Westpac credit card complimentary travel insurance explained

Westpac offers complimentary travel insurance on a range of personal and business credit cards, including black and platinum accounts. Some cards also offer complimentary insurance for eligible items you buy with your card. These policies are underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Allianz).

As with any insurance policy, there are boxes you need to tick to get cover – including choosing an eligible Westpac credit card. That's why it's important to read the policy booklet (available on the Westpac website). But if you're just after a snapshot, below we've covered some of the key details about what cards offer cover, the type of cover available and when you'll get it.

Which cards offer complimentary travel insurance?

Benefits and features of Westpac credit cards

What are the eligibility requirements?

Cardholders with an eligible Westpac credit cards can get complimentary overseas travel insurance when they satisfy these requirements:

• Australian residence. You permanently reside in Australia, or you currently reside in Australia and hold a valid 457 Visa.
• $500 prepaid travel expenditure. You spend $500 or more on prepaid travel costs (e.g. return travel ticket, airport or departure taxes, prepaid overseas accommodation or travel itinerary items) before departing Australia, and charge these costs to your eligible Westpac credit card.
• Return travel ticket. You have a return overseas travel ticket before leaving Australia.
• 80 and under. You are not over 80 years of age when you first qualify for coverage by meeting the three conditions above.

Spouse and dependent children

If you’re eligible for this complimentary insurance, your spouse or dependent child will also qualify for coverage if they satisfy these four requirements:

• Travel together on entire journey. The spouse and/or dependent child or children travels with the cardholder for the entire journey.
• $500 prepaid travel expenditure. Each spouse and/or dependent child spends $500 or more on prepaid travel costs (e.g. return travel ticket, airport or departure taxes, prepaid overseas accommodation or travel itinerary items) before departing Australia, and they charge these costs to your eligible Westpac credit card.
• Return travel ticket. The spouse and/or dependent child or children has a return overseas travel ticket before leaving Australia.
• Not over 80. The spouse and/or dependent child or children is not over 80 years of age when they first qualify for coverage by meeting the three conditions above.

Definition for spouse and dependents

• Spouse

  Defacto partner of the cardholder who is permanently living with the cardholder at the time the journey starts, or a person married to the cardholder.

• Dependent children

  • All children up to and including the age of 18, who the cardholder has sole custody of and who live with the cardholder.
  • All children up to and including the age of 18, who the cardholder has shared custody of.
  • All children from 19 to and including 25 years of age, who are full-time students attending an accredited institution of higher learning in Australia and who the cardholder has sole or shared custody of, and who are dependent upon the cardholder for their maintenance and financial support.
  • All unmarried persons who are physically and mentally incapable of self-support who the cardholder has custody of and who live with the cardholder.
  • Dependent children under two years of age when the journey commences are eligible for overseas travel insurance, once the cardholder becomes eligible for the same insurance, as long as the dependent child is travelling with the cardholder for the entire journey.
  • Dependent child/children never includes an infant born on the journey.

What insurances are provided under this policy?

Note: If you have a Westpac Gold, Platinum B or Business credit card, some claim limits will be different to those in the table above. Please refer to the relevant complimentary credit card insurance policy document available on the Westpac website. Alternatively, you can contact Allianz Global Assistance on 1800 091 710 or by emailing travelclaims@allianz-assistance.com.au.

Policy exclusions: What is not covered?

Generally, you will not be covered for:

• Pre-existing medical conditions. Pre-existing medical conditions are not automatically covered by this travel insurance. You may be able to get cover for some conditions by contacting Allianz on 1800 091 710 and discussing your circumstances.
• Pregnancy and childbirth. Unless the condition is an unforeseen consequence of the pregnancy or childbirth.
• Travel taken against medical advice/after diagnosis of a terminal illness. Also includes travel for the purpose of getting medical treatment or advice.
• Alcohol or drugs. Except when the drugs are prescribed by a qualified and registered medical practitioner.
• Illegal activities. This includes fraud and abuse.
• Underwater activities using artificial breathing equipment. Except if you have an open water diving license or are diving with a qualified and registered diving instructor.
• Air travel and aerial activity. Except when you are a paid passenger in a fully licensed commercial passenger aircraft.
• Exchange rate changes. This includes currency devaluation.

All other general exclusions, as well as specific exclusions applicable to your type of cover, can be found in your policy.

What is considered a pre-existing medical condition?

According to the policy booklet, a pre-existing medical condition refers to any existing medical condition (including but not limited to mental disorder, anxiety, alcoholism, drug addiction or pregnancy and/or any chronic or ongoing physical, medical or dental condition), for which investigation (whether or not a diagnosis has been made),where treatment or advice has been received, or medication prescribed or taken at any time before you obtained your return overseas travel ticket or after you obtained your return overseas travel ticket, but prior to the commencement of your journey.; or This definition also applies to any complication arising from any such condition. outlined above, except Note that unexpected/unforeseen events relating to pregnancy are not regarded as pre-existing medical conditions.

Conditions covered automatically without referral

Subject to the respective requirements stated below, these conditions are covered:

How do I apply for cover for a pre-existing medical condition?

You can apply for coverage of a pre-existing medical condition by contacting Allianz before departing on your journey by calling 1800 091 710 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm AEST), or by completing an online assessment. If approved, you will be charged an administration fee will apply of $75 for phone applications or $45 for online applications. You will then receive confirmation outlining the pre-existing medical condition you are covered for, the period of cover, and any special conditions or exclusions which apply to the cover.

How do I know if I’m covered and what am I covered for?

Providing you meet the eligibility requirements outlined above, you automatically qualify for complimentary overseas travel insurance through your card. Similarly, your spouse and any dependent children will be covered as well if they meet the requirements listed above.

Period of cover

You are covered from the time you become eligible up until your journey ends. The maximum coverage is six months for Black cards, Platinum Plus cards, Platinum A cards and Altitude Business Platinum cards, and three months for Platinum B cards, Gold cards, BusinessChoice Rewards cards and Altitude Business Gold cards. If your return to Australia is delayed due to covered events, coverage is automatically extended for up to four weeks.

Area of cover

Apart from overseas travel, this policy also covers you when:

• Travelling from Tasmania or from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island or Christmas Island.
• Travelling from Norfolk Island or from Christmas Island to Tasmania or mainland Australia; however medical and hospital expenses are not covered if the person claiming is eligible for Medicare benefits.
• Travelling from Tasmania or from mainland Australia to Lord Howe Island or Cocos Island; however medical and hospital expenses are not covered.
• Travelling from Lord Howe Island or from Cocos Island to Tasmania or mainland Australia; however medical and hospital expenses are not covered.

How do I make a claim?

There are three ways to make a claim with Allianz:

• Online at https://insurance.agaassistance.com.au/westpac/page/home
• Over the phone by calling Allianz on 1800 091 710 (in Australia)
• By email at travelclaims@allianz-assistance.com.au

Use the following policy numbers when making a claim:

Claims procedure

In the event of a claim, you must:

• Contact Allianz within 30 days. Contact Allianz on 1800 091 710 within 30 days or as soon as possible of returning home from overseas or interstate (even if you have previously reported the matter to Allianz Assist). If you are already home, contact Allianz within 30 days or as soon as possible of learning of an occurrence (loss, damage or breakdown) that may result in a claim.
• Provide any evidence or documentation required to verify your claim. Depending on the nature of your claim, this can include (but is not limited to) police reports, valuations, medical reports, credit card account statements, original receipts or proof of purchase and ownership, travel tickets and itineraries.
• Provide any liability claims against you in writing. You must not make any admission or offer to settle any claim, because doing so may reduce the amount payable in respect of the claim.
• Report all losses. Report anything that was lost (under the Loss or damage to personal goods benefit) to the local authority within 24 hours of learning of the theft, loss or damage. The report must clearly list and describe the missing or damaged property/personal goods.
• Provide all accounts. Submit accounts to your private health fund before submitting to Allianz medical expense items.
• Immediately report any lost luggage or damage to the conveyance carrier and submit a claim to them. The conveyance carrier may be legally liable for the loss or damage.

24 hour worldwide medical & emergency assistance

If you face an emergency, contact Allianz immediately. In Australia, you can contact them on 1800 227 773. If you’re overseas you can call +61 7 3305 7468 or email travelclaims@allianz-assistance.com.au. Allianz also has local numbers for many countries, as well as the following Australian phone numbers for Westpac cardholders:

For Black cardholders: 1300 651 999 (Westpac)

For Platinum Plus or Platinum A or Platinum B cardholders: 1300 859 100 (Westpac)

For Gold cardholders: 1300 651 089 (Westpac)

For Business cardholders: 1300 651 089 (Westpac – for copies of the insurance policy document)

You may also want to contact Allianz, visit its website or refer to your Westpac credit card insurance booklet for details of local numbers when you are overseas.

Other available types of cover

• Purchase security insurance policy. Allianz provides complimentary insurance against loss, theft, or accidental damage of a wide range of new personal goods purchased anywhere in the world. To get coverage, the entire purchase must be charged to your eligible credit card account.
• Extended warranty insurance policy. Allianz provides extended warranty insurance if the entire purchase is charged to your eligible credit card account, the item has a manufacturer’s unique identification serial number on it and has an Australian warranty period of under five years.
• Price Guarantee Cover (Black card, Platinum Plus card, Platinum A card and Business cardholders only). Allianz guarantees the best price when new personal goods are purchased in Australia and the entire cost is charged to your eligible credit card account. This scheme has certain conditions included in your policy.
• Interstate flight inconvenience insurance policy (Black card, Platinum Plus card, Platinum A card and Business cardholders only). If you charge the entire cost of your return interstate flight to your eligible credit card account, Allianz will cover you for delays (including flight and 12-hour luggage delays), loss or damage to personal items, funeral expenses as a result of accidental death, and cancellation of domestic travel arrangements.
• Rental vehicle excess insurance in Australia policy (Black card, Platinum Plus card & Platinum A cardholders only). Allianz will reimburse you up to $5,500 for any rental vehicle insurance excess or deductible provided you meet the claim eligibility criteria. Westpac Business cards also offer rental vehicle excess insurance, with reimbursement up to $1,650.
• Transit accident insurance policy. Allianz provides accidental death and injury cover if you sustain an injury while riding as a passenger in, or boarding or alighting a plane, bus, train or ferry if the entire payment for the trip was charged to your eligible credit card account. Please see your policy for the full schedule of benefits.

This page is a summary of Westpac’s complimentary insurance policy. Please bear in mind that the available cover may vary between individuals, so you should contact Westpac or Allianz directly to discuss any specific enquiries. Please also see the Policy Disclosure Statement (PDS) for a full overview of the policy inclusions and exclusions, and to confirm your coverage.