Fast Cover Travel Insurance

About Fast Cover

An Australian based travel insurance provider, Fast Cover has been offering cover for overseas trips for more than a decade! Its travel insurance policies are underwritten by Hollard, which also underwrites other big insurance retailers, such as Medibank, Woolworths Insurance and Australia Post. 

Rates and fees verified as correct at 17 May 2022. Other information correct at the time of writing.

What travel insurance policies does Fast Cover offer?

Fast Cover offers both domestic and international travel insurance. It also offers travel insurance for a number of different types of holiday, including cruise trip insurance, skiing holidays insurance and backpacker travel insurance.

Depending on your budget, you can choose between standard travel insurance and comprehensive travel insurance. Plus cover is available for different types of traveller too, including the intrepid solo traveller, students and backpackers, groups, families and seniors up to age 89. 

Just keep in mind that what exactly is covered will vary depending on which policy you choose, where you are travelling to and your age, so be sure to read the full product disclosure statement (PDS) before signing on the dotted line. A copy of this can be found on Fast Cover’s website. 

What should I know about Fast Cover travel insurance

What does Fast Cover’s international travel insurance cover?

Fast Cover’s international travel insurance includes both a medical benefit and a financial benefit. The amount of cover you receive with each benefit will depend on whether you opt for a standard or comprehensive travel insurance policy.

Generally though, the medical benefit will include cover for 24/7 emergency medical assistance, overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses, plus overseas emergency dental. 

The financial benefit includes cover for things like trip cancellation expenses, personal liability, trip disruption and trip resumption expenses, luggage and personal effects and passports, credit cards and credit card fraud.

Cover for rental vehicle excess is also available as an optional extra with both the standard and comprehensive policies. 

What medical benefits does Fast Cover’s international comprehensive travel insurance policy come with?

Fast Cover’s comprehensive international travel insurance includes both a medical and financial benefit. The medical benefit comes with the following cover:

• Unlimited 24/7 overseas emergency medical assistance

• Unlimited emergency medical and hospital expenses

• Up to $1,000 cover for overseas emergency dental expenses 

• Unlimited emergency evacuation and repatriation 

• Up to $5,000 cover for overseas hospital cash payments

• Up to $25,000 cover for accidental death

• Up to $50,000 cover for permanent disability

• Up to $10,400 cover for loss of income.

• Unlimited COVID-19 overseas medical and repatriation 

• Cover for COVID-19 trip cancellation and disruption 

The standard international travel insurance policy does not include cover for overseas hospital cash payments, accidental death, permanent disability or loss of income. Dental cover also comes with a lower $750 limit. You should also keep in mind that the above lists maximum amounts that can be claimed and may not be available in all cases as terms, conditions and sub-limits may apply. 

What financial benefits does Fast Cover’s international comprehensive travel insurance policy come with?

As well as the medical benefits listed above, Fast Cover’s comprehensive international travel insurance also comes with a number of financial benefits. These include:

• Unlimited cover for trip cancellation expenses

• Up to $5 million personal liability cover

• Up to $50,000 cover for trip disruption expenses

• Up to $3,000 cover for trip resumption expenses

• Up to $15,000 cover for luggage and personal effects

• Up to $5,000 cover for passports, credit cards and credit card fraud

• Up to $5,000 cover for special event transport expenses

• Up to $2,000 cover for travel delay expenses

• Up to $750 cover for luggage and personal effects delays

• Up to $250 cover for stolen cash.

Cover for rental vehicle excess is also available as an optional extra. Although again keep in mind that the above are maximum benefit amounts that can be claimed. These maximum amounts may not be available in all cases, as terms and conditions and other sub-limits may apply.

On top of this, if you opt for the standard international travel insurance cover for special event transport expenses, travel delay expenses, luggage and personal effects delays and stolen cash will not be included. 

Cover limits are also less with the standard policy. Again we recommend reading the product disclosure statement thoroughly, before taking out a policy. 

What medical assistance does Fast Cover’s travel insurance offer?

Fast Cover’s Overseas 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance benefit will include:

• Help with accessing a medical practitioner for emergency medical treatment while overseas

• Help with passing on messages to family members or your employer in case of an emergency

• Help with providing written guarantees for paying reasonable expenses for emergency hospitalisation overseas

• Help with arranging your medical transfer or evacuation, should you need to be transported to a hospital for emergency medical treatment while overseas

• Help with returning your dependents to Australia, should they be left without supervision 

• Help with covering reasonable funeral or cremation costs, should you die as a result of an injury or sickness during your trip.

The overseas 24/7 emergency medical assistance benefit comes with unlimited cover (although sub-limits may apply) for travellers aged up to 89 years old. Although older customers should be aware that the excess for travellers aged between 80 and 89 is $2,000, compared to $200 for customers aged 79 and under.

Does Fast Cover offer travel insurance for ski holidays?

Yes, Fast Cover offers snow sports travel insurance and it is available for both domestic and overseas trips. Fast Cover’s snow sports travel insurance includes much the same cover as its usual domestic and international travel insurance policies, but with an added snow sports benefit.

The snow sports benefit includes the following cover:

• Up to $1,500 cover for snow sport equipment

• Up to $1,500 cover for snow equipment replacement hire

• Up to $750 cover for snow prepaid expenses

• Up to $1,000 cover for snow resort closure.

It should also be noted that Fast Cover’s snow benefit is only available for travellers up to age 69. The above are also maximum benefit amounts that can be claimed, meaning you may not be able to claim these full amounts in all cases, as terms, conditions and other sub-limits may apply.

Does Fast Cover cover cruise holidays?

Yes, Fast Cover offers cruise travel insurance. Cover is available for both cruising internationally and in Australian waters. People who can purchase cruise covers from Fast Cover are: seniors (up to 89 years old), families, groups, couples and singles.

Cruise travel insurance benefits can include cover for:

• Overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses

• Medical evacuation and repatriation expenses (should you need to be flown home or to a hospital)

• Unexpected cancellation of your cruise trip

• Luggage and personal belongings

• Specific on-board activities and shore excursions

• 24 hour emergency assistance

• Special event transport expenses

• Travel delays - this means cover for extra costs incurred while you wait, such as for food and accommodation.

It’s important to know that even if you are just cruising in Australian waters, it is unlikely that you will be able to use your Medicare card. According to Fast Cover the only way you will be able to use your Medicare card is if there is a Medicare registered doctor on-board. This is unlikely, as a lot of cruise ships are US owned.

Does Fast Cover cover pre-existing medical conditions?

Fast Cover’s travel insurance policies cover up to 43 pre-existing medical conditions. 

Of course, even for pre-existing conditions that are covered there will be limitations. For example, even if your pre-existing condition is listed in the PDS, you must not have been hospitalised for it in the past 24 months. Your medications for the conditions must also have remained unchanged in the past six months.

It should also be noted that pregnancy is classed as a pre-existing condition, which is fairly common when it comes to travel insurance. Fast Cover provides some cover for pregnancy, but it is limited, read more about this in the FAQs below.

More FAQs on Fast Cover travel insurance

Does Fast Cover provide cover for Covid-19?

Fast Cover’s standard travel insurance policies do not provide cover for Covid-19 related delays or incidents. However, you may be able to purchase Fast Cover’s optional Covid-19 pack, if it is offered to you. The Covid-19 pack provides limited cover for pandemic related incidents for trips within Australia and New Zealand. Some benefits that come with the pack include emergency medical, hospital and medical evacuation expenses in New Zealand, cancellation costs if you contract Covid-19, expense coverage if you are ordered to isolate or quarantine and coverage if you are denied boarding your transportation. Read the full Fast Cover Travel Insurance Optional Covid-19 pack document to see exactly what is and what isn’t covered. 

Do age limits apply to Fast Cover’s travel insurance?

Fast Cover offers insurance to those aged up to 75 on domestic trips and up to 65 on overseas trips. However, some policies may not be available for travellers of a certain age and sub-limits may apply depending on age. The age limit is also different depending on whether you purchase a policy before leaving Australia or after. 

Other age limits can apply for sports and adventure travellers, as well as for certain medical conditions. We recommend reading the full PDS to make sure you are aware of all the age limits and sub-limits that apply.

Does Fast Cover’s travel insurance cover pregnancy?

As is the case with a lot of travel insurance policies, Fast Cover provides some cover for pregnancy, but it is limited. Fast Cover classifies pregnancy as a pre-existing condition and may cover some costs for unexpected serious complications relating to pregnancy. Cover will only be available for pregnancy up to week 23 for a single child and up to week 19 for twins or multiple children. Some exclusions with pregnancy cover include childbirth and care for a newborn baby, which means that actual childbirth is not covered, no matter what stage of the pregnancy you give birth. Check the PDS for a full list of inclusions and exclusions related to pregnancy.

Can I cancel my Fast Cover travel insurance?

Yes, you can cancel your Fast Cover travel insurance policy at any time. Plus it comes with a 25 day money back guarantee. This means that if you cancel your cover within 25 days of purchasing it and you have not travelled anywhere or made a claim, Fast Cover will give you a full refund.

How much does Fast Cover travel insurance cost?

What you pay for Fast Cover travel insurance will depend on a number of factors including which policy you choose, where you are travelling to and your age. As with all types of insurance, premiums will be calculated on a case-by-case basis. According to Fast Cover’s PDS, some factors that are taken into account when working out your premium are your age, the length of your trip and of course, the policy you choose. Please read the PDS for more.

How do I make a claim with Fast Cover?

To lodge a claim with Fast Cover you can either submit a form online through their website, download the form from their website and submit it via email or post, or call Fast Cover’s claims team on 1300 409 322.

Information you may need to submit a claim include: medical reports, a medical certificate from a doctor, invoices, purchase receipts, police reports, written statements and photographs. You will also need to have your insurance certificate with your policy number handy, as well as your bank details. 

When should I make a claim with Fast Cover?

Fast Cover says medical, hospital or dental claims should be made as soon as possible. That way Fast Cover may be able to provide assistance and pre-approve expenses. Lost or stolen luggage or personal belongings should be reported to the police in the country you are visiting and you should obtain a written notice of your report. All claims must be submitted to Fast Cover within 30 days of returning from your trip. 

Compare Fast Cover travel insurance policies with other travel insurance providers

There are so many companies offering travel insurance policies these days, so don’t make a hasty decision when it comes to your next overseas trip! Check out the options available to you and find a policy that fits your needs with Mozo’s easy to use travel insurance comparison tool. All you have to do is fill in the dates of your travel, your destination and how many people you’ll be travelling with for a quick and easy comparison of the best travel insurance policies available to Australians.

You can also check out Mozo’s guide to travel insurance for some tips on making your travel insurance policy work for you, and remember to drop by our travel hub for some helpful articles, tips and tools to plan a money savvy holiday.