HMIS TRAVEL INSURANCE GUIDE
Travel insurance FAQs
Clear answers to common questions about arranging cover, travelling for sport or with a group, and getting help while away.
Choosing cover for your journey
Before you buy
These answers are general guidance. Benefits, limits and exclusions depend on the policy you choose. Check your policy documents or ask HMIS about your circumstances.
When should I arrange travel insurance?
Contact HMIS as soon as your travel plans begin to take shape. Cover for cancellation or changes before departure depends on when the policy starts and the reason for the change. We can help you check the options before you commit to major travel costs.
What information do you need to recommend cover?
Tell us who is travelling, your destinations and dates, the purpose of the trip, planned activities and any valuable equipment. We may also need relevant medical information so the insurer can assess your circumstances.
Do I need to disclose a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes. Tell us about relevant conditions, recent treatment, medication changes or investigations before cover is arranged. The insurer will assess whether the condition can be covered and on what terms.
Can I arrange cover if I am already overseas?
Options may be limited once you have left New Zealand. Some policies have waiting periods or restrictions for cover arranged after departure. Contact HMIS with your location and travel dates so we can check what is available.
When does my cover begin and end?
Check the dates and benefits shown on your policy schedule. Different benefits, such as cancellation and overseas medical cover, may start at different times. Contact us before travel if the dates or itinerary change.
Training, competition and equipment
Sports travel
Will an ordinary travel policy cover training and competition?
Do not assume it will. Tell us your sport, the events you will enter and whether you are participating recreationally, at an elite level or professionally. HMIS can check which options address those activities.
Are any sports or activities excluded?
Exclusions and conditions differ between insurers. Activities such as motor sport, alpine trekking, off-piste snow sports or professional competition may need specialist consideration. Describe everything you plan to do before purchasing cover.
Is my bike or other sports equipment insured?
Cover may be available for loss, theft or damage, but item limits and rules for transit, storage and use can differ. Give us the value of each important item and how it will be transported so we can check the relevant terms.
Does cover apply while sporting equipment is in use?
It depends on the policy and activity. Damage while a bike or other item is being used may be excluded or require separate protection. Ask us to check this specifically if it matters to your trip.
Are skiing and snowboarding covered?
Recreational snow sports, racing and off-piste activity can be treated differently. Tell us where and how you will participate, along with the value of your equipment, so we can check suitable cover.
What if my event is cancelled or I cannot compete?
Travel cancellation benefits may apply only to particular insured events and eligible prepaid costs. Race entry fees, changes to an event or being unable to compete are not automatically covered. Let us know which costs you want protected.
Teams, schools and organisations
Group travel
Can one policy cover our whole group?
A coordinated group arrangement may be available, depending on the travellers, destinations and activities. HMIS will work with the organiser to identify the information needed and explain the available options.
What details should the group organiser provide?
We usually need a traveller list, dates, destinations, itinerary, the purpose of the trip and planned activities. For a sports tour, include events, training and equipment. Individual medical information may also need to be assessed.
What if a traveller has a medical condition?
Tell HMIS before cover is arranged. Each traveller’s relevant circumstances may need individual assessment, and the outcome can differ between members of the same group.
What if our travellers or itinerary change?
Contact HMIS promptly when someone is added or removed, dates change, or new destinations or activities are planned. We can check whether the existing arrangement needs to be amended.
Getting help while away
Claims and emergencies
What should I do in a medical emergency overseas?
Seek urgent medical help first. Contact the emergency assistance number in your policy documents as soon as practical. Have your policy details, location, contact number and treating hospital or doctor’s details ready.
How is a medical evacuation arranged?
If evacuation or repatriation may be needed, contact the insurer’s emergency assistance service promptly. The insurer and its medical team will assess and coordinate eligible arrangements under the policy. Avoid making your own transport arrangements without discussing them with the assistance service where practical.
How do I make a claim for a smaller expense?
Check the claims instructions in your policy documents and keep receipts and other evidence. You may need medical reports, carrier confirmation or a police report depending on what happened. Contact the insurer or HMIS if you are unsure of the next step.
Who do I contact if luggage or sporting equipment is lost or damaged?
Report the loss or damage to the airline, transport provider, accommodation provider or police as appropriate, and obtain written confirmation. Keep photos, proof of ownership and repair or replacement information, then follow the policy’s claims process.
Have a question about your trip?
Tell us where you’re going and what you plan to do. The HMIS team can help you understand the available options.