Read this information to find out if you meet the eligibility requirements to purchase a policy.

The PDS typically sets out the eligibility requirements travellers must meet in order to be eligible to purchase a travel insurance policy. This may include criteria about where you reside, where your trip starts and ends and age limits among other criteria.

Check the definition of specific words to know how they apply to your policy.

Insurers will often define what is meant by key terms for example, ‘dependant/s’, 'luggage and personal effects’, ‘snow sports’, etc.

Read the terms and conditions of cover that apply to your policy including the sections typically split into ‘we will pay’ and ‘we will not pay’ 

The PDS includes terms and conditions of cover to explain the situations and circumstances in which cover under the various benefits would apply. Insurers explain the terms and conditions in which they will and won’t pay out a claim.

Read what you are covered for and any limits and sub-limits that apply to your policy.

The policy benefits explain the circumstances, situations and events in which you may have cover under your policy subject to the terms and conditions, limits and sub-limits and exclusions that may apply to your policy. Benefits include limits and sub-limits which explain the dollar amount for which you may be covered up to if you need to make a claim.

Travel insurance benefit limits

Benefit limits specify the maximum dollar amount that you can claim for or be covered for. The dollar amount is typically in Australian dollars, especially if the policy is bought from an Australian travel insurance company like Fast Cover. Limits can depend on a number of factors including but not limited to:

• Age 

• The type of policy that you take out 

• The type of travel you are planning on doing 

• The type of activities you will be doing 

Travel insurance benefit sub-limits

Benefit sub-limits are smaller limits within the specified benefit limits. A benefit sub-limit is the maximum dollar amount that you can claim or be covered for, for a specific item, or event under your policy. For example, a luggage and personal effects benefit may have a benefit limit of $15,000 but there may be a sub-limit of up to $3,000 for a mobile phone.

Check the events, situations and circumstances that aren’t covered by any section of the policy 

General exclusions outline instances where to the extent permissible by law, your travel insurance policy will not provide you with cover. General exclusions typically apply to all policy benefits and can include situations, circumstances, events, acts or omissions carried out by you. This means that if your claim arises from a situation outlined as a general exclusion, your travel insurer may not be able to provide you with cover.

Although travel insurers are all different, common exclusions in travel insurance may include:

• You hurting yourself by acting irresponsibly, such as running with the bulls in Spain or challenging a professional Thai fighter in Thailand.   

• Injuries you sustain while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs or prohibited substances.  

• Claims that arise at a travel destination which is marked as ‘do not travel’ or ‘reconsider your need to travel’ on a government website such as Smartraveller.gov.au.  

• Injuries sustained while doing an activity that isn’t covered by your policy, for example, unlicensed motorcycle riding or competitive skiing and snowboarding. 

• Existing medical conditions you failed to disclose when purchasing the policy, or which are not covered by the travel insurer.   

• Stolen belongings that were left unattended in public.  

• Cancelling or changing your travel plans without a valid reason or because you simply don’t want to travel anymore.

Check what you need to do when making a claim and the documents you may need to provide.

It’s important to know what’s required when making a claim and which documents you’ll need to provide to your travel insurer. Depending on the type of claim, this could include things like a police report, a letter from a medical practitioner, or a statement from your airline or carrier.

The PDS will provide information on how to make a claim, this could include the following among other things:

• What to do when making a claim 

• How to notify your insurer and when 

• What documents you might need to provide your insurer to assess your claim 

• How your policy excess applies to claims made 

• How claims are processed 

• How depreciation may apply to your claim 

• What happens if you make a claim against another party 

• What happens if you have other insurance/s that can cover your claim 

• What happens if you make a fraudulent claim

Check information on how to make a complaint.

Your insurer’s PDS will explain how to make a complaint and the steps involved in their dispute resolution process. The PDS will also outline how you can refer your complaint to an external dispute resolution body, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), within the required timeframe if your complaint isn’t resolved to your satisfaction.

Check the contact numbers for your insurer’s customer service team, claims team, and Emergency Assistance team if this is available with your policy.

Contact information is helpful if you need to get in contact with your insurance provider to make changes to your policy, update your details, make a claim or get in touch with the emergency assistance team.