Complete Guide Westpac Travel Insurance in New Zealand [2024 Review]

When the world is volatile, travel insurance is one way to feel comfortable when travelling. Travel insurance provides financial compensation for travel delays, accidents, medical emergencies, or natural disasters. Many insurance providers and banks offer travel insurance in New Zealand.

Westpac New Zealand offers travel insurance as a benefit on specific credit cards. If you have a Westpac credit card, or are considering getting one, read on to learn more about what’s covered within travel insurance, how to activate it and how to submit a claim. Also, take a look at how Wise can make it easy to pay in local currencies and manage money wherever you are in the world.

What is Westpac Travel Insurance in New Zealand?

Westpac, a popular bank in New Zealand, offers complimentary travel insurance on its Platinum and World credit cards. Here are the specific cards that provide travel insurance to cardholders:¹

• Westpac Airports Platinum
• Westpac Airports World
• Westpac Hotpoint Platinum
• Westpac Hotpoint World

Platinum and World credit cards broadly offer similar travel insurance benefits with minor differences; more on that below. Both cards have similar eligibility requirements, but the travel insurance coverage period differs.

Westpac Travel Insurance Eligibility

To qualify for travel insurance, you must be a current and valid Westpac Platinum and World cardholder and meet the following criteria^{, 3}

• You must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
• You must return to New Zealand at the end of your journey.
• You must be below 91 years old to qualify for travel insurance.
• Insurance cover is available to spouses and dependent children only if they accompany the primary cardholder on the journey.

Qualifying for travel insurance with a Westpac World Card

Here are additional conditions to qualify for Westpac Travel Insurance for World cardholders:²

• You have to activate the travel insurance before you travel.
• Travel insurance is valid for 120 days. Return flight delays are exempt if they are due to the delayed arrival of your original scheduled carrier.
• You can extend your travel insurance under specific conditions by visiting www.travelactivate.co.nz. However, you must pay the stipulated premium.
• Westpac Travel Insurance coverage is unavailable if you purchase any other travel insurance policy for your journey.
• Business travellers are covered under Westpac Travel Insurance but they must use the card for at least $500 NZD to pay for prepaid travel costs.
• An automatic extension is allowed for any travel issues, illness, or injury to you that delays your return to New Zealand (provided it’s covered under the policy). However, you must have obtained approval from Travel Guard at +64 9 359 1624. In addition, you must return to New Zealand immediately after your recovery or once the issue is solved. The maximum period of extension is 90 days.

Qualifying for travel insurance with a Westpac Platinum Card

Westpac Travel Insurance for Platinum cardholders must meet the following conditions.³

• You have to activate the travel insurance before you travel.
• Travel insurance is valid for 35 days. Extensions are generally not allowed. However, you can apply to have your itinerary covered by visiting www.travelactivate.co.nz and paying the necessary premium. The maximum coverage is 180 days.
• If the Platinum cardholder travels alone, at least $500 NZD ($250 NZD for Australia and the South Pacific Islands) must be paid using the card, which can include getting a cash advance or by redeeming points.
• If you are the cardholder and bring your family, the minimum usage on the card for prepaid travel costs is $1,000 NZD ($500 NZD for Australia and South Pacific Islands).
• Business travellers are also covered under Westpac Travel Insurance if they activate the insurance and use the Platinum card to pay for the total costs of the journey.
• Your Westpac travel insurance gets automatically extended if your return to New Zealand is delayed or you have an illness or injury covered under the policy. However, you must get approval from Travel Guard by calling +64 9 359 1624 and return to New Zealand as soon as possible. An extension is available for a maximum of 90 days.

Types of Westpac Travel Insurance Benefits

Westpac Travel Insurance coverage includes travel delays, trip cancellations, medical insurance, accident insurance, compensation for lost baggage and personal items, and many more benefits.^4,5

Westpac Travel Insurance coverage for World and Platinum cardholders is similar in most respects. However, the coverage amount for cardholders under 74 differs from that of beneficiaries between 75 and 90 years old.

Let’s check out the benefits available from Westpac Travel Insurance for New Zealand residents below 75 years old.

For information on coverage for travellers between 75 and 91, see the travel insurance details page for World and Platinum cards.

Types of Westpac Travel Insurance Packages available

Westpac Travel Insurance is standardised and available on all Westpac World and Platinum credit cards on a complimentary basis. Unlike other travel insurance providers, there are no special or customised packages. Any Westpac World or Platinum cardholder is automatically eligible for travel insurance, provided they satisfy the activation conditions.

How to apply for Westpac Travel Insurance

The primary eligibility for Westpac travel insurance is owning a Westpac World or Platinum credit card. Here’s how a New Zealand citizen or resident can apply for a Westpac World or Platinum credit card.⁶

1. Access the Westpac official webpage. Click “Apply Online.”
2. Check your eligibility.
3. You must be at least 18 years of age.
4. Keep your NZ driving license or NZ passport ready for identity proof.
5. You must be a NZ resident or citizen.
6. Your annual income should be at least $15,000 NZD.
7. If you satisfy the criteria, check the box. You should visit a Westpac branch to verify your ID.
8. Choose the primary use of this credit card.
9. Check the box authorising Westpac to release information to a third party to verify your identity. Click Continue.
10. Please indicate the credit limit you prefer.
11. You get a range of card options. Select the one you would like to have.
12. Complete the application form online by providing all the details Westpac has requested.
13. Westpac will process your application and inform you of the credit decision.

Your Westpac World and Platinum card makes you eligible for Westpac travel insurance. However, the insurance only takes effect once you activate it. Here are the steps:⁷

1. Visit Westpac Credit Card Travel Insurance's official website and click on “Am I Covered?” Then, respond to the questionnaire accurately to determine your insurance coverage.
2. Select your credit card type from the options available in the dropdown box.
3. Select the amount of prepaid travel costs charged to your Westpac card.
4. Enter the first six digits of your credit card.
5. Confirm you have a return overseas travel ticket.
6. Enter the date of departure and return.
7. Give the reasons for your travel.
8. Select the regions in which you would spend more than three days overseas.
9. Enter your date of birth.
10. Confirm whether you are a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
11. Inform us whether you need medical coverage for pre-existing conditions.
12. Provide information on whether your spouse and dependent children will accompany you on your trip.
13. Complete the optional cover requirements.
14. Proceed to the next step and complete the formalities online.
15. Westpac can seek additional documents from you.
16. Westpac processes your application online and confirms your eligibility and additional premium that might apply.

Making a Westpac Travel Insurance Claim

With travel insurance, you typically have to pay the costs upfront and you will be reimbursed if there is coverage for the incident or events. For Westpac, claims are processed through AIG and can be submitted online or through the post: ⁸

Online Portal:

1. Access the AIG Online portal.
2. Click on the Digital Claim Portal option.
3. Enter the initial six digits of your credit card and submit.
4. It will take you to the claims page. Complete the form online by providing the required information.
5. Keep your supporting documents ready.
6. Submit the claim and allow AIG to process it.
7. Usually, they take around ten working days to honour a claim.

Offline:

1. Download the claim form from the AIG claims web page.
2. You can complete the form and email it to nztravelclaims@aig.com; alternatively, you can print it and mail the completed claim form by post.
3. Submit the supporting documents to enable AIG to process and verify the claim.
4. The claim processing time is usually ten working days.

Required Documents

The following documents are essential when lodging a travel insurance claim:⁸

• Copy of your travel itinerary with evidence of payments for travel
• Copy of your credit card statement as evidence of having paid for the prepaid expenses
• For baggage claims, you must submit police reports or other documents reporting the loss of baggage to the authorities.
• For medical claims, you must include the details of the injury or accident and a schedule of costs incurred.
• For cancellation claims, confirmation from the airline that the bookings have been cancelled and if they have issued a refund (partial or total).

Westpac Travel Insurance Emergency Assistance

If you have Westpac Travel Insurance and need emergency help overseas, here’s what to do:⁹

1. Call Travel Guard at +64 9 359 1624 and get approval, especially if you require hospitalisation or emergency transportation. Failure to obtain approval can affect your claim.
2. Provide a copy of your World or Platinum credit card and the receipt for a cash advance (if required).
3. Travel Guard will guide you through the next steps and provide coverage.

Westpac Travel Insurance Contact Details

You can contact Westpac Travel Insurance in a few different ways:¹⁰

• From within New Zealand: Visit www.travelactivate.co.nz to confirm your eligibility, apply for optional insurance and pre-existing medical conditions, get additional copies of your insurance policy, and gather information on submitting a claim.
• From outside New Zealand: Call Travel Guard at +64 9 359 1624.
• Claim Assistance: Call +64 9 359 1624 or +60 3 2772 5618 for help making a claim.

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Westpac Travel Insurance - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who underwrites Westpac travel insurance in NZ?

   AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited issues and underwrites Westpac travel insurance in New Zealand.

2. Can I extend or upgrade my Westpac Travel Insurance policy while travelling overseas?

   Westpac Travel Insurance is available for 35 days for Platinum Cardholders and 120 days for World cardholders. Generally, no extensions are allowed. However, you can visit www.travelactivate.co.nz while activating the insurance coverage and seek an extension by providing proper reasons and documentation. Under such circumstances, they can extend the insurance coverage beyond 180 days, but you must pay an additional premium for the extended period.