Australian insurer launches dental tourism travel insurance

The dental tourism cover is only available as an extension to the insurer’s flexible travel insurance policy.

In addition to the cancellation cover under the standard travel insurance policy, it offers cover in case the procedure cannot go ahead as planned and the customer need to cancel or reschedule.

Sometimes not everything goes according to plan. So if the patient suffers complications and needs emergency post-procedure treatment, this covers emergency dental care whilst still overseas due to complications arising from the procedure.

If the dental tourist needs to stay longer than the planned holiday due to complications, the insurance also covers them for additional transport and accommodation costs until fit to return home.  Cover includes for any travelling companion to remain with the patient or for a relative to travel from Australia to be with them while they recuperate, provided their presence is medically necessary.

Unfortunately some procedures are not successful and remedial treatment is required.  So the extension also provides cover for the cost of the dental tourist returning overseas to obtain remedial treatment.

The insurance only covers people travelling from Australia and the price depends on many factors including the number of people travelling, the destination, the treatment and their dental history.

Go Insurance launched in Brisbane in late 2013 as an independent insurance agency just offering travel insurance. The insurance is all underwritten at Lloyd’s of London.

If the policy sells well and does not lose money for underwriters, the company may consider a similar policy for cosmetic surgery. Kim Murchie of Go Insurance says, “Initial interest in our dental tourism extension has been promising and we are seeing an increasing enquiry rate.  We actively look for niche opportunities and our dental tourism extension is an example of this.”

When similar specialist travel policies were launched in the UK, most failed quickly due a combination of poor take up, high claims costs, and general views from medical tourists that the premiums were too high, and they saw little risk.