Complimentary Travel Insurance Has No Covid Cover

mulimulix on 16/06/2022 - 11:19

I've just booked a trip using my Westpac rewards card which comes with travel insurance but reading the inclusions and exclusions it seems very much like they don't cover any sort of covid-related claims. Seems to me like that's the one thing you would want covered these days because if you test positive the week of your trip you're basically stuffed.

My question is, would there be any provider who could just offer covid cover and that's it? Obviously I'm covered for everything else but a policy without covid cover seems pretty pointless to me but don't want to have to spend $200+ for an entirely new policy where I'm already covered for 90% of the inclusions (not to mention issues with being double-insured).

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Comments

    • mulimulix on 16/06/2022 - 11:34
      +8

      Huh? Who said anything about refusing vaccinations?

      • Fredfloresjr on 16/06/2022 - 11:39
        +11

        SlavOz

        • jv on 16/06/2022 - 12:05
          +1

          🤣

  • Ozbar Gain on 16/06/2022 - 11:38

    What sort of covid cover would you require?

    • If you get sick and can't make your flights - some airlines allow you to move your flight up to 24h before at no extra cost. See Singapoire Air for instance.
    • If you miss your flight and therefore accommodation - some accommodations allow you to cancel up to a couple of days before
    • If you need medical attention due to covid - would medical not be covered by standard travel insurance?
    • Drakesy on 16/06/2022 - 11:45
      +2

      If you get sick and can't make your flights - some airlines allow you to move your flight up to 24h before at no extra cost. See Singapoire Air for instance.

      Wouldn't really apply as covid would take you out for a week and you'd lose your bookings.

      If you miss your flight and therefore accommodation - some accommodations allow you to cancel up to a couple of days before

      Can't really pre-empt covid unfortunately.

      If you need medical attention due to covid - would medical not be covered by standard travel insurance?

      Covid hospital stays aren't covered by many travel insurances these days due to it being so prolific which would leave you out of pocket a fair bit.

      • mulimulix on 16/06/2022 - 11:51

        Yeah these are basically my concerns. If you get it beforehand even if you can move your flights which I think I can, it'd stuff up a lot of bookings I'll have for the first few days of the trip. If you get it during the trip you'll very likely have to extend your stay wherever you are at the time and again stuff up your bookings for that week. And the hospital as you say is a big one.

  • mbck on 16/06/2022 - 11:53
    +1

    Interesting. Amex added covid cover to their complimentary travel insurance. Only if you do get covid. But if there were border closures though(unlikely).

    There is cover for medical if you are on an international trip, but not domestic

    Please read their pds for full info

  • franky888 on 16/06/2022 - 12:02
    +2

    We've just been on a trip to the US, we had complimentary travel cover from our 28 degrees card promotion, but it didn't cover trip cancellations due to covid, and it had a $ limit on how much was covered if you were sick with Covid while on your holiday. We ended up buying a separate policy through FastCover as it had (IIRC) unlimited medical costs covered, plus up to 5k per person for trip cancellations due to covid infections (resulting in you not being able to begin travel).

    You're not going to have issues being double insured, you only need to claim on one policy. An insurer isn't about to come along and demand you give them a lung because you claimed from the other insurer. The policy you've got was complimentary; it didn't cost you extra, so you either roll the dice with that one and hope it works out, or you fork out for a different policy who's PDS better aligns with the coverage you need.

    Above all else, enjoy your trip!

  • Seraphin7 on 16/06/2022 - 12:04
    +1

    You get what you pay for?

    • JimB on 16/06/2022 - 16:27
      +1

      I'd ask for a refund for the policy and buy another one.

      • GG57 on 16/06/2022 - 16:29

        Apparently it was 'free'.

        • JimB on 16/06/2022 - 16:30
          +1

          boom tish haha

  • jv on 16/06/2022 - 12:06
    -1

    because if you test positive the week of your trip you're basically stuffed.

    Just travel to someplace that doesn't require testing.

  • txb on 16/06/2022 - 12:41
    -4

    Have you even done any research before posting this? There's a deal on here about big 4 bank offering covid cover inc in their travel insurance..

    • mulimulix on 16/06/2022 - 12:43
      +1

      Did you even read what I posted?

      My question is, would there be any provider who could just offer covid cover and that's it? Obviously I'm covered for everything else but a policy without covid cover seems pretty pointless to me but don't want to have to spend $200+ for an entirely new policy where I'm already covered for 90% of the inclusions (not to mention issues with being double-insured).

  • McSquintus on 16/06/2022 - 13:14

    I used Insure and Go when I went earlier this year, they seemed cheap and covered what I needed for Covid. Their policies might have changed but worth checking them out.

  • PhilToinby on 16/06/2022 - 15:23

    I used Allianz for a domestic trip from Mel to Cairns. They do also cover international. We ended up stuck in Qld for an extra week due to testing positive to COVID. Allianz paid the ~$3.2k in accommodation, car hire etc without too much fuss. You have to be able to prove that you had COVID (e.g. a certificate from Qld Health/other), and be able to show both your original itinerary and the revised one and all invoices etc. So allow a few hours to complete online forms. Otherwise it worked well for us given the policy cost ~$120.

  • andysa on 18/06/2022 - 15:51
    +2

    Both ANZ and NAB have COVID cover with their complimentry credit card travel insurance.

    I'd recommend opening up one of their cards, just for the insurance. It'll be cheaper than buying insurance just for COVID cover.

    • FirstWizard on 27/06/2022 - 13:05

      But I'm guessing you have to book your flights on the card to activate insurance?

      ==EDIT==

      Apparently not,
      NAB

      before leaving Australia you spend at least $500 on your prepaid travel costs (i.e. your travel costs that you pay for before leaving Australia) and you charge these costs (e.g. cost of your overseas travel ticket; and/or airport/departure taxes; and/or your prepaid overseas accommodation/travel; and/or your other prepaid overseas itinerary

      ANZ

      before leaving Australia you spend at least $250 on your prepaid travel costs (i.e. your travel costs that you pay for before leaving Australia) and you charge these costs (e.g. cost of your return overseas travel ticket; and/or airport/departure taxes; and/or your prepaid overseas accommodation/ travel; and/or your other prepaid overseas itinerary items) to the accountholder’s card account;

      • jphilsousa on 27/06/2022 - 14:34

        Wonder if it really has to be that dollar amount of prepaid travel costs or just an equivalent amount in other purchases. We've already bought our plane tickets to U.S. with another card and need no other prepaid items.

        • FirstWizard on 27/06/2022 - 14:51

          T&C's clearly state it should be "prepaid travel-related costs". So you may have to substantiate with evidence when making a claim.

          Though you've already booked flights (I have too, booked on a different card to avoid international transaction fees - of which complimentary insurance does not cover COVID), you still may be able to book accommodation?

          • jphilsousa on 27/06/2022 - 17:01

            @FirstWizard: Thanks for the thought, but actually traveling in our own motorhome in the U.S. There will be some campground expense but we're not making any reservations at this point. Have a Commonwealth Bank card here but their complimentary insurance doesn't cover COVID.

            • FirstWizard on 27/06/2022 - 18:48

              @jphilsousa: I'm on the same boat as you, I've already paid for the flight and hotels in Europe. Even all the event tickets are already paid for.
              Hotels, though refundable, the same room costs more to rebook.

    • Aust on 28/08/2022 - 19:12

      Just remember you will likely need to pay for the travel on the card to be covered.

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