23 November 2022 by Jeremy Vargo

Southern Cross is the only provider awarded ‘Outstanding Value’ in International, South Pacific Cruise and Seniors Travel Insurance categories

Today, Southern Cross Travel Insurance announces it has received an Outstanding Value – International Travel Insurance Award, an Outstanding Value – Seniors’ Travel Insurance Award, and an Outstanding Value – South Pacific Cruise Travel Insurance Award from Canstar in 2022.

Jo McCauley, CEO at Southern Cross Travel Insurance said, “It is a great honour and fantastic achievement to be awarded all three of these Outstanding Value Travel Insurance Awards from Canstar in 2022. We always strive to put our customers first and deliver outstanding value so to receive these awards is testament to the hard work our whole team has put in over the last two years, under incredibly challenging circumstances.”

Since the Canstar awards were last announced in 2019, the travel industry has worked through unprecedented disruption. To ensure Southern Cross customers received the level of support they needed from the business, and to ensure the quality of service for customers continued to deliver exceptional value, the team has delivered the following initiatives:

• In December 2020, the Domestic Travel Insurance policy was launched to support the rise in domestic tourism
• In May 2021, Southern Cross started offering a level of Covid-19 cover on its domestic and international policies
• International and Domestic Travel insurance policy documents were translated into Plain English to improve customer understanding (winning the Plain English Award for Best Legal Document in 2021)
• The level of pregnancy cover was increased from 20 weeks to 24 weeks and, in a market-leading move, cover was introduced for neo-natal care of the new-born child

Jose George, Canstar New Zealand General Manager, said, “New Zealanders are keen to travel but remain cautious due to the pandemic.  As such, the right travel insurance for a trip is increasingly a ‘must-have’ rather than the ‘nice-to-have’ it may have been prior to Covid.”

“Canstar’s analysis of travel insurance providers now incorporates several Covid-specific elements which are taken into account when finding the winners of the Outstanding Value awards. Those elements include the consideration of Covid-19 benefits in the cover, including medical and cancellation cover. A policy must also have some form of Covid cover to be eligible for a Canstar 5-star rating.”

Mr George said the Canstar award for Outstanding Value should give consumers comfort when purchasing travel insurance. “New Zealanders love to travel and reconnect with friends and family around the globe. While there are clearly still concerns for many, having the right insurance cover should ease their worries. Our analysis of the market showed Southern Cross Travel Insurance offered real value across several categories - for international travel, for older New Zealanders, and for cruise travel. This is a real endorsement of their policies and should provide reassurance for those looking to finally head offshore for some adventures.”

The Canstar Awards come hot on the heels of Southern Cross being awarded Travel and Health Insurer of the Year at the ITIJ Industry Awards 2022 where it was was lauded for its focus on quality product and policies, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and for an impressive response to customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Launched in 2002, the ITIJ Industry Awards reward excellence and innovation across a broad range of industry sectors in the global travel and health insurance industry.

The majority of Covid-19 claims received by Southern Cross were for travel disruptions that occurred when customers contracted Covid-19 while on their holiday. For Southern Cross’ international travel insurance product, TravelCare New Zealand, 73 per cent of the claims paid to date are from people who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 while overseas. Similarly, 47 per cent of claims paid for Southern Cross’ domestic travel insurance are from people who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 during their journey, resulting in travel disruptions.

Canstar is the leading money comparison site across Australia and New Zealand. It simplifies the world of money and helps consumers make good decisions. It does this by comparing more brands than any other site, analysing thousands of products and producing an easily understood ratings system. With its unbiased research, Canstar is trusted by consumers seeking guidance on products across banks, insurance, superannuation, household and lifestyle products. Canstar compares value alongside price, offering consumers a simple 5-star rating system that enables the right choice for each individual.

Each eligible travel insurance product is awarded points for its comparative pricing and for the array of positive features attached to the product. Travel insurance policies are assessed across 60 consumer profiles based on five consumer types and ten destination regions, allowing consumers to create a shortlist of products to match their needs and/or budget.