Topic: Travel Insurance

What happens if you think you just have indigestion, book travel and insurance, and then discover your discomfort was actually cancer?

What happens if your bag is stolen in Kings Cross station while you are checking your tickets?

What happens if a minor toothache needs serious attention while you are overseas? Will your travel insurer cover you?

COVID-19 led to Japan’s government closing its borders, which led to Mele’s flights being cancelled. Mele’s insurer declined her travel insurance claim, saying the claim was caused by a government interfering with her travel. Was this fair?

Hemi’s insurance claim was declined because his policy required him to hold return tickets to New Zealand for a trip of less than 60 days. Hemi’s trip was only scheduled for two weeks, but he couldn’t book his New Zealand flights until his overseas tour dates were confirmed.

What happens if there are lots of reasons why you change your travel plans?

Jemima booked a tour in Italy for May 2020. When Italy became a hotspot for Covid-19, she decided to cancel the tour in March. Jemima’s insurer declined her claim due to an exclusion in the policy for claims arising from government interference, because Italy went into lockdown just before she cancelled the trip.

What happens if you booked airline tickets in February 2020 and your travel is disrupted by Covid-19? Will you be covered?

Mahalia was booked to travel to the Bahamas in April 2020. In March 2020, New Zealand went into lockdown and the Bahamas closed its borders. Could Mahalia’s insurer decline her trip because a government had interfered with her trip?

Will your insurer be obliged to cover your costs if you need to return home to New Zealand from overseas?