I'd like to defer my Insurance payments, what are my options?

I'd like to defer my Insurance payments, what are my options?

We are extending to our customers the new credit terms from each insurer to help you make your payments to ensure your assets remain protected.

As the credit terms from each insurer vary, with some insurers offering 45 days to make the payment and others offering up to 6 months to make the payment, please contact our office on 02 4322 7856 if you need a payment arrangement without interest.

Coronavirus and Corporate Travel Insurance with Travel Card

Coronavirus
(COVID-19) Update from Travel Card



Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: “…risk of a global pandemic is very much upon us…”



Australia’s Prime Minister has said “We believe the risk of global pandemic is very much upon us and as a result, as a government, we need to take steps necessary to prepare for such a pandemic.” (Source ABC News Friday 28 February 2020.)
 
The global situation is changing regularly and DFAT continue to update their travel warnings for affected countries and specific regions within countries. Anyone contemplating travel should refer to both the WHO and Smart traveller websites for the latest information.
 

Corporate Travel – not “unforeseen” since late January and customers must observe official travel warnings
 

Whilst there is no general exclusion for Epidemic or Pandemic in TravelCard’s Corporate Annual travel insurance policy there are specific limitations in cover where any situation is no longer “unforeseen”. COVID-19 has been reported across all forms of media since late January with the following key dates;

  • 24 January 2020 – DFAT 4 Do Not Travel – to Hubei Province in China issued

  • 30 January 2020 – World Health Organisation (WHO) declares COVID-19 as a Global Health Emergency of International Concern

  • 1 February 2020 – DFAT 4 Do Not Travel – to China issued

  • 29 February 2020 – DFAT 4 Do Not Travel – to Iran issued

Therefore, COVID-19 cannot be considered “unforeseen” from late January onwards and as from today we are providing notice of that fact. The Smartraveller website defines “unforeseen” as “…something that wasn’t publicised in the media or official government websites when you bought the policy”. Given Corporate policies are annual contracts, the critical date becomes when the travel arrangements were made. That is, at the time of making the travel arrangement(s);

  1. Is the country being visited known to be experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak?

  2. Is the country being visited subject to a DFAT level 3 or 4 travel warning?

 As point 2 immediately above states - there is also a requirement to observe official travel warnings and directions as specified by General Condition 12. This means that if a customer chooses to ignore such limitations or warnings this will be treated as voluntary assumption of risk by the Insured and will not be covered. For example, China has been subject to a DFAT 4 Do Not Travel warning since 1 February 2020.
 
Note: any claims will be considered subject to the terms and conditions of the policy wording and the specific circumstances surrounding each claim.
 
We also believe that employers have a duty of care to ensure employees have a safe place to work, whether in Australia or travelling internationally. It is our view that no organisation should be asking their staff to travel to any country or region within a country with a DFAT 4 Do Not Travel warning and should be very seriously considering any travel to a country or region within a country at DFAT 3 Reconsider Your Travel Needs or any country where COVID-19 is known to exist.
 
Clients who are considering postponing their travel should be encouraged to talk to their travel agent or carrier as soon as possible to make these arrangements as many airlines are allowing cancellation or postponement with no penalty to the customer. 
 

Leisure Travel - Epidemic or Pandemic is a general exclusion  
 

Like other travel insurance, TravelCard’s Leisure International and Domestic travel insurance policies have a general exclusion in the event of an actual or likely threat of a pandemic or epidemic.
 
It is important that you and your clients are aware that we are unable to provide cover for COVID-19 related claims, including when travelling to countries other than China.
 
Many travel providers are being flexible with changing travel arrangements and in many cases not charging additional fees. We would encourage you to speak with any affected clients to suggest they contact their travel provider(s) to explore all options.
 

Stay up to date

This is a rapidly changing situation. We continue to monitor developments very closely and will be in touch with you should anything material change.  For further information on COVID-19 and the DFAT Advice Levels please direct your clients to the following websites:

 

Don’t have a Travel Card insurance policy? If you would like more information on travel card or to arrange a travelcard insurance policy click the Travel Card Icon below.







Do cyber attacks threaten SME business?

Do cyber attacks threaten SME business?

There’s a common misconception that cyber attacks target big business and ‘small fry’ are not under threat.

But Emergence founder and Managing Director Troy Filipcevic is quick to dispel that myth.