More data is needed for insurers to adequately underwrite travel insurance policies that cover mental illness, according a roundtable on the issue.

Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation Jim Chalmers held the meeting in the wake of the Ella Ingram case last year.

Ms Ingram was forced to cancel a school trip to New York after she developed depression, but her travel insurer QBE declined to pay $5860 because its policy excluded mental illness.

She took QBE to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last year on the grounds of discrimination, and was awarded more than $20,000.

Among the roundtable members were representatives from QBE, IAG, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), the Consumer Action Law Centre, the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum, and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Dr Chalmers told insuranceNEWS.com.au the roundtable was a “productive start to a conversation about these important issues”.

“The conversations at the roundtable made it clear there are some gaps in the understanding of the issue and in the data required to broaden mental illness coverage in insurance.”

He says while it is up to industry to collect the necessary data, “we are currently looking at ways government could help in this process”.

An ICA spokesman has welcomed the Labor Party’s acknowledgement of a gap in the data required.

“Insurers will continue to work towards improving the availability of insurance products for Australians with mental health conditions,” he said.

Earlier this year Consumer Action Law Centre Senior Policy Officer David Leermakers told insuranceNEWS.com.au blanket mental health exclusions do not strike the right balance and insurers should expect further challenges.