NIB Travel introduces COVID-covered insurance product, as it prepares to scrap SureSave brand

Brisbane, Australia - July 9, 2017: NIB is Australia's third largest private health insurance fund. This is a central Brisbane office.

NIB Travel has announced a new insurance product that includes plans which offer cover for some coronavirus-related events, as it resumes selling travel insurance policies in Australia from January 2021.

Anna Gladman, CEO of NIB Travel, said the new product reflects efforts to find new ways to protect travellers in a world learning to live with coronavirus.

“We understand travellers are concerned about the impact coronavirus might have on their plans and health while travelling,” she said.

“A survey of our travellers showed 40 per cent were looking for cover for coronavirus-related events in their policy.

“With coronavirus destined to become part of normal life and in response to the challenges this poses to travel, we have reassessed our coverage and created a product which will allow travellers to resume exploring with greater peace of mind.”

The new product has plans which offer cover if travellers are diagnosed with COVID-19 on their journey, including overseas medical expenses and some coronavirus-related cancellation and quarantine expenses.

It also recognises the extraordinary contribution of healthcare, aged care and law enforcement workers who have worked tirelessly against COVID-19, with special provision for cancellation coverage should they be required to return to work.

Gladman said the new product will support those travellers looking to book trips both domestically now and internationally in the future.

“There is significant pent-up demand for travel, with a recent survey of our travellers showing that 61 per cent of Aussies are planning on exploring our own backyard in the next 12 months, with Queensland at the top of the wish list,” she said.

“Travel has proven to be an important driver of economic prosperity all over the world, and it is important we do everything we can to give people the confidence to book holidays and get the global tourism industry back on its feet.”

The move by NIB Travel comes not long after rival Cover-More introduced its owned COVID-covered travel insurance offering.

NIB Travel has also combined the best of its SureSave and NIB Travel brands which will see its partners brought together onto the one system.

From 20 January 2021, NIB will become the flagship partner brand, with existing SureSave partners transitioned to NIB Travel.

“Importantly, this is just a change to the brand name – we’ll still have the same team on hand to support our partners and any ongoing policy maintenance as we move forward into 2021,” Gladman said.

“We’ll be in touch with our partners in early January to assist them with the transition to NIB Travel Insurance.”


Featured image source: iStock/Nils Versemann

Latest News

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

La Collection launches LC DMC

If you put La in front of a word does it make it a more fancy option? Just asking?

  • Conferences
  • Travel Agents

Emotional Travellers Choice Conference that wasn’t hard to bear

If Day 1 of the 2024 Travellers Choice Conference in Sydney, the first in the Harbour City for 25 years, was filled with laughter and cocktails then Day 2 of “Travelution” was an emotional roller coaster. Travellers Choice MD and new ATIA chair Christian Hunter opened the three-day conference by announcing two new initiatives. In […]

  • Tourism

ATEC celebrates industry excellence with annual awards 

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has announced the winners of its prestigious annual awards, recognising exceptional contributions from across our tourism export industry. These awards, announced during ATEC’s annual Meeting Place event last Wednesday, highlight individuals, businesses, and partnerships which have shown outstanding leadership, dedication, and innovation in promoting Australian tourism. Captain Trevor Haworth […]

  • Hotels
  • Luxury

Accor announces the signing of Sofitel Sapa Hotel and residences

Accor has announced the signing of Sofitel Sapa Hotel & Residences, a landmark luxury development set to bring Sofitel’s French elegance to the highlands of Northern Vietnam. The project is a combination of 176 rooms and 436 branded residences. It is expected to open its doors in 2030, making another milestone in the expansion of […]

  • Events

ICC Sydney celebrates 100 events in record-breaking year

International Convention Centre Sydney, managed by ASM Global, is set to break the record for number of live events in a single year with 100 shows. The James Blunt concert taking place on 23 November marks the venue’s 100th live entertainment event in a single year. To celebrate this historic achievement, ICC Sydney is giving […]

  • Travel Agents

Last chance to win Globus family of brands’ $1K a Day Giveaway

Agents are reminded they can still enter an unmissable giveaway by making a deposited booking with Globus, Cosmos and Avalon Waterways for departures in 2025. The trade incentive will remain open to agents until 30 November. To take advantage of the offer, agents simply need to make a deposited booking with either Avalon Waterways, Globus […]

  • Events

Intrepid Travel champions responsible business at UN Global Compact Sustainability Event

Intrepid Travel championed the agenda for responsible business at the United Nations Global Compact’s UNiting Business Live Australia conference this week. During her visit to Australia, UN Global Compact assistant secretary-general, Sanda Ojiambo, met with Intrepid CEO James Thornton, where they discussed the future of sustainable practices in the travel industry. Thornton and Ojiambo discussed […]