The fine print: key policy features to look out for
Heli-skiing cover:
Your Ski-Insurance.com.au travel insurance policy covers a lot of winter sports, but it doesn’t automatically cover heli-skiiing. If this is an activity you want to try, you can buy an extra cover for it either when you buy your original policy or when you’re on your trip.
Fine print: You’ll pay an additional premium and an excess of $500 on this cover. Ski-Insurance.com.au offer the option to remove excess for an extra premium, but this won’t apply to extra cover like the heli-skiing option. Also, you aren’t covered for accidental death or permanent disability or anything to do with the actual helicopter part of the activity.
Pre-existing medical conditions:
Ski-Insuracne.com.au travel insurance covers 34 pre-existing medical conditions, including hypertension, asthma and allergies.
Fine print: These conditions are only covered provided your condition has been stable and you have not been hospitalised for 12 months and you are not planning any surgery. Certain special rules will also apply to some conditions, such as diabetes, so check your PDS carefully. Any pre-existing medical condition other than the ones listed as automatically covered are not covered under Ski-Insurance.com.au travel insurance.
Family and seniors insurance:
If you’re hitting the slopes on a family trip, then good news! Ski-Insurance.com.au travel insurance policies cover dependents for no extra charge under a family or single policy. Single policies are available for Australian residents up to the age of 65, or 64 for multi-trip policies.
Fine print: Dependants are defined as financially dependent children or grandchildren (including fostered or adopted), under the age of 21. To be covered as a dependent, the child needs to be travelling with the policyholder for the duration of the trip.
Unfortunately, if you’re over 65, Ski-Insurance.com.au policies won’t cover you. Check out Mozo’s guide on travel insurance for seniors.
Extending your policy:
If you’ve checked your baggage in with a travel company and they are delayed, you can extend your Ski-Insurance.com.au policy for no extra charge. You can also extend for up to 12 months for any other reason, but an extra premium will apply.
Fine print: If you’re trip is delayed and you need to extend your policy you need to contact Ski-Insurance.com.au as soon as possible, because your cover is not extended until they have agreed to it. If you’re extending for another reason, you need to contact them seven days before your original policy ends. If you’re over 65, or if your extension is because of a pre-existing medical condition you won’t be able to extend.
Cancelling your policy:
Ski-Insurance.com.au offer a 14 day cooling off period, from the date they issue you a certificate of insurance, during which you can cancel your travel insurance policy for a full refund.
Fine print: This cooling off period only applies as long as you haven’t made a claim and your trip hasn’t started yet. After 14 days you can still cancel, but you won’t be given any refund.
Important information for a successful claim on your Ski-Insurance.com.au travel insurance
Once you’ve chosen a travel insurance policy to cover your next trip, you also need to know what special conditions or general exclusions might mean that your claim is rejected if something does go wrong. Here are some general rules to keep in mind, to make sure your claim with Ski-Insurance.com.au goes as smoothly as possible:
- If something is lost, stolen or damaged, or if you have to visit hospital or make a police report while you’re away, make sure you get official documentation. When you make a claim, you’ll be required to show proof, including proof of ownership if you're claiming on baggage or personal items. Proof of ownership usually means the original receipts for anything you’re claiming on.
- If you have to either cancel your travel or return to Australia because of the death or serious illness of a close relative, you can claim the costs of cancellation or return. However, if you were aware, or could reasonably have been expected to be aware, of any pre-existing medical conditions that would lead to this death or illness, you won’t be covered.
- If you do need to cancel your trip and make a cancellation claim, remember to get documentation supporting this. For example, if you have to cancel for medical reasons, make sure you get an official doctor’s certificate.
- For some benefits, such as emergency rescue, you’re only covered if you are participating in organised activities in areas designed for recreational skiing and if you’re trip takes place in the right season for winter activities.
- If you can claim compensation from any other source, like another insurance company, an airline or transport service, then you can’t make the same claim on your Ski-Insurance.com.au travel insurance. If you can only claim partial compensation from them, Ski-Insurance.com.au will cover the difference.
- If your luggage is damaged while checked into the cargo hold of a transport company then it won’t be covered under your travel insurance. You should contact the transport company about compensation.
- If your claim is related to being on a motorcycle without an appropriate license, it will be rejected.
- You aren’t covered for any trip or activity you participate in that goes against official warnings, including warnings to ‘reconsider your need to travel’.
- Pregnancy is not covered under Ski-Insurance.com.au travel insurance policies, so if your claim is related to pregnancy in any way, you won’t be covered.
How to make a claim with Ski-Insurance.com.au
If something does go wrong while you’re on your trip, you’ll need to make a claim on your Ski-Insurance.com.au travel insurance. Here are some quick steps to the process to make it easier and quicker:
Call or email Ski-Insurance.com.au: The first thing to do is let your provider know you’re making a claim. So give them a call and they can walk you through the claims process. When you call, remember to have your personal details and the details of your travel insurance policy on hand.
Get your relevant documents ready: Once you’ve contacted Ski-Insurance.com.au, you need to make sure you’ve got all the documents you need to prove your claim. Depending what claim you’re making, this might include medical certificates, police reports or receipts for personal items.
Complete and submit your claims form: You can download a claims form at Ski-Insurance.com.au’s website. Fill it out carefully, because if you submit an incomplete form, it could mean delays or even a reduction to your payment. You can submit the form, along with all your relevant documents, to Ski-Insurance.com.au via post or email.
Remember:- Always keep a copy of your claims form and other documents for your own records
- Your claim needs to be submitted within 30 days of the end of your trip
- Your claim should be processed within 10 business days, unless Ski-Insurance.com.au needs extra information, in which case you’ll receive notification of that within 10 days.
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