22 November 2022 by Ellie Williams

SCTI is the only provider awarded ‘Outstanding Value’ in International, Domestic and Seniors Travel Insurance categories

Today, Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) announces it has received an Outstanding Value – International Travel Insurance Award, an Outstanding Value – Domestic Travel Insurance Award and an Outstanding Value – Seniors’ Travel Insurance Award by Canstar in 2022.

As a result of the pandemic, this is the first time the awards have been distributed since 2019 and the first time SCTI was eligible in the Domestic Travel Insurance category.

Jo McCauley, CEO at Southern Cross Travel Insurance says, “It is a great honour and fantastic achievement to be awarded all three of these Outstanding Value Travel Insurance Awards from Canstar in 2022, particularly given the competitiveness of the travel insurance sector in Australia. We always strive to put our customers first and deliver outstanding value so to receive these awards is testament to the hard work our whole team has put in over the last two years, under incredibly challenging circumstances.”

Since the Canstar awards were last announced in 2019, the travel industry has worked through unprecedented disruption. To ensure Southern Cross customers received the level of support they needed from the business, and to ensure the quality of service for customers continued to deliver exceptional value, the team has rolled out the following initiatives: 

• In December 2020, the Domestic Travel Insurance policy was launched to support the rise in domestic tourism.
• In May 2021, Southern Cross started offering a level of Covid-19 cover on its domestic and international policies.
• International and Domestic Travel insurance policy documents were translated into Plain English to improve customer understanding (winning the Plain English Award for Best Legal Document in 2021 in New Zealand).
• The level of pregnancy cover was increased from 20 weeks to 24 weeks and, in a market-leading move, cover was introduced for neo-natal care of the new-born child.

Canstar’s Research and Ratings Manager, Josh Sale said, “This is the first time since the onset of Covid-19 that Canstar has undertaken its review of travel insurance policies. The results were fueled by more than 18,000 travel insurance quotes, providing travellers with comprehensive insights into the policies offering outstanding value for travel at home and abroad.

“We’re pleased to recognise Southern Cross Travel Insurance for being among the top-rated international and domestic travel insurance providers.

“Southern Cross Travel Insurance stood out for offering a high level of cover for a competitive premium. In our review of domestic travel insurance, its premiums were approximately 50 percent cheaper than the market average for all types of travellers. For international travel cover, Southern Cross Travel Insurance premiums for mature travellers, in particular, were quite competitive.

“When it comes to what’s included in the cover, Southern Cross Travel Insurance had some of the strongest domestic cover in the market, in particular for cancellation fees, loss of deposit, emergency travel arrangements, rental vehicle cover, as well as cancellation cover for Covid-19 related events. International travellers can also rest assured that cover will include Covid-19 related events such as medical and evacuation, along with cancellation and trip amendments in the event you or your travel companion are diagnosed with Covid-19.”

The Canstar Awards come hot on the heels of SCTI being awarded Travel and Health Insurer of the Year at the ITIJ Industry Awards 2022 where it was was lauded for its focus on quality product and policies, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and for an impressive response to customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Launched in 2002, the ITIJ Industry Awards reward excellence and innovation across a broad range of industry sectors in the global travel and health insurance industry.

SCTI has paid more than $1 million in Covid claims to Australian travellers since the start of the year. The majority of claims received have been for travel disruptions that occurred when customers contracted Covid-19 while on their holiday. For SCTI’s international travel insurance product, TravelCare Australia, 79 per cent of the Covid claims paid to date are from people who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 while overseas. Similarly, 67 per cent of Covid claims paid for SCTI’s Domestic travel insurance are from people who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 during their journey, resulting in travel disruptions.

Canstar is a trusted financial platform and Australia’s biggest financial comparison site, comparing more brands than any other. Canstar’s Travel Insurance Star Ratings and Awards use a sophisticated methodology, unique to Canstar, that compares travel insurance products offered to Australians travelling domestically or overseas.

Each eligible travel insurance product is awarded points for its comparative pricing and for the array of positive features attached to the product. Travel insurance policies are assessed across five consumer types including single, couple, family, mature single and senior single travellers along with ten destination regions, allowing consumers to create a shortlist of products to match their needs and/or budget.