Cota (formerly known as Council on the Ageing) has been operating for more than 60 years and provides some of the best insurance products for Australians. One of these products is travel insurance.
Whether you want to go on a cruise or travel anywhere around the world their travel insurance is made to provide you with the right coverage needed for your trip.
Cota Travel Insurance is designed to provide peace of mind to elderly Australians or seniors while they travel. This policy offers reimbursement in case of any unexpected events during the trip, ensuring the well-being and safety of the policyholder.
In line with the lingering effect of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and have to cancel your trip, COTA may cover the cost of your travel and accommodation. The COVID-19 travel benefit can range from $2,500 to $10,000 or more depending on the plan you select.
Take a look at our review to learn more about Cota travel coverage and plans!
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What does Cota Travel Insurance cover?
Before committing to a quote, you might want to find out what Cota travel insurance covers to know if it features the important coverages you need for your trip.
Depending on the trip you are taking, Cota offers different travel insurance coverage options. Some of the plans also include optional extras.
Here’s a breakdown of the standard travel coverage you can get from Cota based on the plan you choose.
Medical Expenses: This coverage is available only on Cota international travel insurance plans. This will reimburse you if you become ill or injured when overseas. It will pay for the cost of your medical treatments, hospital stay, and even the cost of using the ambulance.
In addition to this, if you have emergency dental problems from tooth injuries or sudden pain, you will also get covered.
Medical Evacuation: This policy will cover the cost of evacuating you to any medical center and repatriation back home.
Cancellation: This will help reimburse you for prepaid travel expenses if you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason.
Room-service Supplement: Depending on your plan, you can get up to $50 per day for meals during travel in your hotel room or cruise ship if you are ill for more than 2 days.
Travel Delay: In the event that your flight is delayed you can get reimbursement up to $2,00 depending on your plan and limit.
Personal Liability: For injuries to people due to negligence or damage to their property, you can get personal liability cover starting at an average of $300,000 and up to $2,500,000 based on your plan.
Accidental Death: If you die within 12 months of an injury that occurred during your trip, your family will be compensated for your accidental death.
Excess for rental Vehicle Insurance: You will receive coverage for the rental vehicle insurance excess you are required to pay.
Emergency Assistance: You will receive a quick emergency response if you suffer any medical condition.
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Travel insurance plans offered by Cota
Cota provides two types of travel insurance plans – International Travel Insurance and Domestic Travel Insurance for Australian residents. These plans are sub-grouped and have different benefits and coverage options.
Cota international travel plan is grouped into:
- Essentials Plan
- Annual Multi Trip Plan
- Comprehensive Plan
While the Dometic travel plan features:
- Australian Travel Plan
- Cancellation and Additional Expenses Plan
Here’s a quick rundown of these plans, their benefits, and policy limits.
International plans:
Essential Plan
If you’re a traveler who prefers basic coverage at an affordable price, the Essential plan is a good option. The plan provides cover for medical expenses, luggage cover, and passport cover due to loss.
However, the plan does not cover critical illness or injury, emergency travel expenses for friends or relatives, emergency accommodation due to terrorism, or COVID-19-related events.
The Essential plan is only available to residents of Australia up to the age of 69 and above.
Some plan benefits and limits:
- Unlimited cover for overseas medical expenses.
- Covers up to $5,000 and a limit of $50 for every 24 hours for medical compensation.
- Travel delay cover up to $1,000 and a limit of $250 per 24 hrs.
- $1,000 cover for replacements of passport and other documents.
- Covers up to $1,000,000 for personal liability.
- Includes a $2,000 excess for rental vehicle insurance.
- $15,000 coverage limit for emergency travel arrangements and accommodation expenses.
- Up to $500,000 for medical evacuation and repatriation back home.
- $10,000 cover for accidental death and up to $15,000 for burial expenses overseas.
Annual Multi Trip Plan
This plan is suitable for those who travel multiple times during the year. With this policy, only adults are required to pay premiums, while their kids can get coverage without paying for a premium. It also includes cover for emergency accommodation due to terrorism.
During the 12-month period of insurance, you can take an unlimited number of trips, each with a maximum 45-day cap. Plan suspension is not possible.
Unlike the Essential plan, this policy is available for all Australians regardless of age.
Some plan benefits and limits:
- Unlimited coverage for overseas medical expenses.
- Hospital compensation coverage up to $8000 and a limit of $50 per 24 hrs.
- Travel delay cover up to $2,000 and a limit of $250 per 24 hrs.
- Dental expenses cover up to $1,000
- $3,000 cover for replacements of passport and other documents.
- Includes $2,500,000 for personal liability.
- Rental car excess up to $5,000.
- Will reimburse $3,000 and limit of $300 per day for emergency accommodation due to terrorism.
- Includes a $12,000 cover for luggage and personal items, $4,000 for electronics like PC, and camera, and up to $1,000 cover for smartphone loss or repair.
- $250 cover for stolen cash, and $1,667 per month due to income loss (max $10,000 total).
- $25,000 for accidental deaths and $25,000 for funeral expenses overseas.
Comprehensive Plan
Tied with Annual Multi Trip Plan, this plan offers more benefits for those traveling for up to 12 months. All residents of Australia are eligible for this plan with no age limits.
Note that you can only purchase this plan up to 12 months before your trip, and if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, you may be subject to screening.
Some plan benefits and limits:
- You will receive unlimited coverage for overseas medical expenses.
- $50 per day for hospital compensation (max $8,000 total).
- Cover up to $500 for meals with a limit of $75 per day.
- Cover up to $2,000 and a limit of $250 per 24 hrs for travel delay.
- Includes rental car excess up to $5,000
- You will receive reimbursement of up to $12,000 for lost luggage and personal items, $4,000 for electronics like PCs and cameras, and up to $1,000 cover for smartphone loss or repair.
- Coronavirus travel costs up to $10,000.
- $25,000 for accidental deaths and $25,000 for funeral expenses overseas.
- Reimbursement up to $250 for stolen cash, and $1,667 per month due to income loss (max $10,000 total).
- $200 for hiring replacement of golf and surf equipment.
- Includes $2,500,000 for personal liability.
- $300 per day for emergency accommodation due to terrorism (max 3,000 total).
- Unlimited cover for medical evacuation and repatriation back home.
Domestic plans:
Australian Travel Plan
This plan is a popular choice for Australian travelers seeking to cruise across Australia. With most standard travel policies available in this plan, you can get optional extras to provide additional cover for some stuffs like coverage for participating in snow sports, cover for existing medical conditions, and even include specific items to the plan.
This plan is available for all Australians and no age limit is placed.
Some plan benefits and limits:
- $10,000 for emergency travel arrangements and accommodation expenses.
- $75 per day for meals and up to $500.
- Includes $50,000 cover for medical evacuation and repatriation back to your home.
- $2,000 reimbursement for missing special events and flight delays.
- Includes $300 per day and max $$3,000 for accommodation due to terrorism.
- Up to $5,000 for rental car excess
- $4,000 luggage cover, $1,000 cover for smartphones and electronic gadgets.
- $2,500 for coronavirus travel cost.
- Coverage up to $3,000 for fraudulent use of credit or debit cards
- Accidental death cover up to $10,000.
- $300,000 personal liability coverage.
Cancellation and Additional Expenses Plan
This plan forms part of the Australian Travel Plan. It provides cover for cancellation fees and additional expenses incurred during travel.
Some plan benefits and limits:
- Option to choose a limit for your cancellation or holiday deferment costs
- $2,000 reimbursement for emergency travel arrangements and accommodation expenses
- $75 for meals per day and up to $500 max
- Up to $250 for emergency internet
- Limit of $500 for emergency expenses to avoid disaster.
Policy exclusions
Some general Cotal travel insurance policy exclusions include:
- Any medical, hospital, or dental expenses you incur in Australia.
- Any loss that may occur if you don’t adhere to the treatment you were on before your trip began.
- Elective or cosmetic treatment or surgery that is not medically necessary
- Acting fraudulently or encouraging others to give the company fraudulent information.
- Credit card conversion fees or any other bank charges.
- Costs associated with the birth of a child, including the care of a newborn in any circumstance.
Discounts
Cota does offer discounts, but they are often seasonal. At the moment, discounts may not be available. But you can speak with an agent to find out if you’re eligible for a discount either through buying a policy or bundling policies.
Availability
Cota travel insurance is available for all residents of Australia and in all states and territories. But some plan like the Essential plan is exclusive to older Australians aged 69 and above.
How to get a quote
You can get an instant quote by visiting their website, or call 1300 1300 50 to speak with an agent.
How to pay for travel insurance with Cota
These typically involve a series of processes. Start by obtaining a quote, after which you will be given options to customize your policy. You will then be required to fill in your personal information along with your medical history.
After these steps, you can then proceed to make payments. Cota accepts both debit and credit card payments via Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
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User experience
Website: Cota has a beautiful and easy-to-navigate website. All account-related information can be easily accessed on the website.
Claims: Suffered a loss or damage and need to make a claim? You can file a claim online via the website or call 1300 625 229 or +61 (2) 8256 1547 if you are outside Australia.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Suitable for the elderly and seniors
- Cover for fraudulent use of credit or debit cards
- Covid-19 coverage
- No additional premium for accompanying children
Cons:
- Age limits on some plans
- Can claim only $250 for your stolen cash
- Lack of full policy customization
Tips to save more on Cota travel insurance
- Go for a Higher Deductible: Choosing a higher deductible means you’ll pay more out of pocket if you make a claim, but it can lower your premium.
- Compare Plans: Compare different travel insurance plans offered by Cota to find one that suits your needs and budget. Some plans may offer more coverage than you need, so choose the one that fits your travel plans.
- Stay Safe: Take precautions to reduce the chances of needing to make a claim. This includes staying healthy, following travel advisories, and being careful with your belongings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Cota travel insurance cover Covid-19?
Yes, Cota provides coverage for Covid-19-related events. Depending on your plan, you can claim up to $2,500 or more.
Who underwrites Cota travel insurance?
COTA Travel Insurance is an authorized representative of nib Travel Services (Australia) Pty Ltd and is underwritten by Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd.
Is Cota travel insurance good for the elderly?
Cota has curated and special plans made to benefit the elderly and seniors.
what is the waiting period for Cota travel policy?
Cota requires a 72-hour waiting period for those who have already begun traveling when their Certificate of Insurance is issued. You can refer to Cota’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to find out more.
Does COTA travel insurance cover adventure activities?
Yes, COTA travel insurance does cover adventure activities like snow sports, but skydiving and scuba diving are all excluded.
What other insurance products does Cota sell?
Apart from travel, Cota also offers many other policies, including car, renters, building and contents, caravan and trailer, boat, and landlord insurance.