Buying travel insurance is one thing. Actually knowing how to use it properly before you leave is another. If you are an Australian traveller considering Tick Travel Insurance, setting your policy up the right way, at the right time, can make all the difference when a flight is cancelled, a bag goes missing or you suddenly need medical help overseas. This guide walks through, step by step, how to use Tick Travel Insurance before your trip so that you are protected from the moment you book until the day you fly out.
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Understand What Tick Travel Insurance Can Do For You
Tick Travel Insurance is an Australian brand underwritten by Europ Assistance Australia and designed for trips that start from Australia. It offers single trip policies for international, domestic and cruise travel, with several cover levels such as Basic, Budget, Standard and Top. Each level has different limits for medical expenses, cancellation, baggage and extras, so understanding these before you buy is the first step to using the policy properly.
At a practical level, Tick can cover overseas medical emergencies and evacuation, trip cancellation for specific insured events, cutting your trip short, lost or delayed baggage and rental vehicle excess on some plans. For example, a couple from Sydney booking a two week holiday in Japan could choose a Standard international policy that includes unlimited overseas medical cover, cancellation cover in the low thousands of dollars and several thousand dollars of baggage cover, enough to insure their prepaid ski passes, mid range luggage and electronics.
Tick also sells optional upgrades that you need to add at purchase if you want them to apply to your trip. These include winter sports cover for skiing and snowboarding, additional cover for high value items like camera gear and a natural disaster add on for situations such as volcanic ash clouds or typhoons affecting your itinerary. If you buy a standard policy for a ski trip but forget to add the winter sports option, injuries on the slopes or damaged skis may not be covered, which is why choosing the right configuration before you travel is critical.
Domestic policies work differently to international ones. When you travel within Australia, medical costs are usually handled by Medicare or private health insurance, so Tick’s domestic cover focuses on trip cancellation, delays and baggage rather than hospital bills. A Brisbane family flying to Perth for a school holiday trip might decide that a domestic Standard policy is enough to insure their non refundable accommodation and flights plus a modest amount of baggage cover.
Know When To Buy Tick Travel Insurance
Tick requires you to buy your policy before you leave Australia, and your trip has to start in Australia. You can purchase a policy as early as 12 months before your departure date and as late as the day you leave, as long as you have not yet started your trip. In practice, many travellers buy cover soon after they put down a significant deposit on flights or a tour, so that cancellation benefits can protect those payments if something serious happens before departure.
Imagine you book non refundable flights to Europe in January for a September departure and then wait until the week before you fly to arrange insurance. If you have to cancel in June because of a sudden illness and only then try to buy a policy, you will not be covered for costs linked to an event that has already happened. Buying Tick early provides cover for unexpected events that occur after the policy is issued but before you travel, such as a family emergency or your own serious injury.
Buying at the last minute can still be useful, provided nothing has already gone wrong. For instance, if you realise on the morning before your Bali flight that your credit card cover is not adequate, you can still purchase a Tick international policy on that day while you are at home. Once the policy is issued, you will have access to cover from that point onward, subject to the terms in the Product Disclosure Statement. This can protect you if your suitcase is lost on arrival in Denpasar or you suffer a covered medical emergency while away.
The key timing rule is that you cannot wait until after you have boarded your departing flight, or after a known problem has arisen, and then expect cover for that issue. Treat travel insurance as part of the booking stage, not a chore you do at the airport check in desk. Add the policy to your to do list alongside booking accommodation and arranging visas so that it is in place well before you head to the airport.
Step One: Work Out What Cover You Actually Need
Before you start an online quote with Tick, take ten minutes to write down the basic details of your trip. Note your destination or region, travel dates, who is travelling, the value of your prepaid non refundable costs and any special activities you plan to do. Having this in front of you will make each step of Tick’s quote process easier and reduce the risk of choosing the wrong option.
For example, two friends planning a month long backpacking trip through Thailand and Vietnam with a stopover in Singapore would list South East Asia as their main region, but they must ensure their policy covers every country on their route, including transit points. If they plan to rent scooters in Chiang Mai, they should consider the conditions around motorbike riding. If they are carrying laptops and cameras worth several thousand dollars, they may want to add specified items cover so that these are insured up to their true value.
Next, estimate how much you stand to lose if you cancel before departure. Add up deposits on flights, tours, cruises and accommodation that are non refundable or subject to high cancellation fees. If a Perth couple has spent around 8,000 Australian dollars on a European river cruise and connecting flights, selecting a policy level that only covers 5,000 dollars of cancellation expenses would leave a significant gap. In that case, a higher level of Tick cover with a larger cancellation limit would better match their exposure.
Finally, consider your health, age and any pre existing medical conditions. Some conditions may be automatically covered under certain circumstances, while others might require you to disclose details during the online application or pay an additional premium. If a traveller with controlled asthma or a past heart procedure is heading to Canada for a ski holiday, the suitability of winter sports cover and the approach to their pre existing conditions needs particular attention before purchase.
Step Two: Use Tick’s Online Quote Tool Correctly
Once you are clear on what you need, go to Tick’s online quote system and enter your trip details carefully. You will be asked for your destination or region, trip start and end dates, the age of each traveller and whether you want international, domestic or cruise cover. The system then presents one or more levels of cover, typically Basic, Budget, Standard and Top, with a summary of the main benefit limits for each.
A solo traveller in Melbourne booking a three week trip to Italy in October might select Europe as the destination, choose dates from the day they leave home to the day they land back in Australia and indicate that they are aged 32. The quote page would then show the premium for each level of cover and headline benefits such as unlimited overseas medical expenses, varying cancellation limits and different baggage caps. This is your chance to compare whether the modest savings of a Budget policy are worth the reduced limits compared with a Standard or Top policy.
Tick’s quote results also allow you to select optional upgrades relevant to your itinerary. If our Italian traveller plans to spend a week skiing in the Dolomites, they would need to add winter sports cover before proceeding. If they are traveling with a high end mirrorless camera and lenses worth several thousand dollars, they could make use of additional specified items cover by listing the equipment and its replacement value up to the maximum allowed. For travel to regions where cyclones or earthquakes are common, such as some Pacific islands or parts of Asia, the natural disaster add on may be worth including.
As you go through these steps, take the time to click through to the benefit tables and, ideally, open the most recent Product Disclosure Statement. Although it is lengthy, even reading just the sections on cancellation, medical cover, exclusions and claims will help you avoid misunderstandings later. Print or save a copy so that when you are on the road and wondering whether a delayed flight is covered, you can check the wording that applied on the day you bought your policy.
Step Three: Complete Your Application And Set Up Your Documents
After choosing your preferred cover level and any optional extras, you proceed to the application stage. Here Tick collects your contact details, basic medical declarations and payment information. Ensure names match exactly with your passport and airline tickets, and double check your email address because your policy schedule, confirmation and emergency contact information will be sent there.
During this stage, Tick may ask about existing medical conditions. It is important to answer honestly, even if this raises the premium or results in certain conditions not being covered. For example, if you are a 60 year old traveller with a history of heart disease heading on a cruise through the Mediterranean, failing to disclose your condition could lead to a claim being reduced or declined if you later have chest pain overseas. Use the prompts in the form to provide accurate dates, medications and recent treatments where requested.
Once payment is processed, Tick issues a certificate of insurance or policy schedule that lists who is covered, your travel dates, your policy number and the benefits and excess that apply. Save this document in several places before you travel. Common strategies include printing a paper copy to keep with your passport, saving a PDF to your phone and emailing a copy to a trusted family member at home. Many travellers also create a simple note in their phone with the Tick emergency assistance number and their policy number so they can access it quickly in an emergency.
At the same time, take a moment to note the general claims email address and any guidance on time limits for lodging claims. For instance, Tick encourages customers to register a claim within a set period, such as 30 days of completing their trip. Knowing this before you travel helps you collect receipts and reports as events unfold instead of scrambling to find documents weeks after you get home.
Step Four: Prepare To Use Your Cover If Something Goes Wrong
Using travel insurance effectively starts before you leave, by planning how you will respond if a problem occurs on the road. For Tick, serious medical emergencies typically require you to contact the emergency assistance team as soon as practicable so they can help coordinate treatment, guarantee payment to hospitals where appropriate and guide decisions about medical evacuation or repatriation.
Consider a practical example. A backpacker from Brisbane tears a ligament while hiking in the Canadian Rockies. Because they set up their Tick policy correctly before departure, they have the emergency number stored on their phone and a printed card in their wallet. At the local clinic, they can call assistance, quote their policy number and receive guidance on approved hospitals, documentation and what costs are likely to be covered, giving them more confidence about follow up scans or even surgery if required.
For non urgent issues such as lost baggage or moderate travel delays, it is often more about collecting the right paperwork than making an emergency phone call. If an airline misplaces your suitcase between Sydney and Los Angeles, you should immediately obtain a written Property Irregularity Report or similar document from the carrier and keep all receipts for essential items such as toiletries and basic clothing. Before you take off, it helps to know that Tick expects such reports and receipts when assessing a baggage delay or loss claim.
The same applies for cancellations before you even make it to the airport. Suppose you are due to fly to Bali and a close relative in Adelaide suffers a sudden life threatening illness a week before departure. If your situation fits one of the insured events in your Tick policy, you would contact Tick as soon as possible, gather medical certificates and confirmation of any airline or hotel cancellation fees, and then lodge a claim through the online portal once the situation stabilises. Understanding these steps before you leave home makes it easier to act quickly and calmly when emotions are running high.
Step Five: Set Yourself Up For A Smooth Claims Process
Although most travellers hope never to use their insurance, many do end up making at least one small claim for lost items, delays or minor medical treatment. Tick provides an online claims portal where you can start and track your claim after your trip, as well as options for manual submission by email. The groundwork for a successful claim is mostly laid before and during your trip, starting with clear records.
Before you leave, gather electronic copies of key documents such as your flight confirmations, accommodation bookings, tour invoices and high value goods receipts, then store them in a cloud folder or email them to yourself. If you later need to claim for a cancelled tour in South America or a stolen laptop in Berlin, you will have proof of purchase and booking details at your fingertips. Travellers who do this prep work in advance generally find Tick’s online forms much easier to complete because they are not hunting through old emails for amounts and dates.
During your trip, get into the habit of photographing important receipts and reports on your phone. If an airline pays you a small cash amount because your bag has been delayed, take a quick picture of the paperwork. If you visit a doctor in Bangkok for a sudden infection, ask for an itemised invoice that shows diagnosis codes, treatment and amounts paid. When you return home and start your Tick claim, being able to upload clear, legible documents speeds assessment and reduces the back and forth of queries.
Finally, pay attention to timing once you return. If Tick suggests lodging claims within a certain number of days after your trip, make a note of that in your planner before you even leave Australia. Set a calendar reminder for the week after you get back to sit down with your documents and work through the online portal. Treat insurance admin as one last part of the journey, just like unpacking and sorting photos, so that potential reimbursements for delays, lost baggage or medical costs do not fall through the cracks.
The Takeaway
Using Tick Travel Insurance effectively starts long before you walk through the departure gates. It begins when you first outline your trip, decide what you can afford to lose and match that to an appropriate level of cover. Buying your policy early, declaring pre existing conditions honestly and adding any relevant options such as winter sports or natural disaster cover can help protect the trip you have invested so much time and money in.
Once your Tick policy is in place, setting yourself up with organised documents, saved contact numbers and a basic understanding of how emergencies and claims work puts you in a strong position if something goes wrong. Real world situations such as a ski injury in Japan, a stolen bag in Europe or a family emergency back home are stressful, but they are easier to navigate when you know who to call and which receipts to keep.
No travel insurance product can remove every risk, and cover is always subject to detailed terms and conditions. However, by following these step by step actions before your trip, you turn Tick Travel Insurance from a line item on your booking confirmation into a practical safety net that is ready to support you from the day you buy it until you return home.
FAQ
Q1. When is the best time to buy Tick Travel Insurance?
The best time is shortly after you book your first major non refundable trip component, such as flights or a tour, and well before you leave Australia. This timing gives you the benefit of cancellation cover for unexpected serious events that occur between purchase and departure, as well as protection while you are away.
Q2. Can I buy Tick Travel Insurance if I have already left Australia?
No. Tick policies are intended for trips that start from Australia, and you must purchase cover before you depart. If you are already overseas, you would need to look for an insurer that specifically offers policies for travellers who are not in their country of residence at the time of purchase.
Q3. How far in advance can I purchase a Tick policy?
You can generally purchase a Tick policy up to about 12 months before your planned departure date. Many travellers do this when booking complex itineraries such as cruises or multi country trips, so that cancellation benefits are in place as soon as large deposits are paid.
Q4. Do I need Tick’s winter sports cover for casual skiing or snowboarding?
If you plan to ski or snowboard, even casually for a day or two, you should strongly consider adding winter sports cover when you buy your policy. Without it, claims that arise directly from skiing or snowboarding, such as injuries on the slopes or damage to hired equipment, may not be covered under a standard policy.
Q5. What should I do before my trip to prepare for a potential claim?
Before travelling, save copies of your bookings, invoices and receipts for high value items, and store them electronically where you can reach them easily. Write down your Tick policy number, emergency assistance phone number and claims contact details, and keep a printed copy with your passport in case your phone is lost or stolen.
Q6. Are pre existing medical conditions covered by Tick Travel Insurance?
Some pre existing medical conditions may be covered under certain criteria, while others may require assessment or may be excluded. During the online application, Tick will ask questions about your health history. Answer these honestly and review the Product Disclosure Statement so you know which conditions are covered, which carry extra costs and which are not covered at all.
Q7. Does Tick Travel Insurance cover domestic trips within Australia?
Yes, Tick offers domestic policies for trips within Australia. These typically focus on cancellation, travel delay and baggage rather than medical costs, since hospital treatment at home is usually handled by Medicare or private health insurance. Domestic cover can be useful for expensive trips that involve flights and prepaid accommodation.
Q8. How do I contact Tick in a medical emergency overseas?
In a serious medical emergency, you should contact Tick’s emergency assistance team as soon as it is safe to do so, using the phone number provided in your policy documents. Keep that number accessible in your wallet and your phone. The team can help coordinate treatment, liaise with hospitals and advise on next steps such as medical evacuation if required.
Q9. What documents will Tick usually ask for when I make a claim?
The documents depend on the type of claim, but common requirements include receipts, booking confirmations, medical reports, police reports for theft, airline delay or loss reports and proof of any refunds or credits received from transport or accommodation providers. Having clear, legible copies of these documents ready will generally make the process smoother.
Q10. Can I change my Tick policy if my travel plans change before I leave?
If your travel dates or destinations change before departure, contact Tick as soon as possible to discuss your options. Depending on the circumstances and the timing, you may be able to amend your policy or adjust dates, although changes might affect your premium. Always confirm any changes in writing and keep the updated documents with your travel records.