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

Around 40% of New Zealanders are looking to travel abroad within the next 12 months, according to Nielsen Consumer Data Insights. While relaxing and learning are key reasons to travel, going overseas can come with risks too.¹

AA, the Automobile Association in New Zealand, offers international travel insurance policies to help cover the unexpected when going abroad. Learn more about how AA international travel insurance works and if it can be a good fit for your next trip.

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What is international travel insurance with AA?

AA offers international travel insurance to help protect your trip abroad. How it works is that you purchase a policy that fits the needs of your trip and pay for the policy upfront. AA will then provide you coverage in case an unfortunate incident occurs like:

• Trip cancellation.
• Missed flight connection.
• Overseas medical expenses.
• Loss of your baggage.

Travel insurance can provide relief and save you money if something bad happens, but if you have a healthy, on-time and safe trip, you don’t get your money back.²

AA international travel insurance packages

AA offers three main international travel insurance plans: Essential, Comprehensive and Frequent Traveller:³

• **Essentials: **This plan is generally the most basic and cheapest policy. It covers the cancellation of a trip, delays and medical expenses but not evacuations, most acts of terrorism or loss of personal money.
• Comprehensive: This plan provides more coverage than an Essentials plan. You can have unlimited coverage for cancellations and overseas medical expenses plus additional benefits for unlawful arrest or loss of high value items.
• Frequent Traveller: This plan is best for coverage for multiple trips within a 12 month period. It provides Comprehensive coverage for all the trips you take within that window.

For those that travel with work, AA offers a Business Cover international travel plan. It provides additional coverage for electrical equipment, personal accidents, loss of income and more.⁴

Identify the package that works best for the activities of your trip, and your budget.

Who administers international travel insurance on behalf of AA?

The New Zealand Automobile Association (AA) travel insurance policies are issued and managed by AWP Services New Zealand Ltd as Allianz Partners. The policies themselves are underwritten by The Hollard Insurance Company, incorporated in Australia. ⁵

What are the main benefits of international travel insurance with AA?

Here are the main benefits of choosing AA for your international travel insurance:⁶

• 24/7 emergency assistance worldwide.
• Reimbursement for cancelled trips - you can be compensated for prepaid deposits if you aren’t able to go.
• Medical emergency coverage while you're overseas - an AA plan can cover your medical expenses, including doctor's visits, hospital stays, and medication.
• Luggage is lost or stolen- you can be reimbursed for the value of your belongings, including special high value items (depending on the plan).
• Travel documents- all policies offer compensation if you lose your documents like your passport.
• Extenuating circumstances- Comprehensive and Frequent Traveller plans provide coverage for search and rescue missions due to a natural disaster and expenses incurred due to terrorism.

The amount of reimbursement and coverage differs between the AA international travel insurance plans. You can get a free quote online by putting in your trip details on the AA Travel Insurance website.

Types of coverage offered by AA international travel insurance

AA international travel insurance coverage depends on the type of plan you choose. However, here is an example of coverage you can expect:⁷

As seen on 07 October 2023

AA travel insurance main fees

The main fees for AA New Zealand international travel insurance are the policy premium and the excess.⁸

• Policy premium: This is the amount of money you pay to buy the insurance policy. The cost of the premium depends on your age, the destination, length of the trip and which plan you choose.
• Excess: This is the amount of money you have to pay out of pocket before AA starts paying out for claims. The higher your Excess, the lower your premium.

There may be additional costs for travelling to more than one country or extra coverage for luggage.⁹

AA members can get a 10% discount on a travel insurance policy.

What’s not covered under this travel insurance

Certain things are not covered in your policy like cosmetic surgery or unlawful or reckless acts like riding a motorcycle without a helmet. You’ll find everything that is and isn’t covered in the AA Travel Insurance’s Policy Wordings. ¹⁰

Eligibility for AA travel insurance

International travel insurance is available for adults and children. Your policy only starts once you have paid the policy premium and a certificate of insurance has been issued.

There is no coverage for pre-existing medical conditions under the Essentials plan, and limited coverage with the Comprehensive plan. Speak to a Customer Care Medical Assessments representative at 0800 630 115 for more information. ¹¹

How to get international travel insurance with AA

You can get an international travel insurance policy online with AA. Input your details and review the plan options. Once you’ve chosen a plan, you can make your payment at the checkout window online and receive a receipt. You can also call AA for additional assistance. ¹²

You will be sent a Certificate of Insurance.

Making a claim with AA Travel Insurance

You can submit a claim online, or download the claim form and send it in following the instructions. Make sure you submit your receipts and any reports with your form. ¹³

A word on AA travel insurance and COVID-19

All three plans of AA international travel insurance provide COVID-19 coverage. Once your policy is issued, you can get reimbursed if you get COVID and can’t continue your trip or have to cancel.¹⁴

Contacting AA Travel Insurance

For customer service, you can reach out to AA Travel Insurance by phone at 0800 630 115, Monday through Friday between 8.30am to 5pm.

For emergency assistance, you can call the following numbers:¹⁵

• From Australia: 1 800 554 114.
• From the UK: 0808 589 3893.
• From the U.S.: 1 800 326 1543.
• Worldwide: 64 9 486 6868.

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