Travel insurance for people travelling with chronic illness

If you suffer from a chronic illness and want to travel overseas, there are some financial issues that keep coming up. Chronic illness may include:
• MS;
• Parkinson’s Disease;
• Cancer (including blood cancer);
• Alzheimer’s Disease;
• Epilepsy; or
• another physical injury or disability.

The financial issues we discuss include:
• getting and claiming on travel insurance for medical and other claims;
• COVID-19 and travel insurance; and
• access to Centrelink when overseas.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF TRAVEL INSURANCE

Non-medical cover: eg. loss of baggage, theft, damage, cancelled flights

Medical cover: eg. overseas hospital, doctor and medical evacuation expenses

TAKING OUT BASIC COVER

Non-medical: people with a chronic illness should have no problems getting cover.

Medical: people with a chronic illness should be able to get and claim on medical travel insurance cover for injuries or sicknesses that occur overseas or for cancelled trips (airfares, accommodation).

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

Travel insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions from medical cover unless you specifically apply for that cover.

You will have to:
• fill in an application form telling the insurer how your pre-existing condition affects you, your medication and treatment;
• get a certificate from your doctor setting out your diagnosis, prognosis and confirmation that you are not a significant risk of getting sick when travelling; and
• lodge the certificate with the insurer at least a few months before you travel. Hopefully the insurer agrees to provide you with travel insurance cover which includes cover for your pre-existing condition.

COVID-19

Most travel insurers offer cover for COVID-19.

However, the type of cover varies:
• Some insurers only cover medical and medical transportation costs if you contracted COVID or are diagnosed when overseas
• Some policies also include cancellation costs if you contract COVID before you travel. However, they often say that COVID must have been contracted a number of days after the insurance starts and also before the trip.
• Many policies don’t cover border closures or quarantine orders.
• Other policies limit cover for cruises.

CLAIMS

For non-medical claims, you will need to get proof of loss/damage. eg. police reports.

For medical claims, the doctor/hospital may have to fill in a form or speak to the insurer. Hospitalisation and medivac decisions are usually quick.

RECIPROCAL MEDICARE ARRANGEMENTS

Australia has reciprocal healthcare arrangements with a small number of countries. This means that you can get subsidised or free treatment for essential care that can’t wait until you come back to Australia, without having or claiming on any travel insurance policy. The treatment will usually include public hospital treatment but may not extend to GP’s, private doctors, ambulance or medication.

Visit the Services Australia website for the relevant countries.

If you are unable to get medical travel insurance, you should limit your travel to these countries or those that are nearby.

CENTRELINK BENEFITS AND OVERSEAS TRAVEL

DISABILITY SUPPORT PENSION

You can get the Disability Support Pension (DSP) for up to 28 days in any 12 month period if travelling overseas.

If you are still overseas after 28 days, your DSP will stop.

When you return to Australia, your DSP may be reinstated but Services Australia may require you to reapply.

You can get the DSP for more than 28 days when overseas in some circumstances:
• If you were assessed as eligible under the manifest medical rules (eg. terminally ill);
• You move to a country that has a social security agreement with Australia and has a DSP equivalent (eg. the UK, some European countries, New Zealand, and others with differing benefits. Check the Services Australia website).

It is always a good idea to let Services Australia know before you head overseas.

JOBSEEKER

If you travel overseas, your Jobseeker payments will stop immediately.

Notify Services Australia on your return and they will decide whether to reinstate your payments.

DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS AND TRAVEL

Most employment super funds include insurance disability benefits like TPD and income protection.

To be eligible, you will have to lodge a claim.
• If you are already on income protection payments, you will have to provide progress forms and medical pro formas.
• Most policies allow for payments whilst you are overseas but it’s important to check.
• It may be difficult to get medical reports or certificates if you are overseas but it’s not impossible - Telehealth changes help.

GETTING EXPERT ADVICE

Travelling overseas with a chronic illness and want to clarify your rights and obligations?

We are experts in assessing insurance policies and dealing with insurance claims.

CONTACTING BERRILL AND WATSON FOR FREE ADVICE

📞 Australia wide services: 03 9448 8048

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