Thread: TRAVEL INSURANCE IS IT REALY WORTH IT.

I only get travel insurance if travelling overseas. Sickness is covered by Medicare/private health insurance and lost property I can generally deal with. What else is there to insure?

I usually don't bother with it, because I have heard too many stories like yours. And I don't go on big expensive holidays, so only have cheap airfares and a bit of luggage at risk. My last holiday though, I wanted it to cover the large excess that rental car outfits charge if you have a ding. I got quotes through all the usual outlets including airlines, then remembered that someone had mentioned using your home insurance mobs etc, did that and got it for about 1/4 of the price.

So remember, get a quote from your home or car insurer. They will be cheaper than the 'specialised travel insurance mobs'.

I use VISA included Platinum insurance overseas.
Have never had to claim but have seen good reviews.

Domestically don't insure other than VISA which provides rental car insurance excess insurance.

You have to pay some expenses on VISA of course but even with the merchant fee it is much cheaper.
Regards Philip A

A (maybe) useful option is to take out NRMA (or similar) travel insurance for the relevant period.

I've never had to make a claim but the insurance covers, amongst other travel things, situations like the OP's, and importantly for me, it provides complete insurance cover for rental cars (which are never quite fully covered by the renting company's "full cover" insurance).

I've been happy enough to take it out when flying to Perth, Darwin, Cairns or Broome and renting cars.

Travel insurance covers car insurance excess, but not truck insurance excess. Not many cover this. I believe that you still need to pay the full excess then claim back.

Failure to read the fine print on all of the following is no excuse:

- conditions on the tickets
- cancellation policy
- transfer policy
- travel insurance cover and exclusions

Consider it lesson learned.

I know someone that decided not to get travel insurance, went overseas and had a stroke.

We had a similar thing to the OP. Bought tickets through one of the airfare aggregating mobs (CheapOair, by memory). Course the wife was going to do was cancelled. Only refund available was a credit (with $99 surcharge).

Nowadays, I only ever book through the airline direct. Go to the other sites first, do a "print screen" of their price, and ask the airline to match it. Most of the time they will, and they generally have a much better refund/exchange policy (except for the real cut rate fares).

Once bitten, twice shy!