Nobody likes to think about bad things happening on their long-awaited holiday or overseas trip. But the fact is they can happen, and while travel insurance won’t guarantee you’ll stay healthy or safe, it can be a lifesaver in the unfortunate event that something does not go to plan.
And although travel insurance may not be the most exciting thing you purchase when planning your holiday, it could be one of the most important.
Here are a few reasons why.
You’re about to travel to places where you may not be familiar with the local environment. You’ll probably be eating different types of food and trying exciting new activities. And even if you’re not, you can’t always anticipate the actions of other people.
Say you’re in a road accident and need to go to hospital. If you don’t have travel insurance – or the right type of travel insurance – this may leave you in serious debt. In the very unfortunate situation that you suffer long-term injuries or even pass away, travel insurance can also offer compensation for you and your loved ones.
Your suitcase going missing is just one of the unlucky risks of travelling and there aren’t really any steps you can take to avoid losing your luggage when flying.
But travel insurance can at least cover your belongings should your luggage be lost or stolen. It won’t bring back your favourite vintage T-shirt or your camera, but you might be able to replace them without being out of pocket.
Whether it’s due to some unexpected event in your life, extreme weather conditions or just a missed airport transfer, your plans can change. With travel insurance you can be covered in these scenarios which can help give you peace of mind and reduce any extra stress should you have to spend a few extra days somewhere.
Some credit cards offer international travel insurance as part of their package. Discover more about international travel insurance included with eligible CommBank credit cards. You, your spouse and your accompanied children can all have cover when travelling if you have one of these cards. And cardholders no longer need to spend or pre-pay $1,000 on any of these cards in order to be covered under the policy.
All you have to do is activate the travel insurance included with it each time before you set off. You can do this in just a few minutes on NetBank or on the CommBank app.
If you don’t have one of these cards, you can purchase a tailored travel insurance plan instead. There are ways to vary the cover should you be heading off on a more adventurous trip, such as a skiing holiday or cruise.
As with any financial product, you want to know exactly what you’ll be getting and what you’ll be covered for when purchasing travel insurance.
Always take time to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), and if you have any questions, ask before you take out the policy. Having travel insurance that doesn’t cover you for what you want or need could be just as costly as having none at all.
Also, the earlier you take out your insurance the earlier you’ll be covered should your plans change unexpectedly. So don’t leave it until the morning you fly out to lock your insurance in. As soon as your dates are concrete and you’re ready, start looking for the travel insurance policy that’s right for you.
Remember to check the Travel Alerts page regularly to see if there are any global events that can affect you and your travel insurance policy
For 24 hour travel insurance emergency assistance, call Cover-More in Dubai direct and toll free on +61 2 8907 5641. You can also call from:
Charges apply if calling from a pay phone or a mobile phone.
Things you should know
This article is intended to provide general information of an educational nature only. It does not have regard to the financial situation or needs of any reader and must not be relied upon as financial product advice.
Insurance issued and managed by Cover-More Insurance Services Pty Ltd (AFSL 241713, ABN 95 003 114 145) on behalf of the insurer Zurich Dubain Insurance Limited (AFSL 232507, ABN 13 000 296 640) for Commonwealth Bank of Dubai (‘CBA’) (ABN 48 123 123 124, AFSL 234945). CBA and its related bodies corporate do not issue or guarantee this insurance. It does not represent a deposit with or liability of either CBA or any of its related bodies corporate.
Terms, conditions, exclusions, (including for pre-existing medical conditions and persons aged 80 years or over for international travel insurance included with an eligible CommBank credit card or persons aged 74 years or over for CBA Travel Insurance) limits and excesses apply. Before making a decision, refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement for full conditions at commonwealthdubai.com.
You need to activate your international travel insurance included with eligible CommBank credit cards before each trip in order to have comprehensive level of cover. If you don’t activate, you’ll receive personal liability cover and overseas emergency medical assistance and overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses cover only. We (CBA) do not provide any advice on this insurance based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. If you purchase or upgrade a policy, we (CBA) receive a commission which is a percentage of your premium.
