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Bungee jumping is a popular pastime, particularly for people travelling to New Zealand. If bungee jumping is on your holiday itinerary, you’ll be pleased to know you can get cover for it through your travel insurance.
Some insurers cover it automatically in their list of adventure sports and activities, while others will charge you extra and a few won’t cover it at all. Make sure you shop around for the right policy before you take the plunge.
Common travel insurance conditions related to bungee jumping
While bungee jumping is relatively safe, it’s not without its risks and is still considered an extreme sport. Common injuries from bungee jumping can include dislocations, rope burns, back injuries and eye trauma.
For this reason, while most insurers cover bungee jumping, there are some common conditions placed on bungee jumping claims. These can include:
The jump must be performed with a licensed operator
You must follow all instructions and not behave in a reckless manner
Your injury must not be due to an undeclared pre-existing medical condition (dislocating a joint on which you have previously had surgery, for example).
Some insurers, such as Budget Direct, will also limit the amount of jumps per trip you can do to a maximum of three, so it pays to read the product disclosure statement (PDS) carefully.
Why do I need to tell my insurer if I plan to go bungee jumping?
Travel insurance is designed to cover normal risks associated with travel, and a typical policy covers common mishaps such as unexpected illness or injury, trip cancellation or delay, and loss or theft of baggage and personal effects.
Bungee jumping is not a normal event for most travellers, so failing to declare your intention to bungee jump puts a greater level of risk on your insurer.
Everyone taking out travel insurance has a duty of disclosure, which is a duty under law to declare anything to an insurer that could reasonably be expected to influence the extent of cover, benefit limits and cost of your policy. An example of this is pre-existing medical conditions. Unless you declare them at the time of applying for bungee jumping travel insurance, you are unlikely to be covered in the event of a claim.
So even if bungee jumping is included in your policy at no extra charge, you should declare your intention to jump to your insurer. If an additional fee is involved, be sure to pay it so you are fully covered when you take that leap into the great unknown.
Will I pay more for bungee jumping?
How much you will need to pay depends on the insurer. While many insurers will cover you for bungee jumping automatically, others will only do so for an additional charge, usually associated with some kind of adventure sports and activities pack. The cost will vary between insurers, but it’s unlikely to add enormously to the overall cost of your premium.
The following is a cross section of insurers and their bungee jumping cover. You’ll be surprised to see how many include it automatically in their policies.
DUInsure. Bungee jumping, along with a wide range of adventure sport activities such as scuba diving and white/blackwater rafting, are automatically covered by DUInsure.
Cover My Trip. Many amateur sporting and adventure activities are covered at no additional cost, including bungee jumping.
Tips for staying safe if you’re bungee jumping overseas
Even though bungee jumping is covered by many insurers, throwing yourself off a giant tower is always going to involve an element of risk. So it’s wise to observe a few rules, particularly when bungee jumping overseas:
Jump with a reputable company. A licensed bungee jumping operator will have well-maintained equipment and strict safety practices. Avoid operations that look dodgy, because their safety procedures probably are as well.
Follow instructions. Reputable jump operators will be trained and qualified, so put your trust in them and do exactly as they tell you.
Dress appropriately. Wear comfortable clothing. If you opt to wear shoes, make sure they are enclosed and secure on your feet.
Be committed. Accidents can happen when people hesitate or change their minds at the last minute, so stay focused. Once you’re up there, commit yourself to going through with the experience.
What to do if you injure yourself overseas while bungee jumping
If you suffer an injury while bungee jumping overseas, your insurer’s overseas assistance team will help arrange medical treatment and hospitalisation if required, provided your policy covers bungee jumping. Most insurers have an overseas assistance provider who can be contacted 24/7 in medical emergencies. These services are staffed by medical professionals who can determine your needs and arrange treatment and even emergency evacuation if necessary.
If your injury is relatively minor, you may elect to visit a local doctor for treatment and claim the cost back later on your insurance. However, if your injury is severe, your insurer’s emergency assistance team should be contacted immediately. They can help in a variety of ways, including arranging transportation and treatment, contacting loved ones back home and approving hospital payment where required. However, as they are acting on your insurer’s behalf, you will need to cooperate with them fully and follow their advice at all times, otherwise your cover may be voided.
Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance.
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