A young Melbourne couple’s holiday has ended in disaster after a horrific motorbike accident in Thailand left one of them hospital-bound instead of poolside.
Troy Markides and his girlfriend, Katie Van der End, were both badly injured in a scooter accident on Ko Phangan, and are currently stranded in Thailand as they wait for Markides, who has already had multiple surgeries, to recover.
The 29-year-old’s travel insurance classed the scooter as a motorbike, and has refused to cover costs for his treatment or flights home.
So comparetravelinsurance.com.au has done the numbers to work out if your client’s insurance cuts the mustard.
Would your travel insurance make the cut?
The lack of cover from the couple’s insurance has come as a nasty surprise, particularly because Markide’s injuries mean he will only be able to fly out via stretcher, costing tens of thousands of dollars.
Natalie Ball, Director of Comparetravelinsurance.com.au, said travel insurance won’t cover you if you are acting recklessly.
“From a travel insurance perspective, you are very unlikely to be covered for deliberately putting yourself in positions of danger. It’s your responsibility to act wisely and take all required safety precautions when travelling overseas,” she said.
Katie Van der End warned against not double-checking your travel insurance policy before going overseas, or renting a scooter.
“We weren’t doing anything silly, we hadn’t been drinking, we just went for a drive and then this happened,” she said.
Ball also added that not all insurers would automatically cover the use of a scooter or moped.
“Very often, you would require an Australian motorbike license in order to ride a bike over a certain engine size as well as an International Driving Permit.
“You must also wear a helmet at all times. Neglecting to do so would automatically void your insurance and land you with a hefty fine from the authorities.”
A worrying trend
In April, Ella Knights, from Sydney, suffered fatal injuries whilst riding a scooter in Bali, just days after posting a video of herself riding it online with the caption “Sorry mum #nohelmet”.
Although she was wearing a helmet when she died, the chinstraps were undone, making it considerably less useful. Tragically, Knights is one of many Aussies involved in dangerous motorbike accidents overseas.
Ball said that the dangerous reality of riding on foreign roads is often brushed off by the young and reckless.
“Young inexperienced travellers are taking to the roads in countries that are heavily congested. Often, these riders take little regard to their safety and fail to appreciate just how risky their actions may be,” she said.
Millennials fail to take cover
Despite tragic news headlines, millennials are some of the least likely bunch to purchase travel insurance for their holidays.
Research conducted by Comparetravelinsurance.com.au reveals that only 45 per cent of travellers aged between 18-35 would get cover and 46 per cent said they don’t bother every time – or even at all.
A further nine per cent said they do not understand what travel insurance would actually cover or why they would need it.
While acts of recklessness may not be covered, Ball warned travellers not to dismiss the importance of travel insurance.
“There are endless circumstances in which travel insurance can completely change the course of your holiday. Huge medical bills, luggage theft or a last-minute cancellation can swiftly eat into your travel budget.
“When you consider the immense cost of medical care abroad you shouldn’t travel without it.”
