Travel Insurance FAQs
The University's corporate travel policy provides staff, students, and alumni travelling on behalf of the University or with the University鈥檚 approval (for study or research, etc.), with a number of benefits. These benefits include cover for medical treatment while overseas, accidental loss or damage to personal belongings, and flight changes or cancellations.
The assessment of benefit, or reimbursement of expenses from insurance, is made on the receipt of invoices or evidence of expenditure post-travel, and often on a case-by-case basis.
COVID-19 (COVID) has complicated things
If the traveller has a confirmed and documented diagnosis of COVID,听and the trip was not in conflict with any Australian or University travel restrictions or advice, the policy will respond and pay the following benefits:
- Prior to departure, for trip cancellation, i.e., where the traveller contracts COVID prior to departure and incurs cancellation costs;
- While overseas, for the medical and medical evacuation expenses related to contracting COVID; and
- While overseas, for any reasonable and necessary additional expenses resulting from the cancellation, restriction, or interruption to travel as a result of contracting COVID; this would include costs associated with orders by country authorities to hotel quarantine 鈥 if the person has a confirmed and documented diagnosis of COVID.
If the traveller does not have a confirmed and documented diagnosis of COVID, the University鈥檚 travel policy听will not respond to costs such as loss of deposits or additional expenses incurred directly or indirectly. This includes:
- COVID related expenses due to the cancellation, interruption, or delays to travel plans 鈥 including any requirement to quarantine;
- Disinclination to travel, change of mind, or fear of travelling;
- Travel restrictions due to government orders, advisories, regulations, directives, or border closures in relation to COVID; or
- Orders by country authorities to hotel quarantine 鈥 if you do not have COVID.
For the University's travel policy to respond, the traveller must have a confirmed and documented diagnosis of COVID. As an example, quarantine costs are likely to be covered if the traveller has a confirmed and documented diagnosis of COVID, but not covered if the traveller did not have COVID.
As with any travel-related illness or accident, all claims will be subject to the terms and conditions of the insurance policy.
Details about the cover are available on the Travel Insurance webpage.
For details about the University鈥檚 travel approval process refer to the University Travel hub.
For insurance related queries, please contact听Insurance.
General information
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I am a staff member working overseas for more than 12 months. Will I be covered by the University鈥檚 Travel Insurance Policy?
Special insurance cover under an 'expatriate' insurance policy needs to be arranged prior to departure for staff travelling, studying and working overseas for more than 12 months at a time. The Legal and Risk Branch can assist in arranging this on an individual basis. Cover can also be arranged for couples and a family. The cover must be renewed annually, and the additional premium is an oncost to be borne by the staff member鈥檚 Faculty, School or the staff member themselves. Staff responsible for negotiating the terms and conditions of employment, and the individual staff members involved, should consider these insurance arrangements at the time of negotiating the terms and conditions of employment.
For more information, please refer to the Travel Insurance Webpage.
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I am a PhD student undertaking a 12 month study term in France. Do I have travel insurance or do I need to buy my own?
As a PhD Student, you are provided up to 365 days of cover providing that:
- Your travel has been approved by Head of School
- Any personal holiday time during this period does not exceed 28 days
If you intend to be away for more than 365 days or the private travel component of your travel exceeds 28 days, you must purchase Top-Up Travel cover at additional personal cost and prior to departure from Australia to be fully covered by the University's corporate travel policy. For more information, please read Travel Insurance: Extending Cover.
For more information about travel insurance for postgraduate students, please read Travel Insurance: Postgraduate Students. -
I will be travelling overseas for a semester as part of the Study Overseas program. What travel insurance do I need and what does the University provide me?
Travel insurance is provided to 成人大片 students whose travel has been approved for credit or recognised as fulfilling part of their degree, or has otherwise been approved by their Head of School/Branch. Cover is provided to undergraduate students for up to 180 days including incidental private travel, provided that the private travel component does not exceed 50% of the total travel time, and is less than 28 days.
All students are encouraged to check the requirement for in-country health insurance with the host organisation or embassy of the country they are intending to visit before embarking on their trip. In certain circumstances, the University travel insurance may not satisfy the requirements of the host University or the country the student is travelling to.If the host university or embassy will accept the University's travel insurance policy, and you require a letter from the 成人大片 confirming the terms and conditions of the University's travel cover, please send an email to the Legal & Risk Helpdesk with the following information:
- Your name
- Your staff or student ID number
- Are you an undergraduate or postgraduate student
- The name of the host university/organisation (if applicable)
- Travel destination(s)
- Date of departure from听Australia
- Date of return to Australia
- If your private travel exceeds 50% of the University related travel, or is more than 28 days in total, you will be required to purchase听top-up travel insurance
For more information please read Travel Insurance: Undergraduate Students.
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I am an undergraduate student planning to study overseas for a year exchange that has been approved by my School. Am I covered by University travel insurance for the whole time I am away?
Not automatically. The University travel insurance policy commences from the time your journey starts (usually in Adelaide) and continues for up to 180 days (including 28 days of private travel). You will need to purchase additional travel insurance prior to your departure to ensure you are covered for your entire journey.
To purchase additional cover, you will need to apply for top-up insurance.
The University policy may not provide protection or continue cover for you if you have purchased alternative cover for any part of your trip. You should make an enquiry with听Marsh before committing to an alternative policy before you leave.
For more information please read Travel Insurance: Undergraduate Students. -
I am going to a conference in Germany but the cost of my ticket and conference fees have been paid by a research group. Am I still covered under the University travel insurance program?
If another party paid for your travel arrangements, cover under the University's travel insurance policy still applies providing that:
- Your travel has been approved by Head of School
- Your personal holiday time does not exceed 50% of the total travel time up to a limit of 28 days
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I am a staff member travelling to Italy. I will be working for 6 weeks and my family is joining me for a 3 week holiday in the USA. Am I covered and is my family covered under the University travel insurance?
Travel insurance is provided to 成人大片 staff while they are undertaking University approved travel. This includes all persons authorised by the University to travel for and on behalf of the University. The cover automatically extends to include spouses, partners and dependent children travelling with you.
The University allows for personal time up to 50% of the overall time away to a maximum of 28 days. As your personal time does not exceed 28 days and is within the 50% time frame, you are also covered for the private portion of your travel. -
Can I arrange travel insurance through an alternative provider for part of my trip?
It is preferable not to swap insurers half way through your trip.
Most travel policies cover the entire trip from the time you leave home to the time you return. It is not recommended for one policy to stop and the other to commence on a particular day whilst you are overseas.
The University policy may not provide cover for you if you have purchased alternative cover for any part of your trip. You should make an enquiry with Marsh before committing to an alternative policy before you leave.
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I have a pre-existing medical condition. Am I still covered by University Travel Insurance?
Insurance will be available for staff and students who have a pre-existing medical condition, providing the staff member or student has obtained a certificate of fitness to travel from their treating doctor prior to travel. The insurer may ask to see the certificate in the event that a claim is made on the policy.
The policy excludes claims where the staff or student is travelling against medical advice; travelling with a terminal condition which was diagnosed prior to travel; or travelling when unfit to do so.Ongoing treatment for known medical conditions is also excluded under the policy.
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Where can I travel under the University鈥檚 travel insurance policy? Are there any countries or destinations where I won鈥檛 be covered?
The University鈥檚 travel insurance policy operates worldwide, but may be limited or non-existent for travel to the following high risk destinations:
- Destinations where the provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is Level 3 鈥 Reconsider your need to travel or Level 4 鈥 Do not travel. Staff and students must request permission to travel to these locations using the prior to travelling.
- Sanctioned countries under regimes implemented by , , , and
- Countries which听are specifically excluded听under the University鈥檚 travel insurance policy (full list available听in the Travel Insurance Guide).
Please contact Insurance听for advice and assistance prior to making bookings to a听high risk destination.
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I will be hiring a vehicle while overseas on approved University travel. Do I need to purchase excess cover from the vehicle hire company?
Excesses payable under a comprehensive motor vehicle insurance policy may be claimed under the University's Travel Insurance Policy (up to $5k).
If the vehicle hire company gives you the option to buy a loss or collision damage waiver (this is common in some overseas countries), the University recommends that you buy a full waiver to cap damage to the vehicle at an agreed price.
It is common in some overseas countries for vehicle hire companies to offer a cheap hire rate with optional 鈥渓oss damage鈥 or 鈥渃ollision damage鈥 waivers. Beware that if you don鈥檛 purchase the waiver, you may be liable for the full value of any damage to the vehicle
A loss or collision damage waiver is an agreement with a car rental company which releases the renter from liability for physical damage to the vehicle in exchange for a fee, subject to the terms of the rental agreement or a state statute if one exists (i.e. the USA).
The waiver is not insurance. It is a contractual obligation subject to many restrictions (e.g reckless driving, driving under the influence). In some contracts, the renter has a choice to buy a full or partial damage waiver. The rental agreement typically stipulates that purchasing the damage waiver is not mandatory.
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Does the University鈥檚 travel insurance cover me for motorcycling?
If you require emergency medical assistance as a result of a motorcycling incident, the travel insurance policy provides you with medical cover. However you may need to purchase separate insurance related to motorcycle hire and potential liability for damage to the vehicle, property or people.
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What insurance do I need to arrange for a rental vehicle or hire car?
Travellers using听hire cars for approved University business听are responsible for organising and ensuring that the hire vehicle has adequate motor vehicle insurance. Insurance for the hire vehicle should be arranged under the rental vehicle agreement, and any excess should be paid by the Local Area. The University recommends that staff purchase a lower excess if available as good risk management practice. The University鈥檚 preferred rental vehicle companies may offer special rates and lower excesses.
If听travelling in the hire vehicle overseas or outside of 100km from your Local Area - the excess may be claimed under the University's Travel Insurance (up to $5k).
Claims
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While I was travelling overseas, I had to visit the doctor because I was unwell. Can I claim this?
Yes. Expenses related to GP visits and emergency medical and dental can be claimed for under the policy. Ongoing treatment for known medical conditions are excluded under the policy.
Please refer to the Claims Process for instructions on how to make a claim.
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I had my camera stolen while I was overseas and I paid $600 for the camera. Can I claim for this?
Yes. Please note there is deductible (excess) applied of $250 for cameras, computers and other electrical equipment.
Please refer to the Claims Process for instructions on how to make a claim.
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I left my phone in an unlocked vehicle and it was stolen. Can I claim the cost of the phone?
No. The insurer requires that valuable items in care, custody and control be secured at all times.
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My leased Satellite phone was damaged while I was travelling interstate. Can I claim the cost of repairs?
Yes - if the item was in your care, custody and control then there is potential to claim against the travel insurance policy.
Please refer to the Claims Process for instructions on how to make a claim.
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Who do I contact if I need to make a claim when I'm overseas?
For emergency assistance call Travel Guard听Emergency Assistance on +60 3 2772 5642 and advise:
- Your name
- Policy Name - 成人大片
- Policy Number - 2300110171
- Your contact number
- What you need
You may make a reverse charge call to the Travel Guard听Help Line, otherwise you can include the cost of the call in your claim.
You are welcome to lodge a claim at any time while you are away or it can be done once you return home. Please refer to the Claims Process for instructions on how to make a claim.