SureSave, the leading provider of travel assistance and insurance in the agency channel, explains that an increasing number of Australians view travel insurance as a necessity and are harnessing technology to carry their PDS and travel insurance documents.
Do Australians view travel insurance as a necessity?
In the 2018 SureSave Travel Insurance Index*, respondents were asked if they view travel insurance as a ‘necessity’ when travelling overseas. 73% of Australians said that they ‘wouldn’t leave the country without it’. This is a 10% improvement from six years ago when only 63% considered travel insurance as a ‘must’ when they were asked the same question.
On the other hand, today, 8.5% of Australians still say they only purchase travel insurance ‘sometimes, when I visit destinations that might be risky’ and 5% admit that they ‘rarely or never bother with travel insurance’. However, this is still an improvement when compared to research results from 2012, when 15% of respondents saw travel insurance as a necessity only ‘when visiting certain destinations’ and 22% said ‘they rarely or never bother with travel insurance’.
Matt Endycott, Head of Agency Sales at SureSave, comments,
“Although it’s very clear that significant progress has been made over the past seven years in regards to successfully explaining the importance of travel insurance, it is apparent that there are still Australians who don’t have adequate travel insurance cover when they travel.”
“It’s our job to help agents explain to their customers that all travel carries an element of risk. It’s important to be adequately covered at all times, regardless of the travel destination, duration of trip or activities. We’re here to ensure that agents are kept informed on the policy options so they can confidently inform travellers. That way, if travellers have all the relevant information, they can choose the appropriate level of cover for them.”
Australians are embracing technology
More Australians than ever are embracing technology as a means of carrying their travel insurance documents. In 2018, 27% of travellers said they carry an electronic copy of the PDS, which is a rise of 15% since 2015.
Of those who travel with an electronic copy of the PDS, when asked which device they are most likely to access it from, 71% opt for a smart phone. 42% of travellers say they choose to carry an electronic copy of the PDS as it’s ‘easier and lighter to carry when travelling’. A further 42% say ‘it’s more convenient for me to have important documents saved on my device(s)’.
When it comes to thoroughly reading the PDS, 37% say they know exactly what they’re covered for, whilst 51% say they only skim-read over it and have a general idea of what they are covered for. Meanwhile, 7% admit they are not sure what they’re covered for.
“We strongly advise that travellers thoroughly read the PDS before buying travel insurance to ensure that their policy provides them with the appropriate level of cover that meets all of their individual needs. We also encourage everyone to keep a copy of their Certificate of Insurance with them when travelling as it contains the essentials needed when contacting our Emergency Assistance team. The PDS can certainly come in handy when overseas too and is emailed to all customers prior to travel. It is also conveniently available online and can be accessed easily at any point, should it be required.” said Endycott.
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