WHV travel insurance

Russian Blue

Is travel insurance necessary?

Im going to oz for a year and thinking do I get travel insurance.

Im going on a working holiday visa and I hope to get work and it turns out that my occupation isn't covered. So if I was to go for travel insurance I would be insured for travel and medical outside work.

Are most insurances like that? Do they only cover the typical backpacker jobs, bar work, fruit picking etc?

Danniboo

Russian Blue wrote: »

Is travel insurance necessary?

Im going to oz for a year and thinking do I get travel insurance.

Im going on a working holiday visa and I hope to get work and it turns out that my occupation isn't covered. So if I was to go for travel insurance I would be insured for travel and medical outside work.

Are most insurances like that? Do they only cover the typical backpacker jobs, bar work, fruit picking etc?

I think the travel insurance is more about covering you personally, sickness, accidents, missed flights, lost documents, baggage delays that sort of thing. Not sure why you think it's specifically related to your job. Of course its your choice to get it, but I wouldn't dream of going without it.

Gatica

I wouldn't travel that far without travel insurance. I don't know what their medical services are like for foreigners but at least the right travel insurance would cover you in case of emergency, e.g. ambulance service or hospitalisation.

okiss

I would advise you to get travel insurance for going on this trip.
A few years I was working with a girl who told me about her cheap Spanish holiday.
She had a bad road accident and ended up in intensive care in a Spanish hospital. After a period of time she got an air ambulance back to Ireland and was then transfered back to a hospital here.
After this she need rehabilation help her walk and to improve the movement in her hands.
Her travel insurance covered all of the above costs.

Russian Blue

I got some travel insurance. Its better safe than sorry. No point being a complete cheapskate.

tatli_lokma

I think you made the right choice.

FWIW there is a reciprocal health agreement between Australia and Ireland, meaning Irish citizens have the same access to emergency health care as an Australian, but they would be obliged to pay for anything an Australian would have to pay for (eg a GP visit, or hospital levy, similarly an Australian visiting Ireland who needed to go to A&E would be able to, but would have to pay the €100 same as us).

But the health agreement doesn't cover things like emergency repatriation, or if there was a family crisis or loss that you needed to get back home for. So if you did get sick (hopefully you won't but if you did) and wanted to return to Ireland, you wouldn't be covered, or if a family member died or got very sick (again hopefully it won't happen) you wouldn't be sent home. Only insurance will cover you for this, so it is definitely worth having. It might never happen but for the sake of a few quid, it is money well spent as it is much cheaper than having to find the money to get yourself home in an emergency.

I know of a few people who have also been asked at the boarder to show their insurance. Your visa isn't totally certain until you pass the port of entry, so the immigration guys in the airport in Australia can refuse you entry. I don't think they would for not having insurance, but not worth the risk.