Choosing the right travel insurance for your Christmas holiday

Whether you are heading overseas to visit family, chasing a winter wonderland or just escaping the hustle and bustle of regular life, taking out travel insurance  for your Christmas holiday should be at the top of your checklist.    

It’s no secret Aussies love to travel, in fact according to Allianz Partners, over two million of us are planning to jet set overseas in December alone. 

“Securing travel insurance is an essential part of any overseas trip, and compared to the cost of going away is often a minimal investment,” Allianz Partners Chief Underwriting Officer, Aimee McGuiness said.  

“No matter your budget or penchant for planning, it certainly pays to be prepared for the unexpected, and we do definitely encourage people to take stock and make sure they have the medical, luggage and cancellation coverage policy specific to their intended trip.” 

There are a bunch of things to consider in a travel insurance policy, like the type of holidays that are covered, what valuables could be covered and also what pre-existing medical conditions need to be disclosed to your insurer before you sign the dotted line. 

While having asthma, diabetes or even being in the early stages of pregnancy is no reason to cancel your Christmas travel plans, it’s important to read the fine print of the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of the policy, before you take out insurance so you know what you are covered for and what you aren’t. 

RELATED GUIDE: Travel insurance pre existing conditions

As part of the application process, some insurance providers have online medical screening which is a way for you to disclose your medical condition and history. In some instances you won’t be required to get a doctor’s certificate but that’s not always the case. Ensure you know all the application requirements before you start the process, it could save you time and a trip to the doctor’s office! 

What are some common pre-existing conditions covered under travel insurance? 

While you can’t put a blanket over all travel insurance policies because usually they aren’t the same between insurers, there are some pre-existing medical conditions that are more likely to be covered on your policy than others. 

These include conditions like:

• sports injury
• cardiovascular disease
• asthma
• cancer
• high cholesterol
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• pregnancy

Depending on what medical condition you have, you may have a certain period of time where the condition cannot have worsened, which you’ll need to prove. This could be a 30-day period or even up to a year, it all depends on what condition you have and what insurer you go with.

“As a general rule of thumb it’s wise to disclose any medical conditions you have to your travel insurer, even if you think that it isn’t significant,” Mozo Director, Kirsty Lamont said. 

“After all the good food, wine and celebration you enjoyed on your Christmas holiday overseas, you don’t want to be stuck in the New Year dealing with a rejected claim because you didn’t do your homework. Make sure you check and recheck all the requirements for pre-existing conditions on your chosen policy before you leave on your travels.”  

Do you need extra cover?  

There are plenty of things that generally covered under travel insurance, like emergency medical treatment, property theft or travel delays and cancellations, but some others aren’t. 

For snow finatics, cruisers and daredevil adventurers, basic and even comprehensive cover sometimes isn’t enough. Some insurers give the option to take out additional cover for things like skiing, cruises and extreme sports at a higher cost, while others may just not have the option. Have a shop around so that you can find the policy that suits you and your specific holiday needs.     

Also remember that sometimes there can be a limit on how much you can claim on specific things like laptops, tablets or smartphones, so if you intend to take your gadgets overseas make sure you’ve fully read your policy or take out the amount of extra cover necessary. 

Top tips for avoiding a medical disaster on your holiday on your travel insurance 

Life is unpredictable and you never know what might happen while you travel overseas. But, there are a few travel hacks to lessen the likelihood of a medical mishap abroad and reduce your chance of needing to make a claim. 

• Take all your medication with you: Medications aren’t the same worldwide and aren’t always easily accessible, so taking your own supply, and a little extra, of your regular medications from home is the safest option. 
• Check if you need vaccinations: It’s important you know everything you need to when it comes to being vaccinated before you go on your holiday. Not only is it could it be crucial for avoiding contracting a severe disease, if you end up getting sick due to not being vaccinated this could reduce or even invalidate your cover. 
• Know medical emergency contacts: Being aware of the emergency numbers of the country your are holidaying in is important in case you do find yourself in an emergency situation. Save the number in your phone so you can whip it out when you need, and also save the number of your insurance provider as often they have a 24/7 assistance line if you need it. 

RELATED ARTICLE:  The best travel insurance for your next overseas ski holidays  

Looking to compare providers to find the travel insurance to suit you? Head to our travel insurance comparison tool or read up on our handy guides for all the information you need.