Travel Insurance

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gnfb

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#175103 17-Jun-2015 14:20

I use to have annual travel insurance but let it go when stopped fulltime work.

Got a month in the uk coming up and although I have dual citizenship I reckon its worth having some sort of travel insurance.

Any one done the run around of late and found the cheapest ?

The AA looks pretty good at $111

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#1326531 17-Jun-2015 14:23

everyone situations are different so you will need to do the calling around

SCTI
1Cover
AA
Tower
State
World Care

its like car insurance what quote i get wont be the same as the quote you get.

fizzychicken

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#1326536 17-Jun-2015 14:29

My credit card always provides free travel insurance if I pay for the flight using it. One of the many things I always look for in a new card. At least in the UK direct medical cover isnt required, mainly item damage/replacement and/or repatriation etc. I would only bother with annual insurance if I was travelling loads and even then it sometimes isnt worth it (often hidden exclusions for multiple trips within a period). Used to work for columbus travel insurance in the UK, now work for a life Insurance company here (though not on the actual insurance side)....shop around as much as possible, aim for the exact cover you need, dont pay for what you dont need, read the exclusions brochure in full.

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nzkiwiman

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#1326587 17-Jun-2015 15:20

Since I don't travel overseas regularly, I just purchase when I need it
I've used both SCTI and 1Cover - both polices were almost the same so price was the deciding factor.

wasabi2k

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#1326599 17-Jun-2015 15:44

fizzychicken: My credit card always provides free travel insurance if I pay for the flight using it. One of the many things I always look for in a new card. At least in the UK direct medical cover isnt required, mainly item damage/replacement and/or repatriation etc. I would only bother with annual insurance if I was travelling loads and even then it sometimes isnt worth it (often hidden exclusions for multiple trips within a period). Used to work for columbus travel insurance in the UK, now work for a life Insurance company here (though not on the actual insurance side)....shop around as much as possible, aim for the exact cover you need, dont pay for what you dont need, read the exclusions brochure in full.

Just check what your credit card insurance actually covers.... some of the cover can be a tad light.

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#1326605 17-Jun-2015 15:49

fizzychicken: My credit card always provides free travel insurance if I pay for the flight using it. ...

Have you ever had to make a claim on such a policy?

These "bundled" policies tend to be pretty basic, and an extra layer of bureacracy is involved when you claim. (read: slower to settle)

The most important document for the OP is his UK passport to cover medical expenses within the UK.

EDIT: AA travel insurance is OK

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Inphinity

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#1326615 17-Jun-2015 16:11

We have tended to use Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), they have generally been well priced, with reasonable levels of cover, and their customer service has always been good - plus it's convenient to be able to quote & buy online in a few minutes.

surfisup1000

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#1326616 17-Jun-2015 16:11

fizzychicken: My credit card always provides free travel insurance if I pay for the flight using it

I wouldn't recommend using this, from experience.

If something serious occurs, hospitals will ask for your insurance policy number and insurer. Things you don't have with CC insurance and makes things very difficult when you are already in a difficult situation.

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surfisup1000

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#1326629 17-Jun-2015 16:15

wasabi2k:

Just check what your credit card insurance actually covers.... some of the cover can be a tad light.

My ASB CC insurance was missing some cover when compared to some regular travel insurance companies -- but, due credit to them ASB fixed the shortcomings and now it is pretty much equivalent to regular insurance.

Making a claim while under duress is another story....

michaelt

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#1326632 17-Jun-2015 16:20

One thing to watch out for with Southern Cross is that they don't cover travel to anywhere listed as 'High Risk' or 'Extreme Risk' on safetravel.govt.nz whereas the free insurance on my credit card covers 'High Risk' (but not 'Extreme Risk').

nathan

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#1326671 17-Jun-2015 16:35

+1

"free" credit card cover is pretty much always suboptimal

I normally always buy a SCTI travel policy myself

michaelt

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#1326685 17-Jun-2015 16:48

In my case the free travel insurance on my ANZ credit card provides better cover than SCTI for 'High Risk' areas.

And I know my parents have made a claim with them which went through smoothly.

invisibleman18

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#1326706 17-Jun-2015 17:12

Southern Cross were good the one time I had to make a claim. Got sick in USA and ended up having to go to a Doctor and they insisted on mailing me an invoice even though I explained I would not be back home in NZ for another 3 months and could pay on the spot. My Mum back home received the bill and tried to pay it over the phone but for some reason the NZ credit card wouldn't go through so in the end my Aunt who lived in LA (who I was staying with at the time of going to the Doctor though by this stage I was in Europe) paid it with a US chequ and wasn't able to get a receipt. My Mum then reimbursed her according to the exchange rate on the day. When I returned home I reimbursed my Mum and wrote a letter to Southern Cross explaining all this, claiming for this amount and they paid out no questions asked. Thought I'd be out of luck without any form of receipt.

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#1326713 17-Jun-2015 17:34

invisibleman18: Southern Cross were good the one time I had to make a claim. Got sick in USA and ended up having to go to a Doctor and they insisted on mailing me an invoice even though I explained I would not be back home in NZ for another 3 months and could pay on the spot. My Mum back home received the bill and tried to pay it over the phone but for some reason the NZ credit card wouldn't go through so in the end my Aunt who lived in LA (who I was staying with at the time of going to the Doctor though by this stage I was in Europe) paid it with a US chequ and wasn't able to get a receipt. My Mum then reimbursed her according to the exchange rate on the day. When I returned home I reimbursed my Mum and wrote a letter to Southern Cross explaining all this, claiming for this amount and they paid out no questions asked. Thought I'd be out of luck without any form of receipt.

Don't get ill in the US.

A friend of mine broke his leg in a car accident in LA (not his fault) and required brief hospitalization before flying home.
The bill? - USD $60,000 - and that was 10 years ago. He was insured.
Minimum medical cover for the US should be USD $1,000,000.

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gnfb

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#1326729 17-Jun-2015 18:04

The results are in

SCTI

131.42

1Cover

139.85

158

Tower

175.4

State

164

World Care

139

I took the middle of the road option mainly as the cheap options limit luggage loss to $5000

Of course usually you have your main valuables on you. But they can still get stolen.

Looks like its between SCTI and 1cover . There are however a lot of variables to look at

The cheapest cover I found was with worldcare $95

Not sure whether it was SCTI or 1 cover that let me exclude the states as I am going around the other way I think that made it cheaper

In the end a fruitless exercise as the difference is less than $20 and i fluffed around for half an hour

Hopefully it will help someone else

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Is an English Man living in New Zealand. Not a writer, an Observer he says. Graham is a seasoned 'traveler" with his sometimes arrogant, but honest opinion on life. He loves the Internet!.

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bazzer

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#1327043 18-Jun-2015 09:22

nathan: +1

"free" credit card cover is pretty much always suboptimal

I normally always buy a SCTI travel policy myself

It's easy to say this, and a common opinion but have you actually compared the policy wordings?

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