PEACE OF MIND
Travel insurance is a pretty unexciting part of booking a trip but one I feel quite passionately about being an ex travel consultant. I have had many clients have things go wrong on trips ie illness prior to travel, during travel, luggage stolen etc etc. We all hope this won’t happen but travel insurance is piece of mind if it does. If you are travelling to the USA travel insurance shouldn’t even be optional. The cost of hospitalization over there is just beyond belief. If you are travelling to third world countries where facilities are not as good many travel insurance policies include evacuation in their cover. This means if you are ill and they deem it necessary they will organize for you to return to Australia for treatment.
I have always used Cover-More insurance (we were encouraged to try to use another company on our first trip to the USA and due to our son requiring pre existing cover for Cerebral Palsy the cost of the policy went through the roof!) So it was back to trusty Cover-More. Should have known better!
If in doubt of what is a pre existing condition phone the insurance company directly. It is better to ensure you are covered for everything rather than to try and claim if need be and find out you are not covered.
We have insured our son’s wheelchair when we travelled and although it adds to the policy a wheelchair is an expensive piece of equipment and the airlines really say ‘all care no responsibility’.
If you are planning more than one trip in a year, even domestically, look into an annual policy. We took out an annual policy even though we were only doing 2 trips as it worked out cheaper and it saved all the paper work for the insurance cover a second time.
Many credit cards offer travel insurance so check with them too but make sure they will cover any pre existing conditions. Once again shop around and do your homework.
To find out more about Cover-More Travel Insurance head to their website www.covermore.com.au
Hi Julie,
How did you get your son’s chair covered? My boyfriend and I are looking into insurance for a trip to the US, but Cover-More won’t cover over $5000 and his chair is worth a fair bit more than that.
Thanks!!!
Hi Olivia,
My understanding is there is a limit as to how much you can insure any piece of equipment. If your wheelchair is damaged by an airline the airline will be responsible for the damage. We cover BJ’s wheelchair for the maximum but his manual chair isn’t as expensive as a power chair if that is what you are covering. I hope that helps in some way. Julie
Probably too late for this situation but in case of others … try http://www.bluebadgeinsurance.com.au/.
They’re insurance for mobility equipment rather than travel
Thanks Dennis. We love Blue Badge Insurance and the services they offer.
Julie
I am travelling to Canada and USA from Australia and I have done the online assessment. Unfortunately Cover more will not insure my pre existing condition so I am looking for another company. Currently Insure and Go is the one we may have to chose but the premium is over $800