Frequently Asked Questions
You need to check the relevant legislation in your State and Territory, as the rules are different in each jurisdiction.
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Can I still get travel insurance if I am under 18?
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Will my travel insurance cover me if I am doing something considered legal in Australia but illegal in the country I am travelling to?
- In most cases the answer is no.
- Most travel insurance agreements will not cover you if you are engaging in illegal activity in the host country. Many people forget to check the legal requirements for the activities that they are undertaking in their host country. Even if the activity you are participating in is legal in Australia you may not be legally permitted to do it in another country. For example the legal age for consuming alcohol is 18 in Australia however in many other countries the legal age is 21.
- You can use our Phone a Lawyer service for a preliminary legal consultation if you think you may need legal advice.
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Do I have to tell the insurance company about my medical history?
- Yes. Most travel insurance agreements require you to disclose pre-existing conditions prior to entering into the agreement.
- In the event that you do not tell the insurance provider about a pre-existing condition or injury they may decline to cover your expenses in the event that your condition is aggravated or requires treatment while you are overseas.
- If you have any concerns you can use our free and anonymous Ask a Lawyer service to get information specific to your situation.
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Will my insurance cover be affected if I have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs?
- Yes. Alcohol or drug use will potentially affect your coverage.
- Insurance companies may be reluctant to cover you if you are engaging in activities with recklessness or disregard for your own personal safety. This includes engaging in certain activities while intoxicated or on drugs. For example if you go swimming while sober and you have an accident then you are more likely to be covered than if you are drinking alcohol on the beach all day and then decide to go swimming despite knowing that you are intoxicated.
- On the other hand if you are simply enjoying a wine at a restaurant overlooking the piazza in Rome and a scooter crashes into you then you would most likely be covered.
- You should also be mindful of the legal requirements for alcohol consumption or drug taking in the host country as your behaviour may be considered illegal. Some countries have a mandatory death penalty for consuming illegal drugs.
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Will my travel insurance cover me when I return to Australia?
- International travel insurance generally only covers overseas expenses although some insurers may cover you for events that occur in Australia such as an unforeseen delay on the way to the airport that causes you to miss a flight to your international destination. This will depend on your policy.
- Generally insurers will not pay for costs that are incurred after your return to Australia.
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What happens if my claim is refused and I need to go to court?
- Before you think about going to court you should first:
- exhaust all the internal review processes provided by your insurer; and
- contact the Financial Ombudsman Service and participate in the dispute resolution processes they provide: http://www.fos.org.au/resolving-disputes/.
- If you are still unsatisfied you will need to consider whether your claim is worth the expense of going to court.
- You will need to seek legal advice specific to your situation to identify whether your claim has a reasonable chance of success if you take it to court and what the costs of doing so are expected to be.
- You can use our Fixed Fee Quote service to call for tenders from experienced lawyers who may be able to assist you with this.
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