Australia Post travel insurance. What’s on offer and how does it work?

Many people believe that it’s only worth getting travel insurance if you’re a thrill seeker, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Most travel insurance claims are made for far more mundane and unexpected events, such as emergency medical treatment, lost luggage, and travel cancellations. ¹

For this reason, it’s always worth getting travel insurance and expecting the unexpected. One such international travel insurance provider is Australia Post - they don’t just get your mail from A to B but also offer coverage for medical costs, trip cancellations and delays, COVID-19 disruption, and other unexpected travel disruptions. ²

In this article, we will be investigating the different travel insurance offerings that Australia Post provides, diving deep into what is covered, what is not, and how to get started.

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What is travel insurance with Australia Post?

International travel insurance with Australia Post is a comprehensive insurance package designed to cover emergency medical expenses, disruption costs, and other unexpected risks associated with travelling. Australia Post also allows its clients to choose from a range of additional coverages, such as for winter sports, vehicle insurance, and existing medical conditions. ²

Australia Post travel insurance package(s)

Australia Post offers a range of travel insurance packages, designed to cater to different risks and needs. The travel insurance packages that Australia Post offers are as follows:

• International Comprehensive Travel Insurance
• Basic International Travel Insurance
• Domestic Travel Insurance
• Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
• Existing Medical Conditions Travel Insurance ³

However, International Comprehensive Travel Insurance is the most thorough travel insurance that Australia Post offers. It covers many undesirable scenarios that could arise when travelling abroad, such as overseas medical expenses, lost or stolen travel documents and personal belongings, theft of money, travel delays, and other additional expenses. ²

Who Administers travel insurance on behalf of Australia Post?

Whilst International Comprehensive Travel Insurance can be provided directly by Australia Post, the company leverages underwriters to offer their insurance products. The administrator that facilitates travel insurance on behalf of Australia Post is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (ZAIL). ⁴

What are the main benefits of travel insurance with Australia Post?

Australia Post’s travel insurance options cover many costly scenarios which will be detailed in the next section. However, Australia Post also provides additional benefits to its insurance holders, including:

• Insurance plan flexibility, from basic cover to comprehensive benefits
• 24/7 support
• COVID-19 coverage for both domestic and international travel
• Quotes provided in minutes
• General coverage for both international and domestic travel
• Reduced premiums facilitated by variable excess ²

Types of coverage offered by Australia Post travel insurance

The types of coverage and their associated excesses offered by Australia Post will depend on the plan that you choose. However, the primary coverage types offered on the Comprehensive International Travel Insurance plan are as follows: ²

Type of Coverage	Excess
Overseas medical expenses (including if diagnosed with COVID-19 overseas)	Unlimited
Additional expenses (including if hospitalised with COVID-19)	Unlimited
Personal liability	AUD$5,000,000
Accidental death or disability	AUD$25,000
Luggage and personal effects	AUD$12,000
Travel documents	AUD$5,000
Theft of money	AUD$250
Rental car insurance excess	AUD$10,000

As seen on 13 September 2023

Australia Post travel insurance main fees

The fees associated with Australia Post international travel insurance depend greatly on various factors. This will include age, location of travel, duration of trip, and excess amount.

It is essential to enter your own details on Australia Post’s online quote calculator. However, take a look at the following example; the figures provided here are based on a trip covering the whole of Asia, for a 28-year-old Australian travelling for the entirety of October: ⁵

Excess	Basic	Comprehensive
AUD$0	AUD$147	AUD$223
AUD$100	AUD$131	AUD$198
AUD$250	AUD$112	AUD$170

As seen on 13 September 2023

What’s not covered under this travel insurance

The exact coverage of Australia Post international travel insurance depends on whether you choose the comprehensive or basic option. For comprehensive, all major Australia Post travel insurance benefits are covered, but some benefits must be added on and will cost extra. These include:

• Winter Sports
• Motorbike/Moped
• Cruises (2 or more days)
• Additional luggage cover
• Cancellation cover ²

However, the basic options are more limited in cover, with several benefits not being applicable. These include:

• Amendments or Cancellations
• Travel Delays
• Hospital Incidentals

Eligibility for Australia Post travel insurance

Any Australian over the age of 18 is eligible to purchase travel insurance with Australia Post, assuming that:

• They are an Australian resident with a valid Medicare card or hold a valid visa allowing them to live, work or study in Australia beyond the period of insurance
• They are not aware of any foreseen circumLoss of Income
• Luggage and Personal Effects
• Travel Documents
• Lost/Stolen Items or Money,
• Rental Car Insurance ⁶stance likely to give rise to a claim ⁶

How to get travel insurance with Australia Post

It is possible to purchase travel insurance with Australia Post either online or through a telephone call to the phone number 1300 728 015. Details of the trip and the person to be covered must be provided, which can either be entered using the online quote calculator or provided directly over the phone.

Once a quote has been provided, you will be directed to pay for the insurance. Upon completion, you will receive a breakdown of your coverage and a copy of your policy by e-mail and/or post.

Making a claim with Australia Post travel insurance

There are three ways to make a travel insurance claim with Australia Post: online, by mail, or through the emergency telephone line. ⁷

Making a Claim Online

To begin making a claim online, you must first visit the Australia Post travel insurance claim website. You must then provide your personal details and policy number, and you will then have to follow a 5-step process:

• Describe the incident
• Provide Expenses
• Upload Documentation and Evidence
• Provide Financial Details
• Review and Finalise

Once submitted, you can return to your claim at any point to review any details and check the status of your claim. ⁷

Making a Claim by Mail

To make a travel insurance claim with Australia Post by mail, you will first need to download and print a claim form. Once you have filled in the form with all details regarding your claim, you will have to send it off attached with any expense receipts and evidence to the following address:

Travel Insurance Partners

PO Box 168

North Sydney NSW 2060 ⁷

Making an Emergency Claim by Phone Call

If you find yourself in a situation where you must make an emergency international claim by telephone, you will have to get your policy number ready and call one of the following phone numbers, depending on which country you are calling from:

• Canada: 1 855 802 3393
• New Zealand 0800 284 343
• United States 1 855 802 3393
• United Kingdom 0800 096 8819
• For all other countries call + 61 (2) 8907 5647 ⁸

The Australia Post emergency operators will take all details of your claim over the phone and may request evidence and receipts. The team will help to resolve your problem and will organise any assistance you may need from doctors, nurses or travel agents.

A word on Australia Post travel insurance and COVID-19

Australia Post provides travel insurance benefits in the event that your trip is disrupted due to COVID-19. For comprehensive plans, this includes unlimited coverage for COVID-19-related overseas medical fees and additional expenses.

However, this does not include coverage related to:

• Governmental travel bans or "Do Not Travel" warnings
• Mandatory quarantine/self-isolation requirements
• Amendment/cancellation costs caused by COVID-19 ⁶

Additional things to keep in mind

When it comes to dealing with travel insurance, there are variables, terms, and conditions that you will need to familiarise yourself with. This is essential to understand exactly what you are covered for and to prevent disappointment in the event that your travel circumstances are excluded from a payout.

To familiarise yourself with this information, you will have to thoroughly read your policy agreement, in addition to Australia Post’s Product Disclosure Statement.

Contacting Australia Post

For general enquiries, you can call Australia Post on the following numbers:

Australia: 1300 728 015

Overseas: +61 3 8847 9045 ⁷

In the event of an emergency, you will need to call one of the following numbers for assistance:

• Australia: 1300 728 015
• Canada: 1 855 802 3393
• New Zealand 0800 284 343
• United States 1 855 802 3393
• United Kingdom 0800 096 8819
• For all other countries call + 61 (2) 8907 5647 ⁸

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Sources:

1. Australia Post: 5 Myths About Travel Insurance
2. Australia Post: International Comprehensive Travel Insurance
3. Australia Post: Compare Travel Insurance Plans
4. Australia Post: Travel Insurance Policy Information
5. Australia Post: Get a Travel Insurance Quote
6. Australia Post: Product Disclosure Statement
7. Australia Post: Make a Claim
8. Australia Post: Help and Emergencies

Sources checked on: 13 September, 2023