15 things not usually covered by IEC Travel Insurance

1. You do not act in a responsible way to protect yourself and your property.

2. You do not do everything you can reasonably do to reduce your loss as much as possible.

3. Your claim arises from consequential loss of any kind, including but not limited to financial loss, loss of enjoyment, or the devaluation or depreciation of currency.

4. Your claim arises from you being aware at the time of purchasing the policy of something that would give rise to you making a claim under this policy.

5. Your claim arises from a loss which is recoverable by compensation under any workers compensation or transport accident laws or by any government sponsored fund, plan, or medical benefit scheme, or any other similar type legislation required to be effected by or under a law.

6. Your claim arises from being denied boarding of any airline, shipping line or other carrier due to COVID-19 vaccination requirements, or from errors or omissions in any booking arrangements, failure to obtain relevant visa, passport or travel documents, or being rejected access to a country on arrival for any reason.

7. Your claim arises from you acting unlawfully or breaking any government prohibition, laws or regulation including visa requirements.

8. Your claim arises from a government authority detaining anyone, or confiscating or destroying anything.

9. Your claim arises from any government prohibition, regulation or intervention.

10. Your claim arises from:

a. you participating in motocross, off road, jumping, racing or competition of any sort even if you have purchased the Adventure Pack or Motorcycle Pack;

b. the use of a two-wheeled or three-wheeled motor vehicle unless you as the driver or a passenger are wearing a crash helmet (this is irrespective of the law in the country you are in).

11. Your claim arises from you being in control of a motor vehicle without a current Australian driver’s licence.

12. Your claim arises from:

a. you being a rider in control of a motorcycle, moped or scooter, unless you have purchased the Motorcycle Pack option, and you have:

i. a current Provisional or higher Australian motorcycle licence valid for the same class of motorcycle or a current Provisional or higher Australian driver’s licence for mopeds or scooters; and

ii. an equivalent Provisional or higher licence (if required) valid for the country that you are riding in.

b. you being a passenger on a motorcycle, moped or scooter unless you have purchased the Motorcycle Pack option, and the motorcycle, moped or scooter is in the control of a person with:

i. a current Provisional or higher Australian motorcycle licence valid for the same class of motorcycle or a current Provisional or higher Australian driver’s licence for mopeds or scooters; or

ii. an equivalent Provisional or higher licence valid (if required) for the country that you are riding in.

13. Your claim arises from you being in control of a recreational all-terrain vehicle (including but not limited to quad-bikes, trikes and buggies) on a recreational all-terrain vehicle unless you:

a. are under the direct supervision of a properly licensed recreational organisation, and

b. are obeying all relevant safety codes, and

c. are wearing protective gloves and a motorcycle rider’s helmet suitable for the activity, and

d. were a single rider.

14. Your claim arises from or is related to or is associated with:

a. an actual or likely epidemic or pandemic; or

b. the threat of an epidemic or pandemic, except when specifically contemplated under Benefit 27: COVID-19 Overseas Emergency Medical, Hospital and Medical Evacuation Expenses and/or Benefit 28: COVID-19 Trip Cancellation and Disruption. Refer to who.int and smartraveller.gov.au for further information on epidemics and pandemics.

15. Your claim arises from you not following advice in the mass media or any government or other official body’s warning:

a. of a strike, riot, bad weather, civil protest or contagious disease (including an epidemic or pandemic); or

b. against travel to a particular country or parts of a country or against remaining in a particular country or parts of a country; or

c. where a travel advisory risk rating of ‘Do Not Travel’ (or equivalent if this term is replaced) was issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade after policy purchase; and

d. you did not reasonably take appropriate action to avoid or minimise any potential claim under your policy (including delay of travel to the country or part of the country referred to in the warning). Refer to who.int and smartraveller.gov.au for further information.

16. Your claim arises from any act of war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities or war like operations (whether war be declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, civil commotion assuming the proportions of or amounting to an uprising, military or usurped power.

17. Your claim arises from a nuclear reaction or contamination from nuclear weapons or radioactivity.

18. Your claim arises from a biological and/or chemical materials, substances, compounds or the like used directly or indirectly for the purpose to harm or to destroy human life and/or create public fear.

19. Your claim arises from any search and rescue costs charged to you by a government, regulated authority or private organisation connected with finding and rescuing an individual.

20. Your claim arises from any:

a. medical condition or pregnancy condition that existed during the period of 3 years prior to your policy issue date which is:

i. not listed as a covered condition in your certificate of insurance, or

ii. listed as an excluded condition in your certificate of insurance.

b. medical condition or pregnancy condition which was listed as a covered condition on your certificate of insurance on the issue date of the policy, but changes in health have occurred after the issue date of the policy and before the departure of your trip, unless:

i. before the date of departure for your trip, you complete a new medical screening after the changes in health occur, and

ii. we have agreed to list the Changes in health as a covered Medical condition or Pregnancy condition on your certificate of insurance (and you have paid the applicable additional premiums).

This General Exclusion 20. (b) does not apply to a claim under Cover Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses relating to the cancellation or rescheduling of your trip which occurs between the issue date of your policy and the date of departure for your trip.

21. Your claim arises from sickness, injury or death of your travelling companion, where you were aware of the likelihood of their sickness, injury or death at the time you purchased your policy.

22. Your claim arises from or is directly or indirectly related to any:

a. Routine medical, dental, chiropractor, physiotherapist or prenatal check-ups and visits, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us following a medical screening,

b. Cosmetic treatments, or for any complications or other claims arising from such procedures or treatments, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us following a medical screening,

c. Medical treatment undertaken against the advice of any medical practitioner,

d. Travel undertaken to seek medical advice, treatment, review or clinical trials,

e. Planned medical procedures or other non-emergency medical treatments or for any complications or other claims arising from such procedures or treatments, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us following a medical screening,

f. Undiagnosed conditions where you were aware of, or a reasonable person in your circumstances reasonably should have been aware of:

i. the change, signs or symptoms (including but not limited to: pain or discomfort anywhere on your body, persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath or unexplained bleeding), or

ii. the change and had not sought medical opinion, or

iii. was advised by your medical practitioner that the cause cannot be defined and/or it is still under investigation.

23. Your claim arises from or is any way related to a medical condition or pregnancy condition which existed within the period of 3 years prior to the policy issue date, of any person who is not named on your certificate of insurance except as specifically considered as Close relative conditions under Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses, Benefit 6: Trip Disruption Expenses or Benefit 7: Trip Resumption Expenses.

24. Your claim arises from or is in respect of travel booked or undertaken against the advice of any medical practitioner.

25. Your claim arises from or is associated with pregnancy, childbirth or related complications except as specified under Pregnancy Cover in our PDS.

26. Your claim arises from or involves a hospital where you are being treated for addiction to drugs or alcohol, or are using it as a nursing, convalescent or rehabilitation place.

27. Your claim arises from or involves the cost of medication in use at the time the trip began or the cost for maintaining a course of treatment you were on prior to the trip.

28. Your claim arises from:

a. your, your spouse or partner, close relative or your travelling companion’s suicide or attempted suicide; or

b. your, your spouse or partner, close relative or your travelling companion injuring yourself or themself deliberately or putting yourself in danger (unless you are trying to save a human life).

29. Your claim arises from a sexually transmitted disease except where you have completed a medical screening, we have agreed to provide cover, you have paid the additional premium (if applicable), and it is listed on your certificate of insurance as a covered medical condition.

30. Your claim arises directly or indirectly from you, another person listed as covered in the certificate of insurance, your partner, or your travelling companion using alcohol or drugs (unless the drugs have been prescribed by your medical practitioner).

31. You receive private hospital or medical treatment where we have advised you that there is:

a. Public funded services or care available to you at your destination; or

b. A treatment at a public hospital is available under a Reciprocal Health Agreement between the Government of Australia and the government at your destination.

32. We determine that you should return to Australia for treatment and you do not agree to do so. Under this circumstance we will pay you the amount that we determine would cover your overseas medical expenses and/or related costs had you agreed to our recommendation. You will then be responsible for any ongoing or additional costs relating to or arising out of the event you have claimed for.

33. Your claim arises from any medical procedures in relation to AICD/ICD insertion during your overseas trip. We will exercise our right to organise a repatriation to Australia for this procedure to be completed if you, your travelling companion or a close relative requires this procedure due to sudden and acute onset which occurs for the first time during your period of insurance and it is not directly or indirectly related to a medical condition.

34. Your claim arises from or is any way related to the death, terminal diagnosis sickness, injury or hospitalisation of any person aged 85 years and over at the time of the claimable event (other than you), regardless of the country in which they live.

35. Your claim arises from or relates to any event or occurrence where providing such cover would result in us contravening the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth), the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 (Cth) or the National Health Act 1953 (Cth) (as amended or superseded).

36. Your claim arises from you racing or participating in any race, other than racing on foot. 

37. Your claim arises from you participating in any snow sports unless you have purchased the Snow Sport Plus Policy if travelling internationally or the Domestic Plus Policy if travelling within Australia.

38. Your claim arises from you participating in any sports or recreational activities not listed in the ‘Covered Sports and Leisure Activities’ list in our PDS, except as provided under the Adventure Pack if you have purchased the Adventure Pack option.

39. Your claim arises from events which occur whilst you are participating in professional sport in a professional capacity of any kind.

40. Your claim arises from you participating in downhill mountain biking even if you have purchased the Adventure Pack or Bicycle Pack.

41. Your claim arises from an event where a Travel Alert for that event was issued by us prior to the issue of your certificate of insurance. Events include (but is not limited to): strike, riot, hijack, civil protest, severe weather, natural disaster or contagious disease.

42. Your claim arises from any person, company or organisation (including but not limited to any airline, or other carriers, accommodation provider, car rental agency, travel agency including online travel agencies, online travel and leisure retailer, tour or cruise ship operator, travel wholesaler, booking agent or other providers of facilities or travel or tourism-related services), refusing, failing or not having ability to provide services, facilities or accommodation, due to their own financial collapse or the financial collapse of any other person, company or organisation providing facilities or travel or tourism-related services.

43. The provision of cover or a liability to pay any claim or provide any benefit under the policy would expose us and/or our reinsurer(s) to any sanction, prohibition or restriction under United Nations resolutions or the trade or economic sanctions, laws or regulations of Australia, the European Union, United Kingdom or United States of America.

44. Your claim is caused deliberately or accidentally by the use of, or inability to use, any application, software or program in connection with any electronic device (for example a computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet or internet-capable electronic device).

45. Your claim relates to any travel to Cuba, Iran or North Korea.

46. Your claim arises from your failure to comply with any ticketing or booking conditions or requirements. 
47. Your claim is related to travel on a Cruise ship or arising whilst on a Cruise ship, if you have not selected Cruise cover, except if you are travelling on a Cruise ship: 

a. within Australian waters, the New Zealand or the South Pacific Region without any overnight stay; 

b. within Asia, Europe or Worldwide Regions for 3 nights or less; or 

c. on a river cruise, 

except this General Exclusion 47 does not apply to the Frequent Traveller Saver Policy. 

48. Your claim relates to any loss, cost or expense which is recoverable from any other source.
49. The event relates to a claim under Benefit 10: Permanent Disability, Benefit 11: Loss of Income or Benefit 18: Personal Liability which arises from you participating in any activities listed under the Adventure Pack, even if you have purchased the Adventure Pack. 
50. The event relates to a claim under Benefit 10: Permanent Disability, Benefit 18: Personal Liability or Benefit 19: Rental Vehicle Excess which arises from you being a passenger, or a rider in control of a motorcycle, moped or scooter, even if you have purchased the Motorcycle Pack.

Cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Please note: any advice is general advice only and has not taken into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the PDS prior to deciding whether this policy is right for you.

No, you are not covered if you make a claim which resulted from you being under the influence or addicted to intoxicating liquor or drugs, unless the drug was prescribed to you by a doctor.

This is a GENERAL EXCLUSION in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Travel insurance is designed to cover you for unexpected events. Generally speaking, anything that has already happened prior to policy purchase (e.g. an already erupting Bali volcano causes flights to be cancelled) or is likely to happen (e.g. going to hospital for an existing medical condition not listed as covered on your policy) are things you cannot claim.

We do note that every traveller's situation is different. In the event of a claim, our friendly claims team will assess each situation on a case by case basis.

Cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

To properly understand the policy's significant features, benefits and risks you need to carefully read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for more detail:

• 'Before you buy this policy there are 11 things you must know' - this contains important information on who can purchase the policy, age limits and the choice of policies and cover types available to you;
• The benefit limits provided under each policy in the 'Benefit Summary' table, when we will pay a claim under each Benefit section applicable to the cover you choose and any endorsements under the 'Optional Cover' section (remember, certain words have special meanings - see the 'Words with Special Meanings' section in the PDS);
• 'Important Matters' - this contains important information on Your Certificate of Insurance, the period of insurance and extensions of cover, your Duty of Disclosure (including how the Duty applies to you and what happens if you breach the Duty), cooling off period, Financial Claims Scheme and the dispute resolution process;
• When we will not pay a claim under each Benefit section applicable to the cover you choose and the General Exclusions that apply to all Benefits (this restricts the cover and benefits); and
• 'What You need to do when making a Claim' - this details what to need to do when making a claim and sets out certain obligations that you and we have. If you do not meet them we may refuse to pay a claim.

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