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

If you’re preparing to head overseas it is essential to invest in insurance and to make sure you understand your coverage and associated claim limits. Even if you’re a seasoned traveller, unexpected emergencies can arise and it pays to be prepared.

However, a recent survey by the Insurance Council of Australia showed that 1 in every 6 Australians travelled overseas without it. Of those that did have insurance, 1 in every 5 admitted to not properly reading their policy details.¹

To ensure you’re ready for anything, we’ve prepared the following guide on some policy options available with Australian Health Insurer HCF.

We’ll delve into what's included, key benefits, the types of coverage available and more so you can make an informed choice and head off on your next adventure confident in your cover.

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What is travel insurance with HCF?

Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund, HCF has been in operation since 1932, primarily dealing with private health insurance in Australia.²

Now also offering other insurance types including travel insurance, their travel policies are aimed at providing coverage for medical emergencies, theft and other events for Australians going abroad.

HCF travel insurance package(s)

HCF offers domestic travel insurance alongside three international travel insurance policy types, Essentials, Comprehensive and Multi-trip.

These are split into a further three categories, these being³:

1. Single Cover

This policy provides coverage for a solo traveller and any dependents under 25 years named on the Certificate of Insurance who are not employed full-time and will be with the main policyholder for the entirety of the trip.

2. Duo Cover

Designed to cover an individual and their nominated travelling companion, this policy requires that the companion named on the Certificate of Insurance not be a dependant and that they must travel with the primary policyholder for 75% of the journey.

3. Family Cover

As its name suggests, this policy covers you, your spouse or partner, and any dependents named on the Certificate of Insurance. Dependents must be aged under 25 years, not employed full-time and be with you for 100% of your journey.

Who administers travel insurance on behalf of HCF?

All travel insurance policies issued by HCF are administered and underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited.⁴

What are the main benefits of travel insurance with HCF

Unsure whether HCF is the best option for your travel insurance needs? Below are some key benefits offered through their policies⁴:

• 24-hour emergency assistance with nurses and doctors available to speak with
• High claim limits for medical and hospital cover across all policy types
• Cover for luggage, travel documents and personal items
• Option to tailor cancellation coverage to match your trip costs
• Rental vehicle excess cover
• Option to add extra cover for activities not included in the base policies such as an ‘Adventure Pack’, ‘Cruise Pack’ or ‘Snow Pack’
• Ability to add cover for pre-existing medical conditions not automatically covered in the policy wording

Types of coverage offered by HCF travel insurance

The following is a comparison table showing the key coverage and claim limits for HCF’s travel insurance policies based on a single traveller.⁴

Prices in AUD	Essentials⁴	Comprehensive⁴	Multi-trip⁴
Medical	$20,000,000	$20,000,000	$20,000,000
Emergency expenses	$25,000	$50,000	$50,000
Cancellation or changes pre-departure	Variable based on selected cover	Variable based on selected cover	Variable based on selected cover
Travel delay	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000
Luggage	$5,000	$10,000	$10,000
Travel documents	NIL	$5,000	$5,000
Personal liability	$2,500,000	$5,000,000	$5,000,000
Accidental death	NIL	$25,000	$25,000
Rental vehicle excess	$3,000	$6,000	$6,000

As seen on 12 April 2024

HCF travel insurance main fees

As every traveller’s journey is wholly unique to them and their circumstances, there is no set pricing model or fee structure for HCF travel insurance.

Instead, HCF follows the same method as most insurers, determining your final policy costs based on a variety of factors such as:

• Your destination/s
• Travel duration
• Number of travellers
• Whether you select any added cover for particular activities
• Any declared pre-existing health conditions that are approved for an added premium

To learn what a travel insurance policy may cost with HCF based on your individual needs, we suggest requesting a quote through their website.

What’s not covered under this travel insurance

While travel insurance can provide peace of mind regarding certain unexpected events while overseas, not all things are covered.

These include but are not limited to claims arising from⁴:

• Any incident where you are judged to have acted recklessly or without due care
• Incidents involving illicit drugs or the excessive consumption of alcohol
• Illegal acts in a destination
• Any act of war
• Participation in professional sporting or endurance events
• Cruising unless a ‘Cruise Pack’ was added to the policy
• Travel against official advice or warnings
• Undeclared, pre-existing medical conditions
• Incidents involving an activity such as skiing or moped use for which no additional cover was selected

Eligibility for HCF travel insurance

To be eligible for travel insurance with HCF you must⁴:

• Have a permanent home in Australia
• Be a citizen, or permanent resident of Australia or hold a current Australian visa (cannot be a tourist or working holiday visa)
• Hold a valid Australian Medicare card
• Purchase your policy before starting your journey
• Start and end your trip in Australia

How to get travel insurance with HCF

To secure travel insurance with HCF, you can speak with them over the phone, visit one of their branches or visit their website. The latter is the quickest and easiest way to do this.

On their website, select ‘travel insurance’ followed by ‘get a quote’. Then simply add your trip details and select your preferred level of cover. If you are happy with the quote provided, you can then follow the prompts to finalise the purchase of your policy.

It should be noted that if you have pre-existing medical conditions that are not provided for in the policy wording, you must declare these and have them approved to have them covered.⁴ An additional premium may apply for this.

Upon payment of your premium, you will be issued a certificate of insurance from HCF. ⁴

Making a claim with HCF travel insurance

To lodge a travel insurance claim with HCF, you will need to access the Allianz claims portal online.

Allianz advises that lodging online should only take between 15-30 minutes to complete and that claims are typically assessed within 10 days of submission.⁵

To make a claim you will need⁵:

• Your HCF policy number and personal details
• Supporting documentation such as receipts, medical or police reports/documents or similar evidence for your claim
• Bank account details for payment of your claim

For claims related to an emergency and/or those needing immediate approval such as medical or legal costs, you should call the 24/7 emergency assistance number provided by HCF.

A word on HCF travel insurance and COVID-19

As per the policy wording provided by HCF regarding their travel insurance options, where eligible, cover is offered for events involving COVID-19.⁴

However, there are several restrictions regarding this coverage related to the circumstances under which the claim is made, the type of cover selected and more.

We recommend referring to the policy terms and conditions for more details.

Additional things to keep in mind

Before deciding if a travel insurance policy with HCF is the best fit for your needs, we advise being aware of the following:

• An excess may be applied to your claim, either to be paid upfront or deducted from your benefit amount
• Undeclared and unapproved pre-existing medical conditions will not be covered and cover for those that are declared is not guaranteed
• No cover applies for cruising, unlisted adventure activities or skiing unless added at an additional charge
• Where moped or motorcycle cover is in place, you must also adhere to local laws and licensing requirements or your cover may be voided
• You must alert HCF to any changes to your destinations or travel dates to ensure coverage is maintained

Contacting HCF

To speak with an HCF customer care representative regarding their travel insurance products, you can contact them at:

• 1800 689 410 in Australia
• +61 2 9290 0100 outside Australia

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Sources:

1. Insurance Council of Australia - Travel Survey
2. HCF - About
3. HCF - Travel Insurance
4. HCF - Travel Insurance PDF pgs. 2, 4, 8-10, 13, 31
5. Allianz - Making A Claim

Sources checked on: 12 April 2024