THE last thing you want on holidays is an unfortunate incident. But if something does happen, you'd be less than pleased if your insurance claim was turned down because you weren't adequately prepared.
From putting high-value items, like laptops and jewellery, in your check-in luggage, to leaving your belongings unattended, online travel insurer InsureandGo says it is essential you fully understand your travel policy so you know whether you can make a claim on costly holiday mistakes.
"The last thing you want is for something to go wrong and spoil your travels, and then on top of that, discover that your travel insurance claim isn't successful because you failed to disclose to your policyholder essential information about yourself," said spokesperson Jonathan Etkind.
"This could be anything from not disclosing any pre-existing medical conditions, to partaking in activities that breach your insurance policy conditions.
"Although travel insurance is both important and necessary when travelling, before purchasing just any policy, travellers need to think about where they are going, what they will be doing at their destination, and what they are likely to need cover for.
"They also need to declare any pre-existing health conditions, as well as the valuable items they will be taking with them.
"These are important considerations that will help travellers choose a policy that is right for them - and, in the unfortunate event that something goes wrong, help them understand whether or not they will be covered."
Here are InsureandGo's seven surprising things you need to do to ensure your travel claim is accepted on common holiday mistakes:
1. Golden rule: Accompany your belongings at all times. As long as you carry them with you, or they are locked in a safe at your accommodation, you can be reimbursed by your policy for items that are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip. However, luggage left unattended or unsecured in a public place could nullify a claim. This includes any personal belongings you leave with someone who is not travelling with you for more than 50 per cent of your trip. It also applies to any personal belongings you accidentally left in your hotel room, after you checked out.
2. Have proof of ownership. Whether it is receipts for expenses, itineraries or travel contracts, the key thing is to ensure you keep a copy of anything that will verify the lost, stolen or damaged possessions are yours. You don't need to carry copies of these original documents while you travel, but they will provide the proof of ownership you need to process a claim once you return home.
3. High-value items often need additional cover. Never assume valuable items such as phones, laptops, cameras and jewellery will be automatically covered. They are often excluded from standard or basic travel insurance policies, or their cover is capped at just a few hundred dollars. However, each insurer has a maximum benefit or limit they will pay for high-value items, and some have the option of customising the sub-limit on each item. For instance, InsureandGo offers a Gold policy with cover of up to $8000 for lost or damaged personal belongings. Even then, if you are travelling with an extremely valuable item, such as a $10,000 engagement ring, you might want to consider insuring it under a separate policy.
4. Record the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of your mobile phone. Your travel insurance generally will not cover you for any claim relating to a lost, stolen or damaged mobile device if you are unable to supply the 15- or 17-digit unique number found within the settings of mobile devices, and used to identify them. You will also need to provide proof you have blocked this number by an Australian telecommunications provider to be eligible for a claim. When blocked, your device is inoperable.
5. Most self-inflicted injuries and illnesses from high-risk activities won't be covered. If you knowingly put yourself in danger, you run the risk of having your cover invalidated if an incident occurs. In general, reckless activities will not be covered by your travel insurer. Likewise, if you ignore official advice by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website, and suffer an incident, your claim could be invalid. For instance, if you caught a tropical disease and did not get the recommended vaccinations, your claim for medical services may be denied.
6. You cannot make a cancellation claim because of the illness of a close relative or friend - unless they weren't ill before you bought your policy. You won't be covered if they were ill, or they were aware of an existing medical condition, when you bought your policy. Some providers may not provide coverage for close relatives who aren't Australian residents, who are present in Australia at the time the illness occurs.
7. Most travel delay cover only applies to flights. A standard insurance policy will only tend to cover flight delays, not delays with other modes of transport. The reimbursable costs in relation to flight delays will include accommodation and meals that you had to pay for as a result of the delay. For instance, cruise delays are only covered when you take out a cruise travel policy. With InsureandGo, cruise-goers can buy a tailored cruise travel insurance policy that will cover them for any delays on their trip.