Some countries,such as the United States,are particularly expensive should you require emergency medical treatment.Credit:Istock
A survey commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia and the Smartraveller website run by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,found that even among those who had travel insurance,many did not properly read their policy documents.
Just one in five of insured travellers said they had spent time reading every detail of their product disclosure statement before travelling. The survey found 15 per cent of recent travellers who went without insurance said they had done so because they could not afford it.
“Travel insurance is as important as your passport – it can provide valuable protection in the event of an unexpected event,such as a medical emergency,lost luggage,or flight cancellation,” says Andrew Hall,the chief executive officer of the Insurance Council of Australia.
Loading
He says the findings are concerning,as they suggest that a significant number of Australians are putting themselves at risk by travelling without considering potential health and safety risks or purchasing travel insurance.
Some people falsely believe the Australian embassy would ensure they receive medical treatment if they need it overseas and that the Australian government will pay for them to return.
A survey commissioned by comparison site Finder also found people were skipping on travel insurance or altering their travel insurance in some way to reduce costs.