What are the things I should be aware of if I am thinking of buying a policy from Fast Cover?

Before you buy a policy with us 

Travel insurance is there to protect you against unexpected circumstances like medical emergencies, trip cancellation and lost baggage. 

Each travel insurance policy is different, and we want to ensure you understand how our travel insurance policies work so that you can choose the right cover for your circumstances. 

1. Important note on COVID-19: 

This policy provides cover for some claims that arise from COVID-19. Not all circumstances related to COVID-19 are covered. The cover we provide specific to COVID-19 is found under Benefit 27 and Benefit 28 on pages 82 to 86 of the PDS. Please carefully read these benefit sections to ensure the cover we offer is right for you.   

Here is a summary of key circumstances related to COVID-19 that you are covered for under this policy:  

• Medical expenses: You are covered for your overseas emergency medical, hospital and medical evacuation expenses related to COVID-19.  
• Trip cancellation or rearrangement: You are covered if you have to cancel or rearrange your trip because you or someone else named on the certificate of insurance is diagnosed with COVID-19.   
• Additional travel expenses: You are covered for your additional travel expenses if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 during your trip.  This includes your additional accommodation costs where you are directed by a government authority to isolate or quarantine.  
• Family emergency: You are covered for your cancellation or rescheduling expenses if a close relative residing in Australia is unexpectedly hospitalised or dies from COVID-19 during your trip.   
• Emergency childcare: You are covered for your reasonable additional costs of caring for your dependants travelling with you if you are unable to care for them because you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 during your trip.   

Cover is subject to and can be affected by otherpolicy terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of cover described in this PDS. Cover specific to COVID-19 is found on pages 82 to 86 of the PDS.  

Here are some examples of claims that are excluded under this policy:  

• There is no cover if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or develop symptoms of COVID-19 within 72-hours of purchasing your policy.  
• There is no cover for claims related to border closures, lockdowns, lockoutsor other travel restrictions imposed within Australia or overseas.However, under this circumstance we may provide you with a partial or full refund of your premium.  
• There is no cover if you cannot go on your trip or your trip is disrupted because someone else is diagnosed with COVID-19 or becomes unwell because of COVID-19 unless that person is named on the certificate of insurance. For example, there is no cover if you cannot travel or wish to cut your trip short because a family member or business partner tests positive or becomes unwell with COVID-19 if that person is not named on the certificate of insurance. However, under this circumstance we may provide you with a partial or full refund of your premium. 
• There is no cover if you cannot go on your trip or your trip is disrupted because you are deemed to be a close contact of someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 unless the person who tested positive is named on the certificate of insurance. For example, if you are a close contact of a family member who is not named on the certificate of insurance, there is no cover. However, under this circumstance we may provide you with a partial or full refund of your premium. 
• There is no cover for claims related to cruisesunless the optional Cruise cover has been purchased by you and is listed on your certificate of insurance. In some circumstances the optional Cruise cover may not be available.   
• There is no cover for the cost of COVID-19 testing other than during your hospitalisation.  

Please carefully read the exclusions to Benefits 27 and 28 on pages 82 to 86 and the General Exclusions that apply to all benefits on pages 87 to 91 of the PDS to ensure the cover we offer is right for you. 

2. This policy is only available: 

For Australian citizens and permanent residents of Australia, if: 

• You currently reside in Australia; and 
• You hold a valid Australian Medicare card beyond the period of your policy; and 
• You purchase your policy before you commence your trip or you satisfy all of the requirements for purchasing a policy while you are already overseas; and 
• Your trip starts and ends in Australia; and 
• You meet any other eligibility criteria we apply in the application process. 

For temporary residents of Australia, if: 

• You are a non-permanent resident who holds a valid Medicare card or are covered by an Australian Private Health Insurance policy that satisfies the government health insurance requirements for your visa type and remains valid beyond the period of your policy; and 
• Your visa remains valid beyond the period of your return; and you have a home in Australia to which you intend to return; and 
• Your trip starts and ends in Australia; and  
• You hold a return ticket to Australia; and 
• You meet any other eligibility criteria we apply in the application process. 

For all travellers on this policy:

• In the event of a medical repatriation from overseas, we will return you to Australia. 
• Medical expenses incurred once you have returned to Australia are not covered on this policy. It is therefore important that you ensure you have access to long term medical care in Australia. 

3. If you are already overseas 

If you left Australia without travel insurance or if your travel insurance policy has expired (even if it was issued by another insurer), we may be able to help.   

You may be able to purchase a Standard Saver, Comprehensive or a Snow Sport Plus policy if you are already overseas at the time you purchase the policy, provided you meet all of the following requirements: 

• You have been overseas for less than 14 days, or have been insured under a travel insurance policy since you left Australia that is current or has been expired for no more than 14 days; and 
• You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident normally residing in Australia. Individuals on an Australian temporary resident visa including those on a working holiday visa or temporary visitors including those on a tourist visa, are not eligible to purchase this policy after departing Australia; and 
• You hold a valid Australian Medicare card; and 
• You have a home to which you intend to return; and 
• Your trip ends in Australia; and 
• You are aged 65 years and under at time of purchase; and 
• You declare to us at the time of purchase that you are already overseas; and 
• We agree to issue you a policy and specify your status as already overseas in the certificate of insurance.  

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic there may be circumstances where we are not able to offer you a policy if you are already overseas. You will be covered if you meet each the above criteria and your certificate of insurance specifies that you were overseas at the time of purchase.  

Our Basics Policy and Frequent Traveller Saver Policy are not eligible for purchase under any circumstance if you are already overseas.  

Policies purchased while you are already overseas are subject to: 

• A 48-hour no-cover period which applies to all benefits (there is no cover under any section of the policy for any event that arises within the first 48 hours of purchasing your policy).   
• A $500 excess for all claims except where the Benefit Excess is already $0. 
• The other applicable policy terms, conditions, exclusionsand limits of cover described in this PDS. 

4. It is your responsibility to read this Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and decide whether this insurance suits your needs 

Before you buy this policy you must (and we rely on you to) read this PDS in full to decide if the cover we offer is right for you. You must carefully consider:  

• When you are covered; 
• What you are covered for; 
• Any limits to the cover; and 
• Whether this insurance is right for you and your circumstances. 

Your policy is made up of this PDS, the certificate of insurance and any other change to the terms of the policy otherwise advised by us and agreed to with you in writing (such as an endorsement or a Supplementary PDS) which may vary or modify the above documents. Together they form our agreement with you. All benefits are subject to the policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of cover described in this PDS. 

5. Medical conditions, pregnancy, changes to health and medical screening 

If you have a Medical condition or Pregnancy Condition, we may be able to provide you with cover.

You can complete a medical screening if you have or have had a Medical condition or Pregnancy Condition within the last 3 years prior to your policy purchase date, or experience changes to your health including new Medical conditions from the date you purchase your policy, up until the date of departure for your trip.

See Medical Conditions Cover and General Exclusions that apply to all benefits in the PDS for further information on our medical screening process and other terms, conditions, exclusions and limits that apply.

6. You must take all care to protect your possessions 

There are times when we will not pay if you have not reasonably looked after your luggage and personal effects. For example, we will not pay if you transport your jewellery, computer or certain other items in the cargo hold of the airplane or other modes of transportation. Similarly, we will not pay if your items are left unsupervised in a public place such as a beach or café or in a motor vehicle overnight. This is not a complete list of circumstances when we will not pay if you do not reasonably protect your possessions. See Benefit 14: Luggage and Personal Effects (page 58) in the PDS for other ways you must reasonably protect your possessions. 

You must report a theft as soon as practicable, but preferably within 24 hours to the police or an office of the bus line, airline, shipping line or rail authority you were travelling on when the theft occurred. You must prove that you made a report by providing us with a written statement from whomever you reported it to.

7. Changing dates, cooling off, cancellation & refund policy  

We are flexible when it comes to you changing or cancelling your policy. However, you cannot change or cancel your policy if: 

• you have made a claim or intend to make a claim, or 
• you have started the trip, even within the 25 day cooling off period, or  
• you have exercised any of your rights or powers under the policy such as using your travel insurance policy to obtain a visa or entry into a country. 

Change of travel dates 

You can change your travel dates before you depart or whilst on your trip. We do not charge a ‘change fee’ for changing travel dates. Additional costs may apply for additional days of cover (including pre-departure days). 

25-day money back guarantee 

We offer a money back guarantee up to 25 days if you have not started your trip and have not used any of your rights under the policy (e.g. you have not made a claim or used your policy to obtain a visa). We have extended this money back guarantee to circumstances where you cannot go on your trip for a reason related to COVID-19 that is not covered under this policy.  

You have a full 25 days from the purchase date of the policy (as set out in the certificate of insurance) to make sure you are happy with every aspect of your Fast Cover Travel Insurance policy and in accordance with our regulatory obligations. This is known as the “cooling off” period. During this time, you may cancel the policy simply by contacting us and we will give you a full refund. If you decide to cancel your policy outside of this cooling off period, you may be eligible for a partial refund as described below.   

Cancellation and refunds 

How much you are refunded if you cancel your policy depends on when you cancel and what type of policy you have. 

* Special cancellation rules apply if your trip is affected by COVID-19: 

COVID-19 cancellations 

If you are unable to start your trip due to a reason related to COVID-19 that is not covered by this policy, you can change your travel dates or cancel your policy at any time for a full refund provided you have not made a claim for some other reason.  

Case by case considerations 

Should your circumstances not fit neatly into the scenarios we have outlined, you are welcome to email info@fastcover.com.au or call us on 1300 409 322 to discuss what we may be able to do assist you.

8. Your Duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation 

Before you enter into this contract of insurance, you have a duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation. You have a similar duty when you ask us to vary, extend or reinstate the insurance. What that means is that you need to take reasonable care to provide honest, accurate and complete answers to any questions that we ask. 

Specifically, when you ask us to vary, extend or reinstate your insurance, you need to take reasonable care to review any information that we provide to you for your confirmation and to inform us of any changes, where the information is no longer honest, accurate and complete. 

If you are not sure of the answers to any of our questions, or whether the information you previously provided remains honest, accurate and complete, you should take the time to check and find out. It is also important to understand that, in answering the questions and checking the information, you are answering for yourself and anyone else to whom the questions apply. 

As we use your answers to decide what insurance we will offer, to calculate your premium, and to assess any claim you make, it is essential that you contact us if you have any doubts. 

If you do not take reasonable care in answering our questions, or to inform us of any changes, you may breach your duty. If that happens, to the extent permissible by law, your policy may be cancelled, or treated as if never existed, and any claim may be denied or not paid in full.  

If your circumstances make it difficult for you to work out how to answer any of our questions, or you are not clear how to explain your situation to us, you should contact us. 

9. Important notice regarding your obligations and our rights 

If you do not meet your obligations under your policy terms or an exclusion or limitation applies, we may refuse or reduce what we pay in relation to a claim and/or cancel your policy, subject to applicable law which may restrict our rights in certain circumstances. The result can depend on the circumstances as the law can be complex. 

Of note, our policy terms (including exclusions and limits) and rights in relation to them are subject to and will be applied in accordance with the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). Other laws can also apply such as the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the Australian Securities and Investment Commissions Act 2001 (Cth) and you need to seek your own advice regarding all relevant legal rights you may have. A term (or part of a term) of your policy will be applied to the extent it is not unenforceable under applicable law. 

10. General advice 

Any advice provided to you is general only and does not take into account your individual needs, objectives or financial situation. You should carefully read the PDS before buying to decide if the product is right for you.

Cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).