NIB Travel Insurance. What’s on offer and how does it work?
Travel insurance is an important part of planning an international or domestic trip as travel doesn’t always go smoothly. An insurance policy can provide...
RACQ Travel Insurance. What’s on offer and how does it work?
Planning an overseas adventure or even a run-of-the-mill business trip? If so, hopefully securing adequate protection through travel insurance is high on your list of priorities.
Did you know that according to Smartraveller, 43% of Aussies surveyed about travel insurance mistakenly believed that the Australian Government would pay for any emergency medical bills incurred overseas?¹
To ensure you’re not caught out while abroad, we’ve prepared this guide on one provider of travel insurance in Australia - RACQ. In it, we’ll cover what's included, key benefits, the types of coverage available and more so you can make the most informed choice before going abroad.
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What is travel insurance with RACQ?
RACQ (Royal Automobile Club of Queensland) has been in operation for over 118 years.²
Offering several services such as roadside assistance, motoring services, banking, travel and solar products, they also sell a variety of insurance products, including policies for travel.
These policies offer differing levels of coverage for overseas medical emergencies, theft, loss and other events that may occur while travelling.
RACQ travel insurance package(s)
RACQ offers insurance for both domestic and international travel with the latter being split into four separate policy types.³
In this guide, we will be focusing on their international offerings.
1. Saver
A budget policy, this option is suited to those only seeking to secure medical and liability insurance while travelling.
2. Standard
A step up from the Saver policy, this selection covers a broader range of events in addition to medical and liability insurance but with lower claim limits than the Premium policy.
3. Premium
Providing high-level cover with greater claims limits, this policy offers protection for numerous types of events including those related to COVID-19 (where eligible).
4. Annual Multi-Trip
Offering most of the same benefits as the Premium policy aside from COVID-19 coverage, this option allows you to make numerous trips of a set duration within 12 months.
Who administers travel insurance on behalf of RACQ
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd issues these travel insurance policies, with RACQ as their authorised representative.³
What are the main benefits of travel insurance with RACQ
Unfamiliar with RACQ or unsure if they’re suited to your needs? Below are some key benefits offered through them when taking out a Premium policy³:
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Unlimited medical coverage
- Cover for luggage, travel documents and personal items
- Option to tailor coverage for some events
- Rental vehicle excess cover
- Additional coverage for moped/motorbike cover, skiing and snowboarding cover and cruising can be easily added
- 21-day cooling-off period post-purchasing
- All policies extend to cover up to two adults and two dependents
Types of coverage offered by RACQ travel insurance
The following is a comparison table showing the key coverage and claim limits for the travel insurance policies available with RACQ.
Please note the Premium policy coverage also largely applies to their multi-trip policy with the exclusion of COVID-19 benefits. Please see the RACQ website for more details.
| Prices in AUD | Saver³ | Standard³ | Premium³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Emergency dental | $500 | $2,000 | Unlimited |
| Emergency expenses | $5000 | $25,000 | Unlimited |
| Cancellation or changes pre-departure | N/A | $25,000 | Unlimited |
| Luggage | $500 | $7,500 | $15,000 |
| Travel documents | N/A | $1,500 | $5,000 |
| Personal liability | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 |
| Accidental death | N/A | $15,000 | $25,000 |
| Rental vehicle excess | N/A | $4,000 | $8,000 |
As seen on 10 April 2024
RACQ travel insurance main fees
As each trip overseas is unique, no set pricing model or fee structure is available.
As with all insurers, RACQ determines your final policy costs based on a variety of factors such as:
- Your destination/s
- Travel duration
- Whether you add optional cover for higher-risk activities
- Any pre-existing health conditions that require an added premium
To discover what your insurance with RACQ may cost based on your individual needs, requesting a quote from their website is recommended.
What’s not covered under this travel insurance
Even with the high level of coverage provided through RACQ’s Premium policy, some things may not be covered by travel insurance.
These include but are not limited to claims arising from⁴:
- Any incident where you are judged to not have exercised reasonable care of yourself or your belongings
- Incidents involving illicit drugs or the excessive consumption of alcohol
- Breaking the law in a destination
- Any act of war
- Pregnancy or childbirth
- Travel against official advice or warnings
- Undeclared, pre-existing medical conditions
- Incidents involving an activity such as skiing or moped use for which no additional cover was selected
Eligibility for RACQ travel insurance
To be eligible for coverage with RACQ’s travel insurance you must⁴:
- Be aged under 110 years for a single-trip policy or 75 years for a multi-trip policy
- Be a resident of Australia either as a citizen or as holder of an appropriate visa
- Purchase your policy in Australia before your departure
- Start and end your trip in Australia
How to get travel insurance with RACQ
To secure travel insurance with RACQ, the easiest method is to visit the travel insurance page on their website.
From here, simply select your preferred insurance type and input your trip details to create a quote. If you are happy with this, you can then proceed to purchase the policy by following the prompts.
If you prefer to speak with someone or if you have further questions regarding the policy and coverage limits, you can contact their customer care team for assistance.
Remember, if you have pre-existing medical conditions that are not provided for in the policy document and you wish to have them covered you must declare these.⁴
You should seek approval for coverage of these before finalising your policy purchase. An additional premium may apply for this.
Upon payment of your premium, you will be issued a certificate of insurance from RACQ.⁴
Making a claim with RACQ travel insurance
To lodge a travel insurance claim with RACQ, you can either speak with their claims team over the phone or follow the online claims process.
RACQ advise that lodging online is the quickest way to do this with claims typically being assessed within 10 days of submission.⁵
You will need to:
- Register using the email address provided when purchasing your policy and create a password
- Fill out the claims form, ensuring all sections are complete and attaching any receipts, medical or police reports/documents as needed
For claims related to an emergency and/or those needing immediate approval, you should call the 24/7 emergency assistance number provided by RACQ.
A word on RACQ travel insurance and COVID-19
At the time of writing, coverage for COVID-19 with RACQ is only offered with their Premium policy.³
It should be noted, however, that Covid-19 coverage is not provided
- If you travel against the advice provided on the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website or those given by a destination country
- If you ignore a destination’s government pandemic restrictions or directives
Other restrictions and conditions also apply regarding this cover, please refer to the policy terms and conditions for more details.
Additional things to keep in mind
Before deciding if a policy with RACQ is right for your circumstances, we advise being aware of the following:
- An excess may be applied to your claim and be payable upfront
- Undeclared and unapproved pre-existing medical conditions will not be covered
- If no cover is added for moped or motorbike use, skiing or other listed activities you engage in these at your own risk
- Where moped or motorcycle cover is in place, you must also adhere to local laws and licensing requirements or your cover may be voided
- Any changes to your destinations or travel dates must be communicated to the insurer to ensure coverage is upheld
Contacting RACQ
To speak with RACQ regarding any of their travel insurance policies, whether domestic or international, you can contact them via:
- 1300 338 821 within Australia
- +61 2 8055 1696 for emergency assistance overseas
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Sources:
- Smartraveller - Travel Insurance Facts
- RACQ - About
- RACQ - Travel Insurance
- RACQ - Travel Insurance PDS pg. 4, 13, 16, 57
- RACQ - Making A Claim
Sources checked on: 10 April 2024
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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