Travel Insurance Comparison

The most important aspect when you’re making a travel insurance price comparison should not be finding a discount price. The most important aspect is, do you receive adequate, twenty-four-hour protection and do you receive fast and fair claim settlement. With your travel insurance comparison, price should really only be the second most important aspect. If you’re ever in need of help, you’ll soon know what we’re talking about.

Most important - know exactly what you’re getting. All companies should have the full details of their policies easily available for you to read online, to download or post out on request.

Many policies have qualification or exclusions, for example, iTrek state clearly that with dental cover we only cover for damage to sound, natural teeth that has been caused through an accident and not, say, through naturally occurring tooth decay.

Pre-existing medical conditions can be another one. Most companies will give you an answer outright, and probably provide you with qualified cover, if you tell them when you’re getting your quote. If you travel without letting them know then you would most likely end up footing the total bill – ouch!

Sports, particularly extreme sports, are another great example. Most sports are covered, but some that are considered too extreme may not be. Best to compare travel insurance for what activities are covered, and what activities they won’t touch. Too late to find out later.

There are other considerations such as personal property. Will the insurer pay for a laptop if it’s stolen from your hire car? Do claims carry an excess? Is your luggage covered?

Then you need to compare how long you’re travelling for and how often you travel. Would you be better off comparing single trip policies or should you make an annual travel insurance comparison. 

Another point when you compare travel insurance – Australia is one of the only countries where every other country is ‘overseas’. This makes it even more important to have the best repatriation and evacuation cover in place and to know which emergency assistance group is supporting your policy.

So, when you’re looking for travel insurance – compare prices, know what the different policies actually offer you, know who is providing emergency support. Hey, the policy might be the cheapest travel insurance available but the level of protection might be equally low and then you really have to think about your priorities.

Feeling bamboozled yet? We hope not. Hopefully these suggestions have made it way easier to make your travel insurance comparison.

Going into a country or area strictly classified by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as a no go, or high-risk, zone will cancel out pretty well all travel insurance cover. Check a country’s status before travelling. If you’re wandering about, chances are you can still get access to the Internet via Internet cafés or libraries so go online and check the current stats at http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/