A heads up for free travel insurance.

[raff]

Ok, I wasn't sure if this was common knowledge or not so I figured I would post it up anyways.

If you happen to have a Visa Debit Card (mine is with the NAB but I think it's the same no matter who you're with) then you get free travel insurance. However there are a few lil caveats to that (of course) To activate your insurance you need to actually pay for Flights or Accomodation using your card number (using Bpay doesn't activate it). You also need to have paid a minimum of $500 for it to kick in. Now I usually don't purchase a return ticket when I leave to give me a little more flexibility but if it will give me free travel insurance then I will pay for a return or possibly some accomodation etc for when I arrive.

Anyways take a read of the following link, it gives a decent rundown.

www.nab.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/c3b662804709e97bb3e4b7116fb0d9d4/NAB-Card-Insurance.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=c3b662804709e97bb3e4b7116fb0d9d4

[howdo]

Thats interesting raff as I don't believe there was any mention of that in the literature when applying for that card. Cant get in to that link for some reason, but will try again later.

[baranghope]

The NAB Gold debit card ain't their standard one: $10 buck service fee per month, and you probably have to have a big balance.

debitcard.com.au/nab-visa-debit-gold

Medibank is the cheapest and only way to go for travel insurance.

Medical evacuation is the main thing though, and the Americans can cover just that and nothing else. Makes sense, but Aussies cannot access it.

[zorro1]

I used my visa when I was travelling for Biz and thought I was covered and found out that the wording was a bit misleading.

The 'cover" was only for aircraft and fluggage plus travel to the airport (departure only). That made sense because nobody gives you something for nothing and the chance of an plane crash is close to zero

just check the small print

[baranghope]

Each air carrier and airport have their own public liability. $250k minimum payout in Oz for plane crash demise. But as soon as you are up in the air with say China Eastern or AirAsia, your life is worthless. You have to get what is called "Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance" for your relatives, otherwise they will get a pittance from the comprehensive travel policies.

[Banjo]

After my last three claims were denied I've given up on it.
Centrelink have reduced my capital and increased my expenses to a point where I can only save for fares now, no frills like insurance.
I suppose if I died uninsured in some third world hospital they would consider it a victory.

[baranghope]

I have so many pre-existing medical conditions (5) that to cover them I was quoted $5k. And if you have an "accident" most of them are not covered . . . for example if your motodop has no licence (who has say in Cambodia?). You could get a dirt basic for over 60s from Medibank ($180 for 13 weeks) about $350 for a year. Maimed on a tour line bus your only hope there. In Koh Chang I used to just watch the young newbies slaughter themselves on motorbikes everyday. No insurance. "Mummy," they would cry for, and if Mummy was a bogan then Today Tonight got the call. "Send a turnip round the world, it comes back a turnip," a good Scottish saying.