Travel insurance is Travel insurance provider SureSave has released a new Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that is easier for travellers and travel agents to understand.

Launched today, it is the first PDS of its kind, with strong visuals throughout describing policy cover in terms of ‘events’ that can happen to travellers before or during their trip.

SureSave, National Sales Director, Talbot Henry said “We’re not afraid to shake things up – we lead the market by giving customers what they want.  The redesign of our PDS stems from our annual consumer research – the SureSave Travel Insurance Index – which we’ve been running since 2012.”

The research gave insights into the Australian public’s opinions and behaviours regarding travel and insurance, revealing a significant section of the population has only a ‘general idea’ about what their travel insurance covers them for.

Only 30 percent of people know exactly what they’re covered for from their travel insurance policy, with a majority of people (53 percent) admitting that they only have a ‘general idea’ about what they are covered for by skim reading the policy.

Even 8 percent revealed they are not sure what they’re covered for at all while 9 percent admitted that they do not purchase travel insurance.

“We embrace travellers’ changing behaviours. They like to pack light, so having their policy details with them at all times, via our travel safety app, is just another way we are providing help that’s designed for travellers.  Additionally, we’ve introduced hyperlink navigation between related sections because more and more travellers are browsing the PDS on their mobile devices. It makes policies easier to understand, and to sell,” Henry added.

Suresave have applied this information to the new PDS, using iconography and colour to explain coverage for each event.

New features also include redefined medical cover, where customers with existing medical conditions can apply and receive cover for specified medical conditions. This provides greater flexibility by allowing customers to start with the essentials and add on optional cover required for extras.

Comprehensive and Basic plans are available for international travellers, as well as plans catering to domestic and annual frequent travellers.  Whether travellers need to cancel or rearrange their trip, require medical help on the trip, or have trouble getting from A to B, the new PDS provides more options to tailor the policy to a traveller’s individual needs.

Suresave invites all travel agents to engage with SureSave and the new product and ‘See for yourself’ how different it is.

All SureSave policies provide travellers with a 24 hour Emergency Assistance service and a free travel safety app to support travellers when they need it the most.  The insurance is now available to permanent residents, New Zealand passport holders and 457 visa holders.  In most cases, children can also be covered with no extra charge when travelling with the designated policy holder.

Travel Weekly spoke to Talbot Henry, National Sales Director at SureSave to get the breakdown on just what the new PDS means for Travel Agents. 

• How will it make it easier for agents to sell?

The new PDS breaks down otherwise complicated policies into a simple and easy guide to travel insurance, using clear visuals.  We’ve introduced hyperlink navigation between related sections making policies easier to understand, and therefore agents to sell.  

• What happens to clients booked prior to the change, does this mean a change for what they had booked?

Saved quotes issued before 17 August are valid, and may be amended on the existing product for 31 days from the issue date.  The new PDS will be the only product available for International outbound plans, Domestic plans and Annual Frequent Traveller plans. 

• Will travel agents require new training on the new PDS?

Yes, to introduce the training modules for this product we’ve implemented a new easy to access online training feature within the SureSave Agent Console. The new ‘Training Tab’ means agents will have instant access to modules, now and in the future. This training is compulsory for agents selling the new SureSave PDS from 17 August 2016. 

• Where can they access the new PDS? 

Agents and customers can access the new PDS online at https://www.suresave.com.au/pds. 

• When is stock (brochures) due to arrive to agents for this?

Deliveries for the new Combined PDS and FSG policy wording will be sent to store locations prior to 17 August 2016. Orders for additional quantities can be made via the Brochure Order Form in the Tools tab of the Agent Console or use the following link https://partner.suresave.com.au/partnercontent/order-forms. Once received material will be distributed immediately.