What should I know about Bupa travel insurance?
What your policy covers
Each Bupa travel insurance policy will cover the same main benefits, but the level of cover will depend on which plan you choose. For example, the Super Plus plan offers unlimited medical, whereas the Economy plan has a limit of $100,00 on medical expenses. Some of the benefits you can expect to be covered under your Bupa travel insurance policy are:
- Overseas medical
- Overseas dental
- Cancelled or rescheduled travel
- Resumption of travel
- Loss or damage of travel documents or luggage
- Accidental death or disability
- Liability
- Hire car excess waiver
What pre-existing medical conditions are covered
Bupa cover 25 pre-existing medical conditions automatically, provided they are well controlled and you aren’t awaiting treatment for them.
Some conditions, such as glaucoma or insomnia, carry extra limits and will only be covered as long as there has not been a flare up, and you have not sought medical advice or treatment for them in the last 90 days.
If you’re travelling with a pre-existing medical condition, take a look at Mozo’s guide on how to find travel insurance to suit you.
The age limit
There is no upper age limit to buying Bupa travel insurance policies, but if you are over 70, you’ll have to undergo a medical assessment before applying. This can be done online through Bupa’s online forum.
Age will also affect your premium - unfortunately, the older you are, the more you will pay. Take a look at our guide to seniors travel insurance for more information on securing yourself a competitive deal.
Travelling with dependents
Good news! If you’re travelling with your family, Bupa will cover dependant children at no extra cost under both a single (one adult) and double (two adults) policy. A dependent is any child under 21 who is not employed full time, is financially dependent on you and is travelling with you for the duration of your trip.
Cooling off period
You have a cooling off period of 21 days, so if you decide you don’t want your Bupa travel insurance policy, you can cancel for a full refund of your premium. But you won’t be entitled to a refund if:
- you have already made a claim on your policy
- you have already started your trip
- it is after the 21 day period
A quick guide to the fine print of Bupa travel insurance policies
So what’s the catch? It’s important to always keep one eye on the fine print of your travel insurance policy, because that’s where sneaky exclusions or conditions might trip you up when you go to make a claim. We’ve listed a few of the details we think you should be aware of when considering a Bupa travel insurance policy:
- If you can claim compensation from elsewhere, for example, if your airline offers to pay for your lost baggage, then you can’t make the same claim on your travel insurance.
- Pregnancy is not covered under Bupa travel insurance policies after the 24th week. This means medical complications caused by pregnancy aren’t covered, and neither is childbirth at any time.
- If you choose to extend your policy, it really acts more like a brand new policy - this means any illness you came down with while on your original policy will probably count as pre-existing under the extension, and won’t be covered.
- Did the travel bug suddenly up and leave you? Unfortunately, if you change your mind about travelling or just aren’t having fun, you won’t be covered for any cancellation costs. This includes if you cancel your trip due to nerves, anxiety or depression.
- It’s probably pretty obvious - but if you’re found to have been breaking the law when your claim arises (which includes failing to follow instructions given by authorities) then your claim can be denied.
Making a claim with Bupa travel insurance
It’s great to know all the details about what you can make a claim on, but how do you do it?
The first step is to call or email Bupa within 30 days of completing your journey. They’ll set you up with a claims form which you need to fill out in full. Next, make sure you’ve got all the relevant documents to back up your claim, including receipts, medical certificates, police reports, or statements from transport companies concerning delays or loss of luggage. The more detail you can provide, the quicker and easier the claims process will be. Send it all into Bupa and they will contact you with the outcome.
If you’re still not sure, visit our guide to making a claim on your travel insurance.
Loading form ... 