Travel Insurance

TRAVEL INSURANCE FAQ'S

We understand that travel insurance can be confusing, here are some of our most common questions.

• Q. Can I buy a policy if I have already departed New Zealand?

• Yes, you can. If you’re a New Zealand resident and forgot to buy travel insurance, don’t worry, you can buy TINZ’s Already Overseas policy while you’re out of the country. There is a 72-hour waiting period from the policy start date on your Certificate of Insurance and some limitations apply. You can read more, get answers to some commonly asked questions or get a quote for our Already Overseas travel insurance.

• Q. I am currently still on my trip and my policy ended, can I extend my policy?

• If the return date on your policy has past, we cannot extend your existing policy. You can however purchase an Already Overseas policy but keep in mind that a 72 hour waiting period will apply before your cover begins.

• Q. Does TINZ cover natural disasters?

• Yes, you are covered if your travels are cancelled or disrupted due to severe weather or natural disasters provided that the event begun after we issued you your certificate of insurance. In the event of a natural disaster, you must have done everything reasonably possible to avoid the expenses, and you must obtain written confirmation from any relevant travel service provider to support your claim.

• Q. Am I covered for riding a motorbike overseas?

• Yes, you’re covered to ride a motorbike provided that:
  - You are licensed to ride a motorbike in New Zealand.
  - You hold a valid motorbike licence for the country you are in.
  - You wear a helmet at all times while riding.
  
  You can ride a motorcycle that is the same capacity you are licensed to ride in Australia. If your licence restricts the engine size you can ride, then you will need to stick to that when you are away. Learn more in our guide to riding motorbikes and scooters overseas.

• Q. What doesn’t travel insurance cover?

• It's important to be aware that all travel insurance policies have 'exclusions'. So, there are some things that we just can't cover you for. These certainly aren’t secret and can be found in our policy wording, but we want to highlight some of the things you’re unlikely to be covered for so that you can make smart decisions when heading on holiday.
  - You are generally not covered for reckless behaviour or deliberately putting yourself in harms way.
  - Not taking care of your personal belongings, such as leaving your things behind in public places.
  - You’rer not covered if you were drunk and the consumption of alcohol contributed to your loss. As for illegal recreational drugs, you're definitely not covered.
  - We have a general exclusion in relation to pandemics and epidemics.
  - You are not covered for pre-existing medical conditions that you failed to tell us about or take cover for.
  - You are not covered for events already known in the mass media at the time of purchasing your policy.
  
  Even though our policies have these exclusions, all TINZ customers are entitled to lodge a claim for review, which would be assessed based on individual facts and circumstances.

• Q. Does TINZ cover pre-existing medical conditions?

• Yes, don't let an existing medical condition get in the way of your travels. We cover 35 medical conditions automatically for free. Any other conditions need to be declared through our easy online medical assessment. See more information about pre-existing illnesses here.

• Q. Am I covered for a family emergency?

• Both TINZ’s Comprehensive & Comprehensive plans cover for additional travel expenses such as your return flight to New Zealand if a relative of either you, or travelling companion requires hospitalisation or dies unexpectedly. (no excess applies)

• Q. What sports activities are covered by TINZ travel insurance?

• TINZ gives you the freedom to take that heart-pounding leap - worry free! Our optional Sports & Activities Cover provides you with cover for a range of more adventurous activities not covered under a standard policy. We cover things like cycling, snorkelling (depth limits apply) and water skiing for free. We offer extra cover for activities like canyoning, abseiling, trekking above 3000 meters. See our sports adventure activities page for more information.

• Q. What is TINZ’s terrorism cover?

• While many travel insurers exclude cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits in the event of terrorism, under our Frequent Traveller and Comprehensive Plus plans we allow you to cancel in the event that MFAT travel warnings restrict you from travel. We provide $10 million worth of medical cover if you’re injured in a terror attack. Conditions apply. See more information about our terrorism cover here.