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Zoom Travel Insurance Review
Our verdict: Unlimited trip cancellation cover in Oz, cover up to age 85 and the ability to tailor your policy with add-ons make Zoom Travel Insurance a feature-rich option for travellers.
Unlimited cover for cancellation fees or lost deposits for domestic travel. Zoom is one of the few brands to offer this.
This insurer offers some impressive flexibility: comprehensive and domestic plans are available up to age 85 and non-residents can get cover.
Cons
Zoom does offer cover for COVID-related medical expenses but does not cover cancellation costs or other travel expenses due to COVID.
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Summary of Zoom's Comprehensive policy
Overseas Medical and Hospital Expenses
Unlimited
Cancellation and Amendment Fees
Unlimited
Luggage and Personal Effects
$7,500
Maximum Age Limit
85
Table updated December 2023
How does Zoom Travel Insurance cover Covid-19?
Zoom offers limited cover for Covid-19 related to emergency medical and hospital expenses while overseas as well as a hospital cash allowance. If you have to cancel or amend your travel plans, you can also amend your policy dates and destinations up to 12 months from the date of issue.
Other than this, all Zoom policies have general exclusions for epidemics and pandemics that include:
The need to cancel your plans
If you are quarantined
If you suffer travel delays
If you're concerned about Covid-19 ruining your travel plans, we've compared all the providers that offer some cover for pandemic-related expenses.
What policies does Zoom offer?
Zoom has five different plans available: Medical only, Standard, Comprehensive, Domestic and Frequent Traveler. Here are some of the main insured events a policy can cover you for:
Medical only
Standard
Comprehensive
Domestic
Frequent Traveler
The insurance is underwritten by certain underwriters at HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia and comes with a cooling-off period and $200 standard excess.
The cooling-off period is 14 days which means if you change your mind and decide to cancel your policy within this period, Zoom will refund your premium in full. The excess is the amount you're required to pay when you make a claim and can be reduced to $100 when you apply by paying an additional premium.
Here's a breakdown of Zoom travel insurance features
These are some of the features that Zoom will cover you for if something does go wrong on your trip. Some of these inclusions are only available for certain levels of cover (e.g. a comprehensive policy vs a domestic one).
Accidental death
Additional expenses including accommodation or travel expenses
Cancellation fees and lost deposits
Emergency companion cover
Family emergency
Luggage and personal effects
Overseas emergency medical expenses
Permanent disability
Resumption of journey
Round the clock emergency assistance
Optional add-on
Along with its standard features, Zoom travel insurance also offers some optional cover, so you don't have to pay for cover you won't need. Here are some of the options offered by Zoom:
Adventure pack
Bicycle pack
Cruise pack
Golf pack
High value items
Rental vehicle insurance excess
Snow pack
Exclusions
Like all insurers, there are a few situations you won't be covered for under a travel insurance policy. With Zoom, some of these include:
Any act of war, rebellion, revolution or insurrection
Costs or expenses incurred due to mandatory quarantine, curfew, lockdown or isolation
Death or hospitalisation of any person aged 85 years and over
Riding a motorcycle, moped or scooter without a valid drivers licence for the country you are riding in
Suicide or attempted suicide
Travel to a country or part of a country with a travel warning or advice released by a government or official body
Travel booked or undertaken against the advice of a medical adviser
You being under the influence or addicted to intoxicating drugs or liquor
Make sure you review Zoom's PDS for a detailed breakdown of what is and isn't covered.
How to make a Zoom Travel Insurance claim
For emergencies or medical claims, you can contact First Assistance on +61 2 8015 6261 or email info@travelclaimscentre.com.
For non-emergency claims, the fastest and most convenient option is to submit a claim online by following these steps:
Head to https://www.zoomtravelinsurance.com.au/claims
Enter your policy number, full name, email address and mobile number to log in
Complete your claim details by answering all sections
Upload any supporting documents relevant to your claim
Submit, and your claim should be processed within 10 business days
Here's the bottom line about Zoom Travel Insurance
Compared to many other insurers, Zoom's policies are accessible to more travellers, including some non-residents and older Australians. You can also pick from five different levels of cover and tailor your policy with a wide variety of optional add-ons so you're only paying for what you need versus a blanket cover that you might find elsewhere.
Where Zoom falls short is with the lack of cover for pandemics and epidemics, including Covid-19. While you are covered for overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses, any other costs, including travel or cancellation expenses, are not covered.
Yes, Zoom travel insurance is underwritten by certain underwriters at HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia, which is considered the world's largest insurance market. It also offers a 14-day cooling off period if you decide you're not happy with the policy.
Travel to Indonesia comes with its own unique risks and Zoom travel insurance ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to cover. Motorcycle riding, bungee jumping and scuba diving are all covered as standard (provided you meet the minimum requirements) and natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions have been covered in the past.
Zoom travel insurance will advise what type of documents you'll need to provide at the time of your claim. Supporting documents can include:
Police reports
Medical reports
Valuations
Original receipts or proof of purchase and ownership
Cristal Dyer is a travel writer at Finder. She has been writing about travel for over five years and has visited over 40 countries around the world. Cristal currently travels full-time, writing about her favourite cities and food finds, and she is always on the lookout for amazing flight deals to share. See full bio
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Do Zoom cover or not cover short 7 night Alaska Cruise along coast of Canada and Alaska
Would be happy to pay extra or a higher excess .
Finder
JamesJune 7, 2023Finder
Hi Rod,
Thanks for your message. Zoom offers a cruise pack which must be added on to a policy (as it isn’t an automatic inclusion). It’ll cover you for onboard medical treatment and helicopter evacuation costs if you require emergency medical assistance. It’s best to speak directly with Zoom to confirm whether or not you’ll be covered for trips in American and Canadian waters.
I hope this helps,
James
BethanySeptember 11, 2021
I would like to know if I have an exemption to travel to Nepal that I can take cover out for my trip and it includes 6,000 metres and evacuation.
Finder
JamesSeptember 16, 2021Finder
Hi Bethany,
Zoom Travel Insurance do cover hiking, trekking or tramping peaking at altitudes up to 6,000 metres – where specialist climbing equipment isn’t required. They also have medical evacuation coverage, which is included in some of their policies.
You may reach out to Zoom to discuss the type of cover that will suit your needs.
Don’t forget to check Australia and Nepal’s travel restrictions and exemptions ahead of your travel.
Regards,
James
kathrynJune 18, 2019
If I have travel insurance for the 5 week duration of my travel does it cover cancellation of a course I am travelling to if cancelled before I depart?
NikkiJune 19, 2019
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Zoom covers Cancellation cover for their Standard, Comprehensive, Frequent Traveller, Domestic plans. If you have one of the 4 plans, you are covered for cancellation events. To be sure, check your policy carefully to see what you are convered for under cancellation and you can also speak to Zoom directly to check your policy as well.
Hope this clarifies!
Best,
Nikki
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Do Zoom cover or not cover short 7 night Alaska Cruise along coast of Canada and Alaska
Would be happy to pay extra or a higher excess .
Hi Rod,
Thanks for your message. Zoom offers a cruise pack which must be added on to a policy (as it isn’t an automatic inclusion). It’ll cover you for onboard medical treatment and helicopter evacuation costs if you require emergency medical assistance. It’s best to speak directly with Zoom to confirm whether or not you’ll be covered for trips in American and Canadian waters.
I hope this helps,
James
I would like to know if I have an exemption to travel to Nepal that I can take cover out for my trip and it includes 6,000 metres and evacuation.
Hi Bethany,
Zoom Travel Insurance do cover hiking, trekking or tramping peaking at altitudes up to 6,000 metres – where specialist climbing equipment isn’t required. They also have medical evacuation coverage, which is included in some of their policies.
You may reach out to Zoom to discuss the type of cover that will suit your needs.
Don’t forget to check Australia and Nepal’s travel restrictions and exemptions ahead of your travel.
Regards,
James
If I have travel insurance for the 5 week duration of my travel does it cover cancellation of a course I am travelling to if cancelled before I depart?
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Zoom covers Cancellation cover for their Standard, Comprehensive, Frequent Traveller, Domestic plans. If you have one of the 4 plans, you are covered for cancellation events. To be sure, check your policy carefully to see what you are convered for under cancellation and you can also speak to Zoom directly to check your policy as well.
Hope this clarifies!
Best,
Nikki