Travel insurance information for Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank conflict.
The following information concerns those affected by the conflict in Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank July 2014. We will assess all claims in accordance with your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and your Certificate of Insurance.
If you entered into your policy before midday (EST) Wednesday 23rd July:
If you are currently travelling or not yet departed:
- The situation in Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is evolving and we will monitor it closely. If you make a claim we will assess your claim in accordance with the terms and conditions of your policy. Limits, conditions and exclusions apply under your policy and for full details you should refer to the Product Disclosure Statement and Certificate of Insurance you received when you purchased your travel insurance.
- We recommend you contact your travel agent or travel provider regarding the best option in altering your trip. Some travel providers may provide penalty free options to amend travel arrangements and we recommend you contact them for further details.
If you entered into a policy after midday (EST) Wednesday 23rd July:
- Our policies do not cover claims for losses caused by something that you were aware of at the time of purchasing your policy. If you entered into a policy after midday (EST) Wednesday 23rd July we would expect that this was done with an awareness of the conflict in Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. For these policies, we will not, to the extent permitted by law, pay any claim caused by or arising from or in any way connected with the conflict in Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In addition, we reserve the right to rely on the full terms and conditions of the policy when assessing your claim.
What next steps should you take?
You should take all reasonable steps to minimise your expenses and this includes rearranging your journey where possible.
- We will assess your claim under the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy. If you have a Cancellation only policy, your policy does not include cover for any additional expenses. If you have a Budget policy, please refer to your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the precise benefits covered.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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