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| 22072 | FAQs for The Reopening of Our Borders as at 14 March 2022
| We have published a FAQ document to answer your questions.
The information in this document is current at the time of publication but is subject to change.
My travel insurance policy commenced prior to December 2020. Do I have selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases?
It is important that you check your Policy Wording. Most policies issued prior to December 2020 do not have the benefit of selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases. If you wish to have this cover, you can cancel your travel insurance policy and take out a new policy with the updated benefits, however an additional premium may apply. It is important to note that if you wish to have cover for Pre-existing Medical Conditions these will need to be assessed as part of the new policy (see the below question for further information on Pre-existing Medical Conditions).
I have a Pre-existing Medical Condition and I would like to cancel my current policy so I can take out a new policy with selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases cover?
Pre-existing Medical Conditions that were previously covered on your original policy, will not automatically be covered on your new policy, and you may not necessarily be able to get coverage for your Pre-existing Medical Condition on your new policy. After reading the Policy Wording, you can apply / reapply for cover where applicable and if accepted, based on your Pre-existing Medical Condition(s) there may be an additional premium to pay.
If a customer chooses to depart and travel against the advice of the New Zealand Government ie a Level 4 warning “Do not travel” and the alert level drops while they are on their journey, would selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases kick in at this point?
We will assess whether or not the claim arose from the decision to travel despite the travel warning. If after our assessment we find that it did not arise from the decision to travel despite the warning, we would consider the claim.
Are there any mandatory epidemic and pandemic insurance requirements pertaining to entering certain countries?
Many countries even before the pandemic had compulsory health and travel insurance requirements but many more have since added rules, typically around Covid-19 medical expenses and the associated costs. The coverage type and amount necessary varies per vaccination status and country. Prior to travelling, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination.
I have been identified as a close contact and need to isolate immediately. This has affected my travel arrangements. Does my selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases apply?
Cover is in place providing that you are specifically, and individually designated by name in an order or directive to be placed in mandatory quarantine or isolation, by the New Zealand Government or any other government or local authority, based on their suspicion that you have been exposed to an epidemic or pandemic disease. If you have not received official notification to enter mandatory quarantine or isolation then this aspect of the cover does not apply.
My Travelling Companion** has been diagnosed with Covid-19 and we cannot commence and/or complete our travel. Do I have coverage under selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases?
Cover is in place providing that your Travelling Companion** is a person with whom you as the insured have made arrangements with before your policy was issued, and is travelling with you for at least 75% of your journey.
When does my policy commence? Is there a stand-down period?
Cover under Loss of Deposits and Cancellation commences once a Certificate of Insurance has been issued to you and the required premium is paid. Cover for all other sections begins when you leave your normal place of residence in your country of origin to start your journey. The period of insurance continues until the expiry date shown on your Certificate of Insurance or until you return to your normal place of residence, whichever is the earlier date.
With some policies, there is no cover for any claims for Loss of Deposit or Cancellation, for any unforeseeable circumstances occurring before or within seven days of purchasing your policy, unless the policy was purchased at the same time as your travel arrangements. We suggest that you check your Policy Wording to see if this is applicable.
I am unvaccinated, does my selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases still apply?
Cover is in place as there is no requirement to be vaccinated/boosted under our policy. However, if the destination country requires an inbound traveller to be vaccinated then the traveller must be able to meet these entry requirements. This also applies to the condition of carriage for example of the airline they are travelling. There is no cover if denied boarding or entry to a country due to not meeting the carrier or country vaccination requirements.
It is important to note that, if you are not fully vaccinated you cannot self-isolate in New Zealand. Even if you have a medical certificate verifying you cannot get vaccinated or a vaccine exemption, you cannot self-isolate on arrival and you would need to have a pre-booked MIQ voucher to enter MIQ.
Does selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases including Covid-19 apply for my cruise holiday?
Cover is in place, however, this is dependent on the countries you plan on travelling to. If there is a MFAT/ SafeTravel, New Zealand Government, Level 4 warning “Do not travel” then selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases cover is excluded and is not covered under our policies.
If I contract Covid-19 in transit to my destination country do I have selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases?
Cover is in place, providing that the countries you are travelling to do not have a MFAT/ SafeTravel, New Zealand Government, Level 4 warning “Do not travel” in place.
Does selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases include domestic travel around New Zealand?
Cover is in place for domestic travel.
*Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply and these are stated in the Policy Wording. Customers considering the purchase of a travel insurance policy should read the Policy Wording to check what is and isn’t covered.
** Travelling Companion is a person with whom you as the insured have made arrangements with before your policy was issued, and is travelling with you for at least 75% of your journey.
To view the document, please click here. | FAQs for The Reopening of Our Borders as at 14 March 2022 | 15/03/2022 10:54:48 a.m. |
| 22075 | FAQs for The Reopening of Our Borders as at 14 March 2022
| We have published a FAQ document to answer your questions.
The information in this document is current at the time of publication but is subject to change.
My travel insurance policy commenced prior to December 2020. Do I have selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases?
It is important that you check your Policy Wording. Most policies issued prior to December 2020 do not have the benefit of selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases. If you wish to have this cover, you can cancel your travel insurance policy and take out a new policy with the updated benefits, however an additional premium may apply. It is important to note that if you wish to have cover for Pre-existing Medical Conditions these will need to be assessed as part of the new policy (see the below question for further information on Pre-existing Medical Conditions).
I have a Pre-existing Medical Condition and I would like to cancel my current policy so I can take out a new policy with selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases cover?
Pre-existing Medical Conditions that were previously covered on your original policy, will not automatically be covered on your new policy, and you may not necessarily be able to get coverage for your Pre-existing Medical Condition on your new policy. After reading the Policy Wording, you can apply / reapply for cover where applicable and if accepted, based on your Pre-existing Medical Condition(s) there may be an additional premium to pay.
If a customer chooses to depart and travel against the advice of the New Zealand Government ie a Level 4 warning “Do not travel” and the alert level drops while they are on their journey, would selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases kick in at this point?
We will assess whether or not the claim arose from the decision to travel despite the travel warning. If after our assessment we find that it did not arise from the decision to travel despite the warning, we would consider the claim.
Are there any mandatory epidemic and pandemic insurance requirements pertaining to entering certain countries?
Many countries even before the pandemic had compulsory health and travel insurance requirements but many more have since added rules, typically around Covid-19 medical expenses and the associated costs. The coverage type and amount necessary varies per vaccination status and country. Prior to travelling, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination.
I have been identified as a close contact and need to isolate immediately. This has affected my travel arrangements. Does my selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases apply?
Cover is in place providing that you are specifically, and individually designated by name in an order or directive to be placed in mandatory quarantine or isolation, by the New Zealand Government or any other government or local authority, based on their suspicion that you have been exposed to an epidemic or pandemic disease. If you have not received official notification to enter mandatory quarantine or isolation then this aspect of the cover does not apply.
My Travelling Companion** has been diagnosed with Covid-19 and we cannot commence and/or complete our travel. Do I have coverage under selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases?
Cover is in place providing that your Travelling Companion** is a person with whom you as the insured have made arrangements with before your policy was issued, and is travelling with you for at least 75% of your journey.
When does my policy commence? Is there a stand-down period?
Cover under Loss of Deposits and Cancellation commences once a Certificate of Insurance has been issued to you and the required premium is paid. Cover for all other sections begins when you leave your normal place of residence in your country of origin to start your journey. The period of insurance continues until the expiry date shown on your Certificate of Insurance or until you return to your normal place of residence, whichever is the earlier date.
With some policies, there is no cover for any claims for Loss of Deposit or Cancellation, for any unforeseeable circumstances occurring before or within seven days of purchasing your policy, unless the policy was purchased at the same time as your travel arrangements. We suggest that you check your Policy Wording to see if this is applicable.
I am unvaccinated, does my selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases still apply?
Cover is in place as there is no requirement to be vaccinated/boosted under our policy. However, if the destination country requires an inbound traveller to be vaccinated then the traveller must be able to meet these entry requirements. This also applies to the condition of carriage for example of the airline they are travelling. There is no cover if denied boarding or entry to a country due to not meeting the carrier or country vaccination requirements.
It is important to note that, if you are not fully vaccinated you cannot self-isolate in New Zealand. Even if you have a medical certificate verifying you cannot get vaccinated or a vaccine exemption, you cannot self-isolate on arrival and you would need to have a pre-booked MIQ voucher to enter MIQ.
Does selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases including Covid-19 apply for my cruise holiday?
Cover is in place, however, this is dependent on the countries you plan on travelling to. If there is a MFAT/ SafeTravel, New Zealand Government, Level 4 warning “Do not travel” then selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases cover is excluded and is not covered under our policies.
If I contract Covid-19 in transit to my destination country do I have selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases?
Cover is in place, providing that the countries you are travelling to do not have a MFAT/ SafeTravel, New Zealand Government, Level 4 warning “Do not travel” in place.
Does selected cover* for epidemic and pandemic diseases include domestic travel around New Zealand?
Cover is in place for domestic travel.
*Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply and these are stated in the Policy Wording. Customers considering the purchase of a travel insurance policy should read the Policy Wording to check what is and isn’t covered.
** Travelling Companion is a person with whom you as the insured have made arrangements with before your policy was issued, and is travelling with you for at least 75% of your journey.
To view the document, please click here. | FAQs for The Reopening of Our Borders as at 14 March 2022 | 15/03/2022 11:09:14 a.m. |
| 22074 | Travel Advisory for Russian Invasion of Ukraine as at 01 March 2022
| On Thursday 24 February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, its neighbour to the southwest. This was an amassed assault by land, sea and air, which has seen airstrikes on cities and military bases, in conjunction with troops and tanks entering Ukraine from three sides.
Your policy provides a number of benefits, conditions, limits and exclusions that may be relevant to your travel plans. Your cover will depend on the type of plan you purchased and your circumstances. We will assess all claims in accordance with your Policy Wording and your Certificate of Insurance. Your policy will only respond to this event if you are directly impacted. There is no cover as a result of deciding not to travel where you are not directly impacted.
- Allianz Partners policies have a general exclusion and do not cover any loss, damage, liability, death or incapacity directly or indirectly caused by or arising from: war, invasion, act of foreign enemy, warlike operations (whether war is declared or not), civil war, mutiny, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power.
If you are in Ukraine and find yourself in a vulnerable location, please follow the advice of the local authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
Follow https://www.safetravel.govt.nz for up to date information about the situation.
If you are covered by a travel insurance policy that is issued and managed by Allianz Partners and you need Emergency Assistance, call +64 9 486 6868 (worldwide collect).
To read the travel advisory, please click here. | On Thursday 24 February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, its neighbour to the southwest. | 1/03/2022 12:00:00 a.m. |
| 22069 | Travel Advisory for Russian Invasion of Ukraine as at 01 March 2022
| On Thursday 24 February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, its neighbour to the southwest. This was an amassed assault by land, sea and air, which has seen airstrikes on cities and military bases, in conjunction with troops and tanks entering Ukraine from three sides.
Your policy provides a number of benefits, conditions, limits and exclusions that may be relevant to your travel plans. Your cover will depend on the type of plan you purchased and your circumstances. We will assess all claims in accordance with your Policy Wording and your Certificate of Insurance. Your policy will only respond to this event if you are directly impacted. There is no cover as a result of deciding not to travel where you are not directly impacted.
- Allianz Partners policies have a general exclusion and do not cover any loss, damage, liability, death or incapacity directly or indirectly caused by or arising from: war, invasion, act of foreign enemy, warlike operations (whether war is declared or not), civil war, mutiny, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power.
If you are in Ukraine and find yourself in a vulnerable location, please follow the advice of the local authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
Follow https://www.safetravel.govt.nz for up to date information about the situation.
If you are covered by a travel insurance policy that is issued and managed by Allianz Partners and you need Emergency Assistance, call +64 9 486 6868 (worldwide collect).
To read the travel advisory, please click here. | On Thursday 24 February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, its neighbour to the southwest. | 1/03/2022 12:00:00 a.m. |
| 22073 | Travel Advisory for Tonga Volcano, Ash Cloud and Pacific Ocean Tsunami as at 20 January 2022
| On 15 January 2022 there was an eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in the Kingdom of
Tonga. It has created an ash cloud of approximately 260km and triggered tsunamis in Tonga and Samoa.
Tsunami warnings have been issued to New Zealand, Hawaii, Japan, Fiji and the whole western seaboard
of the North American continent.
As a general guide, we suggest that impacted travellers check their travel insurance Policy Wording
regarding cancellation, travel delay, missed connection/additional travel expenses and curtailment, as
these will provide useful assistance around the cover under your policy.
Your policy provides a number of benefits, conditions, limits and exclusions that may be relevant to your
travel plans. Your cover will depend on the type of plan you purchased and your circumstances. We will
assess all claims in accordance with your Policy Wording and your Certificate of Insurance. Your policy
will only respond to this event if you are directly impacted. There is no cover as a result of deciding not to
travel where you are not directly impacted.
To read the travel advisory please click here | On 15 January 2022 there was an eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in the Kingdom of Tonga. | 15/03/2022 11:08:58 a.m. |
| 22063 | Travel Advisory for Tonga Volcano, Ash Cloud and Pacific Ocean Tsunami as at 20 January 2022
| On 15 January 2022 there was an eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in the Kingdom of
Tonga. It has created an ash cloud of approximately 260km and triggered tsunamis in Tonga and Samoa.
Tsunami warnings have been issued to New Zealand, Hawaii, Japan, Fiji and the whole western seaboard
of the North American continent.
As a general guide, we suggest that impacted travellers check their travel insurance Policy Wording
regarding cancellation, travel delay, missed connection/additional travel expenses and curtailment, as
these will provide useful assistance around the cover under your policy.
Your policy provides a number of benefits, conditions, limits and exclusions that may be relevant to your
travel plans. Your cover will depend on the type of plan you purchased and your circumstances. We will
assess all claims in accordance with your Policy Wording and your Certificate of Insurance. Your policy
will only respond to this event if you are directly impacted. There is no cover as a result of deciding not to
travel where you are not directly impacted.
To read the travel advisory please click here | On 15 January 2022 there was an eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in the Kingdom of Tonga. | 21/01/2022 2:22:48 p.m. |
| 22059 | Update to Covid-19 Travel Advisory | Allianz Partners has introduced selected cover for epidemic and pandemic diseases including Covid-19 across a number of policies.
Please check your Policy Wording to see if cover is in place for cancellation and medical expenses should you contract an epidemic or pandemic disease such as Covid-19 after purchasing your policy and can no longer travel. Cover for medical claims directly related to an epidemic or pandemic such as Covid-19 will only apply for travellers who contract the disease after they commence their journey.
The cover is not in place for general travel disruption as a result of an epidemic or pandemic disease such as Covid-19, including government mandated lockdowns, border restrictions and travelling against the advice of the New Zealand government or the local government at your overseas destination. There is no cover for lockdowns, changes in government alert levels, changes to quarantine-free travel, quarantine or mandatory isolation applying to a population or part of a population.
As with any travel insurance, disinclination to travel due to fear or change of mind is not covered.
Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply and these are stated in the Policy Wording. Customers considering the purchase of a travel insurance policy should read Policy Wording to check what is and isn’t covered.
The updated Travel Advisory is available here | The Travel Advisory for Covid-19 has been updated on 2 July 2021 | 7/07/2021 3:01:51 p.m. |
| 22053 | Covid-19 Medical Cover Update | Since issuing a Travel Advisory for Covid-19 on January 30 2020, we have provided medical and emergency medical transportation cover for customers should they test positive for Covid-19 while travelling, regardless of the travel destination and policy commencement date stated on their Certificate of Insurance.
Covid-19 is continuing to have significant impacts across the world, with more than a million cases diagnosed globally.
With increasing border restrictions, we are conscious that our standard medical and repatriation assistance procedures may be impacted by government travel bans.
Given the continued spread of the virus and the likelihood of contracting the virus, it is increasingly difficult to guarantee medical cover for those who continue to travel, despite the "do not travel" advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (www.safetravel.govt.nz).
We will, however, continue our commitment to provide medical and emergency medical transportation cover for policies purchased prior to Friday 1 May 2020. If your customer purchased their policy before Friday 1 May 2020, but chooses to amend the travel dates for this policy, medical and emergency transportation cover for Covid-19 remains in place for this amended policy up to the date travel ends.
For new policies issued after Friday 1 May 2020, claims for Covid-19 related medical or emergency medical transportation will need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
If customers suspect they have the virus, they should contact a local medical professional and our Emergency Assistance service.
Customers may still claim for other medical benefits unrelated to Covid-19, such as cover for a broken leg or car accident, and claims are subject to the standard procedures and conditions of the Policy Wording, taking
into account the current travel bans and local travel restrictions in force.
Our Covid-19 Travel Advisory and website has been updated with this
information. | Important information on medical cover for your customers | 7/08/2020 1:07:13 p.m. |
| 22052 | Travel Advisory Update Covid-19 | On Thursday 19 March 2020, the New Zealand government issued advice that all New Zealanders do not travel overseas at this time due to the outbreak of Covid-19, associated health conditions and travel restrictions. We have updated our Travel Advisory for Covid-19 with our latest position. Please refer to the Travel Advisory on our website as further updates will be published here:http://www.allianzpartners.co.nz/press-and-media/travel-advisories/coronavirus/ | The Travel Advisory for Covid-19 has been updated | 7/08/2020 1:05:15 p.m. |
| 22051 | Response to Covid-19 pandemic status | As of Thursday 12 March 2020, Covid-19 has been confirmed by the World Health Organisation as a pandemic.
Following this announcement, there is no further change to Allianz Partners New Zealand's position on Covid-19.
Our General Exclusion for epidemics and government intervention came into effect on Friday 28 February 2020 and continues to apply to our policies with the exception of medical and emergency medical transportation claims.
We are currently covering medical and emergency medical transportation claims related to Covid-19. We recommend that customers who suspect they have the virus contact a local medical professional and our global Emergency Assistance service.
Our Travel Advisory for Covid-19 is available here.
More information on our medical and emergency medical transportation cover is available here.
For frequently asked questions on Covid-19, please see here.
Please feel free to share these resources with your customers, should they have any questions about their policy in relation to Covid-19. As the situation with Covid-19 continues to evolve, the information on our resources are current at the time of publication but is subject to change. | As of Thursday 12 March 2020, Covid-19 has been confirmed by the World Health Organisation as a pandemic | 7/08/2020 1:02:35 p.m. |