Options Travel Insurance International Plan I

Policy

Underwriter

Great Lakes Reinsurance

Underwriter's financial strength rating

AA- (Standard & Poor's)

Phone

0800 500 225

Cooling-off period

15 working days

Oldest age covered

99 years and under

Compare premiums

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Health cover

Overseas emergency medical expenses

Unlimited

Emergency dental treatment

Unlimited

Hospital cash allowance

$75 each night up to $8000 if hospitalised for 48hrs+

Ongoing medical expenses in NZ

$1500 for up to 12 months

Belongings

Depreciation

Depreciation applied to goods

Luggage and personal effects

$25,000

Cameras and video cameras

$3000

Computers

$3000

Mobile phones

$1500

Other items

$1500

Theft of cash

$500

Travel documents

$25,000 (see "Luggage and personal effects")

Delayed luggage

Up to $1500 (24hrs before allowance kicks in)

Bookings

Cancellation fees and loss of deposit

Optional

Resumption of trip

Up to $5000

Liability

Personal liability

$2.5 million

Rental vehicle excess

$10,000

Death and injury

Accidental death or permanent injury

$15,000

Funeral expenses

$20,000

Loss of income stipend

Up to $1000 per month capped at $9000

Pros:

At first sight, the policy makes it seem suitable for people over 70, but in practice, Covermore's handling of pre-existing medical conditions undercuts that.

Cons:

The company would not cover my pre-existing medical conditions because I was travelling to the US (actually I was only booked to spend a few days as the US as part of a month long holiday mostly to be spend in Europe, but the amount of time spent in the US appeared to make no difference.) What makes this even worse is that refusal to cover pre-existing medical conditions while overseas means that you're also not covered if you have to cancel your trip before you leave home because of the occurrence of any of these conditions.

Recommend it?

No, this product has too many drawbacks.

It covers (for an increased premium) declared existing medical conditions that many other insurers won't.

Overall expensive premiums. Our claim for items stolen from a broken in car was almost completely declined because electronic devices such as cameras, notebooks and phones (!) are excluded from the list of items covered. Used this insurance for numerous trips but will not use it again as a result of the above.

Cover-More