Heading overseas or planning a trip?
Be a savvy traveller and get the low down on travel insurance cover for terrorism.
It’s a sad truth that the modern traveller is aware, more now than ever, of the looming threat of terrorism no matter where they’re headed. Whilst Go Insurance understands that even though it’s unlikely you’ll be unfortunate enough to be caught up in an act of terrorism, you still want the peace of mind that if you are, there is travel insurance cover for terrorism.
Did you know that many Australian travel insurers exclude all claims related to acts or the threat of terrorism?
At Go Insurance, we believe that all travellers are entitled to the assurance that their insurer is looking after them so here is the low down on how we look after you in the face of terrorism.
Scenario: The destination you have booked to travel to is subject to an act or threat of terror.
You’ve saved your money and are ready to go when the destination you’re journeying to suffers an act of terrorism. Alternatively, perhaps the Australian government has declared that it has information indicating credible threats have been made and Australian travellers should reconsider their need to travel. The paradise you were looking forward to visiting no longer seems so idyllic and you no longer believe it is safe to travel.
How can your Go Insurance policy help you?
There is cover under Section 1 (Abandonment of Trip) for the cancellation of your trip when the Australian Government has raised the travel warning for your pre-booked destination to “Reconsider Your Need to Travel” or “Do Not Travel” and this warning remains in place 7 days before you are due to travel.
In this situation, the policy will compensate you for reimbursement of cancelled flights, accommodation, tours, rental car hire and other travel related expenses. To be eligible for this cover, you must have included the Cancellation Module in your policy at the time of purchase.
What’s not covered?
There is no cover for any event which was known to you at the time of purchasing the policy. Additionally, if the Australian government warning is at “Reconsider your need to Travel” or “Do Not Travel” more than 7 days in advance of your pre-booked departure, there is no cover. The warning must be advising against travel immediately prior to (and no more than 7 days before) to your scheduled travel to that country / region.
For instance, if your departure is booked for 1 December 2016 and the Australian government issues a Do Not Travel warning for your destination on 1 March 2016 (ie 9 months prior to your scheduled travel), this will not entitle you to cover under the policy if you choose to cancel at that time. For the policy to respond, the warning must be in force on or after 23 November 2016 (ie 7 days or less prior to 1 December 2016).
Also remember that as is standard practice for travel insurance, disinclination to travel is not covered.
We advise you to monitor www.smartraveller.gov.au for any updates to destinations on your itinerary.
Scenario: You are involved in an incident overseas which is an act of terrorism
The unthinkable has happened and you find yourself injured in an act of terror on your holiday. Will your Go Insurance policy cover the bills and how will you get back to the safety of home?
How can your Go Insurance policy help you?
All Go Insurance policies provide cover for medical expenses incurred and repatriation to Australia (if medically necessary) in the event you are injured overseas due to an act of terrorism. This cover is provided under the Overseas Medical Expenses section of the policy and is a standard inclusion, meaning all you have to do is concentrate on recuperating and returning home to your loved ones.
Even if you haven’t been injured but the Australian government is advising Australian travellers to leave a region / country due to an act of terrorism, there is cover for the costs to return home earlier than scheduled in these circumstances (provided you have included the Cancellation module in your policy).
So, let’s summarise.
What’s covered?
| ✔ | Cancellation of the trip due to terrorism is covered if you have included the Cancellation module in the policy and the Australian government issues a “Reconsider Your Need to Travel” or “Do Not Travel” warning for your pre-booked destination and this warning remains in force 7 days prior to your scheduled travel to that destination. In this case, the policy will respond to the irrecoverable value of the trip which has been cancelled. |
| ✔ | Curtailment of the trip is covered if you have included the Cancellation module in the policy and the Australian government issues a “Reconsider Your Need to Travel or “Do Not Travel” warning for your pre-booked destination while you are there. In this case, the policy will respond to the additional costs for you to return home earlier than scheduled / leave the area. |
| ✔ | Cover for medical expenses (and repatriation if medically necessary) if you have been injured whilst overseas in an act of terrorism. This is a standard inclusion in Go Insurance policies. |
What’s not covered?
| ❌ | There is no cover for acts of terrorism which are nuclear or biological in nature. |
| ❌ | There is also no cover in place if the circumstances were known to you at the time you purchased the policy. |
| ❌ | There is no cover if you have travelled to a region where the Australian government advises Australians not to travel. |
| ❌ | There is no cover if the “Reconsider Your Need to Travel” or “Do Not Travel” warning is not in force 7 days or less prior to your pre-booked travel to the relevant country / area. |
| ❌ | There is no cover for disinclination to travel. |
We hope that none of our travellers ever need to worry about an encounter with terrorism but as they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Feel safe in the knowledge that Go Insurance is looking out for you.
Need to know more about travel insurance cover for terrorism? Call one of our experts on 1300 819 888.
Note: Please read the Product Disclosure Statement for full details of cover provided in relation to terrorism.