What am I covered for if a family member is hospitalised before or during my holiday?

Depending on the level of cover you have chosen and the circumstance of the situation, you may be able to claim under certain benefits if your “Close relative” (as defined in the Product Disclosure Statement) is unexpectedly sick, injured or passes away before or during your holiday. The claimable amounts will also depend on if your Close relative meets the definition of “Close relative conditions”. Some of the benefits that may be relevant include, but are not limited to: 

Trip Cancellation Expenses: This benefit may cover the cost of non-refundable, pre-paid trip bookings (such as flights, accommodation, and tours) if you must cancel, reschedule, or shorten your trip due to the unexpected serious injury, illness, or death of a Close relative.  

Trip Disruption Expenses: If your overseas trip is shortened due to the unexpected injury, sickness, or death of a Close relative while you are on your overseas trip, you may be able to claim for reasonable cost of your return to Australia, subject to the terms of your policy. 

Trip Resumption Expenses: If during your trip, you need to return home due to the unexpected death or hospitalisation due to injury or sickness of a Close relative in Australia, you may be covered for reasonable airfares to for you to return to the place you were when your trip was interrupted. This benefit is only available if, at the date you return to Australia, there is more than 14 days remaining on the period of insurance listed on your Certificate of Insurance, and you resume your trip within six months of your return to Australia. 

The Trip Cancellation Expenses, Trip Disruption Expenses, and Trip Resumption Expenses benefit are available on select policies only. These benefits are not available under the Basic Policy. It is important to review the PDS before making any decisions to ensure the policy is suitable for your needs. 

These benefits only applies if your Close relative is hospitalised or dies unexpectedly, provided you were not aware of the likelihood of their sickness, injury or death at the time you purchased your policy, and the assessment of the claim depends on if it meets the definitions (as described below) of a “Close relative” and “Close relative conditions”.

Relevant Definitions 

Close relative 

means Your or Your Travelling companion’s spouse, de facto partner, parent, parent-in-law, children (including adopted or fostered children), brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchild, grandparent, step-parent, step-son, step-daughter, fiancé or fiancée or guardian, that meets all of the following criteria: 

• they are aged 84 years of age or younger at the time of the claimable event, and 

• they permanently reside in Australia for the duration of the Policy, and 

• they are not a person listed in the Certificate of insurance. 

Close relative conditions 

means all of the following: 

  • immediately before the Sickness or Injury that has resulted in Your need to cancel Your Trip or return, the Close relative: 

  • is living independently at home, in a retirement home or retirement village, with independent living arrangements and does not need home care or flexible care provisions, 

  • is not living in a nursing home, aged care centre, residential aged care home, a high and/or low care facility, Supported Residential Services (SRS), Supported Residential Facilities (SRF) or any form of residential care facility, 
  • is not on a waiting list or aware that they required surgery, inpatient treatment or medical tests at a Hospital or clinic, and 
  • if pregnant, has not had complications with their pregnancy and have not had complications with their pregnancy and childbirth for any previous pregnancy, and 

  • during 3 years prior to issue of Your Policy, the Close relative: 

    • has not been hospitalised (including for day surgery or emergency department), required prescription medication, sought or received medical advice from a Medical practitioner or other health care professional, has had tests, investigations, care, treatment or medical attention for the Sickness or Injury that has resulted in Your need to cancel Your Trip or return Home early, 
    • has not had a drug or alcohol addiction, and 
    • has not been diagnosed with a terminal condition.  

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

Any advice is general advice only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation, or needs. Please consider the PDS before making any decisions regarding the purchase of travel insurance. 

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