Page 23 - Explore Magazine Winter 2016

Travel insurance offers peace of mind during your travels
for a relatively cheap price, and QBE is the preferred 21
QBE travel insurance company for helloworld. In time of need,
assistance is just a phone call away with QBE’s emergency
assistance hotline and staff who can help with the
TRAVEL INSURANCE– A MUST! unexpected and provide reassurance about:
• Assessing and monitoring your condition after an
accident or illness
• Providing medical repatriation, if required
• Assisting with payment of hospital and medical bills
• Rescheduling disrupted travel plans
• Urgent messages to your family or your helloworld
consultant.
Discovering the Pacific Islands by cruise ship can be
a relaxing way to holiday, but even small accidents or
illnesses on board can cost you more than $200, and
a more serious medical event may require you to be
disembarked and hospitalised at one of the ports the liner
visits. And then you may need an air ambulance to get you
to specialist hospital care in Australia or New Zealand. The
repatriation costs can be around $20,000.
One example claim was a 57-year-old travelling with his
wife and son to the USA who experienced neurological
symptoms during the flight. The plane was diverted
to Nadi, a stroke diagnosed, and QBE arranged an air
ambulance the next day to Australia. Claim cost was
$70,000.
Other examples have been:
• Injury in Rarotonga with air ambulance back to
New Zealand - $90,000;
• Emergency helicopter from outer islands to Nadi -
$3,500; and
• Child’s ear infection delayed return travel to
New Zealand, additional accommodation and flight
changes - $5,000.
And even travelling to Australia with a reciprocal health
agreement doesn’t mean you can avoid ambulance or
repatriation costs if something goes wrong. You can easily
incur an ambulance charge exceeding $1,000 for a single
ride to a hospital in any of the major cities.
QBE offers travellers comprehensive cover for travel to
Australia and the South Pacific, and can cover for most
situations including:
• Cancellation or travel delays (such as cyclones)
• Overseas medical and dental expenses
• Emergency travel expenses and accommodation
• Repatriation
• Lost or stolen luggage
• Replacement of passport and other travel documents
• Most leisure sporting activities.
Travel insurance protects against significant financial loss
caused by serious accidents and illness or delays in travel
and is recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as
essential for all travellers as it covers emergency medical
expenses, medical evacuation or repatriation.

QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited, ABN 78 003 191 035, incorporated in Australia,
provides financial services products. Refer to www.qbe.co.nz for more information about
QBE’s financial strength rating. This information is general information only and does not
constitute financial product advice. helloworld is an independent intermediary. Policy
terms and conditions apply. You should always read the policy wording in full and if you
have any questions contact your travel agent or QBE Travel Insurance on 0800 800 608.
HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : WINTER EDITION