AUSTRALIANS GOING ON CRUISES WITHOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE

A recent study done by  the industry has found that a staggering 30% of Australian travellers did not take out travel insurance on their last cruise.

The study has also revealed that 14% of all Australians have taken a cruise, while a further 23 per cent are keen to in the future, 27 per cent of people have become sick on a cruise, with one in ten of them requiring medical assistance. Which means that, given the standard ocean liner houses 3,000 passengers, statistically 300 people need medical help on every ocean cruise.

Cruising, like all forms of travel, has its risk. It is not always smooth sailing and unfortunately things do go wrong.

Medical treatment whilst on a cruise can be very expensive, and people are often caught off-guard when they’re faced with hefty bills they assumed would be covered by Medicare.

Once you depart Australian soil, in general you are not covered by Medicare and will have to foot the bill. With medical costs on board cruise ships generally charged at private healthcare rates, it’s not surprising people often struggle to pay. A visit to the ship’s doctor could easily cost a couple of hundred dollars, while medical evacuation runs into the tens of thousands.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) states that Medicare benefits are only available to those travelling between two Australian ports, and if a Medicare-eligible doctor provides the services. Medicare-eligible doctors are not common on international ships.

People do fall ill whilst aboard a cruise ships -  particularly with tummy bugs, such as the norovirus that’s been in news as of late, along with respiratory infections. With these types of infections, medical assistance is frequently required to ensure symptoms don’t worsen.

But it’s not just medical costs travel insurance can assist with. Cruise claims include lost, stolen, or damaged personal items, while 15 per cent are for expenses relating to trip cancellations or trip delays.

Travel insurance is so inexpensive when compared to the cost when things go wrong and you’re not insured. You can get great cover at an affordable price by visiting our website www.actioninsurance.com.au