New claims analysis from Southern Cross Travel Insurance has found medical and evacuation incidents accounted for 55 per cent of paid claims involving Australian travellers aged 17 and under, and 68 per cent of the total amount paid.
US and France record notable claims
The United States recorded the highest total amount paid across destinations in the analysis, with 12 paid claims totalling more than $21,000, spanning illness, injury, delayed baggage and disrupted travel plans. France recorded the highest average payout among destinations with multiple claims, at more than $3,300, driven largely by a claim involving a 15-year-old who injured their ankle during a snowboarding lesson, resulting in a payment of more than $6,000.
The largest individual claim in the analysis involved a break-in at accommodation in Fiji, where luggage and belongings were stolen from a 16-year-old traveller, resulting in a payment of $13,784. Indonesia recorded average claims of more than $2,400, Japan totalled just over $6,000, and Thailand accounted for claims worth almost $5,000.
SCTI chief customer officer Jess Strange said the findings illustrated how quickly a family holiday could be disrupted.
“An illness, injury or theft can quickly mean a hospital visit, a trip to the local police station or an urgent call home. Being prepared doesn’t take away from the fun. It simply means young travellers and their parents know what to do and who to call if something goes wrong,” Strange said.
SCTI recommends pre-trip preparation steps
Strange said families should arrange travel insurance as soon as flights and accommodation are booked, check Smartraveller advice for their destination, disclose relevant health matters to their insurer, and agree on a check-in routine for young travellers, particularly when a teenager is travelling without a parent. She also recommended confirming whether adventure activities such as skiing or moped riding require additional cover under a policy’s terms and conditions, and retaining medical records, receipts and police reports in the event of a claim.
