Peter Carter, Director of Carter Capner Law, says far too many people assume they’re guaranteed protection by taking out travel insurance but that it’s common for claims to be denied by insurers.
Mr Carter believes that Aussies should also think about a plan should there be an accident while holidaying.
Recently a New South Wales woman was reportedly denied an insurance payout after suffering serious injuries while holidaying in Greece. A Perth man crashed on a motorbike while riding in Romania and again his travel insurance didn’t pay.
“Insurers often conceal ambiguous policy exclusions in the fine print and in many cases the fine print is not made obvious to customers,” said Mr Carter.
He pointed to what insurers term “high risk activities” like riding a motorbike or jet skiing, and also to the consumption of alcohol as ways insurers can deny a claim.
“Keep in mind that insurers are in the business of claim denial. It’s part of their business model,” he added.
His recommendations for travellers before they leave Australia are:
- Choose your travel insurance carefully and check exclusions, as many will not cover what they may deem dangerous activities like skiing or jet boating.
- Book as much of your trip in Australia, as there is a higher likelihood of legal recourse.
- If injured and the travel insurer refuses to pay, challenge this legally, as they may be obligated to pay under the law.
- If you have an accident while overseas, you will need evidence of what happened, so leave a trail. This includes reporting details to local police and emergency services, and ensuring as much as possible is recorded or filmed. You will need proof.
- If injured, explore your legal options when you arrive back. Travel insurance stops on your return but there are other legal avenues that might help you.
