ Travel Insurance.
Depending on oneâs travel and higher probability of either one of a couple catching Covid-19 during an extended domestic trip 3+ weeks, the $3500 limit pp may or may not be adequate, considering the ripple effects on subsequent travel.
Yes, we are all in this together. Although those travelling look to still face added financial burdens or issues when it happens.
Thatâs a good question @mark_m. Travel insurers will require you to do whatever you can to get your money back from providers before claiming. And while a credit is clearly not a sufficient outcome in many circumstances, some travel insurers will still try to push you, or decline your claim because you were offered a credit. If this happens to you, we suggest you push back, raise a complaint with the insurer, and escalate the complaint to AFCA if they donât resolve your situation satisfactorily.
Iâve avoided domestic and international travel because of this! Still have yet to get infected with Covid but if I did, Iâd rather it be in the comfort of my own home versus at some remote location/hotel
