If you have a policy and are already travelling:
You can claim up to the limits as specified in your Certificate of Insurance, for the reimbursement of the reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses if a disruption to your trip arises because your scheduled or connecting transport is cancelled, delayed, shortened or diverted because of this event.
There is provision for cover under the following Benefits of the policy subject to the policy terms, conditions, limits, sub limits, benefit exclusions and General Exclusions:
- Benefit 5 – Trip Cancellation Expenses.
- Benefit 6 – Trip Disruption Expenses
- Benefit 16 – Travel Delay Expenses
- Benefit 17 – Special Event Transport Expenses
Note there is no cover for the above Benefits unless your travel has been directly affected by this event.
Please note the below specific General Exclusions which may impact your policy:
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 before the start date of your trip; 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.
39. 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.
If you have a policy but haven't left home yet:
You can claim up to the limits as specified in your Certificate of Insurance, for the unexpected cancellation of your prebooked and pre-paid trip bookings which are affected by this event.
Note:
- Any compensation and/or refunds you receive from a third party (e.g. airline) for transport, food or accommodation will be deducted from any settlement if your claim is accepted.
- You will need to submit all receipts for any additional transport, food or accommodation expenses. If you are claiming cancellation or additional expenses you will need to submit all documents showing what your original planned pre-paid arrangements were, along with any receipts and documents showing your new arrangements, and advice from the travel provider indicating the non-refundable portion of the journey.
- Finally, to help Australians avoid difficulties overseas, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) maintains travel advisories for more than 160 destinations overseas via its website www.smarttraveller.gov.au. DFAT’s travel advice provides accurate, up-to-date information about the risks Australians might face overseas, assisting you to make well-informed decisions about whether, when and where to travel. We recommend that you stay up-to-date with its destination specific travel advisories for the country of your destination as your travel insurance cover may be affected if you travel to high risk areas or situations.
