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~ TRAVEL INSURANCE - Who to deal with, and who not to ~

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Yep the reciprocal arrangements is not that great. (but then I have private health insurance in Aus - even before the tax stuff came into it. Never want to EVER be in a position where my health is compromised. People having to wait for surgeries blows my mind!

I needed an ultrasound in Canada and it came out of my own pocket cause my travel insurance had expired, like by a week (i got a new plan that day!)

 
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Mizu Kuma - 09 April 2014 05:15 PM

Pretty sure Off Piste generally means any un groomed or marked trails, so if it’s a marked run that’s on a trail map, then ya probably fine!!!!!

I reckon if there’s also no ropes/signs/markers that you’ve ducked, then ya pretty sweet!!!!!

I wouldn’t use the term “off piste” when speaking to these (possibly) non skiing call centre bunnies.

I believe most insurances the off-piste is “out of bounds”. Like Mizu said ropes and signs etc.

I swear we have had this convo in another thread on here.

I know some people don’t like travel insurance direct but they do cover what you need with the optional extra of snow activities cover.

http://service.travelinsurancedirect.com.au/customer/portal/articles/528580-cover-for-skiing-and-snowboarding

 
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drc13 - 13 March 2014 12:09 PM

AAMI who I usually use for snow trips has a weird line in their PDS regarding rental car coverage.

Is this the only reason you aren’t going with AAMI?

Doesn’t your credit card have insurance included?

If not maybe you should look at upgrading to gold or platinum card that includes travel insurance and paying for the car rental on that!

 
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ozgirl - 10 April 2014 07:06 PM
drc13 - 13 March 2014 12:09 PM

AAMI who I usually use for snow trips has a weird line in their PDS regarding rental car coverage.

Is this the only reason you aren’t going with AAMI?

Doesn’t your credit card have insurance included?

If not maybe you should look at upgrading to gold or platinum card that includes travel insurance and paying for the car rental on that!

Not a silly suggestion Kim as yes that was the main thing pulling me away from AAMI (can’t say I’ve checked other things on their PDS recently though)

I have a Citibank Signature CC which comes with complimentary insurance (Zurich) but unfortunately when I looked into it before it has this line in the PDS regarding rental car excess which looks like a deal breaker unless I’m reading it wrong it seems they only insure you if you’ve already purchased rental insurance??

They will only pay if you have:

(a) taken comprehensive motor insurance
against loss of or damage to the rental
vehicle as part of the rental agreement;

 
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Pretty much every car rental company have a comprehensive insurance component built in to the hire price already!!!!!

It’s just the amount of excess that you can vary!!!!!

So the credit card will cover the basic excess in this case, and therefore there’s no need to take out a reduced excess policy on the hire car!!!!!

 
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Well that’s great news and your interpretation definitely makes more sense as I’d based mine off a post I’d read on whirlpool http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2205270

I might have to look over AAMI again later as I’m pretty sure their PDS was worded similarly.

 
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Not sure where that guy gets the info that that the vehicle isn’t comprehensively insured just cause you haven’t opted for a reduced excess agreement?????

You can change the amount of liable excess on any insurance policy without it becomin no longer comprehensive!!!!!

Unless it states that that it is not a comprehensive policy on the vehicle in the first place????? Which I’ve never come across when hirin a car yet!!!!!

Prob is best like ya said, and check the wordin in ya card terms & conditions!!!!!

 
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Yep exactly what Mizu said!

 
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Well I called AAMI to clarify their rental car policy as well as confirming their off piste policy hadn’t changed.

Turns out they will cover rental car excess but only up to $2000 (I need $3000) and as long as I’m not competing snowboarding is all good.

So I’d say for now I might go with the combo of AAMI travel insurance which will cover the trip + snowboarding and I’ll pay for the hire car/van with my citibank CC which should hopefully give me full coverage of the $3000 excess via their insurance policy.

So for anyone wanting coverage for snowboarding AAMI still seems to be a fantastic affordable option.

 
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Looking for insurance atm, this is from 1cover’s Policy wording

27.2 WE WILL NOT PAY
a] We will not pay if your claim Arises from your participation
in bobsleighing, snow rafting, para-penting, heliskiing
(unless you have chosen and paid for additional Heliskiing
cover), ski acrobatics, Backcountry skiing, ski joreing, or
any form of power assisted skiing or use of mechanised
snow-mobiles except as provided by the recognised piste
authorities for transport

 

 
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This is from WorldNomads Policy wording

Skiing / snowboarding (backcountry/outside of resort boundary)* (3*)

Snowmobiling* (3*)

(*) You must be with a professional, qualified and licensed guide or operator

 

 
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Question,

I’m having trouble finding insurance that covers you backcountry without a guide. I’ve rang a couple of places and unless it is a guided tour they wont cover it. Even if the people in the group are qualified guides it means nothing if it isn’t a formed tour.

 
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Yep unfortunately that seems to be the case!

But do you blame them?

 
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ozgirl - 10 December 2014 01:02 PM

Yep unfortunately that seems to be the case!

But do you blame them?

I do if someone going with you is a fully qualified guide. How is that any different to going as part of a tour.
Even the lady i spoke with at Travel Insurance Direct said it was stupid

 
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Jake - 10 December 2014 01:22 PM
ozgirl - 10 December 2014 01:02 PM

Yep unfortunately that seems to be the case!

But do you blame them?

I do if someone going with you is a fully qualified guide. How is that any different to going as part of a tour.
Even the lady i spoke with at Travel Insurance Direct said it was stupid

The difference is that the Tour Company will have some sort of insurance themselves, along with a support procedure in the event of somethin goin wrong!!!!!

Whereas a Qualified Guide at the end of the day is no more guaranteed to get you out of trouble than an unqualified legend of the backcountry!!!!!

The company would also have to abide by that countries guidelines to operating such a business, and be regulated accordingly!!!!!

This makes insurance companies a lot more confident to insure someone against risk!!!!!