The bizarre beliefs that lead Australian travellers not to buy travel insurance

A survey by the Insurance Council of Australia has shown the weird and bizarre beliefs that leave Australian cruisers and travellers at grave risk on their holidays.

The survey revealed “an alarmingly high number of people hold mistaken beliefs about the support they would receive from the Australian Government if something was to happen to them when overseas”.

Results showed that more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of Australians think that if they have a medical emergency overseas, a government representative will ensure they get the medical treatment they need. Furthermore, 50% believe the Australian government will arrange and fund repatriation. 

Some 70 per cent of those surveyed say they’re planning to travel more in the future – a worrying trend given the misconceptions.

Australians are becoming more risk-averse with 68 per cent reporting that the pandemic has made them less confident to travel and 86% saying they’ll be more cautious about travelling to locations that would be hard to evacuate from in the event of an emergency.

Beyond this, 95 per cent say that cancellation cover for claims that are related to COVID-19 will be a key consideration in choosing their travel insurance. 

It’s mostly the young who are ‘active rejectors’ of travel insurance, at 30 per cent. 

Insurance Council of Australia CEO Andrew Hall says: “Two years of lockdowns with no international travel means many Australians are planning to head overseas in coming months.

“Accidents and emergencies can happen anywhere, meaning travel insurance remains a vital protection.

“You couldn’t travel overseas without your passport, and you shouldn’t travel overseas without travel insurance, no matter the destination.”

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