One of the most important things you need to consider before a trip is the best Travel Insurance for your destination and circumstances. If the last 2 years is anything to go by, life can be unpredictable and uncertain. Travel Insurance is often categorized as being too expensive or not worth the money, but there is a  saying “If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel”. This couldn’t be more true, that $200 policy might be what stands between you and tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills. There are hundreds of travel insurance companies these days, Budget Direct, Allianz, Covermore Travel Insurance just to name a few,  so how do you find the best travel insurance policy for you? This is a complete guide to finding the best travel insurance.

We are extremely lucky here in Australia in regards to our health care; we can see a doctor, go to the hospital; and receive medical treatment with next to no costs (depending on the diagnosis). Other countries are not as lucky or well set up as we are; so you need to take precautions to protect yourself medically.

For example, if you get sick, break a leg or hurt yourself in America; and you end up in a Hospital they will NOT even look at you; if you do not have travel insurance; or can pay them a hefty cash deposit. We are talking thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars of hard-earned money. It is not worth the risk; we can’t afford to be paying off a hospital debt for the rest of our lives; that is why we would NEVER go without a current travel insurance policy.

The things you need to consider when looking for the best travel insurance policy

Individual trip policies

If your plan is to only do one trip in the year; you might be better off doing an insurance policy just designated for that trip. The price varies on where you are going, for how long and what you will be doing.

 Annual Travel Insurance Policy

Our personal preference is to take out an annual policy each year; choosing the worldwide option as the travel destination these are the reasons why

– The annual policy will usually save you money in the long run; if you are a frequent traveller and do more than 2 trips a year

– The policy is valid from the day it is taken out; which means for example in the case of this COVID19 outbreak; the policy you have taken out in say June last year covers you for complete cancellation and changes.

– If you were to take that policy out at any stage from the start of this year 2020; then most insurance companies would not cover you as it is a known virus. They will usually have a cut off date, and if the policy was purchased before that date then you are covered; if it was purchased after that date you would not be covered totally.

– Its peace of mind knowing it is there to fall back on if needed

 Taking out an annual policy

 – Most annual policies will have a 30 day travel period; this means your trip must not exceed  30 days or you will NOT be covered for any time after that

– We learnt this one the hard way as our trips started getting longer and longer; from 30 days to 35 days then our last one that was planned was 48 days

– One of the frustrating things with the annual policy is that you can’t change this once it is issued; you cannot extend the number of days. You will have to purchase a new policy

– Covermore Travel Insurance offer 30,45 or 60-day policies which are great for those longer trips.

– There are many insurance companies; who don’t offer any more than 30 days so make sure you do your research.

– The key is to do your research and not just go for the first policy or the cheapest policy

When doing your quote

–  Like your car insurance, you will need to choose a level of cover. There are usually two options of Basic Cover or Comprehensive cover. The basic cover is the bare minimum, which could cost you more in the long run. The Comprehensive cover usually has a lot more inclusions but the main one you should be focused on is Unlimited medical and dental!

–  You will also be given the option to up your cancellation cover and add in any extras you may be doing on a trip EG Snowboarding, Cruises, and extreme sports. The policies DO NOT automatically cover you for these extreme activities or cruising for more than 2 days.

–  See if the policy covers you; for your expensive equipment, you might be taking with you EG Camera’s, Laptops jewellery if you’re taking it with you. They might have an option to add it

– You need to tell them every country you are going to and the duration you are spending in each country

– Ensure you declare any pre-existing medical conditions you may have

– You will be given the option to choose your excess, this varies with most companies. The excess is the amount of money you will have to pay for each claimable event. Covermore Travel Insurance offers an excess of either $0,$100 or $250. The lower your excess is the more your travel insurance premium will be initially, but it will be cheaper if you have to make a claim. catch 22.

Declare everything 

– Check the T’s & Cs PLEASE PLEASE read the fine print.

– Ensure the policy covers to bring you home if needed

– Make sure the company has a 24 hour helpline

– Ensure ALL of your  information is correct, do not try and dodgy it as it will backfire on you

– Your Travel Insurance policy will NOT cover you if you travel to a country that is on the Smart Traveller Do not travel list. Always ensure you check this before you book/leave on your trip.

Covid-19 Cover

Unfortunately, this pandemic is going to be around for a long time, we will all just have to learn to live with it. However don’t take any chances with your Travel Insurance, there are companies now in which have a Covid-19 inclusion or add on to their travel insurance policies. Covermore Travel Insurance from 9 December 2020 onwards, if you buy a new policy international and domestic plans, you will get cover for a few COVID-19 travel insurance benefits. Such as medical costs if you fall Ill with Covid-19, Some covid related cancellation costs (not for border or international border closures) and additional expenses.

To put it simply the $200-$300 you have to pay out for insurance; is for the peace of mind that you are covered for the unforeseen happens you can get help. We cannot stress enough the importance of travel insurance when going anyway. The best thing you can hope for is that you don’t ever need to use it, but that one time you do you will be covered.

Please keep in mind we are not giving you personal advice on travel insurance; we are simply explaining the benefits and risks of travelling without it. We do not take any responsibility for what policy or provider you use, and you must check with them for the most up to date and current information for your situation. Check out the Travel planning page for more useful guides to help you in your travel adventure.