Some of Australia's largest providers of travel insurance have made a long-awaited move welcomed by the public and mental health sectors.

QBE Insurance and Cover-More Australia have recently revised their policies to scrap exclusions that deny cover to people who cancel or change travel plans due to a mental illness that develops after they take up a policy.

According to Mike Emmett, Cover-More group chief executive, the change was something the travel insurance industry “has neglected for too long”, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

"We recognise the critical importance of incorporating specific cover for people with mental health conditions into our policies," Emmett said.

QBE, meanwhile, amended its policy to provide cover due to a first diagnosis of a mental illness after a policy is purchased. The change was made following a landmark win of Victorian student Ella Ingram, who was denied her clam twice for a cancelled trip due to a mental illness, SMH said.

A spokeswoman with the company said: "QBE is seeing an increase in travel insurance claims for mental illness, reflective of the increased frequency of diagnosis of mental illness."

Commenting on the move, Mental Health Australia chief executive Frank Quinlan told SMH he hoped more insurers would "see the sense in removing such exclusions".

Other travel insurers that offer varying degrees of mental illness cover under specific circumstances or added premiums include Bupa, InsureandGo, NRMA, CGU, and Budget Direct, the report said.


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