Travel Insurance Recommendation...

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Hollow

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Topic # 112363 6-Dec-2012 07:50

I'm heading to the US for a week on Sunday and after looking at travel insurance prices I've looked at range from $60 to well over $150... Can anyone recommend any?

Cheers!

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Reply # 727813 6-Dec-2012 07:54

Southern Cross is probably the best travel insurance out there.

If you have paid your travel with credit card (Gold/Platinum/Titanium), you may be covered under their policy.

kingjj

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Reply # 727885 6-Dec-2012 09:57

Try 1Cover, simple process online and great prices with good coverage. Alternatively get a quote from 1Cover and than go into Flight Centre and get them to price beat it. Flight Centre's travel insurance is great.

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Hollow

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Reply # 727905 6-Dec-2012 10:26

Thanks, I had a look at 1cover but the limits on some things seemed pretty low... Only $250 in cash covered and I don't think $500nz would go very far towards an emergency dental bill in the US for instance - and a $100 excess on top of that! Still $75 is pretty reasonable!

Hollow

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Reply # 727933 6-Dec-2012 10:51

in fact... done!

ajobbins

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Reply # 727943 6-Dec-2012 11:07

The big thing you want is emergency medical cover in the US. If you happen hurt yourself badly it can literally cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, and if you don't have insurance they can just leave you to die.

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SCUBADOO

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Reply # 727947 6-Dec-2012 11:15

If you went for Southern Cross I just hope you don't have to claim for any personal belongings.

A long story here but a vehicle break-in while in Melbourne and it only took 6 months and perhaps 40 emails and 50 telephone calls before we were finally paid.

The entire process was strictly a one way affair. Not one single reply from them during the process. I have never heard sooo many excuses.
Just a final bank deposit and a follow up letter about 6 weeks later.

PS We have been SC medical insurance holders for over 35 years without a single complaint.
It must be a very different business model.

Jaxson

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Reply # 727951 6-Dec-2012 11:20

Great thread, I'll be needing this too soon. Thanks.

hdinsider

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Reply # 727964 6-Dec-2012 11:39

Southern cross was awesome for my trip to Europe. Had flights cancelled when air Asia pulled out of chch. Southern cross covered all the booking changes and covered the cost of moving to air NZ. Also compensated us for the airport change to Auckland. Would use them again, they were great.

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Elpie

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Reply # 727988 6-Dec-2012 12:10

ajobbins: The big thing you want is emergency medical cover in the US. If you happen hurt yourself badly it can literally cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, and if you don't have insurance they can just leave you to die.

You don't even need to get hurt for this kind of scenario. I contracted SARS in the US during the epidemic and needed medical attention. Doctors will not see you if you can't provide proof of insurance cover. You need to be very careful that your insurance will pay the medical bills directly and not do what mine did - expect you to pay and then send the claim in on your return. They pre-approved all the treatment but I was left having to find the money to cover huge costs then having to wait months for reimbursement.

For insurance of items, be very careful that the policy covers replacement. A lot of the travel insurance policies don't. It can be a rude shock to have something lost or stolen only to find that insurance pays out on their assessed value of the item less depreciation rather than replacing it.

Flight Centre's travel insurance doesn't replace like with like. A friend just had a claim settled where his new iPhone was assessed at $400 so that's what he got, leaving him out of pocket in replacing it.

Before buying any policy make very certain that you have thoroughly read the full policy and fine print. The US is one country where you don't want to skimp on coverage.

dickytim

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Reply # 727993 6-Dec-2012 12:23

Good thread,

I have been researching the same,

So far I looked at 1cover, Webjet's cover and Southern Cross.

I will be going a great deal more research reading this thread to make sure that the company would pay the provider directly as I simply can't stump up thousands of dollars while I wait to be paid out, it would send me to the wall.

Has anyone out there had claims that went well? Which company was good on that front.

I have previously used Southern Cross but never had to claim.

I would pay more for an easier claim process any day!

floydbloke

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Reply # 728005 6-Dec-2012 12:53

To add my two cents worth.
All the travel policies I have looked at for an impending trip exclude third party liability (physical damage or injury) when you're in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle. So if you're driving a rental car (or even hire a bicycle or pedal boat) you're not covered.

Car rentals in the USA by default (but depending on how you book it) typicall come without any insurance so you'll need to buy (easiest from the rental company but there are third parties) Loss/Collision Damage Waiver(LDW/CDW) and Supplementary Liability Insurance (the 3rd party liability bit). In short, not difficult to get insurance coverage bit a $25-30 a day cost to build into your budget if you're renting a car.

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ajobbins

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Reply # 728016 6-Dec-2012 13:13

floydbloke:Car rentals in the USA by default (but depending on how you book it) typicall come without any insurance so you'll need to buy (easiest from the rental company but there are third parties) Loss/Collision Damage Waiver(LDW/CDW) and Supplementary Liability Insurance (the 3rd party liability bit). In short, not difficult to get insurance coverage bit a $25-30 a day cost to build into your budget if you're renting a car.

If you have a 'premium' (Gold, Platinum etc) credit card, Pays to check your entitlements. For example, if I rent a car outside of Australia with my CBA gold card, as long as I purchase the most basic insurance, they will cover the full excess if I have an accident. (So you don't have to bother paying the extra excess reduction on top of the basic insurance).

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wongtop

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Reply # 728025 6-Dec-2012 13:43

dickytim: Good thread,

I have been researching the same,

So far I looked at 1cover, Webjet's cover and Southern Cross.

I will be going a great deal more research reading this thread to make sure that the company would pay the provider directly as I simply can't stump up thousands of dollars while I wait to be paid out, it would send me to the wall.

Has anyone out there had claims that went well? Which company was good on that front.

I have previously used Southern Cross but never had to claim.

I would pay more for an easier claim process any day!

We went to the States and got southern cross. Daughter got a sore throat and as one of the people we were staying with had strep throat took her to the doctor. We had to pay up front and then get reimbursement from Southern Cross. We were still getting bills months later (apparently the facility and the doctor bill you seperately). It was a pain, though Southern Cross were understanding when the bills still kept dribbling through. I would say if you can find a provider who will pay the bills directly rather than reimburse that would be a plus!

TinyTim

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Reply # 728039 6-Dec-2012 13:55

ajobbins:

If you have a 'premium' (Gold, Platinum etc) credit card, Pays to check your entitlements. .

A major gotcha from some credit card policies is they won't cover medical costs when you get back to NZ - Consumer covered this a while back. (I see BNZ has just changed this but you need to check.)

TinyTim

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Reply # 728040 6-Dec-2012 13:56

Hollow: I'm heading to the US for a week on Sunday and after looking at travel insurance prices I've looked at range from $60 to well over $150... Can anyone recommend any?

Cheers!

And next time buy your insurance as soon as you pay for your tickets (or before!) Don't wait till just before you leave!

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