About a hundred Australians a month seek Federal government help when they become stranded overseas because of injury or illness. Thailand, Indonesia and New Caledonia are high on the list of places we visit and it is quite possible to need hospital treatment and medical evacuation back to Australia if things go wrong - at a cost of up to two hundred thousand dollars.
People are urged to take out travel insurance whenever they leave the cover of our National Health network and this is usually offered by the travel agents who book our holidays, but first the traveller needs to carefully examine the fine print and determine what is - and what is not - covered. It helps if you have an itinerary in mind and know what you plan to do on holiday so that you can match any exclusions listed with intended activities.
Most policies do not provide cover for injuries suffered when the traveller is affected by drugs or alcohol and many exclude activities which involve motorcycles or scooters, and these are common when we take a beachside holiday in an Asian country. It is quite normal to encounter a long list of banned sporting activities - with Bungee jumping and water skiiing being high on that list.
One of the problems is that we tend to deviate wildly from whatever we had in mind when we planned that holiday. The range of activities offering is ever changing and the rules and regulations that apply to leisure activities are often much less stringent than are required in this country. In most instances, no compensation laws reimburse those who suffer injuries from dangerous or malfunctioning rides or activities.
Many travellers simply decline to buy health insurance when they travel. They disregard the necessity on the grounds that they are fit and healthy - and can take care of themselves. Others include cover at the travel agent's suggestion and pay the small premium at the time of booking, but don't bother to even open the booklet provided or read any of the conditions that apply. In many cases, age exclusions are applicable to the cover - and the recurrence of any previous medical conditions are specifically excluded.
So far this year the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of 1131 Australians who have ended up in hospital overseas as a result of accident or illness. The department provides consular help, but it does not pick up the tab for settling that hospital bill, nor for the travel cost of bringing the patient home. In many cases, family and loved ones have no other option than to raise the money themselves - and that can be devastating. A simple accident can impose financial ruin on an entire family.
Apart from the perils of catching a disease or breaking bones, many people tend to assume that the laws in other countries are similar to those in Australia - and that is a very big mistake. In particular, drug enforcement in some Asian countries involves the death penalty and even the possession of what would be termed a misdemeanour in Australia will bring a long prison term in some jurisdictions.
Another item that needs advance planning involves the licensing to drive a car overseas. We may not plan to hire a car, but if the opportunity presents itself the wise will have made sure that they can legally get behind the wheel - and the best option is to obtain an International driving license, obtainable for a very few dollars from each state motoring organization.
Unfortunately, the figures speak for themselves. The unexpected does happen - and it can be costly if it involves the need for hospital care and evacuation - or you become involved in an altercation with the law in another country.
Perhaps one of the most important documents you need when you travel is that travel insurance policy - and it would be a very good idea to know exactly what cover it provides !
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