$300 for paracetamol? Here’s why you need travel insurance

• Data from the Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) sheds light on the incredibly high costs of common claims on cruises.
• The Chief Customer Officer reported seeing claims for prescription paracetamol in the region of $300 (US$200).
• Expensive claims are an important reminder for cruisers to take out travel insurance.

Southern Cross Travel Insurance have released a report sharing data on the common claims of Australian and New Zealand cruisers.

The report emphasised the high costs of medical treatment on cruise ships, even if the illness or ailment seemed minor. It stated that one customer was charged an eye-watering $10,600, with the costs broken down as follows:

• $8500 for ‘medical services’, which include consultation costs, catheterisation and tests.
• $878 for ‘medical supplies’, which are medical equipment such as bandages, drips, and syringes.
• $1222 for medication.

Another claim included a staggering $900 for a telehealth consultation, where they didn’t even step foot into a doctor’s office. They also had to pay over $1600 for 17 hours of medical care.

The Chief Customer Officer at SCTI, Jess Strange, emphasised the importance of having travel insurance when embarking on a cruise.

“We’ve seen claims for prescription paracetamol on US-flagged cruise ships sometimes in the region of USD200, so it definitely pays to have travel insurance, says Strange.

“We know Aussies are a nation of cruise enthusiasts and while it’s a fabulous way to travel, there are some drawbacks that could result in costly medical bills if you choose not to take out travel insurance for your voyage.”

Why is it so expensive to get medical attention on a cruise?

At sea, customers rely on private healthcare facilities, which come at a premium due to the remoteness of cruise travel and limited access to medication and medical equipment.

Another key factor is that if a customer falls ill, they have no alternative but to rely on onboard care. Guests can’t leave the ship and seek alternative, more affordable medical help.

Unfortunately, $200 paracetamol is at the bottom end of some of these costs. In the case of an emergency, evacuating a passenger from the ship is also extremely expensive, as it will probably require another ship or air travel. Cruise Weekly reported that this can cost $10,000 to $20,000 in Australian waters, and anything up to $50,000 if travelling on an international cruise in American waters.

Jess Strange said, “Often cruise ships are in remote places far out at sea, therefore if repatriations need to occur the remoteness and complexity of the repatriation process can make it more costly. In addition to this, cruise ships can be in locations where access to high quality medical care is not always possible, in which case transporting the customer to the nearest centre of medical excellence may involve an air ambulance, which is expensive”.

Aussies claim more than Kiwis

The report also looked into the breakdown of claims by state, and also a comparison of the number of claims from Australians versus claims from New Zealanders.

It was found that claims for cruises are more likely from travellers hailing from Tasmania (16%), followed by Victoria (11.2%) and Queensland (10.1%). The full breakdown is here:

State	Proportion of claims made to policies sold
Tasmania	16.0%
Victoria	11.2%
Queensland	10.1%
Western Australia	9.8%
South Australia	9.4%
New South Wales	8.1%
Northern Territory	6.3%
ACT	5.6%

The insight also showed that Aussies are 42% more likely than Kiwis to make a claim while cruising.

However you interpret the numbers, the takeaway from the report is clear: take out travel insurance for your cruise and don’t forget to bring your own paracetamol.