Travel insurance? any advice? permanent or 6week?

[hypoman]

hi team,
just wondering what info is out there reagrding travel insurance?
(please place this in the correct section moderators if needed).

What comes to mind is jusat what it actually covers in regards to DSP.
Some time ago a member was staranded abroad with burst eardrum. Her pension was cancelled and I guess she would have lost her return flight. if she had travel insurance this would have helped her but to what extent?

Do you think the insurance would cover lost DSP payments if you couldnt make it back after the 6weeks, and your pension was cancelled? (I know it would be reinstated when you returned if it was under the 13 week limit).

In addition to this what would happen if your injuries left you stranded over the 13weeks limit? You could end up cut off the pension and have to reapply when you finally made it back to oz. would insurance cover this?

This would not be a common scenario but it could happen.

any comments, advice?

[Banjo]

I theory if you had documentation of the illness or injury that prevented you traveling Centrelink would continue your payments.
In practice I'd say (and this is in my experience) they would cut you off then you would have to chase the money when and if you get back.
Make sure that you go to an accredited hospital, I'd say that Centrelink would ignore anything from a local GP.
If you get stuck with no money contact Welfare Rights or even a community lawyer and fax them the paperwork.

I've not bothered with travel insurance for years, considering it a scam, but now I have UP I'll probably take local insurance out, the best offer so far is about $40-50 a month.

I'd imagine any travel insurance that covered income loss would be expensive.
It's easily checked online.

[Deleted]

i looked into travel insurance, & insurance company sez i must return to Australia every 60 days or your policy is canceled.

Is this the norm ... anybody got advice on any good insurances policy's ?

[Banjo]

I think your talking about the "business/long term travel insurance" that costs 400-500 bucks a year.
I've never seen any that lets you stay away for more than a certain time... 60 days?... and there's also an age limit on it as well.

[tablet]

Here are a few links from the Sydney morning herald.
Don't take anything as gospel, but just as a guide.


With insurance, you really have to read the whole policy disclosures.
You will find they make up a lot of excuses to not have to pay you.

I used to only take out the basic policies that covered for medical and evacuation.

Everything else was a rort.
I have never claimed in my life, and am hoping that I won't find out that the medical
section is also a rort when I desperately need it.

Now that I am doing 6 week trips, I've started using a yearly policy.
It's 1COVER MULTI TRIP.
Your quote will differ according to your age, length of trips, pre existing medical
problems, etc.

Links in next post. Having problems. SMH are on to me for taking their acticles.
It's not only News unlimited you hate us.

1960.

[tablet]

SMH links -

www.smh.com.au/travel/the-best-insurance-policies-for-australian-travellers-20131024-2w3on.html

www.smh.com.au/travel/traveller-tips/journey-through-the-fine-print-20130418-2i2cn.html

www.smh.com.au/travel/traveller-tips/never-too-old-to-shop-around-online-20110922-1kmwc.html

www.smh.com.au/travel/traveller-tips/caught-out-of-cover-when-disaster-strikes-20110721-1hqef.html

www.smh.com.au/travel/traveller-tips/if-you-go-theres-no-getting-out-of-jail-free-20110714-1hfmp.html

[Banjo]

The yearly policy seems like the way to go, i had one for a few years but never had to make a claim.
You Have to have ambulance flight back to Australia cut and dried.

As I've reported elsewhere I now have the Thailand public health cover that costs about $75 a year.