Does travel insurance cover death?

If you die unexpectedly as a result of a sickness or injury sustained during your trip, cover is available under the Fast Cover Travel Insurance Policy under the Overseas 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance benefit for funeral or cremation overseas and/or bringing your remains back to Australia. If you are injured and die during your trip, cover is available under the Fast Cover Travel Insurance Policy under the Accidental Death benefit. Sub limits and age limits apply under these benefits. 

Any advice is general advice only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Keep in mind that each travel insurance policy has eligibility criteria, policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limits that apply. Consider the PDS prior to deciding on which policy is right for you and your needs.  

As each individual’s circumstances are different, we will assess each claim on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with your specific circumstances, policy terms and Certificate of Insurance.

What does the accidental death benefit cover?

Cover is available under the Accidental Death for payments to be made to your estate if you pass away during your trip if: 

• You are injured during your trip and you die because of that injury within 12 months of the injury date, or 

• During your trip, the mode of transport you are travelling on disappears, sinks or crashes and you are presumed dead and your body is not found within 12 months. However, any such payment shall be refunded to us if it is later demonstrated that you did not die as a result of the event. 

The Accidental Death benefit limits and sub limits for the different policy types are explained in the table below. 

Please note cover under the Accidental Death benefit is not available with the Standard Saver and Basics policies.

What is not covered under the accidental death benefit?

Fast Cover’s Accidental Death benefit does not provide cover for: 

• Death caused by suicide or for any reason other than caused by injury as defined in the PDS.  

• Any claims related to COVID-19. 

• Claims arising from circumstances in which General Exclusions apply under the PDS.

Am I covered for funeral, cremation or repatriation overseas?

If you die unexpectedly as a result of an injury or sickness during your trip, cover is available under the Fast Cover Policy under Overseas 24/7 Medical Emergency Medical Assistance benefit for the reasonable cost of either a funeral or cremation overseas and/or to bring your remains back to Australia. 

It is important to note that funeral services, cremation or bringing your remains back to must first be approved by Fast Cover. 

Cover under the Overseas 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance benefit is only available under the following policies: 

• Comprehensive 

• Standard Saver 

• Basics 

• Snow Sports Plus 

• Frequent Traveller Saver 

Note: Eligibility criteria, policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limits apply. Consider the PDS prior to deciding on which policy is right for you and your needs.

Sub limits for funeral, cremation and repatriation overseas

The sub limit for funeral or cremation overseas and/or bringing your remains back to Australia is $20,000 in total for each insured person named in the policy. 

If you have an approved and valid Schengen visa for your trip, the limit for repatriation of your mortal remains from a Schengen listed country or state back to Australia is $60,000.

How is injury defined under the PDS?

In our PDS, we have a list of ‘Words with Special Meaning’. This means that in the context of travel insurance these certain words have a specific definition. 

‘Injure’, ‘Injured’ or ‘Injury’ means bodily injury caused solely and directly by violent, accidental, visible and external means, which happens at a definite time and place during your period of insurance and does not result from any illness, sickness, disease, or self-harm. 

How is injury date defined under the PDS?

'Injury date' means the earlier of the date: 

• your medical practitioner reasonably diagnoses as the most likely date of the injury;  

• our medical practitioner reasonably diagnoses as the most likely date of the injury;  

• you first became aware of the injury or a reasonable person in the circumstances would have been aware of the injury;  

• you first received medical treatment for the injury; or 

• the injury is first diagnosed by a medical practitioner. 

How is sickness defined under the PDS?

‘Sick’ or ‘Sickness’ means an illness or disease, that is not an injury.