What is travel insurance cancellation cover?
Travel insurance cancellation cover is designed for situations where cancelling your trip is necessary and unavoidable because of an unforeseen event covered by your policy.
If a covered event happens before you leave, you may be able to claim for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs - including flights, accommodation, tours and other eligible expenses - up to the limits shown in your policy.
In some cases, you may also be able to claim the cost of rescheduling your trip before departure, as long as rescheduling does not cost more than cancelling. This benefit can only be claimed once per policy, per insured person. If you claim the cost of rescheduling your trip and are travelling on dates outside of your original trip dates, a new policy is not required to be purchased if you are travelling within your original trip dates.
What's included in InsureandGo Australia's cancellation cover?
If you need to cancel your trip for a reason covered by your policy, cancellation cover can help with certain prepaid costs you cannot get back from your travel provider, up to the limits shown in your Table of Benefits and Insurance certificate. These may include:
Covered
- Travel and accommodation: Flights, accommodation and prepaid meals you’ve paid for, or agreed to pay for under a contract, that are not refundable.
- Tours, excursions and activities: Prepaid tours, excursions and activities that you cannot reasonably recover from another source.
- Visas: Visa costs you’ve paid and cannot reasonably recover from another source.
- Travel agent cancellation fees: Travel agent cancellation fees up to 10% of the amount paid to the travel agent, where full payment or the maximum deposit has been paid at the time of cancellation.
- Course or tuition fees: Up to $2,000 for tuition or course cancellation costs, if the sole purpose of your trip is to attend the course and it’s cancelled due to circumstances outside your control.
What events can the policy provide cover for?
Our policies can provide cover for cancellation costs, if it is necessary and unavoidable for you to cancel your trip due to one of the listed events under the cancellation section.
Cover depends on the event, your level of cover and any upgrades you've purchased and the limits shown in your Insurance certificate. The events listed under this section include:
Events covered
- Unexpected illness, injury or death: If you unexpectedly die, become injured or fall ill before your trip.
- Illness, injury or death of someone close to you: If your relative, business associate or travelling companion unexpectedly dies, becomes injured or falls ill.
- Court or jury duty: If you’re required to attend court as a witness or serve on a jury - but not as an expert witness.
- Vehicle accidents on self-drive holidays: If a vehicle you planned to travel in is involved in an accident within 7 days before your departure and you can no longer use it.
- Emergency service or defence force duties: If you, your relative or travelling companion need to stay in Australia for emergency duties or are unexpectedly posted overseas.
- Damage to your home or business: If you need to stay in Australia because of a fire, storm, flood or burglary at your home or business within 7 days before your departure.
- Severe weather or natural disaster: If your travel provider cancels your prepaid service and does not offer an alternative. This only applies if you have bought the Natural Disaster upgrade.
- Pregnancy: If you become pregnant after buying your policy and will be more than 30 weeks pregnant during your trip - or 20 weeks with multiple babies.
- Pregnancy complications: If your doctor advises you are not fit to travel because of complications of pregnancy or childbirth.
- COVID-19: Certain COVID-19 cancellation or trip disruption events may be covered, depending on your policy and level of cover.
- Lost or stolen passport: If your passport is lost or stolen after policy purchase and you are unable to travel. (Silver and Gold plans only, does not apply to Annual Multi Trip policies).
- Riot or strike: If your travel service provider cancels your pre-paid service due to a riot or strike not known to you at policy issue date and does not offer you a reasonable alternative. (does not apply to Annual Multi-trip policies).
What is excluded from cancellation cover?
Cancellation cover does not apply to every reason for cancelling your trip. In addition to the General exclusions, cancellation cover does not include:
Not covered
- Your excess
- Change of mind
- Public transport cancellations, delays or rescheduling for operational reasons, mechanical breakdown or maintenance
- Natural disaster claims, unless you purchased the Natural Disaster upgrade and it’s shown on your Insurance certificate
- Not obtaining the required travel documents, such as passports, visas or an ESTA
- Errors or omissions in your booking arrangements by you
- Costs paid for someone who is not insured under your policy
- Terrorist acts or related government or authority intervention
- Work or business commitments, including not being able to take leave, unless you are a member of the armed forces, police, fire, nursing or ambulance services and you have to stay in Australia because of an emergency or you are posted overseas unexpectedly
- Financial or contractual obligations
- Costs recoverable from another source
- Known or ongoing events
- Costs already covered under another section of your policy
Rescheduling your trip
If rescheduling your trip costs less than cancelling, we may cover the cost of changing your travel dates instead due to a listed coverable event - helping you get back on track rather than missing your well-earned holiday. Subject to sub-limits, terms, conditions, and exclusions that may apply.
Natural Disaster Cover upgrade
Cancelling your trip due to a natural disaster is not covered unless you have selected the Natural Disaster Cover upgrade.
If you select this upgrade, it can extend cover under cancellation, additional expenses and travel delay sections where severe weather or natural disasters disrupt your trip.
