Top travel insurance tips

Book your travel insurance as soon as you've booked your trip - this is common sense right?

Unfortunately arranging travel insurance is something a lot of people do just a few days before they leave.  Worse still, some don't get it done before they leave the country.  Did you know that once you've left NZ it's too late to get yourself covered?

A good travel insurance policy will reimburse your flights and accommodation if you can't travel due to family illness or an unexpected death, or if you are unwell.  Alternatively it will cover the costs to re-schedule.  In addition it will cover you for lost items or luggage and most importantly your medical costs if you get sick or have an accident while you are away.  There have recently been some articles in the media about costly insurance snags.

Travel insurance isn't expensive - especially in the grand scheme of things if something does go wrong when you are overseas.   The cost for travel insurance depends on your age and your destination, for example a policy covering your while you are in Australia will cost a lot less than a policy if you are travelling to America.

Top tips for travel insurance

• Arrange your policy as soon as you've booked your trip (you can do this online with us)
• Always disclose any pre-existing conditions.   This way you will know what's covered and what's not
• Read the fine print
• If you are a frequent traveller consider taking an annual travel policy - this will cover you for 12 months and it's a really cost effective option - plus you don't have to remember to organise a travel policy each time you travel
• Keep a copy of your passport details handy (a picture on your phone is an easy option)
• Keep your driver's licence and passport seperated; this way if you lose one or it's stolen you still have a form of photo ID
• MOST IMPORTANT:  if circumstances change before your travel date contact your insurer to check if your policy will still cover you before you leave

Example A

You are travelling in two weeks but your elderly parent is sick and may pass away while you are on holiday you most likely won't be covered for changes to your flights / accommodation if you need to come home early to look after them or for a funeral.

The key with this example is that your parent wasn't sick when you took out the policy but if they are unwell before you travel then it is something that you know about.

If your parent was healthy when you left the country and had a sudden issue while you were away then your policy would provide cover.

Example B:

You are fit and healthy when you take out your policy but two weeks before you go away you suffer from an unexplained fainting episode.  If you decide to travel (and don't advise your insurer) and you have a similar episode while on holiday you may not be covered, likewise if you suffer a more serious event that is linked to the fainting episode you might not be covered.

In this scenario if you still want to travel, and are medically cleared to travel, contact your insurer to check if they will still provide cover for you.