Travel Insurance Saver's FAQ

What is covered by travel insurance?

Travel insurance provides cover through a range of benefits for unforeseen insured events that may occur while policy holders are travelling overseas or domestically. Not all travel insurance products provide cover for the same events, and each travel insurance product may have differing benefit limits of cover for different events.

The international travel insurance products offered online by Travel Insurance Saver provide cover for overseas medical costs (including coronavirus) as well as cover for cancellation and additional expenses, for medical evacuation and repatriation, as well as benefits for personal liability.

There are four international travel insurance products offered online by Travel Insurance Saver from the Bare Essentials and Essentials policies, to a wider range of benefits offered by the Comprehensive travel insurance plan and the Annual Multi Trip travel insurance plan.

What is an insured event?

An insured event is an event that may occur for which travellers have purchased a valid travel insurance policy for their trip. An insured event may be an instance of an unforeseen medical cost arising while a traveller is overseas for which they have purchase a travel insurance policy which provides a benefit limit for overseas medical costs.

What is a benefit of travel insurance?

A benefit or benefit limit is an amount outlined under a travel insurance policy that may provide cover in the case of an insured event occurring. For instance, there may be a certain amount outlined under a cancellation benefit, in the case of a cancellation of trip for an event listed in the Product Disclosure Statement, you may be able to make a claim as per the cancellation benefit limit.

What is the recommended amount of travel insurance?

There is no recommended amount of travel insurance as the desired level of cover of travel insurance differs depending on the trip details of the traveller. Some travel insurance products offer varying benefit limits and different coverage options for different events. It is always recommended that you fully read and understand the conditions and limitations of a travel insurance product to acquire the appropriate level of travel insurance coverage for your trip details.

What is an excess in travel insurance?

An excess is the amount outlined under a travel insurance policy which a traveller must pay when making a claim under their travel insurance policy. It’s the first amount payable that the policy holder must pay when making a claim and is often referred to as the uninsured portion of the loss. For instance, if there is a benefit outlined for cancellation of trip and an insured event occurs for which the traveller wants to recover a loss, the traveller must pay an excess under their travel insurance policy while making a claim to recover that loss.

Is there a way to reduce the excess or not pay an excess in travel insurance?

Certain travel insurance plans may offer an option to reduce or remove the excess for an increase in the total premium of the travel insurance policy. In other words, some travel insurance plans will reduce or remove the excess for a higher premium cost, so that in the event of a claim you don’t have to pay an excess.

What is a premium in travel insurance?

A premium in travel insurance is the total cost of the travel insurance policy that the traveller must pay in order to become a valid travel insurance policy holder. In other words, the premium is the total cost of the travel insurance policy other than the excess (which is only paid if making a claim).

Is it better to have a higher excess for travel insurance?

Some travel insurance products may allow for a reduction or removal of excess for an increase in total premium cost. Conversely, certain travel insurance products may allow for an increase in excess for a reduction in the total premium cost paid to become a valid travel insurance policy holder. While some travel insurance products allow for a higher excess and a lower total premium, this means you will have to pay more when making a travel insurance claim.

Are my existing medical conditions covered by travel insurance?

There are a number of medical conditions which are automatically covered by the travel insurance products offered by Travel Insurance Saver. There is also a criterion to determine if your medical condition is an existing medical condition.

If it is determined that you have an existing medical condition and it is not automatically covered, you may conduct a medical screening online on specific plans, once you have got a quote or contact Travel Insurance Saver for more information. If approved, you can add this to your travel insurance policy as a specified medical condition.  

What does travel insurance not cover?

While the travel insurance products offered by Travel Insurance Saver provide cover for a range of events, there are also events and activities which are not covered or generally excluded. A list of events that are not covered are outlined in the Product Disclosure Statement in the General Exclusions section, as well as the section titled ‘What is not covered?’.

Can I buy travel insurance after booking flight?

You may purchase a travel insurance plan after booking flights, or after booking any other prepaid travel arrangements. You may purchase a travel insurance product even after you have departed for your trip, and you are already overseas . If you have purchased your travel insurance product after you have departed for your trip and are already overseas, there are some conditions to ensure your travel insurance policy remains valid, such as returning to your home in Australia at the time of the return date on your travel insurance policy. There is a 72-hour waiting period which applies.

What is the difference between basic and comprehensive travel insurance?

The differences between the travel insurance products offered by Travel Insurance Saver are in the benefit limits outlined under the various covers. While all of the international travel insurance products offered online by Travel Insurance Saver outline the same benefit for overseas medical costs of ($) unlimited, other benefits may have different limit levels, and some products such as the Comprehensive plan and the Annual Multi Trip plan, may offer cover for events that are not covered under plans like the Bare Essentials plan, such as cover for Rental Vehicle Insurance Excess, or Flight Delay.

What travel insurance covers COVID?

Some travel insurance products may provide benefits for covid related events. Travel insurance products offered online may provide benefits for overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation and repatriation. Other travel insurance products may also offer benefits for coronavirus related travel costs such as trip cancellation due to a coronavirus related event. The international travel insurance products outlined online by Travel Insurance Saver each provide cover for overseas medical costs including coronavirus. These international travel insurance products also provide cover for medical evacuation and repatriation including coronavirus. Two international travel insurance plans, the Comprehensive plan and the Annual Multi Trip plan, also provide cover for coronavirus travel costs, which relates to cancellation due to Covid-19.

How long should my travel insurance be? How long should your travel insurance cover?

The overseas travel insurance single trip plans offered by Travel Insurance Saver have a maximum policy duration date of 365 days.   The Bare Essentials plan and Essentials plans may be purchased a maximum of 365 days before the departure date. The single trip travel insurance plan may cover the traveller from the time they leave their home in Australia until the time they return. Already overseas travel insurance cover is available as well if the traveller purchases their policy or sets their date of departure after they have left for their trip. A policy must begin or end at the traveller’s home in Australia. Conversely, one-way travel insurance is available where a travel insurance policy may end with the traveller still travelling. Travellers should make sure they’ve read and understood the terms, conditions, and limitations set out in the international travel insurance Produce Disclosure Statement before deciding about a travel insurance policy.

What is the best international travel insurance for seniors?

Travel insurance for seniors is available from Travel Insurance Saver. Cover is available through the Comprehensive plan and Annual Multi Trip plan. The Comprehensive plan is a single-trip travel insurance product and may provide cover for up to a one-year (365-day period). The Annual Multi Trip plan provides multiple trip cover in one year, of up to 45-day maximum per trip within an annual period. Cruise cover is available as standard under both the travel insurance products and snow sports optional extra is also available for an added premium. Existing medical condition cover is available under both the Comprehensive plan and the Annual Multi Trip plan after a medical screening has been approved by nib Travel.

When should I start my travel insurance?

Travel insurance cover may begin from the time you leave your home in Australia, or in the case of already-overseas travel insurance, after you have left and begun your trip. In the case of already-overseas travel insurance, the travel insurance policy must end at your home in Australia. A 72-hour waiting period applies from when you have purchased.  Cancellation cover may begin from the time you purchase your travel insurance policy. You may purchase a single trip travel insurance policy a maximum of one year from before the departure date listed on your travel insurance policy, while an Annual Multi Trip travel insurance policy can be purchased 6 months in advance.  

Does travel insurance cover GP visits?

Travel insurance may cover general practitioner visits overseas if you have purchased a travel insurance product with an overseas medical costs benefit. The international travel insurance products offered by Travel Insurance Saver provide may cover for overseas medical costs. 

Can I buy travel insurance after departure Australia?

You may purchase travel insurance after you have departed from Australia and begun your trip. Already overseas travel insurance is available from Travel Insurance Saver. If you have already begun your trip and have started travelling, you may still purchase a travel insurance plan from Travel Insurance Saver.

Your travel insurance policy must end with you at your home in Australia. If you do take out a travel insurance policy after beginning your trip, it must end with you at your home in Australia. A 72-hour waiting period applies if you purchase when you are already overseas.

Do Australians need travel insurance?

Travel insurance products for both domestic and international travel may provide cover for unforeseen events. Travel insurance may provide cover for overseas medical costs incurred while travelling, or for trip cancellation due to several unforeseen events listed on the PDS.

Does travel insurance cost more, closer to the departure date?

Travel insurance premiums are affected by several factors. The closer you are to your departure date when you purchase your travel insurance policy, the price may be cheaper.

The further you purchase your travel insurance policy from the departure date, travellers may experience higher prices than closer to the departure date because in many cases the cancellation component of the travel insurance product activates from the time of purchase, not from the date of departure listed on the policy.

The more time there is between purchase of travel insurance policy and the departure date the more likelihood of a cancellation benefit being used, so generally premiums are higher the further you purchase a travel insurance product from a date of departure.

Can over 70-year-olds get travel insurance?

Travel Insurance Saver offer a range of travel insurance products which are available to Australian travellers aged 70 and over. There are no age limits on the travel insurance products offered by Travel Insurance Saver; however, over 70 years of age only the Comprehensive plan and Annual Multi-Trip plan are available for international travel, while domestically both the Cancellation and Additional Expenses plan and the Australian Travel plan are available for Australian travellers seeking to travel domestically within Australia who are aged over 70 years.

If you are an Australian senior aged 70 and over, cover for existing medical conditions is available. There are a number of automatically included medical conditions which do not require an existing medical screening from nib Travel. There is also a criterion to check if your existing medical conditions meets the requirement of automatic approval.

If you have an existing medical condition which is not automatically covered, you may conduct an existing medical condition screening to have the existing medical condition approved for cover as a specified medical condition listed under your travel insurance policy. Additional cost may be incurred for medical screening to be applied to your policy.

Am I covered for cruising in Australian waters?

You are only covered for cruising in Australian Waters if you select ‘Australian Waters’ as a destination on your single trip travel insurance plan. Because cruising around Australia requires an international level of travel insurance cover, you must select ‘Australian waters’ on your travel insurance plan if you want to be covered for cruising in Australian waters.

Does the Annual Multi-Trip plan cover cruising in Australian waters?

The Annual Multi Trip plan covers cruising in Australian Waters. The Annual Multi Trip plan provides cover for two regions. They are Annual Multi Trip plan (including USA and Nepal) and Annual Multi Trip plan (excluding USA and Nepal); however, the Annual Multi Trip plan also provides cover for domestic trips if you are at least 200km from your home in Australia, and this includes cruising in Australian Waters.

Can I purchase travel insurance if I have already departed for my trip?

You may purchase a travel insurance policy if you have already departed for your trip. Already overseas travel insurance is available from Travel Insurance Saver. A travel insurance policy must begin or end with you at your home in Australia. In the case of purchasing a travel insurance policy after you have departed for your trip, that travel insurance policy must end with your return to your home in Australia.

Am I covered for cruising?

The travel insurance products outlined by Travel Insurance Saver provide automatic cover for cruising on all international travel insurance products. There are certain cruising specific destinations, such as ‘Australian Waters’, which require travellers to list on their travel insurance policy if the traveller wants to be covered for cruising around Australian Waters.

As with any destination, to be covered for it, you need to list it as a destination you will be travelling to on your trip. The benefits outlined under the travel insurance products available from Travel Insurance Saver also cover cruising, such as overseas medical expenses and medical evacuation and repatriation.

What is cover for cancellation expenses under travel insurance?

Cancellation cover may provide a benefit for the cost of unused, non-refundable expenses that a traveller has paid for, for prepaid travel arrangements such as accommodation or transportation costs like flights, if your activity or accommodation is cancelled due to an insured event outlined in the Product Disclosure Statement.

All the international travel insurance products offered by Travel Insurance Saver include cover for cancellation and additional expenses costs, but limits do vary.

Am I covered if I need to cancel or reschedule my trip?

If an unexpected and insured event causes you to cancel or reschedule your trip, there may be cover under the travel insurance products available online from Travel Insurance Saver for cancellation and additional expenses cost cover.

Each of the international travel insurance products outline a limit for cancellation and additional expenses, with some international travel insurance products, such as the Essentials, Comprehensive, and Annual Multi Trip plans, allowing for an adjustable cancellation and additional expenses limit for an increase in overall travel insurance policy premium.

What is not covered by cancellation and additional expenses benefit cover?

There are some things nib Travel will not cover in the event of a cancellation, including but not limited to:

• Nib Travel will not pay for any costs for anyone not named on the travel insurance policy.
• Nib Travel will not pay more than the cancellation limit amount selected by the traveller which appears on their travel insurance policy certificate of insurance.
• In the case of agents’ cancellation fees, nib Travel will not pay more than the limit outlined in the schedule of benefits.
• Nib Travel will not pay for any pre-paid snow sports arrangements unless the traveller has purchased the snow sports cover option, and it is shown on the traveller’s travel insurance policy certificate of insurance.
• The traveller declines a reasonable alternative service or compensation offered by a carrier or other travel service provider.

Does travel insurance cover flight delay or cancellation?

The travel insurance products offered by Travel Insurance Saver may provide cover for flight cancellation or flight delay. If a flight or other prepaid travel arrangement is cancelled due to severe weather, natural disaster, riot, strike, civil insurrection, or hijacking, your travel insurance policy may provide cover under the limit outlined on your travel insurance policy under cancellation and additional expenses.

In the case of flight delay, some travel insurance products offered by Travel Insurance Saver, such as the Essentials, Comprehensive, and Annual Multi Trip plans, outline cover for travel delay if your prepaid scheduled public transport is delayed for at least 6 hours due to an unforeseen reason outside of your control.

Does travel insurance cover trip cancellation because a relative is sick or injured?

If you need to cancel or rearrange your trip due a close relative who is a resident in Australia or New Zealand who has a sudden serious illness or serious injury, there may be cover available under the cancellation and additional expenses cover benefit limit outlined under the travellers travel insurance policy Certificate of Insurance. Cancellation sitemap article.

Does travel insurance cover cancellation of a pre-booked activity or stay?

If your prebooked travel arrangements or accommodation are cancelled due to an unforeseen event listed in the Product Disclosure Statement, there may be cover available under the cancellation and additional expenses benefit limit outlined under your travel insurance policy Certificate of Insurance. Cancellation sitemap article.

Does travel insurance provider cover for existing medical conditions?

If you are a traveller with an existing medical condition, nib Travel provide cover for over 40 existing medical conditions. There is also a criterion to check if your existing medical conditions meets the conditions for automatic cover.

If you have an existing medical condition which is not automatically covered and against the criterion available your condition does not meet approval for automatic cover, you may conduct a medical screening through nib Travel to have your condition approved for cover as a specified medical condition on your travel insurance policy. Only the Comprehensive and Annual Multi Trip plans for international travel, and the Australian Travel plan for domestic travel, allow for a medical screening.

Does travel insurance cover pregnancy?

There is cover available for pregnancy related events up to the end of the 26th week of your pregnancy. Pregnancy is not considered an existing medical condition, however, pregnancy-related illnesses such as hyperemesis (severe morning sickness), gestational diabetes, and any other pregnancy-related illness must have first developed unexpectedly after you bought your policy.

There is no cover for any existing medical condition related to your pregnancy, unless it has been added to your policy as a specified medical condition following a medical screening. This option is only available under the Comprehensive or Annual Multi Trip Plans. Find out more. 

Does travel insurance provide cover for sports and adventure activities?

If you are travelling overseas and want cover for sport or adventure activities, Travel Insurance Saver offer a number of travel insurance products which may provide cover for sports or adventure activity related events, provided those events are not excluded under the General Exclusions section of the travel insurance policy.

There is no cover for taking part in a paid or professional sporting activity while travelling, and likewise, there are a number of adventure activities which are excluded from cover, such as hunting, playing polo, racing (except on foot), mountaineering using support ropes, paragliding, rock climbing, abseiling, participating in BASE jumping, running with the bulls, or pot holing.

Cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions set out in the current Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). Read the (PDS) prior to choosing a travel insurance policy.