Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman
Karen Stevens is calling on New Zealanders to take heed and learn from uninsured Bali travellers.
“During Bali’s Mt. Agung eruption, many stranded travellers were even more stressed to discover they had no insurance cover,” Stevens said. “This is a really unfortunate situation and we feel for these people.”
Stevens said, put simply, insurance exists to cover unexpected losses. “If you buy travel insurance after a natural disaster is widely known about and travel warnings have been issued, insurance is unlikely to provide you with any cover,” she said.
Here is some advice brokers can give their clients to ensure they get the best value out of their travel insurance:
- Purchase insurance as soon as you book and pay for your tickets
- Read and understand your policy, including exclusions and limitations
- Tell your travel insurer about your health conditions
- Take care of your valuables and bags
- Take extra care of jewellery and valuable items
- Report incidents immediately
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