The fine print: key policies to look out for
Snow sports:
If you’re looking to hit the snow on this trip, Budget Direct offer coverage for many different types of skiing and snowboarding, as well as tobogganing, snowmobiling and more. This includes off-piste skiing as long as it's with an instructor, and cross-country skiing along a designated route.
Fine print: Snow sports aren’t covered under Budget Direct’s domestic policy and keep in mind that personal accident coverage doesn’t apply with last minute cover. Competitive or professional sports activities aren’t included either.
Pre-existing medical conditions:
You’ll need to mention any pre-existing medical conditions before you buy your policy, including pregnancy. The good news is, Budget Direct travel insurance policies automatically cover 43 pre-existing medical conditions, so chances are, you’re already covered. These include epilepsy, glaucoma, asthma and diabetes, although conditions do apply on some of these.
Fine print: No pre-existing medical conditions, other than those listed, are covered under Budget Direct’s travel insurance. Also, the listed conditions are only covered as long as the individual with the condition has not been hospitalised for it within the last 24 months, so read the PDS carefully on this one!
Last Minute insurance:
Budget Direct offer a policy for last minute insurance, which you can buy right up until the time you board your plane. This is great for last minute trips, and covers you for medical emergency, personal liability and a limited amount of luggage.
Fine print: Last minute cover is something of a bare bones policy, and does not include many of the other benefits that Budget Direct’s more hefty policies do, like cancellation, personal accident or theft of cash.
Family and seniors insurance:
Travelling can be stressful for families, so Budget Direct has some good news to lighten the load - their travel insurance policies cover anyone 100 years of age or younger, and dependent children under the age of 18 are insured at no extra cost. This includes the usual benefits for medical expenses, cancellation and luggage, according to the policy you opt for.
Fine print: To qualify as a dependent, the individual must be a child or grandchild (including fostered or adopted), under the age of 18 at the time of application. Dependents under the age of 16 must have full adult supervision for the duration of the trip. If you’re under 18 and not travelling with a legal adult, Budget Direct’s travel insurance policies won’t cover you.
Cooling off period:
If, within 14 days of taking out a policy, you decide Budget Direct’s cover is not for you, you can cancel for a full refund of the premium.
Fine print: The cooling off period applies only if your trip hasn’t started yet and you haven’t made a claim or exercised any other rights under the policy. After the 14 day period, no refund of the premium is given if you cancel.
Important information for ensuring a successful Budget Direct travel insurance claim
After you’ve gone to all the trouble of choosing a travel insurance policy that’s best suited to you, the next step is keeping in mind the procedure and details of how to make a claim if the need should arise. It’s not unusual for claims to be rejected because travellers neglect to read the fine print on their policy, or don’t have the necessary information to make a claim. Here are some important things to keep in mind when making a claim with Budget Direct:
- If for some reason you need to cancel your trip and make a claim under the cancellation section of your policy, remember to get documentation supporting this. For example, if you have to cancel due to a medical emergency, make sure you get an official doctor’s certificate.
- By the same logic, if your luggage is delayed, make sure you get written confirmation of the length of the delay from the airline or transport company you’re using. Also, if you have to buy essentials while your luggage is missing, remember to keep receipts so you can claim those as well.
- Keep receipts for new purchases or precious items you plan to carry with you on your trip. It’s also worth taking a photo of your personal belongings, especially if you don’t have the receipts, so you can prove you were travelling with them if they happen to be lost or stolen.
- In case of theft, including rental sports or leisure equipment, you need to report it to the local police or other relevant authorities within 24 hours. Make sure you get a written copy of the official report and attach it to your claim.
- The reverse charge number for the country you’ve travelled to will appear on your insurance certificate. Keep this handy, because if you need medical or emergency assistance, Budget Direct can direct you toward suitable medical facilities, and even arrange for medical evacuation if they deem it necessary.
- A completed claim must be submitted within 30 days of returning to Australia. Remember to include any supporting documentation and your insurance certificate.
- Always keep a copy of the completed claim for your own records.
How to make a claim with Budget Direct
To make a claim with Budget Direct, you can simply fill out the relevant form and send it via post. If you need assistance or would like to check on the procedure before applying, you can also call or email their claims team.
1. Call or email Budget Direct if you’re unsure: If you need to make an insurance claim, but you’re unsure of the process or what you need to include, you can call or email the Budget Direct team and they’ll advise you on the steps to complete your individual claim. If you’re calling it’s a good idea to have your policy number and insurance certificate ready in order to speed up the process. If you’re emailing, remember to include your policy number and any other details relevant to your application.
2. Compile supporting documentation: Once you’ve contacted Budget Direct and they’ve advised you on how best to proceed, you’ll need to collect all the documentation relevant to your claim. Different claims will require different documentation - for example, medical claims will require a doctor's certificate, while luggage delays or theft will require an official written statement from the relevant authorities, as well as some proof of ownership. If you’ve kept your receipts, medical certificates or statements organised along the way, this step shouldn’t be too hard, but it’s worth taking the time to do it right, as claims can be rejected without these documents.
3. Complete the relevant claims form and submit: Choose the relevant claims form, which can be found on Budget Direct’s website, download and print it. Complete the form and send it, along with all relevant documents, to Budget Direct via post. The address can be found on their website.
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