[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bali’s Mount Agung volcano has put travel insurance in doubt for many Australian families. Here’s what you need to know.
Mount Agung hurled ash into the sky in July forcing evacuations and flight delays for families travelling to Bali in the school holidays.
Bali’s Mount Agung volcano. Picture: Shutterstock
Now many parents are planning September Bali trips. But we hear there is much confusion over whether they can get travel insurance to cover disruptions from the volcano.
For the most part the answer is no. Travel insurance is designed to cover “unforseen issues” and the Mt Agung volcano is a known risk. Unless you bought your policy before Mount Agung first erupted in November 2017 you are unlikely to get cover.
But there is one exception.
Cover-More, has one super-duper plan that covers everything – including the volcano blowing it’s top. Cover-More’s Cancel-For-Any-Reason (CFAR) benefit can be added as an optional extra to travel insurance policies.
“When travellers take out one of our new comprehensive policies and choose to add on CFAR cover, they can plan to travel to Bali knowing they’re covered for Mt Agung activity,” Cover-More General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Mike Stein said in a statement.
“Thousands of Australian travellers who’ve booked holidays to Bali are worried and stressed Mt Agung may ruin their travel plans, but our new comprehensive policies mean they can plan their Bali holiday and, if the volcano remains active, cancel and rebook new travel or get a refund so they can travel at another time.”
The CFAR addition is ONLY available exclusively through Cover-More’s agency partners. So you will need to book it and your holiday through a travel agent.
It is possible to get travel insurance for Bali. Picture: Shutterstock
To be eligable to claim families need to take out the CFAR cover at the time they take out their policy and withing seven days of paying the money for their trip. They also need to cancel seven or more days prior to departure date – that’s a big catch. You will need to make a call on the volcano BEFORE you go. If it happens while you are there – you may not be covered.
The CFAR policy will cover 75 per cent of the non-refundable portion of the holiday. So you won’t get everything back. But at least it is something.
It’s important to note you can still get travel insurance for Bali from all other travel insurance companies. You will still be covered for medical expenses, cancellations costs (not related to the volcano) and lost luggage.
But if you are worried that Mt Angug will spoil your trip – you may want to look at another destination this year.
Here’s a few you might like:
10 reasons to visit Vanuatu with kids
What kids love about Hawaii USA
Fiji’s best budget stays for bigger families
A beginners guide to the Whitsundays
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Travel allows you to get outside your bubble. It makes you realise there are other ways to do things, and that’s OK. Plus, I am a huge fan of skiing and for the best powder – you need to head overseas.