Emergency evacuation insurance and other related insurance questions

ottg · Veteran Member

Emergency evacuation insurance and other related insurance questions

rockylizard · Guru

ottg wrote:
Hi,
This is the 1st time I need to prepared for caravaning into Outback. We will mainly drive sealed roads. My concern is medical emergency and vehicle breakdown situations. If you travel overseas it easy to get travel insurance which covers most things that I have been concerned about. While I contacted Medicare, private insurance, and travel insurance agencies it seems if there is not a single policy that can cover all my concerns for a short period of time.
Perhaps people can guide me. We leave in 2.5 weeks time
I have insurance on my private owned 4x4, caravan plus Medicare. No extra private medical insurance.
a. What if the vehicle and/or caravan has a breakdown? Can I get towing and/or roadside assist insurance just to cover the trip period? Usually your comprehensive insurance for the 4x4 and van will not cover breakdowns. Join a Motoring Organisation (RACV/RACQ/NRMA/WA equivalent). I have RACV Total Care + Tow Pack which covers any breakdown to either the vehicle or van - towing, temporary accommodation, hire car, etc
b. What if in case of a medical emergency? Can I get private medical insurance for an ambulance and the gap just to cover the trip period? Contact your local ambulance service and enquire about taking out a 'membership' and they will confirm how that will cover you interstate. Contact the Health Funds for what they cover and the price.
c. What if in case of a medical evacuation emergency? Can I get private medical insurance for airlifting just to cover the trip? If you do not have private health cover at the moment, enquire with any/all the Private Health Funds - they will let you know what they will cover and the price - I will assume this to be fairly expensive.
d. Is there a single policy available somewhere that will cover all of the above just to cover the trip? I am not aware of any single policy to cover all the things you are concerned about.
Thank you in advance.
Cheers

Gday...

In some ways your best insurance is to have a complete health check-up for yourself, your partner, your vehicle and the van.

If that shows that you, your partner, your vehicle and the van are in good nick and not likely to have a breakdown you are 95% covered already.

Talk with your mechanic and get a list of sensible spares to carry for the vehicle - and maybe the van. Even if you don't know how to fit them, at least you will have them for the nearest bush mechanic to help you out.

Personal safety should always be a priority - as it is in our normal life - so just take normal precautions when walking around etc to minimise falls etc.

If you are mainly on sealed roads, even in the 'outback', it is usual to have quite a few vehicles using the same road/s - help won't be that far away.

I am the eternal optimist and don't expect to encounter the things that are an understandable concern to you. If one gets too concerned with catastrophe overtaking us when travelling, why would one leave home. I need to be very careful here ... that Mr Murphy is a lurker on forums and might read my next comments - but what the heck ... here goes.

I have been travelling full-time with my van, including outback areas, for the past 10 years and have not used any of the insurances I have as stated above. Indeed, I have never needed to call on those insurances in the past 50 years of camping and travelling. hmm OH DEAR - I hope Murphy doesn't read any of this.

Cheers - jest be careful/sensible and get out there and enjoy - John

{EDIT: GEEZ Ottg ... fergot ta welcome ya to the forum }

-- Edited by rockylizard on Wednesday 30th of May 2018 12:05:21 PM

dragonfly1 · Senior Member

Join the CMCA and then take out insurance and roadside assist with Ken Tame you get access to a Doctor and if you break down they will tow to for repairs and if you are too sick they will get your car and caravan delivered to your home

Dragonfly1

ottg · Veteran Member

Thank you dragonfly

I just bought insurance from Bupa and RAC.

Will definitely look at CMCA next year

Regards

ottg · Veteran Member

Thank you Rockylizard

Your reply made it so easy.

Done and dusted! Bit pricey all-in-all but guess I feel better. smile

The pressure is off.

Cheers

Robreen · Veteran Member

G'day. I reckon you can buy travel insurance in Australia. You will need to contact t I companies.

EJP · Senior Member

Agree with all of the above, but most importantly make sure you have ambulance cover, either included in your health insurance or taken out seperatly with your ambulance service. Evacuation by road or air ambulance will cost a small fortune, whether remote or not.
EJP

villatranquilla · Guru

if you have a health care card or on a pension I believe you are covered for all emergency ambulance including air ambulance and inter-hospital transfers

Bill B · Guru

villatranquilla wrote:

if you have a health care card or on a pension I believe you are covered for all emergency ambulance including air ambulance and inter-hospital transfers

Not correct.

Earlier this year whilst in NSW I had to call an ambulance for my partner. Whilst the ambulance driver took her pension card details when we got back to Qld there was a bill of $750 waiting.

We are fortunate that this was covered by Qld Ambulance as all permenant Qld residents receive free ambulance cover, so the bill was forwarded to them and they paid it.

If we resided in NSW we wouldn't have received a bill because we had a pension concession card.

https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/healthinsurance/whatiscovered/ambulance.htm

Whilst various states cover you if you have a pension concession card, it only applies if you are a resident of that state and the ambulance is used in that state.

PeterD · Guru

ottg wrote:
I have insurance on my private owned 4x4, caravan plus Medicare. No extra private medical insurance.
a. What if the vehicle and/or caravan has a breakdown? Can I get towing and/or roadside assist insurance just to cover the trip period?
b. What if in case of a medical emergency? Can I get private medical insurance for an ambulance and the gap just to cover the trip period?
c. What if in case of a medical evacuation emergency? Can I get private medical insurance for airlifting just to cover the trip?
d. Is there a single policy available somewhere that will cover all of the above just to cover the trip?

a.. Are you a member of RAC? Is you van body length 5.5 meters or less? If so upgrade the membership if you only have Standard membership. If you are not a member then join up pronto. Look here for membership plans, This is the type of thing that most of us have. You will get reciprocal assistance anywhere in Oz. Also read the Roadside Assistance Entitlements brochure for more information. You may be able to get towing assistance for larger vans, ring the RAC to check. If not then you may have to Join CMCA and insure your tug and van through them, however you have left it a bit late to commence that, you will probably have to complete that whilst on the road. This may mean marking time until the postal service catches up to you at a nominated address.

b.. Read what Rocky had to say.

c.. You have the same entitlements to medical assistance when interstate as you do when in WA. It is just the ambulance cover you need to attend to.

d.. No. Any travel insurance will just cover some medical event and loss of deposits and paid up accommodation that you have paid in advance.

ottg · Veteran Member

Thank you for all the replies. In the end got RAC Ultimate roadside assistance and Ambulance & emergency evacuation insurance.

Busy getting the final details sorted. In the process of getting the dual battery system sorted. Tested the standalone auxiliary box today and all running.
Just the wiring kit from the engine battery to the vehicle luggage compartment is a bit of a challenge. Not sure if I should tempt to go through the firewall or along the chassis channel. Will speak to an auto electrician next week.