We tell you what we cover – and what we don’t
Getting travel insurance is like applying SPF50 to your holiday plans. However, while the right cover can help in all sorts of emergencies (think: a snatched bag, a missed flight, a lost passport, or a serious illness), it can’t cover absolutely everything.
These are our General Exclusions. They’re the things we won’t cover, no matter what. These exclusions apply to all sections of your policy and aren’t in a particular order.
So, if you’re umming and ahhing about buying our travel insurance cover, it’s super important to know what you’re buying. When you do, you can decide if we’ve got the right cover for you and your trip.
Oh, and one more thing: We know you’ve already done it (obviously!), but have you read the Policy Wording? You should snoop at them as well as the list of General Exclusions below.
Don’t say we didn’t tell you… we will not pay for:
1. any other loss, damage or additional expenses following on from the event for which You are claiming that is not covered under this insurance. Examples of such loss, damage or additional expense would be the cost of replacing locks after losing keys, costs incurred in preparing a claim or loss of enjoyment.
2. claims arising from loss, theft or damage to property, or death, illness or bodily injury if You fail to take reasonable care or put Yourself in a situation where a reasonable person could foresee that loss, theft or damage to property, or a death, illness or bodily injury might happen.
3. claims involving air travel other than as a passenger on a fully licensed passenger carrying aircraft operated by an airline or an air charter company.
4. claims arising as a result of war, invasion, act of foreign enemy, hostilities (whether war be declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection or military or usurped power.
5. claims which are in any way related to ionising radiation or radioactive contamination caused by nuclear fuel or waste, or the radioactive, toxic explosive or other dangerous properties of any explosive nuclear equipment.
6. claims arising from biological and/or chemical materials, substances, compounds or the like used directly for the purpose to harm or to destroy human life and/or create public fear.
7. loss or damage caused by detention, confiscation or destruction by customs or other officials or authorities.
8. claims arising from any unlawful act committed by You.
9. claims arising from any government intervention, prohibition, sanction, regulation or restriction or court order.
10. claims which in any way relate to circumstances You knew of, or a person in Your circumstances would have reasonably known or foreseen, at the Relevant Time, that could lead to the Journey being delayed, abandoned or cancelled.
11. claims which in any way relate to, or are exacerbated by, any physiological or psychological signs or symptoms that You were aware of or a person in Your circumstances reasonably should have been aware of at or before the Relevant Time, if You:
a) had not yet sought a medical opinion regarding the cause;
b) were currently under investigation to obtain a diagnosis; or
c) were awaiting specialist opinion.
12. claims arising from travel booked or undertaken by You:
a) even though You knew, or a reasonable person in Your circumstances would know, You were unfit to travel, whether or not You had sought medical advice;
b) against the advice of a medical practitioner;
c) to seek, or obtain, medical or dental advice, treatment or review; or
d) to participate in a clinical trial
13. claims relating to, arising from, or exacerbated by, any Existing Medical Condition You or Your travelling companion has except where Your conditions are automatically accepted by Us or where You have applied for cover and Your conditions have been accepted by Us in writing and You have paid the required extra premium.
14. claims arising from pregnancy of You or any other person if You are aware of the pregnancy at the Relevant Time and:
a) where complications of this pregnancy or any previous pregnancy had occurred prior to this time;
b) it was a multiple pregnancy e.g. twins or triplets; or
c) where the conception was medically assisted e.g. using assisted fertility treatment including hormone therapies or IVF.
This exclusion will be waived if You have applied for cover and Your conditions have been accepted by Us in writing and You have paid the required extra premium.
15. claims arising from:
a) pregnancy of You or any other person after the start of the 24th week of pregnancy (unless the Cancellation Extension is applicable for a claim under SECTION 4: Amendment or Cancellation Costs only); or
b) pregnancy of You or any other person where the problem arising is not an unexpected serious medical complication.
16. claims arising from childbirth or the health of a newborn child whatever the proximate cause of the claim is. This exclusion applies irrespective of the stage of pregnancy at which the child is born.
17. claims arising from You having elective medical or dental treatment or surgery, a cosmetic procedure or body modification (e.g. tattoos and piercings) during the Journey, such as any complication, even if Your Existing Medical Condition has been approved by Us.
18. claims which in any way relate to Your wilful or self-inflicted injury or illness, suicide or attempted suicide.
19. claims which in any way relate to Your:
a) chronic use of alcohol;
b) substance abuse, drug abuse (whether over the counter, prescription or otherwise); or
c) ingestion of any non-prescription drug or substance (e.g. marijuana, ecstasy, heroin).
20. claims involving, arising from or related to Your impairment due to You drinking too much alcohol:
a) which is evidenced by the results of a blood test which show that Your blood alcohol concentration level is the equivalent of 950 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath or above. (As a point of reference, a breath alcohol limit of 950mg/l is almost four times the legal driving limit range in New Zealand which is currently 250mg/l or 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood); or
b) taking into account the following, where available:
(i) the report of a medical practitioner or forensic expert;
(ii) the witness report of a third party;
(iii) Your own admission; or
(iv) the description of events You described to Us or the treating medical professional (e.g. paramedic, nurse, doctor) as documented in their records.
21. claims arising from the failure of any travel agent, tour operator, accommodation provider, airline or other carrier, car rental agency or any other travel or tourism services provider to provide services or accommodation due to their Insolvency or the Insolvency of any person, company or organisation they deal with.
22. claims involving You travelling (during the Journey) in International Waters in a private sailing vessel or a privately registered vessel.
23. claims involving participation by You or Your travelling companion (during the Journey) in hunting; rodeo riding; BASE jumping; hang gliding; motocross; running with the bulls; sports activities in a Professional capacity; free climbing; mountaineering using guides, ropes, rock climbing equipment or oxygen; trekking greater than 6,000 metres above sea level; scuba diving to a depth of 30 metres below the surface unless You hold an Open Water Diving Certificate or are diving with a qualified diving instructor; or, scuba diving if the maximum depth is greater than 50 metres below the surface.
24. claims involving participation by You (during the Journey) in racing (other than swimming races of 10 kilometres or less, or running races that are marathon distance or less). (See Adventure activities cover pages 13-14 for details of optional cover available to purchase and the terms that apply.)
25. claims involving participation by You during the Journey in any adventure activity listed under Adventure or Adventure+ options to vary the cover. (See Adventure activities cover page 14 for details of optional cover available to purchase and the terms that apply.)
26. claims involving participation by You (during the Journey) in motorcycling or moped riding for any purpose. (See Motorcycle/moped riding cover on page 15 for details of optional cover available to purchase and the terms that apply.)
27. claims involving participation by You (during the Journey) in snow skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling. (See Snow sports: snow skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling cover page 15 for details of optional cover available to purchase and the terms that apply.)
28. claims which in any way relate to Your multi-night cruise, any multi-night cruise travel or that arise while on a multi-night cruise. (See Cruise Cover on page 11 for details of cover available to purchase and the terms that apply.)
29. any costs or expenses incurred if a government or public health authority mandatory quarantine or isolation order is imposed on You related to cross area, border, region or territory travel. This exclusion only applies to COVID-19 and applies regardless of You being diagnosed with COVID-19 or being directed by a local public health authority into a period of quarantine because they have classified You as having close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.
30. claims arising from or caused by COVID-19, unless cover is extended as stated in SECTION 23: COVID-19 Benefits and SECTION 21: Cruise Cover (ii) On-board Medical and Dental Cover and (iii) Ship to Shore Medical Cover.
31. claims for costs or expenses incurred outside the Period of Insurance. This exclusion does not apply to benefit Sections: SECTION 1’s sub-section: Continuing medical expenses upon Your return Home in New Zealand, SECTION 4: Amendment or Cancellation Costs, SECTION 5: Luggage and travel documents, SECTION 8: Driving Holidays, SECTION 10: Resumption of Journey, SECTION 18: Legal expenses and SECTION 19: Personal Liability.
32. claims directly arising from You not following an advice or warning:
a) of a “Do not travel” advice issued by the New Zealand Government on the SafeTravel.govt.nz website (or the equivalent authority responsible in Your country of residence for setting advisories for citizens and/or residents); or
b) published in the mass media; and the subject of the advice or warning is related to the nature of Your claim. This exclusion does not apply to any events which are independent or unrelated to the reason for the advice or warning.
A-OK with these General Exclusions and ready to buy?
Find out which Cover-More travel insurance plan is best for your trip.