Travel Insurance

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jacli

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#106303 21-Jul-2012 15:20

I will be going to Japan for a few months and have done some searching around for travel insurance.
1Cover definitely seems to be the cheapest, but I was also wondering whether any of you guys have any experience with them?

I also found out my bank can provide travel insurance, but I have to call them for a quote, and I'm sure it won't be cheaper than 1Cover.

One other thing I'm wondering about is should I get the travel insurance asap? And does it matter whether I purchase it before or after my flights?

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#659581 21-Jul-2012 15:54

If you have a credit card that offers travel insurance (or that can be upgraded to this) you may find this is all you need. Check with your bank.
The free cover offered by some credit card companies kicks in as soon as you buy your tickets with it.

itxtme

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#659594 21-Jul-2012 16:48

jacli: I will be going to Japan for a few months and have done some searching around for travel insurance.
1Cover definitely seems to be the cheapest, but I was also wondering whether any of you guys have any experience with them?

I also found out my bank can provide travel insurance, but I have to call them for a quote, and I'm sure it won't be cheaper than 1Cover.

One other thing I'm wondering about is should I get the travel insurance asap? And does it matter whether I purchase it before or after my flights?

Check what is and is not included with one cover. It depends where you go as to the cover required and also what you plan to do. You dont want any suprises if you were to say fall off of a scooter.

Also YES get it NOW! If something happens in the country you have booked for they may not cover you for the trip. A prime example of this happened to us last year during the Thailand floods, insurance companies wouldnt cover anyone (for flood related claims) who booked their insurance after it was clear floods were a problem irrespective of when you booked flights hotels etc.

scuwp

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#659602 21-Jul-2012 17:03

1. Get it ASAP

2. Make sure you read ALL conditions of the insurance. Don't just compare price as you may not be comparing apples with apples

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

freitasm

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#659627 21-Jul-2012 17:22

Elpie: If you have a credit card that offers travel insurance (or that can be upgraded to this) you may find this is all you need. Check with your bank.
The free cover offered by some credit card companies kicks in as soon as you buy your tickets with it.

Some cards require you to buy your tickets and pay for accommodation before you are covered.

I always used State Insurance, and bought online. And got FlyBuys directly into my Air NZ account with that ;)

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McNulty

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#659629 21-Jul-2012 17:33

On a different but related point, I recently learned that my travel insurance will cover me for any car-hire while I am travelling. Which means I won't need to take the expensive insurance option which sometimes doubles the price of car rental

If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got!

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#659632 21-Jul-2012 17:36

You want to get the insurance ASAP so you're covered from the minute you pay for your tickets.

Don't just compare price, no two policies are the same.

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#659641 21-Jul-2012 18:04

2 other options to look at -
State insurance has a 15% discount if you use an Ezycoupon voucher code RSDB2012 - valid till 306/13
If you already have medical insurance with Southern Cross, they offer a member discount as well as one for getting it online

Had a incident a few years ago with a Hertz rental car in England. Hertz weren't interested that the other party was at fault - just wanted their excess paying. I claimed it off my travel travel insuranec, but had to pay their excess.

Have fun in Japan.

jacli

32 posts

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#659698 21-Jul-2012 20:39

Thanks for the replies guys.

It seems like 1Cover has a really bad policy for lost/stolen luggage, because they decide and charge the amount of depreciation.
I will look into the policies of my bank, State, and Tower.
Thanks again

mckenndk

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#659703 21-Jul-2012 21:24

I used southern cross travel insurance on my last trip to Europe.

They covered my Galaxy S II I lost over there and cover skiing and a number of pre existing conditions as well.

Get it ASAP as I was waisting time getting quotes from travel companys due to needing cover for expensive hearing aids and due to the time I bought it I missed out on being able to claim for my lost flights and accommidation from my side trip to Bangkok that was canned due to the flooding at the time.

Dion

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#659741 21-Jul-2012 23:20

My vote will be for Southern Cross

rayonline

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#660035 22-Jul-2012 19:49

I agree check the conditions etc.

Credit cards tend to have more conditions and maybe higher excess charge. Also depending on the price of the tickets, BNZ for eg .. sets a min price for the tickets, if they were super cheap insurance may not be activated. Also check if the credit card is able to insure you for the 3 months period.

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#660040 22-Jul-2012 20:14

Reading the small print of all those policies is painful and time consuming. Southern Cross have a small print condition that you must access a public service where one is available. Probably not a decider for Japan - unless you are doing side trips elsewhere. In some places you might get less medical service from a public system in comparison to NZ.

jacli

32 posts

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#660332 23-Jul-2012 12:38

Thanks for all the replies guys. It seems Southern Cross has one of the better policies, and its a plus that they're a non-profit organisation.

I don't currently have health insurance with them, and I feel kind of bad for considering this, but is there any reason why I shouldn't join a cheaper plan with them to get the 15% member's discount for my travel insurance?

Gordy7

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#660342 23-Jul-2012 12:54

I assumed my credit card would cover me for all travel.

Bought some Air NZ tickets for travel in 3 weeks in NZ and waived the insurance.

Discovered afterwards that my credit card only covers international travel.

Can't buy travel insurance now... risk is pretty low.... except with the 'flu getting around...

Cheers

Gordy

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berrys

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#660343 23-Jul-2012 12:55

McNulty: On a different but related point, I recently learned that my travel insurance will cover me for any car-hire while I am travelling. Which means I won't need to take the expensive insurance option which sometimes doubles the price of car rental

I get insurance for car hire too with travel insurance, provided that the car company don't offer it. If they do offer it (which they always do), the car insurance from the travel insurance is void. Are you sure you are covered? Who is the travel insurance with?

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