cba travel insurance overseas

CommBank Travel Insurance

Our verdict: commbank travel insurance is a budget-friendly option for younger travellers, but excludes most claims related to covid-19..

In this guide

Summary of CBA Travel Insurance Comprehensive policy

How does commbank travel insurance cover covid-19, what policies does commbank offer, here's a breakdown of commbank travel insurance features, standard features, optional add-ons, how to make a commbank travel insurance claim, here's the bottom line about commbank travel insurance, frequently asked questions, request travel insurance quotes and compare policies.

Destinations

• CBA's travel insurance policies are cheaper than many others in the market, offering a budget-friendly option for travellers.
• With four international options and one domestic, travellers have a range of policies, cover levels and price points to choose from.
• Cover for claims related to COVID-19 are completely excluded, with the exception of overseas medical expenses. This does leave travellers exposed to extra risk.
• There's an age limit on some policies including Essentials and Inbound travel insurance (up to 69yrs old).

Compare other options

Table updated August 2023

CommBank has limited cover for COVID-19. All claims are excluded, with the exception of overseas medical expenses.

You won't be covered for:

• Cancellation or amendment costs if you're diagnosed with COVID-19
• Additional accommodation and travel expenses incurred due to COVID-19
• Mandatory quarantine or isolation expenses imposed by the government9

If you need more comprehensive COVID-19 cover, we've compared all the providers that offer cover for COVID-19 .

CBA offers six different policies - Comprehensive, Essentials, Medical Only, Cancellation Only, Inbound and Domestic.

Only CBA's International Comprehensive & Domestic policies can be purchased for a single trip or multiple trips. All other policies can only be purchased for single trips.

International Comprehensive (Single & Multi-Trip)

International Essentials

International Medical Only

International Cancellation

Domestic (Single & Multi-Trip)

The insurer of this product is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited. It comes with a cooling-off period of 21 days.

These are some of the main insured events that CommBank will cover. Some of these benefits are only available for certain levels of cover (e.g. the comprehensive policy versus the essentials policy).

• Accidental death or disability
• Additional accommodation and transportation expenses
• Amendment or cancellation costs
• Delayed luggage allowance
• Loss of income
• Luggage and personal effects
• Overseas medical expenses
• Theft of money
• Travel delay
• Rental car insurance excess

CommBank also offers optional add-ons that provide cover for a wider range of risks. Generally, these will cost more but they do strengthen your policy.

• Existing medical conditions. Cover that includes your existing medical conditions. You will likely have to take an online medical assessment.
• Adventure activities. Cover for riskier activities, including triathlons, outdoor rock climbing, and skydiving.
• Cruise cover. Extra protection for a range of cruise-specific risks including sea sickness, missed ports, and marine rescue.
• Motorcycle/moped riding. Cover if you're planning to ride a motorcycle or moped either as a driver or pillion. Specific criteria must be met, including having a valid Australian licence, wearing a helmet, and not racing.
• Snow sports. Cover if you're hitting the slopes , specifically for skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling.
• Increased luggage item limits. If you're travelling with expensive items (PDS), you can increase your luggage cover for that item. You may be asked to provide proof of value.
• Electronic gadgets. Increase the individual limits of a variety of tech items, including laptops, headphones, and cameras, up to a maximum of $5,000.
• Increased rental vehicle excess. Get a higher limit for rental car excess, increasing the $6,000 on a Comprehensive policy by a maximum of $3,500..

Unfortunately, insurance policies don't cover everything. Generally, CommBank will not pay your claim if it relates to:

• Unlawful, wreckless or unreasonably unsafe behaviour by you
• Behaviour while you were drunk or under the influence of drugs
• Non-medical claims related to COVID-19
• An act of war, invasion or revolution
• Insolvency of a travel agent , tour operator or accommodation provider
• Mandatory quarantines or isolations
• You being unfit to travel or travelling against medical advic
• Childbirth or pregnancy complications after the 24th week of gestation or if you have had previous pregnancy complications
• A multiple pregnancy or one where the conception was medically assisted
• An elective medical or dental treatment , cosmetic procedure or body modification (including tattoos or piercing)
• Self-inflicted injury or illness, suicide or attempted suicide

Make sure you review CommBank's PDS for a detailed breakdown of what won't be covered, found under its list of general exclusions .

You can claim online or via post. Start by downloading a claim form then either post it to following address below or follow the steps to submit online.

Commonwealth Bank Travel Insurance C/o Cover-More PO Box 2027 North Sydney NSW 2059 Australia

Alternatively, you can submit a claim online by following these steps:

• Head to https://claims.covermore.com.au/CBA/TravelClaims
• Download the claim form
• Fill in your details, describe the incident and provide expenses
• Email your form along with any supporting evidence to [email protected]. Alternatively you can post it to the address above.
• Once your claim has been received you will get a confirmation email and should hear back within 10 working days., and you should hear back within 10 working days

CommBank offers a decent range of travel insurance policies at a good price point. It has multiple options to tailor cover, so you can create a policy which matches most of your needs, including expensive items, riskier holiday activities, and pre-existing medical conditions.

However, it doesn't offer any cover for cancellations, amendments, or general expenses related to COVID-1, other than medical. Older travellers are also excluded, with an age limit of 69 - significantly lower than many other providers in the market.

How long do I have to make a travel insurance claim?

You have 60 days from your return date to submit your travel insurance claim. If you're still waiting on documentation to support your claim but worried you won't make the deadline, you can start the process and submit the additional documentation later.

Can I take out a policy with CommBank if I'm already overseas?

If you are a non-Australian resident travelling to Australia, you can take out Commbank's Inbound policy while overseas. However, Australian residents can't get travel insurance from CommBank while overseas. For other options, you can read our guide on Travel insurance for Australians already overseas .

What is the phone number for CommBank Travel Insurance?

Cover-More supplies CommBank Travel Insurance. You can contact Cover-More on 1300 467 951 if you're in Australia or +612 8907 5060 if you're outside of Australia.

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Nicola Middlemiss

Nicola Middlemiss is a contributing writer at Finder, with a special interest in personal finance and insurance. Formerly a business and finance journalist, Nicola has written thousands of articles helping Australians better understand insurance and grow their personal wealth. She has contributed to a wide range of publications, including Domain, the Educator, Financy, Fundraising and Philanthropy, Insurance Business, MoneyMag, Mortgage Professional, Yahoo Finance, Your Investment Property, and Wealth Professional. Nicola has a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Leeds. See full profile

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8 Responses

I am 80 and would like to travel to Mauritius. Does the Commonwealth Credit Card or Visa cover me for travelling to Mauritius. I noticed that Westpac age is up to 81 for travel insurance

There are several conditions and restrictions that apply to people aged 80 or over when considering credit card insurance through CommBank. These may include no cover for overseas emergency medical expenses or assistance.

You can find the full details of what you are and are not covered for by reviewing the Product Disclosure Statement on CommBank’s website.

For more travel insurance options, please have a look at our Travel insurance for seniors over 80s page.

Regards, James

Is it possible to add two adult children on insurance included with eligible CBA credit cards?

Thank you for getting in touch with finder.

Yes that is possible. As long as they are unmarried children, from 19 years of age up to and including 21 years of age, who are full-time students attending an accredited institution of higher learning in Australia and who the cardholder has/had sole or shared custody, and who are dependent upon the cardholder for their maintenance and financial support then they can be covered.

I suggest that you also check Commbank credit card travel insurance PDS or contact Commbank directly on this matter.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.

Thank you and have a wonderful day!

Cheers, Jeni

My husband has type 2 Diabetes. How do I get cover for him?

Hello Silvana,

Please feel free to read through our travel insurance for diabetics guide and learn more about how you can get the right policy for you. While looking for insurers, please make sure you read the terms and conditions of the policy to learn more and know if it is the right policy for you or not.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Jonathan

I have a gold credit card and are entitled to travel insurance for an overseas trip.Going to Canada and Alaska in June this year: is a 8day cruise included in the insurance? Thanks for your prompt replay. Ursula

Thanks for your question.

Yes, the complimentary travel insurance covers cruising. But if you want to include the benefits provided in the Cruise Pack (which is detailed in the PDS I sent to your email), you will need to upgrade your policy, this is in addition, to cover provided in the Base International Travel Insurance and Activated Policy for cruising. Please contact Allianz Australia Insurance to upgrade.

Cheers, May

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You can now get COVID-19 travel insurance. Here's what it does and doesn't cover

Australians travelling overseas for the first time since international borders reopened are paying hundreds of dollars for travel insurance — but the fine print reveals some very big COVID-related exclusions.

Key points:

• Major companies including NIB and Qantas are starting to sell travel insurance again
• Most are offering limited protection for medical and travel expenses if people get COVID while overseas
• No policies cover people for general lockdowns or border closures outside Australia or New Zealand

Sydney couple Beth and Larry Lee are about to fly to the United States to meet a grandchild they've never seen in person.

"I'm the kind of person [who] watches people at airports and cries when the people they know come in," Ms Lee says.

"So, I'm really excited, but also a little nervous."

The Lees' nerves about their trip to the United States comes down to the unpredictability of post-COVID travel.

A recent survey by consumer group Choice found only 23 per cent of Australians were confident making travel plans.

"There are nerves because, if something happens, we might get stuck over there. We might end up in hospital," Mr Lee says.

"And we won't have money to cover that."

To try to protect themselves financially, Beth shopped around for travel insurance that could cover them for COVID-related issues.

She called several companies and got knocked back, before finding one with a supplementary policy for COVID-19.

What does their COVID travel insurance cover?

The Lees' travel insurance with the company Southern Cross cost $698 for two people for three weeks to the United States.

It was slightly more expensive than standard cover because the retired couple have some pre-existing medical conditions.

The Lees were only able to take out their policy to travel to the United States after the Smartraveller travel advice was downgraded from "do not travel" to instead "travel with caution", due to its ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks .

When it comes to what their policy covers for COVID-19, the Lees are protected for:

• Medical expenses if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 while on their journey
• Costs to change their travel arrangements if they, or a relevant person, are diagnosed with COVID-19 before they leave and their journey is cancelled or amended
• Costs to change their travel arrangements if they, or a relevant person, are diagnosed with COVID-19 after they leave and their journey is interrupted or cut short.

Importantly, if the travel advice to the United States changes to "do not travel", ABC News has confirmed that Southern Cross will not cover them for COVID-19 expenses if they decide to push forward with their plans.

"They would be able to claim under our COVID-19 cover for costs to [cut short] their journey and return to Australia, as the change happened after they left and was unexpected," Southern Cross said in a statement.

"It's really important people monitor when they're travelling around.

"You could be in New York and, while you're there, there's a huge surge in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles. Smartraveller updates change to say "do not travel" to Los Angeles because of the surge.

"If you go to that high-risk city, regardless of government advice, and catch COVID, there won't be cover. If you go anyway, against government advice, and have an unexpected medical event, then there would be cover."

It's also important to note that Australia has  reciprocal healthcare agreements with 11 nations, including the UK, New Zealand and Italy .

This covers Australians travelling there for urgent medical treatment, however, often not the entire bill. Evacuations also aren't covered by reciprocal healthcare agreements. 

What about lockdowns or border closures?

The most glaring omission from the Lees' travel insurance is coverage that would see them refunded travelling costs or compensated for rearranging plans in the event of general COVID-19 lockdowns or border closures.

Southern Cross says providing this sort of generalised cover for travellers would simply be too expensive.

"Our customers also want affordable travel insurance, so our policies currently don't provide cover for lockdowns, which would expose us to much greater insured losses," the company explains.

"Were our policies to provide lockdown cover, they'd be less affordable, so fewer people would have insurance cover."

Yet, as the current situation in Europe highlights, lockdowns are still very much a consideration for travellers .

The Lees feel somewhat less nervous, knowing that their travel insurance covers them for contracting COVID-19 and associated medical and cancellation expenses.

They're both vaccinated but will still be travelling to San Francisco and then on to Los Angeles with caution.

"We're going to do rapid antigen testing twice a week while away," Beth says.

"We probably will not go into a restaurant to eat inside over there.

"We've thought about it and are taking as many precautions as we can. We want to see our family, we pray we'll get back there safely and come back safely."

They're still nervous about not being covered for rolling lockdowns or border closures.

"That's the tricky one," Larry says.

"You could certainly book into a place and be left high and dry. That could be a problem.

"We don't want to go into our superannuation. And it could take huge amounts of money."

The retired teachers have so far spent $10,000 on their short-term accommodation and flights to the United States.

Their flights aren't refundable but they may be able to get travel credits if their plans need to change.

They've intentionally booked short-term rentals where the cancellation policies say they can be given full refunds until just up to a few days before they're due to check-in.

"We love to travel, so we won't stop travelling," Beth says. 

"We're aware of the fact that your travel plans can be up-ended at any time."

Is this the best COVID travel insurance on offer?

ABC News contacted a range of other major insurers that are offering overseas travel insurance, including Allianz, CoverMore and NIB.

None of them offers overseas travel insurance with COVID protections beyond what Southern Cross was selling, except CoverMore, which offers some general lockdown coverage for travel to New Zealand. (More on that later.)

Allianz is also offering customers a partial refund of the insurance that they paid for if they get caught out by general COVID-19 issues.

Pre-COVID, NIB was one of the bigger providers of travel insurance, with $200 million in premiums taken every year.

"But, of course, throughout COVID-19, things have been much tougher. And, you know, we've been losing money," NIB's chief executive Mark Fitzgibbon tells The Business.

NIB had to exit the market altogether this year after its financial backer — or underwriter — AXA ended its financial arrangement.

"Travel insurance is not the most popular category for global insurers at the moment, for obvious reasons," Mr Fitzgibbon says.

"We thought we had another underwriting arrangement in place but it fell apart at the last minute. So, frankly, we've had to scramble to establish a new underwriting partnership.

"We [now] have and, very soon, we'll be back online and selling travel insurance across Australia and New Zealand."

The NIB policy that will be on offer — underwritten by new backer Pacific International Insurance — will be very similar to the coverage offered by Southern Cross, without any protection for general COVID-19 lockdowns or border closures.

Mr Fitzgibbon says it's unlikely that NIB would ever offer this sort of coverage. He says this doesn't come down to the insurance companies who sell premiums, but the underwriters who carry the financial risk of paying out policies.

"You talk to people at some of the global underwriters, and they certainly confirm that it's not an insurable risk if the entire world shuts down and closes borders. The financial consequences are just too dire."

Unclear if premiums to rise dramatically

Mr Fitzgibbon says premiums will rise due to the extra pandemic coverage.

"There'll be a little bit of pressure on premiums as a result of that additional COVID cover, but we're talking maybe 5 to 10 per cent. Nothing particularly egregious," he predicts.

After a "collapse" in the market of 99.3 per cent at the start of COVID, insurance comparison website Compare The Market is currently experiencing a return of browsers looking for deals.

The website's travel insurance specialist, Warren Duke, says brands are also slowly re-entering the market.

"At this stage, we've not seen any travel insurers that have included cover if you need to cancel because of a border closure," he says.

"But we're all hoping that border closures and travel bans are a thing of the past.

"So, hopefully, that won't be much of an issue going forward.

"We've not seen prices change to a great degree at this stage. It's a little bit hard to tell because not all insurers have returned to the market.

"We're probably a couple of months away from understanding if the impact of introducing COVID-19 cover has had a dramatic impact on the price of policies."

What about add-on travel insurance?

Many people buy overseas travel insurance directly from companies, including Larry and Beth Lee.

However, there's also travel insurance that people sometimes buy when purchasing plane tickets or even the sort many get given for free by banks when signing up for credit cards.

The Australian airline Qantas halted sales of travel insurance during the pandemic.

ABC News has confirmed that it has just resumed selling travel insurance with a product offered through NIB, meaning people who buy travel insurance through the airline should get the general COVID-19 coverage that the insurer offers.

Online ticket sales website FlightCentre is also selling travel insurance through CoverMore which, as well covering people internationally if they catch COVID-19, offers additional protection including:

• For essential workers who have their leave revoked due to COVID-19 and can no longer travel
• If the person you were planning on staying with in Australia or New Zealand has to go into quarantine for COVID-19 and you need to find new accommodation
• If your accommodation in Australia or New Zealand is cancelled for a deep clean
• For refunds, if your holiday activities in Australia or New Zealand are cancelled due to COVID-19.

When it comes to free travel insurance offered to people when signing up for credit cards, it appears the coverage for COVID-19 is exceedingly limited.

ABC News looked at the policies for the big four banks. All exclude pandemics as a general rule.

"While there is a broad exclusion on pandemics, including COVID, this is consistent with other types of travel insurance across the industry," Commonwealth Bank said in a statement.

"We are looking at ways to offer broader cover to provide better protection for customers."

"The travel insurance offered through some CBA credit cards is complimentary. Customers can, if they choose, take up additional cover for extra cost."

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Are you covered for Coronavirus under your credit card travel insurance?

Now that the early-pandemic days of clearing supermarket shelves and hoarding toilet paper are behind us, and most countries are open to travellers, you might be wondering if your complimentary credit card travel insurance policy will cover the spicy cough on your upcoming overseas trip.

Unfortunately, as we’ve come to expect over the past couple of years, there are no blanket rules when it comes to Covid coverage, and each credit card travel insurance provider seems to have its own way of treating the matter.

Some credit card travel insurance providers will cover COVID-19 to some extent, while others will flat-out exclude cover related to any losses connected with epidemics or pandemics.

So, if you’re heading overseas and plan on relying upon your bundled credit card travel insurance policy, you’ll want to know exactly where you stand regarding Covid cover.

The best way to know for sure is by looking through the product disclosure statement (PDS) that comes with your policy with a fine-tooth comb. But, you can start here with some of the more frequently asked ones. 

Two of the more important Covid-related travel insurance benefits you should be looking into are medical and cancellation cover. But to make things easier, we’ve put together a breakdown of some providers and how they treat Coronavirus under their credit card travel insurance policies.

But before we get into the overview, there are a couple of important things to note:

Activate your bundled credit card travel insurance before you go

Generally you’ll have to activate your credit card travel insurance when heading overseas. If you don’t make sure to check if it’s active, then you might not be covered on your overseas trip for anything that happens outside the period of insurance.

Eligibility requirements for credit card travel insurance

To be eligible for your bundled credit card travel insurance, you might have to spend a certain amount on your card, or even make eligible purchases, which will be outlined in further detail on the various providers’ websites.  

Further eligibility requirements may include being under a certain age (under 79 is a common requirement), but there may be more. So, always read the PDS. 

Always read the PDS that comes with your credit card travel insurance policy

By reading the PDS, you’ll be able to understand the limitations of Covid-related cover on your credit card travel insurance policy, including under what circumstances your provider will or will not cover pandemics.

ANZ credit card travel insurance

Commonwealth bank credit card travel insurance, nab credit card travel insurance, westpac credit card travel insurance, american express credit card travel insurance, citi credit card travel insurance, hsbc credit card travel insurance, which other providers offer complimentary travel insurance with their credit cards.

Underwritten by: Allianz Global Assistance  ANZ credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance include:

• ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum
• ANZ Frequent Flyer Black
• ANZ Rewards Platinum
• ANZ Rewards Black
• ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures
• ANZ Platinum

Does ANZ credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus? 

If you are positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19, cover is available for:

• Overseas medical assistance
• Overseas emergency medical
• Evacuation and repatriation
• Cancellation
• Additional expenses 

For more information call Allianz Global Assistance on: 1300 135 271

Underwritten by: Zurich Australian Insurance through Cover-More 

CommBank credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• CommBank Low Fee Gold Credit Card 
• CommBank Low Rate Gold Credit Card 
• CommBank Gold Awards Credit Card
• CommBank Platinum Awards Credit Card
• CommBank Diamond Awards Credit Card 
• CommBank Ultimate Awards Credit Card
• World Debit Mastercard

Does Commonwealth Bank credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus? 

Commonwealth Bank credit card travel insurance provides limited cover for overseas emergency medical expenses related to COVID-19. 

However, CommBank credit card travel insurance does not provide cancellation cover related to COVID-19.

CommBank's standalone travel insurance policy, i.e. not the bundled policy, does not provide cover for Covid whatsoever. 

For more information call Cover-More on: 1300 467 951

Underwritten by: Allianz Global Assistance 

NAB credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• NAB Premium Credit Card
• NAB Platinum Credit Card
• NAB Signature Credit Card
• NAB Platinum Visa Debit Card

Does NAB credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus?

From 30 June 2022, NAB credit card travel insurance may provide limited cover for COVID-19 related events, such as:

• Overseas Emergency Assistance
• Overseas Emergency Medical
• Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
• Additional Expenses

For more information call Allianz Global Assistance on: 1800 187 025

Underwritten by: Allianz Global Assistance

Westpac credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• Westpac Earth Black
• Westpac Earth Platinum
• Westpac Earth Platinum Plus
• Westpac Altitude Black
• Westpac Altitude Platinum 
• Westpac Altitude Platinum Plus
• Singapore Airlines Platinum
• Singapore Airlines Gold
• Westpac Low Fee Platinum
• Private Bank Gold Mastercard

Does Westpac credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus?

From 8 July, Westpac has announced it will be providing COVID-19 and pandemic cover on eligible travel insurance policies through select credit cards (T&Cs apply). Benefits include:

For more information call Allianz Global Assistance on: 1800 091 710

Underwritten by: Chubb 

American Express credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• American Express Platinum Card 
• American Express Gold Card 
• American Express Rewards Advantage Card 
• American Express Green Card  
• American Express Explorer Credit Card 
• American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card 
• American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card 
• American Express Platinum Rewards Credit Card 
• Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card 
• American Express Velocity Gold Credit Card  
• American Express Elevate Credit Card 
• American Express Elevate Premium Credit Card

Does American Express credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus?

American Express credit card travel insurance provides limited cover for Covid-related events, such as:

• Trip cancellations, curtailments, and changes
• Medical emergency expenses cover 

It's recommended you check the specific PDS for your card to make sure you're aware of the way your credit card travel insurance treats Covid. 

Note: There is no cover if you travel against a Smartraveller ‘Do Not Travel’ warning or if borders have closed at your destination prior to departure.

For more information call Chubb on: (02) 9335 3200

Citi credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• Citi Prestige credit card
• Citi Premier credit card
• Citi Rewards credit card
• Emirates Citi World Mastercard
• CitiBusiness Gold credit card

Does Citi credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus?

Unfortunately, Citi will not cover you for any loss, damages, or expenses caused by, arising directly or indirectly from or in any way related to any epidemic or pandemic, including COVID-19. 

For more information call Allianz Global Assistance on: 1800 072 791

HSBC credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• HSBC Platinum credit card
• HSBC Platinum Qantas credit card
• HSBC Premier World MasterCard
• Low Rate credit card

Does HSBC credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus?

HSBC credit card travel insurance provides some cover for Covid, including for benefits like: 

• Overseas emergency assistance
• Overseas emergency medical 
• Evacuation and repatriation 
• Cancellation 

Make sure you read through the relevant PDS to understand the limits of HSBC’s coverage.

For more information call Allianz Global Assistance on: 1800 648 093

According to Mozo’s database, 32 credit card providers on site offer complimentary travel insurance on their credit cards. 

If you are concerned about whether you are covered for any medical issues or cancellations due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, contact your provider, or its travel insurance underwriter, on one of the following numbers.

RELATED ARTICLE: Everything you need to know about travel insurance

Interested in what other travel features come complimentary on credit card products? Jump over to our credit card comparison table to check out various options or Mozo's top choices of the best credit cards.

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Credit Card Awards

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• Mind & body

Going on holiday? Here’s what you need to know about your cover

At CBHS we help you manage your health challenges. We believe in offering you the services, support and tools you need to live your best life. Our Better Living Programs are available to support eligible members towards a healthier lifestyle. Each Better Living Program is subject to its own eligibility criteria. Contact us for more information and to confirm your eligibility for a program.

Travel is back on the table and Aussies are keen to make up for lost time! For many of us, dreaming of more exotic locations was what kept us going throughout more than two years of lockdowns and restrictions. And we’re finally free to take that trip! You’ve decided on the destination, the tickets are booked, and the annual leave is approved… now let’s address some of the other items on the ‘to-do’ list. Like, sorting out those all-important health cover and travel insurance questions. Protecting our health is such a priority right now, and that holds true no matter where we are in the world.  

In this edition of Member Insider , we help clear up some of the most common ‘health cover and travel’ queries

Does my CBHS private health insurance cover overseas medical costs?

No. Health funds, including CBHS, only provide cover for Australian medical and hospital expenses. This is because Hospital cover provides benefits for medical services listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), and Medicare only provides cover for medical expenses on Australian shores.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes. If you’re packing your passport, you should always be ‘packing’ travel insurance too! Travel insurance is vital if you want to be protected against the cost of overseas medical expenses. If the world’s taught us anything in the past few years, it’s that even the best plans don’t always go to plan! So, it pays to be prepared for the unexpected.

Travel insurance policies provide cover for emergency hospital and medical expenses you may need to foot the bill for while overseas. This includes things like hospital accommodation, ambulance transport, and even medical evacuation back to Australia. Travel insurance typically includes emergency dental costs as well. Some policies also cover additional accommodation and travel costs that arise if you need to remain overseas for longer than planned due to medical reasons.

Most countries don’t offer free care in their health systems, and often you can end up with a very, very large bill if you don’t have travel insurance. If you can’t afford to pay for your treatment, in some countries, you simply won’t receive the treatment you need.

Some countries require you to take out an adequate level of medical travel insurance cover before you can gain visa approval. So, it’s essential that you consider your cover needs before you depart.

Does health insurance cover overseas cosmetic surgery?

No. It is becoming increasingly popular to travel overseas for cosmetic surgery. This is also known as ‘medical tourism’. However, Australian private health funds don’t cover overseas cosmetic surgery costs.

The first reason is because Australian private health insurance will only cover you in Australia. The second reason is that Hospital cover can only cover services for which Medicare pays a benefit, and Medicare doesn’t pay any benefits for surgery for purely cosmetic purposes.

I bought some new glasses overseas. Can I claim these with CBHS?

No. To be able to claim on goods or services, they need to be supplied by a CBHS recognised provider. Providers based overseas are not recognised by CBHS.

Does my private health insurance cover me for domestic travel?

If you’re travelling within Australia, there is of course a huge network of hospitals you could access across both the private and public system. If you have an accident or become ill while you’re away, treatment in any Australian public hospital will be covered by Medicare. If you choose to be admitted to a private hospital, we have more than 500 agreement hospitals nationwide. It’s important to get in touch with us though, to make sure you’re covered for the services you may need at that hospital. We can help you reduce or remove any unexpected out-of-pocket charges.

Being taken to hospital in an ambulance, or having one called out to treat you, can be quite pricey. The charges differ in each state or territory. Having ambulance cover – which is included in CBHS Hospital covers – can provide you the peace of mind that you’re not going to have a hefty ambulance bill as a holiday souvenir.  

What is a travel vaccine?

While many diseases have been controlled or eliminated in Australia, they still exist in some countries. For example, rabies, yellow fever and tetanus are still active diseases in other parts of the world. However, we can vaccinate to help protect against these.

Of course, COVID-19 remains an ongoing global health risk and the Australian Department of Health recommends that Australians get vaccinated.

A vaccine is a dead or weakened version of a virus or bacteria that is introduced into the body. It prepares your immune system to fight and overcome the disease if you become infected with it in the future.

The types of vaccines you need will depend on your overseas destination/s. Research your destinations’ health risks and check with your GP or travel vaccination clinic. You can also read more at Healthdirect or smartraveller .

Can you claim travel vaccines on health insurance?

You might be able to. While you can’t claim on the consultation or GP fees for your vaccination, you may be able to claim benefits on the vaccination cost itself.

Depending on your level of CBHS Extras cover, if the vaccines are not available on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS), you may be able to claim them with CBHS. Just email [email protected] with the name and cost of the drug for full details.

Bear in mind that in Australia, all COVID-19 vaccines are free.

I am cruising. Do I still need travel insurance?

Yes. Whilst cruise ships have doctors on board, they can be very expensive. Plus, their services are not covered by Medicare or your Australian private health insurance, even if you are in Australian waters. The reason for this is simple: Medicare benefits are not available if you are travelling between an Australian port and a foreign port, or between two foreign ports. Medicare benefits are only available if you are cruising between two Australian ports and even then, only if you are treated by a Medicare-eligible doctor.

To avoid significant expenses for the cost of treatment onboard a cruise ship, get yourself some travel insurance. Look for a policy that will not only cover you for emergency onboard medical treatment, but for helicopter medical evacuations should things take a turn for the worse. Helicopter medical evacuation from a cruise ship is not covered by CBHS, and it can cost in the hundreds of thousands. 

Read more about travel insurance for cruises , at smartraveller.

Can I suspend my health insurance membership whilst I am traveling?

Yes. You can suspend or ‘freeze’ your CBHS health insurance membership in certain situations.

If you have held a CBHS membership for 12 months or more and are temporarily away from Australia for more than 6 weeks (but not exceeding 36 months), you may suspend your membership.

It’s vital that you suspend your membership before you leave for your overseas destination, because you cannot apply to suspend your membership after you have already left the country.

When you return to Australia, you will need to notify CBHS to reinstate your membership effective from the date you re-entered Australia.

Can I claim benefits while my membership is suspended?

While your health insurance membership is suspended, you won’t be able to make claims for any rebates or benefits from CBHS.

Do my waiting periods keep going while my membership is suspended?

No. While your membership is suspended, your waiting periods are ‘on hold’. You will be able to continue serving the rest of your waiting periods when your membership restarts.

Do I incur any new waiting periods during my membership suspension ?

Yes. If you develop a medical condition during the period of suspension, then that condition may be deemed a ‘pre-existing condition’. You may then have to serve a waiting period of 12 months for services related to that condition, except where the services are psychiatric, rehabilitation or palliative care services. Only a 2-month waiting period is applicable to these. You can read more about the pre-existing conditions rule at the PHIO website .

Do I pay Medicare Levy Surcharge during suspension ?

Yes. When your membership is suspended, if you earn above the income threshold you will have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge for that tax year. This can cost you an extra 1% to 1.5% in tax, depending on your income.

Does CBHS provide travel insurance?

No. But we hope that some of the information in this article will help you in shopping around for a travel insurance policy that meets your needs.

Where can I go for more information on travelling safely overseas?

The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) runs the smartraveller website. Smartraveller is the place to go for all the latest travel advice, as well as a 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre.

All information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only. The information provided should not be relied upon as medical advice and does not supersede or replace a consultation with a suitably qualified healthcare professional.

https://www.smartraveller.gov.au

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/travel-vaccinations

https://www.ombudsman.gov.au/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/factsheets/all-fact-sheets/phio/the-pre-existing-conditions-rule

Health and wellbeing

Programs & support.

You Belong to More with CBHS Hospital cover :

• Greater choice over your health options including who treats you
• Get care at home with Hospital Substitute Treatment program
• Free health and wellbeing programs to support your health challenges

Live your healthiest, happiest life with CBHS Extras cover :

• Benefits for proactive health checks e.g. bone density tests, eye screenings
• Keep up your care with telehealth and digital options
• Save on dental and optical with CBHS Choice Network providers

See all our programs and support

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June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova; North Korea; Russia; Israel

This is a test environment. Please proceed to AllianzTravelInsurance.com and remove all bookmarks or references to this site.

Use this tool to calculate all purchases like ski-lift passes, show tickets, or even rental equipment.

Safer travel starts with travel protection

If you are a travel agent or were referred by one, enter the ACCAM number below.

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If your trip involves multiple destinations, please enter the destination where you’ll be spending the most time. It is not required to list all destinations on your policy.

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At Allianz, we continue to show our commitment to sports through our sponsorship with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. Read More >>

Entry Requirements & COVID-19 Travel Resources 

Confused about entry requirements for your destination? Our  interactive map shows current travel rules and restrictions for each destination, including info on COVID-19 testing, necessary travel documents and quarantine periods.

Find out how our  Epidemic Coverage Endorsement can protect your next trip from certain losses related to COVID-19.

Why do I need travel insurance?

Because sometimes..., you have to cancel a trip last-minute..

Travel insurance can reimburse you for your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs — including vacation rentals, car rentals, hotels and flights — if you have to cancel for a covered reason.

Travel delays leave you stranded.

Travel insurance can reimburse you for eligible meals, accommodation and transportation expenses during a covered delay.

You get sick or hurt when you're far from home.

Travel insurance can reimburse you for care following a covered medical emergency while traveling. We can even arrange and pay for a medical evacuation if needed.

Fender-benders are unavoidable.

Renting a car means taking on a big financial risk; even a tiny scrape can cost you hundreds. Low-priced rental car insurance lets you drive worry-free.

You need help in a hurry.

Whether you're planning a week-long road trip or a weekend getaway, you never know what might happen. Travel insurance gives you access to our 24-Hour Assistance hotline for expert, personalized support in a crisis.

Why go with Allianz Travel Insurance?

As a world leader in travel protection, we help more than 70 million people answer the call of adventure with confidence every year.

We're Protecting You

From protection for trip cancellation to medical bills abroad, our benefits are designed to help you explore reassured.

We're There For You

We've got your back with award-winning 24/7 assistance and a worldwide network of prescreened hospitals to help you get the right care.

We're Built For You

From our Allyz ® TravelSmart app to proactive SmartBenefits, we innovate for the way you travel today - and tomorrow.

TRAVEL RESOURCES

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What Does Rental Car Insurance Cover?

Is It Too Late to Buy Travel Insurance?

The Comprehensive Guide to Annual Travel Insurance

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Travel Insurance with Emergency Medical Benefits

Destination Guide: Croatia

Travel Insurance & COVID-19: The Epidemic Coverage Endorsement Explained

More Travel Resources »

LATEST COVERAGE ALERTS

The events listed below are considered "known and foreseeable" for travel insurance purposes on the date listed next to the event. Please consult your policy for more information.

More Coverage Alerts »

Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

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Travel / Travel insurance / How to make a claim

How to make a travel insurance claim

Here’s how to make a CBA Travel Insurance (if you purchased a travel insurance policy with us) or a claim if you have international travel insurance included with your card .

What you'll need

Have this info handy.

• Your Certificate of Insurance - it has your policy number at the top and confirms your excess
• If you activate insurance included with your eligible CommBank credit card after you have left Australia, there’ll be a three day no cover period before you can receive any benefits
• copies of your eligible credit card account statement, and ​
• credit card receipt that shows you used your eligible card to spend at least $500 in a single transaction on your prepaid travel costs before leaving Australia and/or a copy of the letter/statement/email confirming the redemption of your CommBank Awards points through the CommBank Awards Program in full or part payment for your return overseas travel ticket(s) (including the spend of at least $500 worth of prepaid travel costs is redeemed using CommBank Awards points).
• Documents like a police report or medical notes relating the event you’re claiming for
• A phone number Cover-More can call you back on

What to consider before you make a claim

• For eligible credit cards

To receive cover, including Overseas Medical cover # , before you leave Australia you must:

1. Spend at least $500 in a single transaction on your prepaid travel costs using your eligible credit card; and

2. Activate your travel insurance

You will also qualify if the $500 worth of prepaid travel costs is redeemed using CommBank Awards points. You will need to provide a copy of the letter/statement/email confirming the redemption.

• For World Debit Mastercard TM

You need to activate your insurance to receive comprehensive cover. 

Overseas Medical cover, which includes overseas emergency medical assistance and hospital expenses and personal liability cover is automatically

• Make sure you’re familiar with the excess applicable to your claim - your excess limit is shown on your Certificate of Insurance
• Check that your insurance includes cancellation cover before you make a cancellation-related claim
• Claims resulting from, or made worse by, an existing medical condition that you haven’t declared are unlikely to be covered

How to make a claim

Make a claim online or call cover-more - our travel insurance provider.

Make a claim online or call 8am-5pm Mon - Fri and 9am-4pm Sat (Sydney/Melbourne time)

• Within Australia: call Cover-More on  1300 467 951
• From overseas: call Cover-More on + 612 8907 5060   (call charges may apply)

If you’re unable to upload supporting documents, post them to:

CommBank Travel Insurance c/o Cover-More Private Bag 913 North Sydney NSW 2059 Australia

It’s important to also include your policy number and contact details.

Activated your cover before 1 st October 2018?

If your cover was activated before 1 st October 2018, your claim will be managed by Allianz Global Assistance. Call Allianz Global Assistance on  1800 837 177 .

Settling a claim

When Cover-More pay a claim, they consider a number of factors including:

• Terms of cover
• The amount of loss or damage
• Maximum benefit limits and sub-limits
• Reasonable depreciation
• Terms and conditions of the policy

Cover-more aim to settle your claim as quickly as possible. Providing all the relevant info when you first submit your claim, may help speed this up.

Cover-More will either call or email you to confirm the outcome.

If you’re successful, they’ll either deposit money into your chosen bank account or issue you with a cheque.

CommBank support

Report a lost or stolen card.

• Within Australia: call us on  13 2221  (24/7)
• From overseas: call us on + 61 2 9999 3283  (24/7)

See more overseas travel support

Protecting your money & cards

• Lock, Block, Limit your CommBank credit card
• Lock, Block, Alert your CommBank Debit Mastercard
• Lock your Travel Money Card for added security  
• Cancel and order a replacement card

Got a question about travel insurance?

Call Cover-More 8am-5pm Mon - Fri and 9am-4pm Sat (Sydney/Melbourne time):

Within Australia:  1300 467 951  From overseas:  +612 8907 5060

Things you should know

Terms, conditions, restrictions, exclusions (including for pre-existing medical conditions and persons aged 74 years or over), limits and excesses may apply to all insurances. Please read the CBA Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement and Information Booklet for more information about CBA Travel Insurance.

Terms, conditions, restrictions, exclusions (including for pre-existing medical conditions and persons aged 80 years or over), limits, sub-limits and excesses may apply to all insurances. Please read the  Credit Card Insurances Product Disclosure Statement and Information Booklet and the World Debit Mastercard insurances Product Disclosure Statement and Information Booklet for more information about insurances.

If you have activated international travel insurance included in your CommBank credit card on or before 6 February 2024, please refer to the Credit Card Insurances Product Disclosure Statement and Information Booklet – effective 2 June 2023 .

Where used, the term “unlimited” only means there is no capped dollar sum insured. All costs and expenses claimed must be reasonable. You are only covered for treatment received and/or hospital accommodation during the 12 month period after the sickness first showed itself or the injury happened.

CBA and its related bodies corporate do not issue or guarantee this insurance. It does not represent a deposit with or liability of either CBA or any of its related bodies corporate. We do not provide any advice on this insurance based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. If you purchase a CBA Travel Insurance policy or purchase an upgrade policy, we (CBA) receive a commission which is a percentage of your premium.