What Doesn’t it Cover?
Let’s face it, travel insurance can’t cover everything! Just like waiting periods with your health insurance, or drink-driving exclusions with your car insurance, similar conditions apply to your travel protection. Here’s a few things to be aware of that might not be covered.
Pre-existing illnesses: Some medical conditions that exist before you travel may not be covered. If you’ve recently been in hospital, have planned surgery, or suffering from a serious illness where overseas treatment is likely, you may find getting cover is tricker than usual. That’s not to say if you do have a pre-existing condition you can’t get cover at all, you may just need to have your condition assessed before cover can be granted. If cover is declined, in most cases, you can still buy a policy that would cover you for all other benefits, and for any unrelated illness or injury (just not your known pre-existing).
Being reckless: We know that travel is all about new and exciting experiences, but if you deliberately put your life in danger (like jumping off a high cliff into the sea) you wouldn’t be covered. Injuries or loss when alcohol or drugs have been involved may not be covered either. Not too many piña coladas now!
High-risk activities: Hey there adrenaline junkie! Many high-risk activities and extreme sports (e.g. American football, boxing, skydiving, competitive cycling, rock climbing, polo and motorsports) are not covered. Always check whether your planned activities are before you go jumping out of a plane (for example.)
Travel supplier default: Does your tour operator sound a bit dodgy ? Travel insurance does not always cover for insolvency of travel agents, tour wholesalers, tour operators or booking agents. Make sure you’re confident in the operator making your travel arrangements.
Known events: Just like you can’t buy car insurance after you’ve had a car accident, you are unable to buy travel insurance to cover an event that has already happened. For example, if news of a hurricane has already been spread all over the media and it prompts you to buy cover, it’s already too late. You can of course still purchase, it’s just that that particular known event is likely to be excluded from your cover.
And more… We haven’t detailed all travel insurance exclusions here. Just the ones that tend to pop up. It’s vital that you read your chosen insurer’s Product Disclosure Statement before you purchase to understand the exclusions that apply to your cover. ()