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Cover options for Overseas Medical & Hospital Expenses

Travel Insurance Guide
Travel Insurance Benefit 2 - Overseas Emergency Medical and Hospital Expenses

Having cover for your Emergency Medical and Hospital Expenses can help to reduce your financial burden!

No one particularly enjoys being ill at home, and it’s even worse when you’re overseas. Did you know that Medicare and private health insurance will only cover your medical expenses incurred in Australia? So unless you’re in a country which has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia (which means you have access to subsidised health care), you’ll end up footing the bill for your overseas medical and hospital expenses.

What is covered under the Overseas Emergency Medical and Hospital Expenses benefit?

Cover is available under our Overseas Emergency Medical and Hospital Expenses Benefit for unexpected overseas medical and hospital expenses incurred during an overseas medical emergency. Whether it's a broken bone or illness, it's also important to know that many hospitals overseas may not treat foreigners without a deposit first - they may want a lump sum upfront unless you have travel insurance to cover you. We can provide you with cover for the reasonable medical and hospital expenses incurred by you until you get back to Australia if your claim is for a reason that is covered under your policy.

Fast Cover's Overseas Emergency Medical and Hospital expenses benefit cover you for:

The reasonable medical or hospital expenses incurred due to your sickness or injury overseas, including for medical conditions which are listed as a covered condition on your certificate of insurance.
Hospital or medical expenses which has been confirmed in writing by a medical practitioner. You must ensure that you make every effort to reduce the hospital expenses to a minimum where manageable.

How much am I covered for Medical and Hospital Expenses?

Travellers up to the ages of 89 have unlimited* medical and hospital expenses!

What about pre-existing medical conditions?

Many Australians have pre-existing medical conditions, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t get travel insurance. Our policies can provide cover for both unexpected illnesses or injuries overseas, and for your pre-existing medical conditions if you complete a medical screening, we approve cover for your existing medical condition, you pay the additional premium and it is listed as covered on your certificate of insurance.

Fast Cover will not cover a medical condition (which we refer to on our website as pre existing medical conditions or existing medical conditions) that existed during the period:

Of 3 years prior to your policy issue date, and/or
Between the time of policy purchase and up until the date of departure for your trip (other than for a claim under Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses, relating to the cancellation or re-scheduling of your trip between the time of your policy issue date and the date of departure for your trip),

unless we agree to list the relevant medical condition (or pregnancy condition) as covered on the Certificate of Insurance. If any changes in health occur after we have listed any medical condition or pregnancy condition as covered and before the date of departure for you trip, the cover for those listed conditions is automatically excluded from the time the change in health occurred, unless you take an additional medical screening and we agree to list them as covered.

We consider a medical condition to mean any bodily or physical injury, physical defect, illness, disease or other medical or dental condition or sign or symptom of these things that you (including your dependants and anyone listed on your certificate of insurance):

required prescription medication or have been prescribed medication from a medical practitioner in writing,
sought or received medical advice from a medical practitioner or other health care professional,
have had tests, investigations, care, treatment, or medical attention including surgery,
have been admitted to hospital for (including emergency department or day surgery procedure), or
became aware of or which a reasonable person in the circumstances would have been aware of.

These also include but are not limited to:

the suffering or treatment of mental illness,
a brain, heart (such as any cardiovascular or coronary heart disease or any condition related to a heart or blood vessels), kidney, liver, respiratory, circulatory (such as high blood pressure, stroke, or transient ischaemic attack), cancer or cancerous condition,
reduced or deficient immune system;
a sign or symptom of the above matters;
an allergy or food intolerance;
a persistent and lasting health condition such as constant pain or long suffering pain or pain with a pattern of relapse and remission;
any conditions related to previous and current pregnancy as detailed in “What is a Pregnancy Condition” and “Pregnancy Cover” in our PDS.

Check out our Medical Conditions page for more information about medical screening for your medical conditions including information about the General Exclusions that may apply.

What is not covered under the Overseas Emergency Medical and Hospital Expenses benefit?

Any medical condition (that meets the definition and timeframes stated above under “What about Pre-existing Medical conditions”) that is not listed as a covered condition in your certificate of insurance.
Any medical condition (that meets the definition and timeframes stated above under “What about Pre-existing Medical conditions”) listed as an excluded condition in your certificate of insurance.
For any changes to your health, including for medical conditions which are listed as a covered condition on your certificate of insurance, which occur after you buy your policy and before you depart for your trip, if you do not complete a medical screening for, we do not approve cover for, and it is not listed as a covered condition on your certificate of insurance.
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.
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.
Medical treatment undertaken against the advice of any medical practitioner
Travel undertaken to seek medical advice, treatment, review or clinical trials,
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,
Undiagnosed conditions where you were aware of, or a reasonable person in your circumstances reasonably should have been aware of:
- 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
- the change and had not sought medical opinion, or
- was advised by your medical practitioner that the cause cannot be defined and/or it is still under investigation.
For the continuation or follow up of medical treatment (including medication and ongoing immunisations) that started prior to your trip.
For any claims arising from activities including but not limited to cruising, snow sports, adventure sports and riding a motorcycle, moped or scooter, which require you to select the additional cover at the time you took out your policy or prior to your departure date, and you pay the appropriate additional premium.
If you do not notify us as soon as practical of your admittance to hospital.
After 2 weeks of treatment by a chiropractor or physiotherapist unless approved by us.
For any medical treatment or ambulance transportation which is provided in Australia.
More than the benefit summary you are entitled to in our PDS.
If you do not take our advice.
If you have received medical care that is covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement between Australia and the country you are being treated in.
If your medical expenses is not due to reason that is covered under your policy.
If you don’t declare all your existing medical or pregnancy conditions when you complete your medical screening, you may not have cover for your medical or pregnancy conditions that are listed as covered on your certificate of insurance. This is because some medical conditions may be interconnected.

This is only a summary of cover and the relevant exclusions under some of the benefits, therefore, as always, you should check the PDS for full details on the terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits that apply to your policy.

What if my Existing Medical condition can't be covered?

If you do a medical screening for your existing medical condition and we can’t provide you with cover for the medical condition, you can still purchase a policy with us, however, if you experience a complication relating to your medical condition while you’re overseas, theres no cover under any policy benefits for claims relating to that medical condition.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition and wish to have cover for that condition that we are unable to offer cover for, you can check with the Insurance Council of Australia, as they may be able to give you a list of travel insurers who may be able to assist you with cover.

What should I do if I have a medical emergency?

If you have a medical emergency, contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance team as soon as you are able to. The Emergency Assistance Team will be able to advise you on what you need to do, and if required, liaise with the hospital regarding your expenses.

The 24/7 Emergency Assistance number can be found on your Certificate of Insurance and also on our website.

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What to do

Are you overseas and need emergency medical help?

Cover options for Overseas Medical & Hospital Expenses