If you’re planning a holiday, you’re probably busy sorting out the details and thinking about your itinerary. It’s an exciting time, but it’s important to consider unexpected events too. Sometimes things don’t always go to plan. Hiccups such as delays in flights, lost bags, medical emergencies or a bingle in the rental car may never happen, but how would you cover the cost if they did?
This is where travel insurance often comes in. Here, we’ll explore the potential benefits of complimentary travel insurance that comes with some credit cards, find out what’s generally covered, and when it might be necessary to take out additional coverage.
What is complimentary credit card travel insurance?
Credit card complimentary travel insurance is a type of insurance provided by certain credit cards at no additional cost.
For eligible Westpac credit card holders, if you meet the terms and conditions and eligibility criteria, the complimentary credit card insurance on your card includes Complimentary International Medical Travel Insurance,[#] and Complimentary Domestic Travel Insurance and Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance in Australia.[#]
What does complimentary travel insurance typically cover?
Complimentary credit card insurance between different providers can vary. The Westpac complementary travel insurance key covers include:
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Overseas travel insurance, including: Overseas Emergency Assistance (including Medical Evacuation and Repatriation, Overseas Medical & Hospital Expenses (including Dental), Funeral Expenses and Personal Liability
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The maximum trip duration of cover for Complimentary International Medical Travel Insurance is:
- 1 month for Altitude Platinum Mastercard, Altitude Qantas Platinum Mastercard, Altitude Velocity Platinum Mastercard
- 3 months for Altitude Black Mastercard, Altitude Qantas Black Mastercard, Altitude Velocity Black Mastercard and Low Fee Platinum Mastercard
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Should you require additional benefits such as Trip Cancellation, Travel Delay and Luggage you will need to consider purchasing Comprehensive International Travel Insurance[#] to upgrade your cover
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Domestic travel insurance key benefits include; Cancellation, Flight Delay, Luggage Lost and Luggage Delay.
Should you require additional benefits such as Trip Cancellation, Travel Delay and Luggage you will need to consider purchasing Comprehensive International Travel Insurance to upgrade[#] your cover. Be sure to read the terms and conditions and eligibility criteria to check your eligibility.
Limitations and exclusions of credit card insurance policies
Credit card insurance has some common general exclusions, which means if an incident occurs you won’t be covered for it. Some of these may include:
- Pre-existing conditions: generally, no cover is available for any claims arising from or related to any pre-existing medical conditions, including pregnancy and ante-natal care.
- High-risk activities such as scuba diving, mountaineering, water skiing, running with the bulls, off-piste skiing, white water rafting, canyoning and quad biking
- Travel to countries with certain government travel advisories, including “reconsider your need to travel” or “do not travel” alerts on Smart Traveller
- Age limits and trip length limitations: depending on your card, age limits may apply to complementary benefits, and the length of complimentary insurance cover you can access for your trip may also vary.
It’s important to understand what is not covered in your policy, and depending on the type of holiday you’re planning, you might want to consider supplementary insurance. An adventurous holiday with some extreme sports might call for extra coverage.
It’s also important to know that travel insurance coverage isn’t unlimited; sub-limits (or pre-determined caps) are often in place on specific expenses, which limit how much you can claim.
Comparing credit card travel insurance to standalone policies
There are differences between travel insurance offered through credit cards and what a separate, standalone travel insurance policy offers. Advantages of credit card insurance may include no additional cost and the convenience of having coverage linked to your credit card. For Complimentary International Medical Travel Insurance, you must ‘Activate’ the insurance through Westpac Online Banking or the Westpac App before you travel. At activation, you can choose to upgrade[#] your cover by purchasing Comprehensive International Travel Insurance[#]and add optional extras for an additional cost if it suits your travel needs.
However, it’s important to note that credit card travel insurance may offer less comprehensive coverage than standalone insurance, with fewer customisation options. If you plan on participating in high-risk activities, have specific coverage needs, your trip duration is longer than the period covered by your credit card insurance, or have a pre-existing medical condition, you might want to consider purchasing additional insurance.
Find out more about Westpac credit card Complimentary Insurances
How to make a claim on your travel insurance
To make a claim on Westpac credit card travel insurance, contact Allianz Global Assistance, as soon as possible after an incident and have any relevant supporting documentation ready to help the claims process.
Tips for maximising your credit card travel insurance
To get the most out of your complimentary international travel insurance, here are a few tips you may want to consider:
- Before your trip: You’ll need to activate any eligible Complimentary International Medical Travel Insurance[#] through Westpac Online Banking or the Westpac App before you travel. To ‘Activate’ sign into Westpac Online Banking or the Westpac App, search ‘Complimentary Credit Card Insurance’ and select ‘Activate’ on the Westpac Credit Card Complimentary Travel Insurance website.
- During your trip: Keep records and receipts, and maintain contact with your insurer if needed.
- After your trip: Review your policy and submit any claims promptly.
To sum up
There are many uncertainties when travelling and insurance may help you be prepared for your travels. Understanding which eligible credit cards offer travel insurance, what’s included, and how to claim will help you feel informed about how you are covered and give you peace of mind should anything unexpected happen while you are away.