Will you have peace of mind this holiday season?

Going away on holiday offers the promise of stress-free fun. The thought of anything going wrong is swept away in the excitement of planning the holiday as many of us adopt the ‘it would never happen to me’ attitude.

What many people don’t realise is that the Christmas period is the most common time for break-ins, house fires and accidents. If something was to go wrong while you were away how would you cope? Taking some simple preventative measures before your holiday will ensure you are prepared so you can rest easy and relax.

Your home
Protect your home by ensuring you have the right home and contents insurance cover. Imagine coming home to find all your possessions stolen or your home burnt down. December and January are the most common months for break-ins, with more home insurance claims being made than at any other time of the year. Depending on where you live, bush fires or even flooding may also put your house in danger so making sure your home is properly prepared is important.
It’s also a good idea to have a neighbour check in on your house, empty your letterbox and turn a few lights on when you are away. You should also leave an emergency contact name and number with them in case something goes wrong.

You and your family
Do you have personal insurance? Have you thought about what would happen if the main bread winner in your family was injured on your summer holiday and would not be able to work for the next 6 months?
The importance of trauma insurance is outlined in another article in this issue. Accidents and personal injuries are very common for holiday makers and having some insurance cover in place will allow you to continue with your financial commitments as well as those unexpected medical bills you may have if a key family member is injured.

Travel insurance
For most Australians overseas travel is a wonderful experience. However, travel insurance companies deal with human tragedies involving the death, injury or hospitalisation of Australians abroad. Each year they handle over 25,000 cases involving Australians in difficulty overseas. In cases where victims are not covered by travel insurance, such personal tragedies are further compounded by a long-term financial burden.

Hospitalisation or medical evacuations can be very expensive. Travelers who are not covered by insurance are personally liable for covering incurred medical and associated costs. As a result, there have been instances where families have been forced to sell off assets, including their superannuation or family homes, to bring loved ones back to Australia for treatment.
It is important to obtain the right type of travel insurance to suit your individual requirements.

Be smart, be safe
Accidents always happen at the worst possible time and we can never know when one silly mistake or misjudgment could change our future for good. When travelling it’s important to use some common sense to ensure you and your family get home in one piece. If overseas be aware of your surroundings when in unfamiliar areas, and stick to main tourist streets. When celebrating the festive season act responsibly and don’t drink and drive. But most of all please enjoy your holiday!

Holiday Check list before you leave the house:

• Empty your letter box/ Stop paper delivery
• Arrange security for your house or ask someone to monitor it for you
• Water your plants/clear out the fridge/empty your bins
• Switch off the electric appliances including Christmas lights
• Lock doors and windows

If travelling overseas
• Arrange for traveler’s cheque’s or ATM cards to be available overseas
• Take your Credit/Debit Cards and Diving License
• Pack all Itineraries/Maps
• Photocopy all of your important documents
• Ensure your Passport/Visas are in a safe place
• Have a list of emergency contact numbers of your neighbours, family and travel agent
• Have copies of all travel insurance papers
• If any medication is required fill scripts and arrange for a letter from the doctor explaining what medication you are on
• Pack a first aid kit including travel sickness pills

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