Can you have multiple travel insurance policies?

Find travel insurance that offers more than your credit card does

Finder survey: Have Australians lied on their travel insurance policy?

When might you need more than one travel insurance policy?

In many cases, credit card travel insurance benefits are low, the excess is high and you can't get cover for pre-existing conditions. If that describes your card's insurance, there's nothing stopping you from getting an additional standalone policy, which will usually offer better cover and more flexibility. You may want multiple travel insurance policies in the following cases:

• If you buy standalone travel insurance, even though your credit card also provides free travel insurance.
• If you buy standalone travel insurance, even though your bank account offers travel insurance as part of your account package.
• If you buy standalone travel insurance, even though one of your other forms of insurance includes travel cover as an add-on.
• If you have an annual travel insurance policy in place but take out a single trip policy to cover specific losses not covered under the annual policy.

Can I receive cover from both travel insurance policies?

While it's possible to have multiple policies, it's not possible to receive a pay out from 2 policies for the same loss. Australian insurance law stipulates that if you hold 2 insurance policies with identical coverage, both insurers can share the cost of covering the claim, but are not required to pay out 100% of that claim.

The only exception to this is in relation to death or permanent disability cover, where insurers are required to pay out the benefit amount stated in their policies, regardless of what other insurers have paid.

Disclosing other insurance in the event of a claim

A common exclusion included in travel insurance policies relates to other sources of reimbursement. A typical travel insurance product disclosure statement (PDS) will state that if you are able to receive compensation from any other source for your loss, the insurer will only pay the difference between the benefit amount and the amount you receive from that other source.

This also applies to other insurers. If you have cover under more than 1 policy, you must inform your insurer of this and provide details of the other insurer and the policy. This is because if your insurer pays out your claim, they can then seek a contribution from the other insurer.

Vice versa, if you claim from the other insurer and they only provide you with a partial pay out, your insurer will pay you the difference between what you received and your insured benefit amount.

What happens if I don’t disclose both policies?

If you don’t disclose your other forms of cover to your insurer, the penalties could be even more severe. Insurers investigate all claims thoroughly and share this information, so if you claim on 2 policies without declaring, it’s likely one or both will find out.

Moreover, any purposely fraudulent statements regarding other policies could mean your cover will be voided, your policy cancelled and you’ll possibly wind up in court.