2014-05-02

Why is Travel Insurance so Important?

Everyone loves taking a holiday, which generally means letting your hair down and forgetting about the stresses and worries of everyday life. But if something goes wrong while you’re off seeing the world, your dream holiday can turn into a disaster.

There’s a seemingly endless list of things that can go wrong and spoil your holiday. Airlines can misplace your luggage, travel delays can throw your plans into disarray, while medical emergencies can have costly and dangerous consequences.

With this in mind, it makes perfect sense to take out travel insurance for every trip you take. Whether you’re travelling domestically or internationally, travel insurance is designed to cover against a wide range of risks and potential problems you could come up against while travelling. With the right level of insurance cover in place, you can enjoy your holiday with the peace of mind that comes with knowing you will be protected if something goes wrong.

Compare Overseas Travel Insurance Policies for your Trip to Bali

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Single Trip Policy

Unlimited medical and evacuation cover

$25,000 in baggage and personal items cover

$5,000 rental vehicle excess cover

$1,000,000 personal liability cover

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Gold Single trip

Unlimited cancellation cover

Unlimited medical expenses cover

$5,000,000 personal liability cover

$8,000 luggage cover

Free QuoteLearn More



Comprehensive Single Trip

Unlimited overseas medical expenses cover

$50,000 additional accommodation and travel expenses cover

Unlimited cancellation fees and lost deposits cover

$5,000 luggage and personal effects cover

$5,000,000 personal liability cover

Free QuoteLearn More

Single Trip International

Unlimited Medical Expenses Cover

Unlimited Cancellation Costs Cover

$4,000 Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance

$12,000 Luggage and Personal Effects Cover

Free QuoteLearn More

One Trip International

Unlimited cancellation fees and lost deposits cover

Unlimited medical and hospital cover

Unlimited emergency expenses cover

$15,000 luggage cover

Free QuoteLearn More

International Comprehensive

24 hr emergency assistance

Unlimited overseas emergency expenses

Up to $7,500 luggage and personal effects cover

$3,000 rental vehicle excess cover

Free QuoteLearn More

Comprehensive International

Unlimited cancellation fees and lost deposits cover

Unlimited emergency medical assistance cover

$6,000 rental vehicle excess cover

$25,000 permanent disability cover

Free QuoteLearn More

Single Trip Platinum Cover

Unlimited overseas emergency medical assistance cover

Unlimited overseas emergency medical & hospital expenses cover

$5,000 in luggage and personal effects cover

$2,500,000 personal liability cover

Free QuoteLearn More

Options Single Trip

Unlimited overseas medical and dental

Unlimited additional expenses cover

$12,000 luggage and travel documents cover

$2,500,000 personal liability cover

Free QuoteLearn More

Single Trip Cover

Cover for cancellation and curtailment costs

Overseas medical expenses, emergency repatriation and other expenses

Hospital cash allowance

Personal accident benefit

Free QuoteLearn More

Single Trip International

Unlimited overseas medical assistance cover

Unlimited emergency medical and hospital expenses cover

$5,000 in luggage and personal effects cover cover

Unlimited cancellation fees and lost deposits cover

$5,000 in rental vehicle excess cover

Free QuoteLearn More

Table of contents: Travel Insurance for Bali

What does Travel Insurance for Bali Protect you Against?

Travel Insurance Exclusions to Be Aware of When Travelling in Bali

What are some Travel Concerns Specific to Bali?

How to Make the Claims Travel Insurance Process Easier

Tips for Getting the Best Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance FAQs

What does Travel Insurance for Bali Protect you Against?

Taking out travel insurance for your trip to Bali is an essential consideration, as travel insurance is designed to provide the coverage you need for a range of potential risks you will face on your trip. The most important type of cover this insurance provides is for emergency medical expenses you incur while on your trip. This guarantees that you will get the best possible treatment, while cover is often also available for medical repatriation to Australia if required.

Travel insurance also covers you against trip cancellation and delay. For example, unforeseen circumstances such as losing your job may force you to cancel your trip. If this happens, your policy will cover any non-refundable expenses you have already committed to. This policy will also cover you if a delayed flight causes you to miss a transport connection.

Similarly, if your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged, many policies will provide cover for the repair or replacement costs. Cover is also available for your cash and travel documents, while some policies will also offer personal accident cover and features like rental vehicle excess cover.

Some policies which have been specifically designed for travel to Bali will also provide cover if you are riding a motorcycle or scooter, which is a common mode of transport in that part of the world.

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Travel Insurance Exclusions to Be Aware of When Travelling in Bali

There are a number of common travel insurance policy exclusions you need to be aware of when travelling in Bali. These include:

Claims will not be paid if you travel to a region where the Australian government has issued a travel advisory warning against.

While cover is provided for the loss or theft of your luggage and belongings, claims won’t be paid if you suffered a loss as a result of your own negligence. For example, if you leave your bags unattended at a busy airport taxi rank and they are stolen.

If you don’t make your insurer aware of any pre-existing medical conditions you have at the time you apply for cover, any claims relating to these conditions in the future may be refused. Because of this, you must disclose all relevant information to your insurer.

Claims related to your intoxication or use of drugs will be refused. Similarly, behaving recklessly or unlawfully will also result in insurance companies rejecting your claim.

Some policies will not provide cover for claims arising from you travelling on a motorcycle or scooter. This is a crucial exclusion to be aware of when travelling in Bali.

If you participate in adventure activities or high-risk sports, for example skydiving, claims relating to these activities will not be covered.

Ignoring road rules or laws will result in your claim being rejected.

Some policies will not cover you for any work you do during your travels, so beware of this if you’re planning a working holiday.

If your claim arises from an error in booking arrangements or your failure to obtain the correct passport or visa, it will not be paid.

If your claim arises from an act of war, terrorism or civil insurrection, it will typically not be paid.

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What are some Travel Concerns Specific to Bali?

After the 2002 Bali Bombings, terrorism is one of the most common concerns travellers have about Bali. Security has increased over the past decade and while the chances of getting caught up in an act of terrorism are low, the Australian government has been known to issue travel advisories for Indonesia, so check in with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smart Traveller website frequently.

Illness is another common risk travellers face when holidaying in Bali. The well-known problem of ‘Bali Belly’ has ruined many a holiday, so the chances of illness destroying your holiday plans should be taken into account. Beaches can also pose health risks such as dangerous surf and riptides.

Road safety is another issue travellers face in Bali. The traffic can be hectic and confusing to foreign eyes and when you combine a lack of road rules with a plethora of pedestrians and vehicles, the chances of an accident increases. Many Australian travellers also hire scooters or mopeds to get around, despite the fact that they have little experience piloting such vehicles at home. This can lead to nasty crashes, injuries and even fatalities.

Adventure sports activities can also pose risks, while theft of money and valuables is another regularly reported problem.

Travel Money Guide to South-East Asia

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How to Make the Claims Travel Insurance Process Easier

If you’d like to make a claim on your travel insurance policy, insurers provide a number of ways for you to do so. The easiest way to lodge a claim is online via an electronic claims form. However, you can also often start the process over the phone or via mail, fax or email. Check with your insurer to see what options they offer.

You will need to provide documentation to support your claim. Depending on the nature and complexity of your claim, this can include things like receipts, police reports and photographs. It’s important to notify your insurer of an event that may give rise to a claim as soon as possible.

In addition, there are a number of steps you can take to expedite the claims process and help take the stress out of the situation. The most important thing to remember is to co-operate fully with your insurer. Provide any supporting information they request and be upfront and honest about all details. Doing what you are asked to do when you are asked to do it will help you during the claims process.

Another good idea is to keep receipts of any valuables you have, while taking photos of your valuables is also a good idea. Taking copies of your travel insurance policy, along with your insurer’s contact details, with you on your trip can also help you lodge your claim quicker. Having a photocopy of your passport handy can also be useful if your travel documents are stolen.

Finally, try to get written copies of every important document, including copies of police reports or details of flight cancellations. The more evidence you have to back up your claim, the harder it will be for your insurer to reject it.

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Tips for Getting the Best Travel Insurance

The first thing to consider when looking for travel insurance cover is to consider where you’re travelling. Different destinations expose you to different types and levels of risks to other locations, so take the time to think of what could potentially go wrong in the region you’re planning on visiting. This will influence how much insurance cover you need and the type of policy you take out.

The next question to ask yourself is what sort of cover you want. Do you want a basic policy that only offers cover for emergency medical expenses or are you need a policy that offers comprehensive coverage for a wide range of possible risks and events? Do you want cover for your valuables as well? If you have pre-existing medical conditions, find an insurer who specialises in offering flexible cover for people with medical conditions.

If you’re looking to take out coverage for one trip, a single travel insurance policy will do fine. However, if you’re planning several trips then a multi-trip policy might be more convenient. This option provides cover for all the trips you take across a 12-month period.

Read the list of exclusions closely and make sure you know what each policy covers before you make your final decision.

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Steps to get affordable travel cover

Travel Insurance FAQs

How much travel insurance do I need?

The type and level of cover you choose is entirely up to you. In order to ensure that you end up with the right policy, consider where you are travelling, the risks you’ll be exposed to, what you plan on doing on your holiday and whether you are looking for basic or comprehensive cover.

Where can I find out about government travel advisories?

Visit www.smartraveller.gov.au to find out about the current warnings in place from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

What about my children?

Happily, most travel insurance policies will include cover for your dependents while you travel. However, read the fine print to ensure this applies to your policy.

Where can I compare travel insurance policies?

Use the resources provided by finder.com.au to compare the benefits and features of a number of policies. Obtain quotes from a number of insurance providers and read all policy documents closely to work out exactly how much each policy is really worth.

Travel insurance is an essential consideration for any trip you’re planning on taking, including for your next holiday to Bali. Consider your cover options and research a range of policies to ensure you end up with the right level of cover.

Make a travel insurance enquiry for Bali

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