OFS Home > University Insurance: Insurance for overseas travel
Insurance for overseas travel
This topic covers:
Coverage
Staff travelling overseas on official University business are automatically protected during overseas travel for the first 180 days of their trip (from date of departure for any one trip).
Cover under this policy also applies to Council Members, Honorary Employees and Voluntary Workers, if travelling overseas on approved University business at the direction of the University.
Cover under the policy is subject to the traveller complying, at all relevant times, with the Macquarie University’s Travel Policy, this includes not travelling to DFAT designated areas (ref Para.22 of the Travel Policy) due to either health, terrorist or outbreak of war reasons.
The University's current travel insurer is Chubb Insurance Company of Australia Limited. Coverage under this policy also applies to Council Members, Honorary Employees, Guest Speakers, Delegates, Visiting Lecturers, Postgraduate Students and other students in some cases, when travelling overseas on approved University business at the direction of the University.
A summary of the extent of coverage is as follows:-
Personal Accident & Sickness
- Lump sum benefit for death or permanent total disablement: $500,000.
- Weekly Benefits - 85% of earnings to $1500 - 104 weeks - Excess Period: 14 days.
- Medical and additional expenses: Unlimited
Expenses for services rendered in Australia for which a Medicare or other benefit is payable are specifically excluded.
Hijack & Detention
- Daily benefit - up $100
- Legal costs - up to $3,000
Medical Evacuation (see also later section - 'Emergency Assistance Card')
If the insured person requires emergency assistance as a result of sickness or injury, this will be arranged through Chubb Customer Care, subject to the following:
- Chubb Customer Care is to be promptly informed of any potential claim and no action taken without its consent.
- All aspects of evacuation to be organised by Chubb Customer Care.
- Evacuation expense shall include necessary expense for medical staff to accompany insured person.
Emergency assistance expenses include all expenses incurred in repatriating the insured person to the most suitable hospital or to the person's home address in Australia , as necessary.
Further information is available from the web www.customercare.com.au and the reverse charge phone number for emergency or other assistance is 61 2 9929 2216 .
Baggage, Business Property
- Baggage to $10,000
- Electronic equipment (including laptops) to $10,000 (Excess applies of $250)
- Money, travel documents to $5,000
- Deprivation of baggage - up $3,000
There is no cover for electronic equipment not carried as personal cabin baggage.
Loss must be reported to police and/or transport carrier. If property has been damaged or lost due to the fault of an airline, a claim should be made first against the carrier. The Warsaw Convention imposes a liability upon the carrier. The insurer would then reimburse any difference between the loss and the amount recouped from a carrier.
Personal Liability
An insured person is covered to $5 million for amounts he or she may become legally liable to pay for injury to a third party or loss or damage to a third party's property during a journey.
This is subject to a number of conditions including an obligation to make no acknowledgement of liability, nor to make any offer of compromise without the consent of the insurer.
Rental Vehicle Excess Waiver
This section of the insurance pays for any excess payable on a claim made for damage to a hired vehicle. The maximum payable is $20,000. Please read also 20.8 of the Travel Policy.
Loss of Deposits
- Up to $10,000 (circumstances apply)
Missed Transit Connection
- Up to $20,000 (circumstances apply)
Extra Territorial/Workers Compensation
- Weekly benefits - up to $1,000
- Damages, costs and expenses - up to $1 million
Cancellation/Curtailment Expenses
- Limit dependent on circumstances
Period of cover
The University's travel insurance covers insured persons while they are travelling on approved University business and when such travel involves a 'journey' as defined in the insurance wording. See 20.1 of the Travel Policy.
Authorised University travel may include associated holiday travel of an incidental nature. The insurance policy provides for incidental private travel taken during an authorized business trip.
The insurance coverage commences from the time the insured person leaves his or her normal residence or place of business, whichever is the place of departure for the commencement of the journey and is continuous on a full-time 24-hour basis until the insured person returns to his or her normal residence or place of business, whichever first occurs. However coverage is limited to a maximum duration of 180 days for any one trip.
If it is likely a trip will last longer than 180 days, the Insurance Officer must be advised prior to booking to enable the University to seek an extension of cover for a specific trip.Emergency Assistance Card
The insurer provides an emergency assistance card in case of medical or other emergencies whilst an insured person is overseas. This card contains the contact number which can be accessed if assistance is required. The number is 61 2 99292216 (Reverse charge) (Web site is www.customercare.com.au ). It is not intended for minor medical or other non-urgent situations. However, if a traveller is concerned about his/her situation, it is possible to ring a reverse charge call to the number on the card to discuss a problem. The card can be collected a day or two prior to departure from the Director Financial Services’, Personal Assistant, E11A 115; or from the Insurance Office, Level 3, 299 Lane Cove Road.
Cover under travel insurance being automatic, details of the itinerary contained on the 'Travel Approval Form' (subject to the duration not exceeding 180 days) will suffice for insurance purposes.
Claims
Minor medical expenses
You should pay any minor medical expenses incurred overseas and obtain receipts.
To claim any personal or University costs or losses incurred, eligible for reimbursement under the policy, on your return to the University, a Travel Insurance Claim Form has to be completed (also available via the Finance Forms page).
The claim is then sent to the Insurance Officer for lodgement with the Insurers.
Only one claim form needs to be completed for losses involving both University and personal property, however, the values need be distinguished via an accompanying note to facilitate correct reimbursement to each party.
The Claim Form spells out clearly what proof of loss/damage the insurer requires to enable speedy settlement of a claim.
Loss of baggage or documents
Report loss of baggage or documents to the appropriate authorities at the point of occurrence.
Retain appropriate details of such reporting for attachment to a claim upon return to Australia.
Severe medical cases
In severe medical cases requiring hospitalisation, the insured person should contact (or have it done on his or her behalf) the Chubb Customer Care number listed on the Assistance Card to report the situation.
The insurer will then liaise with the hospital on behalf of the individual re treatment, costs, payment of account and eventual discharge.
On return to the University, following the use of the emergency service as outlined above, the insured person should contact the Insurance Officer, x 1683 regarding completion and lodgement of a claim form re the use of the service and for any other associated costs /losses.
Other Claims Costs
Other costs such as loss of deposits, cancellation charges, emergency expenses etc should also be claimed on return as soon as possible through completion of a Travel Insurance Claim Form.
NOTE:
- The University's Travel insurance policy also applies to domestic travel. See 20.1 of the Travel Policy.
- The University's Travel policy applies to Postgraduate students and other students on Outreach programs and/or work experience or practicum.
- The University policy does apply, in some cases, to accompanying spouses/partners and dependant children. See 20.1 of the Travel Policy.