ENSURE YOU’RE INSURED
Although we hope you’ll never need it, having a comprehensive travel insurance policy is always highly recommended. No international travel is ever entirely without risk, and even the best laid plans can go awry.
Whilst we cannot recommend the right policy for you (as only you know you and what you need), below we have provided links to sites and articles that may help you navigate your way through the choices available:
What you need to look for when selecting coverage for your trip
Most insurance companies will cover the basics such lost luggage or flight cancellations, but levels of medical cover vary from policy to policy, and the cover for global issues, such as pandemics, has changed significantly over the past few years. This excellent article, Travel Insurance Simplified, published on 07 April 2022, details what you need to look for when selecting coverage for your next trip. Smartraveller also publishes helpful advice on Travel Insurance.
At what point in the booking process should I purchase travel insurance?
It is advisable to obtain comprehensive travel insurance at the time of confirmation/paying a deposit to ensure you are covered from the moment you book.
The impact of DFAT travel advice on insurance
Some insurance will not cover travel to countries where the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) is warning Australians to “Reconsider your need to travel” (Level 3) and most don’t cover travel to places with a “Do not travel” warning (Level 4). Most international travel insurance covers visits to Level 2 countries. DFAT travel advisories can change over time and this may affect your travel insurance coverage. You should always check the advice levels on the Smartraveller website.
How much does travel insurance cost?
Costs will vary depending on your age, destination, duration of your journey, preferred excess, cancellation cover, and if you have any pre-existing medical conditions. It is important to note that the inclusions with each policy are different so price is not the only factor you should consider when choosing travel insurance – cheaper policies often don’t provide the cover you might expect. You should read the small print carefully before purchasing any travel insurance policy to ensure it is suitable for your needs.
Credit Card Travel Insurance
Many premium credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance. If you elect to only be covered by your credit card travel insurance it is paramount that you understand the terms and conditions, policy availability subject to your age, trip duration and destination, item limits, sub-limits and exclusions that may apply. It is also worth noting that many credit card travel insurance policies automatically exclude cover for epidemics and pandemics and may not cover charter flights.
Australia’s reciprocal health care agreements
If you’re travelling to one of the 11 countries for which Australia has reciprocal health care agreements, you may also be able to access free health care at your destination under these arrangements. The exact benefits available to Australians in each partner country vary. At a minimum, you can generally access emergency medical and hospital care in any of these 11 countries by simply showing your valid Australian Medicare card.
Even if you’re travelling to a country that has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, it’s still a very good idea to get travel insurance as these care agreements can be quite limited. Travel insurance will also cover you for everything else besides your health, such as delays or cancellations.
What we offer
The Classic Safari Company is currently associated with the following travel insurance providers :
Each of the above insurers has varying strengths depending on the activities included in the trip you are undertaking. Their websites are easy to navigate and once you have entered your personal details and selected your preferences – be that to reduce your excess, include cover for cruising, increase your cover for cancellation or obtain cover for a pre-existing medical condition – the website will generate a quote. If you are satisfied with what is presented, you simply need to follow the steps to purchase your insurance policy online. As there are so many options and levels of cover that can be tailored to meet your individual needs, we do encourage you to contact your chosen insurer directly, or click the links above, to select a policy that is right for you.
The information above is subject to change at any time. Please always read the travel insurers’ relevant Product Disclosure Statements and refer to the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade’s (DFAT) Smartraveller website for up to date travel advice and their advice on Travel Insurance.
Whichever insurer you choose please provide us with a copy of your chosen policy, insurance certificate and all emergency contact details for our records.
FURTHER READING & USEFUL LINKS