Doc Holiday: Should we extend our travel insurance in case there are delays?

When booking travel insurance, should you add on a few extra days in case there is a delay or can you extend your policy while travelling?

Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions.

When it comes to travel insurance, should we add a few days past our return date (in case of delays) or can we extend the insurance during the trip?

Up until earlier this year, I habitually bought an annual travel insurance policy, which generally solved issues when one of my flights was invariably delayed or cancelled. Disruptions are still occurring, of course, so now I simply tack on a couple of extra days to any single-trip policy I buy – just in case I don’t make it back to Oz before my policy runs out.

You don’t have to do that of course; in most instances, most insurers will extend your policy if unforeseen circumstances prevent you from getting home in time, explains Natalie Ball from Compare Travel Insurance.

“If you’re in a medical delay, for example, your policy would be automatically extended, so if you experience a medical emergency overseas, you should contact your insurer’s emergency assistance team as soon as possible,” she says. “In non-emergency situations where you are unable to return home on your scheduled return date (flight delays, etc), you may be required to extend your policy and claim for a refund later.”

Ball recommends travellers experiencing difficulties overseas contact their travel insurer and request their specific advice.

If your insurer refuses to extend your policy, Australian citizens and residents can buy a new “already overseas” policy. The biggest problem faced by travellers in these situations? Insurers can – and do – impose a 48- or 72-hour waiting period before the new cover kicks in – not ideal if your delay is last-minute and your original policy is about to run out. Whether your insurer decides to override the waiting period will depend on the insurer and the policy you’ve chosen – another reason why it’s essential to read the PDS before you decide on a policy.

My wife and I have cruised many times but now that my wife has dementia, she tends to wander at night. Are there any cruise lines in the Pacific which cater for passengers with dementia?

There are quite a few specialised dementia-friendly sailings around the Caribbean, Alaska and the Mexican Riviera (visit Elite Cruises & Vacations Travel for details), but sadly, this kind of forward-thinking cruising has not yet made its way here.

I’m keen for you and your wife to enjoy a wonderful cruise so I called Dr Kaele Stokes, executive director, services, advocacy and research for Dementia Australia. She said that the nature of an individual’s symptoms, plus the kind of dementia they have, will inform whether a particular activity or holiday type is considered safe or unsafe, and that it’s best to speak with your wife’s doctor or specialist before you make a decision.

“If (you and your wife) are cruisers from way back, it may be a familiar environment for her, which can help with potential disorientation,” she says.

While no one cruise line stands out in this regard, ships already familiar to you, and those that have plenty of calm, quiet spaces (such as Holland America Line), tend to be a better choice, but Dr Stokes says it’s important to call each one beforehand to see what kind of assistance they can offer. You’ll also need to ensure everyone from your travel agent to the cabin steward is aware of your wife’s condition so plenty of eyes are looking out for you both.

You will need to keep the doors to your (interior or porthole window) cabin locked (all doors on these ships lock from the inside), and possibly bring along a portable alarm. “Mats which can be placed beside the bed or at the door which indicate when someone is stepping on it can be a good choice,” Dr Stokes says.

For more information, visit the Travelling with Dementia page at Dementia Australia or call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.

Can you recommend a reputable company specialising in Alcatraz tours please?

I’m glad you asked. A number of online outfits advertise “Alcatraz tours” but what they bury deep in their copy is that while they offer narrated tours around the island, they don’t dock. Alcatraz City Cruises is the only commercial ferry service authorised by the National Park Service to allow passengers to disembark on the island.

They have a range of tours: a 2.5-hour day tour, a three-hour night tour and a 4.5-hour Behind the Scenes tour that’s double the price of the others, but offers a guided stroll around off-limits areas and a chance to hear little-known stories in a small-group setting. Finally, there’s the 5.5-hour Alcatraz & Angel Island Combination Tour.

If cost isn’t an issue, I’d go with the Behind the Scenes, which includes the full Alcatraz Night Tour once the sun goes down. Have a great time.

Need help?

Doc Holiday is on duty to answer your travel questions. Email [e-mail] or keep up with Doc at escape.com.au/doc-holiday. Personal replies are unfortunately not possible.

Originally published as Doc Holiday: Should we extend our travel insurance in case there are delays?