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Choice travel insurance buying guide.

Do you need travel insurance? How do you choose the right cover? What are you covered for?

CHOICE answers all the questions you need to know before leaving the country.

Download the CHOICE travel insurance buying guide [PDF 3.52MB] Download the CHOICE travel insurance cheat sheet [PDF 587KB] Who is CHOICE? Set up by consumers for consumers, CHOICE is the independent consumer advocate that provides Australians with information and advice, free from commercial bias. Visit choice.com.au .

Why travel insurance?

• Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?

How to get travel insurance

Before you buy, how to save money on travel insurance.

• How to read the product disclosure statement

What are you covered for?

• Credit card insurance

How to make a complaint

If you’re leaving Australia, travel insurance is just as essential as a passport.

Holidays don’t always go as planned.

If you’re leaving Australia, travel insurance is just as essential as a passport. Medical expenses are the number one reason to get insurance, but sometimes other things can go wrong, such as trip cancellations, delays, lost luggage or even the big stuff like natural disasters and pandemics. If you end up out of pocket because of these things, insurance can make up for that.

The Australian Government won’t pay your medical bills.

In an emergency, the Australian Government can only help so much. The Consular Services Charter describes what the government can and can’t do to help Australians overseas.

If you end up injured or sick while overseas, you’ll be footing the hospital bill and the cost of flying home. If you’re really unlucky, that could cost you or your family hundreds of thousands of dollars.

68% of travellers mistakenly believe the Australian Government would ensure they get medical treatment if they need it overseas, and 43% believe the government would pay their medical bills.

Some countries won’t let you in if you don’t have insurance. 

Singapore and the UAE require you to have travel insurance. Not to mention all 26 European countries in the Schengen Area if you’re applying for a visa to visit. Read the Smartraveller travel advice for information about your destination.

Reciprocal healthcare Australia has reciprocal healthcare agreements with several countries: Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. If you have Medicare, you can get subsidised treatment for essential services only in these countries, which often leads people to ask whether they still need travel insurance. The answer is yes, for the following reasons. You’re usually only covered for urgent care that can’t wait until you get home. If you’re very ill, travel insurance can pay for a medical escort to bring you home to Australia. You still may have to pay fees for treatment and medication. For example, in New Zealand reciprocal health care doesn’t cover you for free or subsidised care by a general practitioner or ambulance. Travel insurance can cover you for cancellations, delays, stolen items and more.

Remember to take your Medicare card with you. You’ll need it, along with your passport, to prove you’re eligible for reciprocal health care. For more information, visit servicesaustralia.gov.au .

Marco* had breathing difficulties on his way home from Europe, causing his flight to be diverted to the UAE. Hospitals in the UAE won’t admit you unless you have insurance or can pay an upfront fee. Marco’s family had to pay thousands of dollars for his treatment. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Do you need domestic travel insurance?

Most of us already have medical cover at home, be it Medicare or private health insurance or both. But there are still a few key reasons to consider domestic travel insurance.

• Cancellation: If you’ve spent a lot on your holiday, then it’s not too much extra to buy travel insurance in case of the unforeseen.
• Baggage cover: If you’re travelling with valuables, think about whether you want them covered for theft, loss or damage.
• Car hire excess: You can save money using travel insurance to cover your collision damage excess, rather than paying the car hire company’s extra charge.

Does international travel insurance cover COVID-19?

Many travel insurers now offer limited cover for COVID-19, but the available cover varies quite a lot.  Some policies only cover medical and repatriation costs if you get COVID-19 overseas, while other policies provide limited cover for cancellation costs in addition to medical and repatriation costs.

You should always check the details of your insurance coverage, particularly how it applies to COVID-19 and travel disruptions.

Over 90% of travellers will look for insurance that covers them for cancellation and medical expenses caused by COVID-19.

If you’re planning to go on a cruise, be extra careful. Some travel insurers may not offer COVID-19 cover for multi-night cruises or they may restrict the cover provided on cruises.

Also, don’t rely on the travel insurance on your credit card unless you check it closely – it may not cover claims related to COVID-19.

There are cooling-off periods for COVID-19 cancellation cover, so it’s best to buy your travel insurance at the same time as you book your trip. Some insurers may only cover cancellation if you test positive to COVID-19 and the policy was purchased more than 21 days before your scheduled departure date.

Make your travel plans COVID-safe

You need to be prepared for your travel plans to be interrupted at short notice. As travel insurance may not protect you from government border closures, general lockdowns or quarantine requirements in your destination country, the key is to book only with providers that allow you flexibility should things change.

• Check the rules for travelling to your destination. For example, are there any entry requirements? What are the vaccination requirements? And what type of travel insurance do you need?
• Read the terms and conditions of your airline, accommodation and travel tours before you book. Will they refund you if you can’t travel due to COVID-19? If they only offer a reschedule or a credit, will you be in a position to redeem the credit in future?
• You can book flexible tickets for flights but be aware you usually have to pay the difference between the prices for the tickets you bought and the new tickets. So changing your flight dates at short notice can be very expensive.
• If you book through a travel agent or booking site, what are their terms and conditions? Will they refund you or provide a credit? Are there cancellation fees?
• If you pay by credit or debit card (and you selected ‘credit’ when you paid), you may have access to credit card chargebacks if something goes wrong.
• Keep on top of the latest travel advice and requirements at smartraveller.gov.au . Travel restrictions can change at short notice.
• If you do have to cancel, your travel insurer will ask you to claim what you can back from travel providers first. Read the CHOICE advice on how to get your money back on travel cancellations and ask your travel insurer if you can get a refund or partial refund of your travel insurance premium.

You can buy travel insurance from a travel insurer, travel agent, insurance broker, credit card provider, or even from your health, home or car insurer.

You can buy travel insurance online (direct from the insurer’s website, from a comparison site or through an airline booking site), over the counter or over the phone.

Buy travel insurance as soon as you know your travel dates. That way you’re covered if your trip is cancelled before you even leave or if you’re unable to travel at all.

You can certainly buy travel insurance quicker than it will take you to read this guide, but do you know what you’ll be covered for? Will you be covered if you trip over after having a drink? If you crash your scooter in Thailand? If you lose your wallet during a stopover? If you need to isolate because you contract COVID-19?

There are a lot of ‘what ifs’ to consider, depending on where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, so it’s worth reading the product disclosure statement (PDS) first to make sure you’ll be covered.

Will you use it? Hopefully not, but research by Smartraveller found that one in 4 Australian travellers experienced an insurable event on their last overseas trip. Most common insurable events Flight or tour cancelled Flight delayed more than 12 hours Received medical treatment Lost, damaged or stolen luggage Missed a connecting flight Lost, damaged or stolen cash or personal items Forced to cancel trip before departure What if the insurers don’t pay out? Australian travellers lodged almost 300,000 insurance claims in 2018–19, the last financial year before COVID-19 travel bans. Almost 90% of those were paid out. Top four reasons for declined claims Due to policy exclusions, or not included in the policy conditions Claim amount was below the excess Claim was due to a pre-existing medical condition Claim was for an item that was stolen while it was unattended

1. Where are you going?

The level of cover and the cost of travel insurance can vary depending on the region you’re travelling to, and some risks may be of greater concern than others. Not all travel insurance policies cover COVID-19 and other pandemics or epidemics such as SARS. And not all policies cover you for changing your plans due to a riot or civil commotion, for example. Travel insurance also may not be available for countries with travel alerts.

• Look up your destination on smartraveller.gov.au and make sure you’re aware of any risks or safety advice.
• Buy a policy that covers you for every country you’re travelling to or transiting through. If you’re going to Europe via a one-night stopover in the US, then get cover for the US and Europe. Usually a worldwide policy will cover this.

86% of travellers say they’re more cautious after the COVID-19 pandemic about travelling to places where it could prove harder to return home in a crisis.

You need different cover for different regions

Insurers sometimes apply policies to regions rather than having a policy for each destination.

Asia Pacific: Destinations such as New Zealand, Bali, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Asia: Destinations such as India, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Europe: Destinations such as the United Kingdom, Ireland and Western Europe.

Worldwide: All of the above as well as regions such as North America, South America, Japan and Africa.

These definitions differ for each insurer. For example, several insurers cover travel to Bali under their Pacific policy, while some will only cover travel to Bali under their Asian region policy.

2. How long are you going for?

Just a quick trip? Simply buy a standalone travel insurance policy for a set number of days.

Travel often? Consider an annual multi-trip policy or a credit card with complimentary travel insurance, but make sure it gives you the cover you need.

Tip: Annual multi-trip policies and credit card policies can restrict the length of each trip you take – anywhere from 15 to 365 days depending on your policy. Some allow you to pay for extra days.

3. What are you going to do there?

Cruising the open road on a moped? Carving up the ski slopes? Partying at a wedding? These things aren’t necessarily included in a travel insurance policy.

Scan the insurer’s list of included activities and those that you’ll have to pay extra for. And take it easy on the grog – if your alcohol or drug intake is the cause of an adverse event, it won’t be covered by your policy.

4. Are you taking any valuable items?

Do you need cover for a digital SLR camera or an expensive tablet or laptop? Cover for such valuables can vary from a few hundred dollars to thousands, and higher cover will often mean a higher premium.

Consider adding cover for portable valuables to your home insurance policy instead, but check on the excess and if the policy will cover you worldwide and not just in Australia.

Policies also vary when it comes to how they cover valuable items. Valuables in your check-in luggage often aren’t covered, while cover for baggage stored in your hire car is inconsistent. And baggage left unattended is never covered, which can include a bag that is stolen from the seat beside you in a restaurant while you’re looking the other way.

Make sure you have receipts for your valuables as travel insurance will not pay if you can’t prove you own them.

5.   Do you have any medical conditions?

If you have a medical condition that existed before you bought your policy, it may not be covered. This can range from something as common as allergies or asthma through to diabetes, heart conditions and knee replacements.

If you’re not sure, the best thing to do is contact the insurer to ask whether they’ll cover your condition automatically or whether you need to do an assessment.

The Massoud family* was holidaying in Singapore when 13-year-old Nazreen had a recurrence of severe bronchitis, which had affected her in Australia before their trip. The family’s travel insurer refused to pay any hospital bills as Nazreen’s bronchitis was a pre-existing medical condition. As a result, the Massouds had to ask their friends to transfer the $17,000 they needed to cover Nazreen’s hospital expenses, additional accommodation and the cost of changing flights. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

It’s important to compare policies for cost and cover. Some travel insurance premiums increased by as much as 30% between March and June 2022.

Three-quarters (77%) of travellers are willing to pay more for insurance that covers pandemic-related claims.

The further out from your departure date that you buy travel insurance, the more you’re likely to pay for it, but you’ll be covered from the moment you buy your policy. For example, if you buy insurance 2 months before you fly, you effectively have cheap cover for any events that affect your travel plans in those 2 months.

If you pay for your trip in full 6 months in advance, but you only buy an insurance policy 2 weeks before you depart, you may not be covered for any cancellation costs if you contract COVID-19.

Left it until the last minute, or even later? Only a few insurers let you buy insurance once you’re already overseas (look for the ‘Have you already left Australia?’ checkbox when viewing policy options).

While not all policies offer online discounts, plenty do. Make sure you understand the policy and what it covers. Sometimes (but not always) a reduced price may mean reduced cover.

Tip: Check asic.gov.au/afslicensing to find out whether the agent has an Australian financial services (AFS) licence or is an authorised representative of a licence holder. Take the usual precautions when giving your credit card and other details over the internet.

Member discounts

Does your health, car or home insurance provider also sell travel insurance? Some companies give 10–15% discounts to existing members.

Shop around

Trying to negotiate with a website will probably get you nowhere, but if you’re buying over the phone or through a travel agent, give it a go. Travel agents pocket a commission when they sell you insurance, so if you find a better deal elsewhere, ask them if they can beat it.

Almost two-thirds (62%) of overseas travellers who buy insurance do so on or before the day of booking travel.

Use your credit card

Some credit cards come with ‘free’ travel insurance when you use them to buy a ticket, pay for other travel expenses or otherwise activate it (we say ‘free’ because you’ll pay a premium in fees for the card itself).

This type of insurance can sometimes be a money-saver, and the level of cover can be just as good or even better than standard insurance, but make sure it gives you the cover you need.

Compromise on cover

While good medical cover is always essential, you could save money on your premium by choosing a policy with lower or variable cover for cancellation, delays and lost baggage, especially if you aren’t spending big on your holiday or taking expensive items with you.

Have you read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)? According to research conducted in 2022, of those who bought travel insurance: 45% have skim-read the PDS 43% have read the PDS in detail 8% have left the PDS to another person on the policy to read 2% have not and will not read the PDS 2% don’t know

About that fine print

You’re about to click ‘buy’, so you may as well just tick this ‘I acknowledge I’ve read the product disclosure statement’ checkbox and bon voyage…

But wait – have you checked the fine print? In the insurance world, that ‘fine print’ is contained in the product disclosure statement, or PDS (that thing you said you’d read).

How to read the PDS

There are hundreds of policies out there and if you tried to read all the paperwork that comes with each policy, you’d have to extend your holiday just to recover.

If you don’t have time to read the whole PDS cover to cover, at least look for the following.

• The table of benefits is an overall summary of your cover.
• The policy cover section is essential reading and is generally split into ‘what we will pay for’ and ‘what we won’t pay for’.
• General exclusions are also essential reading – these are events that aren’t covered by any section of the policy.
• Pre-existing conditions can remind you of forgotten ailments and are essential reading for anyone with any kind of medical condition, no matter how mild.
• The word definition table might contain a few surprises – it’s a good place to check on the definition of a ‘relative’ or a ‘moped’, for example.
• The claims section lists some further pointers to be aware of (e.g. it’s a good idea not to admit fault or liability in the case of an accident) and the paperwork you may need to collect while you’re away if you need to make a claim, such as police reports.
• COVID-19 cover section – many policies have a special section listing medical, cancellation and other cover available for COVID-19.
• The 24-hour emergency assistance contact number (write it down and keep it handy).

The Weaver* family was relieved to have travel insurance when they needed to cancel their holiday. The family wanted to go skiing in New Zealand, but a few days before they were due to depart, 12-year-old Ruby had cold symptoms. A COVID-19 test showed she was positive. Ruby and her whole family had to isolate and their travel insurance paid their cancellation costs. *This is a fictitious but realistic example

The list of travel insurance disputes taken to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) reveals a battlefield of unread or misinterpreted terms and conditions. Between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021, AFCA received more than 2,000 travel insurance complaints related to COVID-19.

Not all travel insurance policies are the same, and the wrong policy can be almost as bad as none at all.

Peter* and his business partner had booked a business trip to South Korea and Japan from 21 February 2020 to 2 March 2020. On 20 February, Peter cancelled the trip on advice of his GP who said that due to the uncertainty of the extent of the COVID-19 outbreak, he should postpone the trip until it is safe to travel. Peter’s travel insurer denied his claim, saying the policy does not provide cover for cancellation due to medical advice. Peter made a complaint and AFCA ruled in his favour as COVID-19 had been publicly announced as an epidemic prior to Peter cancelling the trip and the doctor’s advice not to travel was prudent and reasonable. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Checklist – Are you covered for COVID-19? Are your medical costs covered if you contract COVID-19? Are your extra expenses such as accommodation covered if you can’t travel or your stay gets extended because you or your travelling companion tests positive to COVID-19? What happens if you were going to stay with someone but they’ve contracted COVID-19? Or your accommodation or tour company gets closed down because of COVID-19? Are your additional expenses covered? If the Smartraveller alert level is raised to ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ or ‘Do not travel’ due to a COVID-19 outbreak at your destination after you took out travel insurance, are you covered if you cancel your trip? Are your cancellation costs covered if you can’t travel or can’t return on your booked flights because you or your travelling companion contracted COVID-19? Are you covered for cancellation costs if your business partner or a relative back home gets sick with COVID-19 and you need to return earlier than planned? If you’re planning to go on a cruise, be extra careful. Some travel insurers may not offer COVID-19 cover for multi-night cruises. Are you covered for claims caused by government travel bans, border closures, or mandatory quarantine or self-isolation requirements at your destination?

And what are the catches?

Cancellations, baggage and personal items, sports and activities.

This is the number one reason to buy international travel insurance. Look for the insurer’s benefits table, usually on the quotes screen online or near the front of their PDS, for a quick overview of what they’re offering. Most policies have an ‘unlimited’ sum insured.

Pre-existing conditions

Some insurers don’t cover pre-existing conditions at all. Some will only cover pre-existing conditions with an extra fee and sometimes a medical assessment. Some automatically cover pre-existing conditions listed in their PDS, although few will cover mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety.

Insurers exclude cover for certain pre-existing medical conditions and generally don’t provide cover for any illnesses or incidents that arise from these. This includes terminal illness or any illness that shortens your life expectancy as well as organ transplants.

Minor pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, osteopenia and more are usually covered if:

the condition has been stable for more than 12 months

there is no planned surgery

you have not received treatment in the past 12 months.

Pre-existing condition spoiling your holiday plans? findaninsurer.com.au lists insurers that may provide cover for pre-existing conditions. Still having trouble finding cover? Enlist the help of an insurance broker.

Examples of conditions that usually need to be assessed before getting cover are coronary problems, lung disease, epilepsy, stroke or any surgeries in the last 2 years.

If in doubt, declare your condition to your insurer.

A disability shouldn’t prevent you from buying travel insurance, but it might make finding a good policy trickier and more expensive.

Is a disability a pre-existing condition?

It depends on the disability and the insurer. Many insurers will automatically cover travellers with limited mobility, cognitive impairments or vision/hearing impairments. But in some cases, this cover may come at an extra cost.

Check with the insurer, as some conditions will need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Having trouble getting cover?

Under the Disability Discrimination Act, insurers must assess the actual risks, rather than make assumptions about disabilities. If you’re having trouble getting insurance, a letter from a medical professional might help, particularly if they can state that you’re not likely to need medical or hospital treatment while on your trip.

Cover for your equipment

If you’re travelling with a wheelchair, mobility aid or hearing aid, you’ll need to insure that as well. Check single item limits, which are usually between $750 and $1,000 per item. If you have a piece of medical equipment that exceeds this, you’ll need to specify it and insure it separately.

Many insurance policies exclude hearing aids, so check the fine print and take out extra insurance if necessary.

Cover for your carer

If you’re travelling with a carer, it’s a good idea to be on the same policy in case travel plans change for either of you – that way you’re both covered. If you have a paid carer, ask your insurer whether they’ll cover the cost of a replacement carer should yours be unable to travel.

Babymooning

If you’re travelling while pregnant, be sure to check the following.

• Are you covered for pregnancy complications? Some insurers don’t cover pregnancy at all.
• Up until which stage of pregnancy? Pregnancy complications are usually only covered up until a certain stage (often between 23 and 32 weeks, depending on the insurer).
• Childbirth: Not all insurers will cover childbirth. A premature birth in the US with intensive care and treatment could end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• IVF: Not all insurers will cover IVF pregnancies.
• Do you have to pay extra to be covered?
• Do you need medical approval to be covered?

Mental health

Many travel insurers won’t provide cover of any kind for hospitalisation, medication or missed travel caused by a mental health condition, whether that’s depression, anxiety or a psychotic episode.

Others will provide cover if you declare mental illness as a pre-existing condition and pay a higher premium. Check the PDS carefully; insurers may use different terms to describe the same mental health conditions, giving them wriggle room to deny a claim.

Insurers are highly unlikely to pay a mental health-related claim if they discover it was a pre-existing condition that you didn’t declare. The trouble is, an insurer might view a single visit to a therapist many years ago because of work stress, for example, as a pre-existing mental health condition.

Mental health and travel insurance have been a contentious issue for consumer rights groups including CHOICE – and it’s one that’s still evolving from a legal standpoint.

To find out if a travel insurance product includes mental health cover, check choice.com.au/travelinsurance , filtering for ‘mental illness related claims’. Then put the PDS under the microscope.

A woman in Victoria won a court case against her insurer after they declined her claim for the cancellation of an overseas trip due to depression. ‘We took out the travel insurance well in advance of the travel, and well before my depression. I was certainly under the impression that I was covered,’ she told CHOICE. ‘They just sent back a letter that said no.’ But her win (the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal awarded her $4,292 for economic loss and a further $15,000 for non-economic loss) was an isolated ruling. It’s still being debated whether or not a general exclusion for mental health claims is legal.

Most policies have an age limit, ranging right up to the 100-year-old seasoned adventurer. There are quite a few catches for older travellers, though.

• Higher premiums: Insurers often charge older travellers more, and in some cases ‘older’ can be as young as 50. 
• Higher excess: Travellers as young as 60 but more commonly over 80 may be subject to a higher excess because of their age. The normal excess of around $100 to $200 is often increased to an excess of $2,000 to $3,000 for travellers 80 years and over for claims that relate to injury or illness.
• Restricted conditions: Subject to medical assessment’, ‘reduced medical cover limits’, ‘reduced travel time’, ‘policy to be purchased 6 months in advance’ – all of these conditions can apply to travellers over a certain age.

You’ll probably want to be covered if your travel plans are cancelled for any reason, but be aware that insurers will come up with plenty of excuses to avoid paying up.

• Terrorism: Most insurers cover medical expenses but very few cover cancellation expenses in the event of terrorism.
• Pandemic or epidemic: Commonly excluded.
• Military action: Commonly excluded.
• Natural disaster: Covered more often than not.
• Travel provider/agent insolvency: Commonly excluded.
• Cancellation due to travel provider’s fault: Insurers commonly exclude cover for delays or rescheduling caused by the transport provider.

John* and his partner’s scheduled train service was delayed, seriously diverted, then terminated, which meant they missed their flight home by several hours. Re-booking fees, emergency accommodation and related fees cost them between $1,000 and $1,500, but the insurer wouldn’t pay the claim as it wasn’t in the policy. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

‘Unforeseen’

When an insurer refers to cover for ‘unforeseen circumstances’, it means something that wasn’t publicised in the media or official government websites when you bought the policy. Check the Smartraveller travel advice when you buy your travel insurance. If it became known before you bought the policy, you’re not covered. So the earlier you buy travel insurance, the more likely you are to be covered for the unexpected.

Exclusions and inclusions

When the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) looks at a complaint about an insurer, they expect you to prove the claim is covered by the policy, while the insurer must prove the claim is excluded by the policy. Specifically, AFCA expects you to ‘establish on the balance of probabilities that you suffered a loss caused by an event to which the policy responds’. That is, do you have a valid claim?

This means that you need to understand if your claim is covered under the listed events of the policy, or that it is not specifically excluded by the policy.

If, for example, you have cover for COVID-19, you aren’t covered for every event caused by the pandemic, but just by what is specifically stated in the PDS.

Margaret and Peter* booked a cruise departing from Darwin in March 2021. Shortly before departure, the Northern Territory Government issued a directive no longer allowing cruises to depart from the NT. Margaret and Peter’s cruise company arranged for the cruise to depart from Broome and flew the passengers to Broome for a cost of $300 per person. As Margaret had bought a policy that included some cover for COVID-19, she made a claim for $600. But this was denied by her travel insurer and her subsequent complaint to AFCA was unsuccessful. AFCA said, ‘The cause of the loss was a government directive to not permit the cruise to operate through the NT port. The insurer’s policy provides no cover for these circumstances. It also excludes losses arising from government intervention, prohibition or regulation.’ *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Travel insurance and Smartraveller advice Smartraveller, managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), assigns an overall advice level to more than 175 destinations. This advice level can affect your travel insurance cover. The advice levels are: Level 1  – Exercise normal safety precautions. COVERED. Level 2  – Exercise a high degree of caution. COVERED. Level 3  – Reconsider your need to travel. CHECK. Level 4  – Do not travel. USUALLY NOT COVERED. Travel warnings can work in your favour. If an insurer excludes cover for an event, they may still cover you to change your plans in response to updated advice from Smartraveller. But beware when travelling to a destination that has a ‘Do not travel’ warning. Most standard policies won’t cover you for ‘Do not travel’ destinations, including for COVID-19. A week after a volcanic eruption made world news, Sameer* booked a trip to Bali. He assumed the emergency would be over by the time he was due to fly a month later. Unfortunately, the volcano continued to erupt and Sameer’s flight was cancelled. His insurer declined his claim because he’d bought the flight and insurance after Smartraveller issued a travel alert about the volcanic eruption, and after it had been in the news. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Delays can be expensive, particularly if you have to pay for alternative transport or accommodation. And those extra expenses won’t always be covered.

• Transport delay is only covered after a certain number of hours, usually 6, but you may have to wait as long as 12 hours before your cover kicks in.
• Cover limits for transport delays are typically lower than other cover limits and are often limited per 24-hour period.
• Insurers often exclude cover for rescheduling caused by the transport provider but some may cover additional accommodation and travel expenses in this scenario for travellers who are en route.

Baggage cover varies widely, with travel insurance policies ranging from $0 to $30,000. So, if you’re not carrying expensive items, you may be able to save on your premium by selecting a policy that provides lower coverage.

• Individual items are subject to sub-limits that range from around $250 to as much as $5,000.
• Higher item limits usually apply for electronic items like laptops, cameras, smartphones and tablets.
• You can pay extra to specify items you want extra cover for (insurers are always happy for you to pay extra).
• Valuables locked in a car or checked in on an airline, train or bus may not be covered.
• Generally, any items left unattended may be excluded from cover, so keep your belongings close.

Jing* sat down to try on a pair of shoes in a busy London shoe shop, placing her handbag next to her on the seat. When she stood up to leave, she discovered her bag was gone. Her insurer refused to pay up because she had left her bag unattended in a public place. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Lost luggage

If an airline loses your luggage temporarily and doesn’t compensate you for that loss, you may be able to claim expenses for clothing, toiletries and other necessities, depending on your policy.

• Cover usually only applies to luggage lost for more than 12 hours, though the minimum time limit varies per insurer, as does the level of cover.
• If your policy has an excess (a fee that’s deductible from your payout), remember that this applies once per claimed event, and items below the excess level can’t be claimed.

Angelo and Diane* tried to claim $112 for meals and drinks when their connecting flight to Hawaii was delayed by 8 hours. Although their policy technically covered them for the cost, they were liable for an excess of $250, so their claim was denied. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

If you don’t feel like paying the ‘extra insurance’ the car hire company charges, then use the collision damage excess cover in your travel insurance.

Tip: Stick with recognised car rental companies in this case since this cover only applies if the car hire company already has its own comprehensive insurance.

Do you have the right licence?

Some countries require you to have an international driving permit. If you have an accident while driving on the wrong licence (or breaking that country’s law in any other way), you may not be covered.

Cruise-specific insurance

Cruises aren’t automatically included in all travel insurance policies. If you’re going on a cruise, make sure you have the right cover.

The Department of Health says: ‘Cruise ships carry a higher risk for spreading disease compared to other non-essential activities and transport modes. COVID-19, influenza and other infectious diseases such as gastroenteritis spread easily between people living and socialising in close quarters.’

Check travel insurance policies to make sure medical cover for COVID-19 is included, as some policies exclude this cover. Erica* stumbled and broke her femur during stormy seas while on a cruise. Her insurer covered the cost of evacuation and a partial hip replacement at a hospital in Noumea. They also organised and paid for her son to fly to Noumea to help her recover and return home to Australia. Five months later, the well-travelled 82-year-old was boarding a plane to Croatia for her next (fully insured) adventure. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Not leaving Australian waters?

You still need insurance. Doctors working on cruise ships don’t need Medicare provider numbers, so if they treat you, you can’t claim on Medicare or your private health insurance, even if you’re still in Australian waters.

Domestic travel insurance doesn’t cover medical costs, so you need either international travel insurance (check that it covers domestic cruises) or a domestic cruise policy.

Kerry* thought she’d done the right thing buying an annual multi-trip international travel insurance policy for a number of upcoming holidays, one of which was a round-trip cruise departing from and returning to Fremantle, Western Australia, with no port stops. When she had to cancel due to ill health, she discovered her policy wouldn’t cover her because the trip wasn’t considered an international one. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

When CHOICE compares travel insurers, we look at who covers which sports and adventure activities, such as skiing, ballooning, bungee jumping and scuba diving, to name a few.

But as always with insurance, the PDS may include some surprises. For example, several insurers we’ve reviewed will cover canyoning but they won’t cover abseiling, often a necessity in canyoning. Other policies in our comparison will cover abseiling, but not into a canyon.

If you’re planning on doing anything adventurous, check to make sure you’re covered. It’s not enough to simply look for the tick next to your chosen activity – you also need to check the definitions in the PDS.

Motorcycles and mopeds

Hiring a motorcycle or moped? Depending on which country you’re in, you might need a local or international motorcycle licence. You probably won’t be covered if you aren’t obeying the local law. And even if you are doing the right thing under local law, some policies still won’t cover you unless you have a motorcycle licence.

Are you wearing a helmet? Most countries say you need one by law, but that doesn’t mean it will be included in your hire. No helmet means no cover (in more ways than one).

Nhung* was injured after she rented a moped in Thailand only to find out the engine size was not covered by her insurance policy. Most insurers adopt the national standard for the definition of a moped – an engine capacity under 50cc. If the engine is bigger than that, it’s a motorcycle and you’ll need an Australian motorcycle licence. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Skiing and snowboarding

Some insurers cover skiing, often for an extra premium, but not so many cover skiing off-piste (away from the groomed runs). So, if you’re tempted to slide off the beaten path next time you hit the slopes, make sure you have a policy that covers off-piste ski runs (or pay for the optional extra cover).

Otherwise, if you run into a tree and have to be evacuated from the mountains, you may need to  think about selling your home to pay for it.

It’s worth remembering that travel insurance only covers overseas costs. So if you break a leg while you’re abroad, your insurer will likely pay your hospital fees, but they won’t cover your ongoing physiotherapy once you’re back home.

Marianna* fractured her leg in 3 places while skiing with her partner and children in Japan. Because the family had bought additional cover for winter sports, they were reimbursed $35,466 for medical expenses, additional transport and accommodation, the cost of a nanny to look after the children, and business class flights back to Australia. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Alcohol and drugs

Overdoing it on vodka and float-tubing down a river isn’t likely to be covered by any policy. Insurers simply won’t pay for costs arising from you being under the influence of alcohol or drugs (except where taken under the advice of a doctor).

Even one or 2 drinks could be enough of an excuse for insurers to get out of paying.

Relatives can be relative Many policies cover the costs to travel home if one of your relatives dies or becomes sick. Bear in mind: an insurer’s definition of a ‘relative’ may differ from yours cover is usually dependent on the age of that relative, so the death of your 84-year-old grandma may not be covered your relatives are subject to the same pre-existing condition exclusions as you, so if your 84-year-old grandma died from a known heart condition, you may not be covered. you may be able to apply for your relative’s pre-existing condition to be assessed before you buy the policy. cover is limited to relatives that live in Australia, or in some cases New Zealand. So if your 84-year-old grandma is in China, you won’t be covered to fly there for her funeral. Amanda* and her husband had booked an overseas diving trip, but shortly before the trip Amanda’s mum passed away from pneumonia. They cancelled their trip and incurred cancellation costs and lost deposits of nearly $13,000. As the death of a parent was covered in their policy, Amanda made a claim. Their insurer denied the claim as Amanda’s mum lived in the United States and was undergoing treatment for lung cancer, so the insurer concluded that her death was caused by a pre-existing condition. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

So you’ve booked and paid for your holiday through a travel agent, but then the travel agent goes broke. You’ll get your money back, right? Not necessarily.

Only a few insurers will cover you for the insolvency of a travel provider, and that includes hotels, airlines and other transport companies that might go broke overnight (remember Ansett?). But there are a few ways to safeguard your hard-earned holiday.

• Check whether your insurer covers you for insolvency.
• Check whether your travel agent has insolvency insurance (this isn’t compulsory, so only some will have it).
• Pay with your credit card. Some banks allow a chargeback if you pay for something on your credit card and don’t end up actually getting it.

Tip: Don’t accept any dodgy contract terms that require you to give up your chargeback rights.

2 out of 3 travellers assume their travel insurance will cover insolvency, but in 2017 less than a third of insurers actually provided this cover.

Credit card travel insurance

Some credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance. They’ll cover you for all the usual things like medical emergencies, cancellation and protection for baggage and items. But they do differ from standalone policies, so it’s essential you check the fine print.

• Fees: You’ll pay a premium for these credit cards, usually between $100 and $450 per year.
• Excess: The excess on credit card policies tends to be fixed at a higher rate (usually around $250), whereas it’s more variable on standalone policies.
• Age limits: Some credit card policies have no age limit, which can be handy for older travellers.
• Regions: Credit card travel insurance is not based on location, which means you can travel from Europe to the US without having to worry if your policy covers both areas. Bear in mind though that some regions (such as countries under United Nations embargo) may be excluded, and sometimes with US underwriters, travel to Cuba is excluded.
• Baggage cover: Credit card insurance often offers higher coverage for baggage loss and damage.
• Trip duration: Credit card insurance policies vary in how many days of coverage they’ll give you per trip – anywhere from a few weeks to 365 days – so check your limit if you’re going on a long holiday.
• Pre-existing conditions: Chances are your credit card insurance won’t automatically cover your pre-existing condition. You’ll need to call your insurer and see if you need to pay an extra fee or premium.
• Domestic travel: Credit card insurance doesn’t apply to domestic travel, although some cards will reimburse expenses associated with domestic flight delays and missed connections to international flights.
• Making a claim: You may not be able to claim reimbursement unless you pay for purchases (such as emergency items after a baggage delay) with the same credit card.

27% of travellers who plan to buy travel insurance will get it through their credit card.

Is it activated?

Credit card insurance usually activates when you buy your air tickets (or sometimes other transport or accommodation expenses) using your card.

• Policies require a minimum spend to activate – usually around $500. So if you scored your tickets on sale for $499, you won’t be covered.
• If you want cover for your spouse or dependants, you must also buy their tickets on your card.
• Some policies only activate if you book a return ticket. A one-way flight, or even 2 one-way flights, will leave you uninsured.
• Some banks require you to notify them in order to get full coverage for each trip. While base coverage will still give you emergency medical treatment, you might not get coverage for property damage or luggage delays. Check whether you need to do anything to activate any extra features.
• Some cards will cover you if you use rewards points to buy your tickets. Others won’t.

Is it worth it?

If you already have a credit card and use it regularly, the free comprehensive travel insurance on your card can save you money. And if you’re a regular traveller without a credit card, it’s worth considering if you travel at least once a year or every second year internationally.

David* booked a trip to North America for himself and his family, including his 11-year-old daughter Petra. The trip was cancelled because Petra got pneumonia. Unfortunately, David only activated his credit card travel insurance about an hour before the family was scheduled to fly out of Australia. The travel insurer denied his claim for cancellation costs because he knew about his daughter’s illness when he activated the policy. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details

Have you been knocked back on an insurance claim and want to dispute it?

Internal dispute resolution

Complain to the insurer first. They’ll usually keep you up to date about the progress of your complaint every 10 business days.

Once you’ve lodged your case and all the supporting information and documents, the insurer has 45 days to complete its internal dispute resolution process.

External dispute resolution

If you aren’t happy with the insurer’s decision, you can take your complaint to the Australian Financial Complaint Authority (AFCA). They’ll handle your case for free.

• The AFCA will mediate between you and the insurer to find a resolution.
• If mediation is unsuccessful, they may make a preliminary assessment or give a determination straight away on your dispute.
• A determination is legally binding on the insurer but not on you.
• There’s no appeal process with AFCA.
• For more information, visit afca.org.au .

Legal action

If you’re unhappy with the AFCA determination, you might want to consider taking legal action against the insurance company.

Keep your travel insurance details with you at all times while on your trip and share them with family or friends before you leave.

Related content

No matter who you are, where you're going and what you're doing, get travel insurance. Learn how to choose a policy that's right for you.

This page provides mature travellers with information to prepare for a hassle-free journey. Properly preparing before you travel will help you have a safe trip.

Browse our general advice pages on a range of travel topics, to learn what you need to know before you go.

Travel insurance is adapting to a world with COVID-19 — but there'll be a catch

Topic: Travel Health and Safety

COVID-19 has changed travel — and travel insurance. ( Pexels: Alexandr Podvalny )

If extended lockdowns haven't been enough to get you fantasising about your next overseas trip, maybe last week's news last that international borders will start reopening in November has done the trick.

But when international travel resumes it's not going to look the same as before, and COVID-19 has brought new risks that could impact you when you jet off abroad.

Here's how travel insurance has changed since the international border closed.

Will travel insurance cover COVID-19?

As with travel insurance before the pandemic, it will depend on the policy you select.

Because most international travel from Australia has been suspended since March last year, most Australians haven't had to worry about what might happen to them if they contract COVID-19 overseas.

You might want to consider travel insurance before jetting overseas. ( ABC )

When COVID-19 first shut down global travel, many Australians weren't covered because most insurance policies exclude pandemics and epidemics.

But now some insurers have begun offering COVID-19 travel policies.

If you get sick during a holiday and have to isolate (or worse, go to hospital for medical treatment) that could have flow-on effects for accommodation, transit and the people you're travelling with — not to mention potential hospital bills.

COVID-19 cover aims to provide a level of protection for those circumstances, but those policies won't cover everything, including a pretty big reason for cancelled plans across Australia.

"It is impossible for insurers to price the risk associated with border closures and travel bans," a spokeswoman form the Insurance Council of Australia said.

That means policies are unlikely to cover you if your plans are cancelled or postponed due to state or international border closures, which can change quickly and with little warning.

Jodi Bird from consumer advocacy group CHOICE said there could be other ways for you to protect your money if your trip was impacted by border closures.

"The main way to make sure that you're covered due to border closures is up front make sure that you're booking flexible bookings … only book for those flexible accommodation locations," he said, noting it was always harder to cancel a booking once you'd locked in dates.

"If you have to cancel, ask the actual provider if you can get your money back — a refund or a credit. If there's no remedy there, then the next stage is essentially to raise it … with your state consumer affairs body."

Travel insurance can be affected by the advisory status of your destination, as classified by the Australian government's Smartraveller service.

Usually, insurance won't cover you if you go to places listed as "do not travel" by Smartraveller.

International borders will start opening later this year. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

Currently, every country in the world except for New Zealand is listed as "do not travel", but that will change when international borders reopen from next month.

"Travel insurance will then be available with some COVID-19-related cover to these countries," the spokeswoman for the Australian Insurance Council said.

"Travel insurance without COVID-19 cover is currently available from some insurers for international travel for those travelling with exemptions to Do Not Travel countries."

She also said insurance, even without COVID-19 cover, remained an important consideration for international travellers.

Mr Bird said the two biggest things to look out for when getting travel insurance in the age of COVID-19 were:

• Make sure your destination is definitely covered by your policy. Most policies won't cover you if you go to a country the government advises against visiting
• Make sure your policy explicitly covers COVID-19 because some don't

Will you have to pay more for travel insurance?

Mr Bird said it was difficult to predict how prices could change in the wake of COVID-19, given the travel insurance industry had been disrupted.

"It's hard to tell how COVID's going to affect insurers' premiums, so it is possible that you would have to pay more for that kind of cover," he said, saying generally: "The more you pay, the more you'll be covered for."

A lack of competition could also be pushing up prices, as many providers have stopped offering travel insurance in the wake of the pandemic.

"There are a lot less travel insurers than there were a year and a half ago," Mr Bird said.

"It could actually mean that … consumers might have to pay more."

• Travel Insurance
• Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance Providers In Australia

The journalists on the editorial team at Forbes Advisor Australia base their research and opinions on objective, independent information-gathering.

When covering investment and personal finance stories, we aim to inform our readers rather than recommend specific financial product or asset classes. While we may highlight certain positives of a financial product or asset class, there is no guarantee that readers will benefit from the product or investment approach and may, in fact, make a loss if they acquire the product or adopt the approach.

To the extent any recommendations or statements of opinion or fact made in a story may constitute financial advice, they constitute general information and not personal financial advice in any form. As such, any recommendations or statements do not take into account the financial circumstances, investment objectives, tax implications, or any specific requirements of readers.

Readers of our stories should not act on any recommendation without first taking appropriate steps to verify the information in the stories consulting their independent financial adviser in order to ascertain whether the recommendation (if any) is appropriate, having regard to their investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs. Providing access to our stories should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or product, or to engage in or refrain from engaging in any transaction by Forbes Advisor Australia. In comparing various financial products and services, we are unable to compare every provider in the market so our rankings do not constitute a comprehensive review of a particular sector. While we do go to great lengths to ensure our ranking criteria matches the concerns of consumers, we cannot guarantee that every relevant feature of a financial product will be reviewed. We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, Forbes Advisor Australia cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of this website. Forbes Advisor Australia accepts no responsibility to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in our stories or any other information made available to a person, nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information.

Our Pick Of The Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance Providers In Australia

Published: Sep 2, 2024, 3:30pm

Editorial note: Forbes Advisor Australia may earn revenue from this story in the manner disclosed here . Read our advice disclaimer here .

Australians are well-known for their love of travel, with many of us eager to make up for years spent in lockdown with epic European vacations, winter breaks in Bali or luxury cruises.

In fact, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) revealed that travel activity in December 2022 was at the same level as February 2019, before lockdowns and Covid restrictions, and this trend has continued at this pace for much of 2023 and the first half of 2024. The ABS recorded some 1.3 million departures in January, an increase of 294,990 compared with January of 2023. In its latest update in mid-year 2024, the ABS recorded 1.76 million departures in June—an increase of 13.2% on one year earlier. For residents returning from overseas in June 2024,  some 863,950 short-term trips were recorded, which was 2.6% higher than the pre-COVID level in June 2019.

Interestingly, Indonesia (Bali) was the most popular destination country, accounting for 17% of all resident returns and surpassing New Zealand as the most-frequented destination.

Key to peace of mind when travelling is adequate insurance, and it’s also paramount to find an insurance provider who will cover not only Covid-19 related claims, such as being diagnosed with Covid-19 while travelling or cancellations and delays due to Covid-19, but all of the other potential mishaps that could go wrong while overseas—whether it be missing a connecting flight, falling ill, event cancellation, theft or luggage going missing. Alarmingly, a recent study by Smartraveller and the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) found that one in six Australians are still travelling overseas without travel insurance, with younger travellers, those from lower-income households, and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds all more likely to travel without insurance.

To help Australians find the best option suitable for their needs, Forbes Advisor combed through the leading players to determine our pick of the best comprehensive travel insurance providers for those looking to travel overseas in 2024 and beyond.

Note: the below list represents a selection of our top category picks, as chosen by Forbes Advisor Australia’s editors and journalists. The information provided is purely factual and is not intended to imply any recommendation, opinion, or advice about a financial product. Not every product or provider in the marketplace has been reviewed, and the list below is not intended to be exhaustive nor replace your own research or independent financial advice. For more information on how Forbes Advisor ranks and reviews products, including how we identified our top category picks, read the methodology selection below. 

Related: How to Find the Best Travel Insurance for you

Our Pick of the Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance Providers 2024

• Travel Insurance Direct (Comprehensive)
• Allianz (Comprehensive)
• Bupa Travel Insurance (Comprehensive)
• InsureandGo (Comprehensive)
• insure4less (Comprehensive)
• Cover-More Travel Insurance (Comprehensive)
• 1Cover (Comprehensive)
• Fast Cover (Comprehensive)

Tick Travel Insurance

• Qantas Travel Insurance (Comprehensive)
• Australia Post (Comprehensive)

What Methodology Did We Use?

Covid-19 travel rules and restrictions, what if i have a pre-existing medical condition, types of travel insurance policies, what about seniors, frequently asked questions (faqs).

• Best Seniors Travel Insurance
• Best Domestic Travel Insurance
• Best Cruise Travel Insurance
• Best Family Travel Insurance
• Best Student Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance Cost
• Pregnancy Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance And Covid: Are You Covered?
• Travel Insurance For Bali
• Travel Insurance For Fiji
• Travel Insurance For The USA
• Travel Insurance For Thailand
• Travel Insurance For New Zealand
• Travel Insurance To India

Featured Partners

Fast Cover Travel Insurance

On Fast Cover’s Secure Website

Medical cover

Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance

Cancellations

Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

Key Features

25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating

Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Southern Cross Travel Insurance

Medical Cover

Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs

$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited

Freely Travel Insurance

On Freely’s Secure Website

24/7 Emergency Assistance

Flexibility to adjust your coverage even when you’re away in real-time.

In-app travel safety alerts to keep you safe

Unlimited, with a $1000 limit to dental

Despite the WHO declaring the pandemic over, Covid continues to interrupt our travel plans, and compared with other policies, Travel Insurance Direct offers very thorough Covid-19 cover, including both medical expenses and trip cancellations. Furthermore, some 43 medical conditions are automatically covered, however, additional conditions are not considered.

Where the policy really stands out is in its coverage of a broad range of 93 activities, with travellers able to add on extra coverage for certain higher-risk activities, such as snow sports. Plus, there are more than 2,500 reviews of the policy on Product Review, with an average of 4.2 stars.

• 93 sports and activities are automatically covered
• Lost luggage coverage up to $12,000, with the ability to increase item limits
• Online discounts are only available for multiple policies or group policies
• Certain pre-existing medical conditions cannot be covered

Yes, overseas medical expenses related to Covid-19 are included in the unlimited medical cover, as well as additional travel expenses up to $2,500.

Cancellations due to Covid-19 are covered for you and travelling party.

Unlimited, including dental

$2,000 is included, with the option to increase at a higher premium

Allianz has a generous medical policy, and unlike many competitors, includes unlimited coverage for both hospital and dental. The top-tier policy also covers pre-existing medical conditions, however, assessments are required and conditions need to be met. Some 38 activities are included and listed in the PDS, and there is no age limit to coverage.

There’s also the option to increase certain limits (luggage, cancellations, etc) for higher levels of coverage depending on the individual traveller’s needs.

• All ages are covered
• Dental is included in unlimited medical expenses
• Personal liability cover does not include additional activity packs, such as snow.
• No cover for missed connecting flights

Yes, Covid-19 is covered under medical expenses.

Cancellations due to Covid-19 are covered if the cancellation is due to a government-enforced border closure or due to the policy holder having to complete a quarantine due to Covid-19. As this is less of an issue these days, this policy feature is likely to be less important to travellers.

Bupa travel insurance is underwritten by Allianz, and its comprehensive travel insurance policy is almost identical to Allianz’s branded offering.

Along with unlimited medical, hospital and dental cover, Bupa offers 24/7 emergency assistance with Australian-based doctors and nurses available. As with Allianz, credit card fraud is covered up to $5,000 and lost luggage tops out at $10,000 (sub-limits apply). It’s worth noting, however, that Bupa scores slightly lower on Product Review—an average of 3.9 stars compared to Allianz’s 4.

• 15% discount for Bupa health insurance policy holders
• All pre-existing conditions need to be assessed to determine if they will be covered
• Reviews state lengthy waits for claim payments

Cancellations due to Covid-19 are covered if the cancellation is due to a government-enforced border closure or due to the policy holder having to complete a quarantine. As this is less of an issue these days, this policy feature may not be as important to travellers.

Unlimited, with a $500 limit to dental

InsureandGo is an ideal choice for families, with 90 activities included and the option to add additional extras, such as snow cover. Children are covered up to the age of 18 if they are travelling with parents or grandparents, and the maximum age for a policy-holder is 100 years old—although if you’re heading on a cruise the maximum age is 79.

Lost luggage is covered up to $15,000—sub limits apply—and there is unlimited cancellation cover.

The company’s comprehensive offering, known as Gold, was rated an average of 4 stars from more than 6,000 reviews.

• Regular discounts with promo codes on Facebook page
• Coverage up to 100 years
• No credit card fraud coverage
• Dental tops out at $500

Yes, overseas medical expenses related to Covid-19 are covered, as are cancellations for the policy holder and their travelling companions

Yes, up to $7500 per person

Insure4less offers policyholders coverage for a wide range of activities—more than 120 are listed in PDS—while additional, high-risk sports can also be added. The comprehensive policy, known as Excel Plus, covers medical expenses of Covid-19, along with any additional expenses required for you to return early to Australia if necessary.

It also covers lost luggage up to $5,000 (sub limits apply), cancellations up to $7,500 per person, connecting flights up to $1,000 and personal liability up to $7.5 million—the latter of which is at the higher end of what is generally offered. Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions are subject to the completion of an online medical questionnaire.

Read more:  insure4less Review: Pros and Cons

• More than 100 activities are included in the policy, with the option to add on additional cover for other high-risk activities such as snow cover for snowboarding and skiing
• Unlimited medical
• Luggage only covered up to $5,000

Mostly. Overseas medical expenses related to covid-19 are covered, as well as additional expenses for you to return early due to Covid if necessary. However, cancellations due to Covid are not covered.

Cover-More’s travel insurance not only covers Covid-19 medical expenses overseas, but also provides $2,500 for additional related expenses. Lost luggage is also covered up to $15,000, as are dependent children up to 21 provided they are financially dependent and not in full-time employment.

Travellers up to 99 years of age can travel on the Cover-More policy, however senior travellers must meet certain criteria.

Despite these stand-out features, what prevented us from giving Cover-More a higher score was its negative reviews: it scored an average of 3.3 stars out of almost 3,000 reviews on Product Review. (Forbes Advisor pays little attention to reviews when there are fewer than 100, and always takes into account that reviews tend to skew negative).

• Pregnancy is automatically covered for single-child pregnancy
• $3,000 for connecting flights
• Senior travellers need to meet acceptance criteria
• No online discounts

Mostly. Covid-19 related medical expenses are covered, with additional expenses up to $2,500.

There is up to $5,000 for cancellations related to Covid-19, but only on the Comprehensive Plus policy.

Unlimited, but dependent on conditions

From more than 4500 reviews on Product Review, 1Cover has received an average rating of 4.3 stars by consumers.

The comprehensive policy covers more than 100 sports and activities, and includes the option to add additional packs for high-risk activities. The rest of the policy can also be personalised, allowing policyholders to add or increase cover to suit the traveller’s habits

Credit card fraud is covered up to $5,000, as is disruption of journey when the delay is for more than six hours.

• Flexibility to add and increase cover to suit individual travellers
• Pregnancy cover up to week 24 of the pregnancy
• Travellers over the age of 80 incur a $3,000 excess
• Dental limited to $1,000.

Partially. Medical expenses for Covid-19 are covered, but cancellations are not.

Unlimited, with a $1,000 limit to dental

Fast Cover offers unlimited cover for both medical expenses and cancellations, however, it no longer offers automatic coverage for a range of pre-existing conditions, but instead provides the option of online medical screening up to the age of 89. This means if you want to ensure you’re covered for your existing medical condition, you can complete an online form and your condition will be assessed to determine if Fast Cover will include it in your policy.

The policy offers good Covid-19 coverage, including listing Covid-19 as a medical expense and including it as a reason for cancellation, however dental is capped at $1,000. Additional add-ons such as adventure or snow packs   are not available to travellers over a certain age , and if you booked through a travel agent, cancellation cover for travel agent fees tops out at $1,500.

Read more:   Fast Cover Review: Features, Pros and Cons

• Discounts available for more than one person
• Online medical assessment
• Adventure pack not available to travellers over 74
• Snow pack not available to travellers over 69

Yes, overseas medical expenses due to Covid-19 are covered, as are cancellations for those named on the insurance certificate.

Yes, up to $20,000

Tick Travel Insurance’s Top plan includes unlimited medical coverage, emergency dental to the tune of $500 and is open to travellers up to the age of 100.

Missed connections are not insurable but there is cover for travel delay expenses resulting from poor weather, a strike, industrial action or mechanical breakdown. Cover is for up to $100 per completed hour with a total limit of $1,000.

Most impressive of all is Tick’s positive customer reviews, with the company receiving an average of four stars out of more than 2,800 reviews on Product Review. We also like the $20,000 cancellation cover, which is more than a lot of its competitors.

• High cancellation cover
• Positive reviews
• Covers elderly travellers up to 100
• Rental excess coverage is lower than competitors
• Credit card fraud not covered

The good news is that under Tick Travel Insurance’s Top Plan, you will be covered for covid-related cancellations, medical expenses or trip disruptions when overseas.

Qantas Comprehensive Travel Insurance offers unlimited medical expenses, including coverage for Covid-19 diagnoses. It also automatically covers 43 pre-existing medical conditions (pending certain criteria), but requires a medical assessment, in the form of an online form, for any conditions not listed.

There is unlimited cover for cancellations and missed connections, as well as coverage for emergency dental for acute pain of up to $2,500.  Note: the standard comprehensive policy is for those aged up to 69; there is a seperate policy for 70+ years.

Related: Our pick of the best travel insurance for seniors .

• Lost luggage covered up to $15,000
• Good Covid-19 cover
• Some poor reviews albeit from a small number (257)
• Fraudulent credit card activity is not covered

Yes, overseas medical expenses includes if you are diagnosed with Covid-19. Cancellations due to a positive Covid-19 diagnosis are also covered, as well as ‘reasonable’ additional expenses (such as if you are required to quarantine).

Australia Post’s Comprehensive Travel Insurance offers coverage for credit card fraud of up to $5,000, lost luggage insurance up to $12,000 (sub-limits apply on certain items) and no age limit on policies. There is unlimited emergency medical, which we would expect for a comprehensive policy, with a $2,000 limit for dental, which is also pretty good. There is no cover specifically for missed connections but there is cover for travel delay up to $2,000

However, cruises of more than two nights will not be covered and need to be added as an additional pack to the policy.

• No age limit
• High coverage for dental
• Need to purchase an additional cruise pack if going on a cruise of longer than two nights
• Only 15 activities included, with additional packs required to be purchased for snow sports and motorcycling

Partially. Covid-19 related medical expenses and additional expenses are are covered, but an additional excess applies. Cancellations due to Covid-19 are not covered, and there is no cover for claims arising from Covid-19 while travelling on a cruise.

To find our list of the top travel insurance providers, we performed an in-depth analysis of more than 30 of the most popular local travel insurance providers. This included an evaluation of their current product ratings online and reviews from previous customers; a comparison of necessary offerings; and in-depth research into their individual product disclosure statements (PDS).

Through the analysis, the following coverage offerings and conditions were compared:

• Underwriter: an underwriter is the company which evaluates an applicant’s claim for approval and payment, and therefore should always be a reputable company;
• The average product review rating: found via Australia’s independent consumer review site, Product Review, where policyholders rate their experience with the specific travel provider;
• Conditions of age: including whether there is a maximum age cut-off to take out the policy, or whether children up to a certain age can be included with the main policy holder;
• Coverage of personal liability, credit card fraud, car hire excess and lost luggage: including any additional fees, conditions, and value limits;
• Medical cover, including dental, pregnancy and Covid-19: specifying what is included in the medical cover, any excess limits for dental, what weeks of pregnancy are covered (if any), and whether Covid-19 is included as a medical claim;
• Whether cancellations, delays or connecting flights were covered: including whether cancellations due to COVID-19 are claimable and any conditions with travel delay coverage or connecting flights;
• The inclusion of pre-existing medical conditions: from how many pre-existing medical conditions are included to whether there are conditions that need to be met, and any medication conditions that are automatically excluded;
• The inclusion of sports and activities: how many sports and activities were included in the policy; any sports and activities that are not covered; the availability of additional packages to cover certain sports and activities (such as winter sports or cruises);
• Emergency assistance and customer service: the availability of assistance and the level of customer service provided to a policyholder; and
• Discounts: whether there were any online discounts available from the provider.

In all, there were 19 different variables we compared and considered to find the overall ranking of each comprehensive travel insurance provider. Rankings were then made between 1-5, with the leading providers–all ranked 3 and above–included in the best-of list.

You will note that we did not evaluate policies on the metric of price: this is because the cost of travel insurance is highly dependent on the circumstances, health, age and destination of the person travelling.

A Note on Star Rankings

You will note that we have included a star rating next to each product or provider. This rating was determined by the editorial team once all of the data points above were considered, and the pros and cons of each product attribute was reviewed. The star rating is solely the view of Forbes Advisor editorial staff. Commercial partners or advertisers have no bearing on the star rating or their inclusion on this list. Star ratings are only one factor to be considered, and Forbes Advisor encourages you to seek independent advice from an authorised financial adviser in relation to your own financial circumstances and investments before you decide to choose a particular financial product or service.

It’s certainly easier to travel now than post-lockdowns when travellers required vaccine passports, QR codes and health checks to visit, as well as leave, certain destinations.

Nevertheless, with the virus still circulating in the community, and some nations possessing higher vaccination rates than others, Covid still has the power to disrupt travel plans. At the time of writing, you do not need to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test to meet Australia’s travel requirements, nor do you need proof of a Covid-19 vaccination to travel to and from Australia.

Masks are also no longer necessary on international flights. However, as per the Australian government’s health and aged care department, Australians are still encouraged to consider wearing a mask to reduce potential risk.

The rules and regulations surrounding Covid-19 travel overseas vary by country and region. Before you travel, be sure to check your destination country’s local public health orders for Covid-19 vaccination requirements, and to see if there are any isolation or quarantine orders upon your arrival.

You can check the government’s Smartraveller Destination guide to find the latest updates for your destination, along with the Australian government’s advice for travelling to that destination.

The advice levels are: exercise normal safety precautions; exercise a high degree of caution; reconsider your need to travel; and do not travel. Smartraveller explains the level of advice in attribution to each destination and the reason for such, which could include terrorist threats, high levels of violent crime, security risks and/or health measures.

If you have, or have had, a medical condition, you may need to ensure your travel insurance has specialist coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. The same applies if you are recovering from serious injury.

Most Australian travel insurance providers do include a wide range of pre-existing medical conditions in their policies, such as cancer, heart problems, respiratory ailments, Crohn’s disease and diabetes. They can also include more common complaints such as asthma and hay-fever, as well as Covid-19.

For pre-existing medical conditions that aren’t automatically included, you may need to purchase extra coverage. To find out whether your condition is listed on the policy, you will need to read the travel insurance provider’s product disclosure statement. If your condition is not automatically included, it may still be covered upon meeting certain conditions or by undertaking a medical assessment.

Some conditions may never be covered by some providers and are excluded, even pending a medical assessment. Most often, these are pre-existing medical conditions that are the result of alcohol or drug dependency.

When comparing travel insurance providers, you’ll see many different policy types and therefore need to consider which best suits your needs. These policy types include:

• Single cover: cover for an individual traveller
• Family cover
• Single trip: providing cover for one trip, for a specific destination over a fixed time
• Annual multi-trip: designed for those planning to take more than two holidays or business trips a year to multiple destinations.
• Worldwide: allowing you to travel to destinations across the globe, however certain high-risk areas or those that are expensive for medical cover may not be included

There are often ‘packs’ or ‘additional extras’ that can be added on to these standard policy types, to include specific activities or travel types. This includes cruise coverage, designed to provide cover for the activities and risks associated with cruise holidays; winter sports packs, designed to provide cover if you plan to take part in high-risk activities, such as skiing and snowboarding; or backpacker coverage, which covers individuals on longer trips overseas that may span numerous countries.

Those over 55 years need to ensure they are covered by their travel provider and insurance policy. Some policies have a maximum age cut off, while others do not. Meanwhile, some policies may include all ages, but incur a higher premium for those aged over specific cut offs.

Seniors should also consider the level of cover provided for medical and hospital expenses. While accidents and illnesses can happen at any age, it is a fact of life that seniors are more susceptible.

When taking out an insurance policy–at any age–it is essential that you read the insurance provider’s PDS and ask to clarify any questions that you have, so that you can ensure you are covered in the way you expect to be if a claim does arise. You can read more in our pick of the best travel insurance for seniors.

Data Research:  Mia Dunn

What does most travel insurance cover?

When searching for travel insurance, it’s important to find a policy that suits your individual needs. Ideally a travel insurance policy will include medical cover, lost luggage cover, and other emergencies or accidents that may occur while you are overseas.

Insurance providers may have different limits or higher excess required for certain coverage, so it’s essential that you read the product disclosure statement before taking out a policy.

Which is the best travel insurance for over 70s?

Travel insurances often have a maximum age that they are willing to cover, largely due to the high-risk of elderly individuals. These cut-off ages vary by policy provider, and through our analysis, we found the providers that offered travel insurance for over 70s that was also highly regarded in other factors were Australia Post, Allianz, and InsureandGo. You can read more in our pick of the best travel insurance providers for seniors .

Which is the best travel insurance for Covid-19?

According to our analysis, among the best Australian travel insurance with Covid-19 cover is Cover-More’s Comprehensive Travel Insurance Plan. The policy covers Covid-19-related medical expenses as included in its unlimited medical expenses cover, additional expenses up to $2,500, and up to $5,000 for cancellations related to Covid-19. Of course, this is a guide only, and we did not analyse all of the providers on the market, so you may find another Covid policy that is better suited to your needs.

Who is the best company for travel insurance?

It’s important to remember that rather than one travel insurance company being better than the other, you need to find the perfect match for you: if you’re over 65, then you will want a company that caters to seniors, if you are an adrenaline junky then you will want a company that offers generous activity coverage. In our analysis the following companies scored above-average ratings:

Is it worth buying travel insurance at the moment?

It’s always worth buying travel insurance, even if you don’t intend on undertaking any extreme sports or risky activities. Travel insurance may protect you if your flight is delayed or cancelled, you experience a medical emergency overseas or you lose your belongings. With so many providers on the market these days, competition is fierce so you can find reasonably priced travel insurance for as little as $2 a day in some cases.

The Department of Foreign Affairs Trade (DFAT) and Insurance Council of Australia’s (ICA) joint Travel Insurance Survey of 2023 found that one in six Australians were not covered by insurance on their most recent trip. The most common reason given for travelling without insurance was “travelling somewhere I knew I’d be safe” (29%), followed by “I wasn’t sure if it was needed” (27%) and “I just didn’t think of it” (25%).

What doesn't travel insurance cover?

Each policy is different so make sure that you read the product disclosure statement to determine whether you’re covered for Covid-related incidents or delays. As a general rule, however, you won’t be covered for mental health emergencies overseas or for incidents that occur when you are under the influence of drugs or heavy intoxication.

Is Allianz good travel insurance?

In our assessment, we found Allianz to have many positive features as a travel insurance provider, not least of which is the generous unlimited medical and dental in its comprehensive offer. While the company covers travellers for lost luggage, there is no cover for missed connecting flights.

Is Bupa good for travel insurance?

In our Forbes Advisor Australia assessment, Bupa’s comprehensive travel insurance is a solid choice. It is underwritten by Allianz, so its comprehensive travel insurance policy is almost identical to Allianz’s branded offering.

Along with unlimited medical, hospital and dental cover, Bupa offers 24/7 emergency assistance with Australian-based doctors and nurses.

How many days before should you buy travel insurance?

You should buy travel insurance as soon as you purchase your tickets, that way you are covered if your trip is cancelled. While there is cover available once you have left Australia, it is much more limiting than had you purchased insurance beforehand.

Who does Qantas use for travel insurance?

Qantas travel insurance is underwritten by AIG Australia Limited.

Why is Australian travel insurance so expensive?

There is no doubt that travel insurance has become more expensive as Australians took to the skies in a post-pandemic booking frenzy. This has resulted in a higher rate of claims, which in turn leads to premium increases. Inflation, too, has played a part, with insurers pointing to the increase in the cost of goods and services as justification for rising premiums.

The information provided by Forbes Advisor is general in nature and for educational purposes only. Any information provided does not consider the personal financial circumstances of readers, such as individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Forbes Advisor does not provide financial product advice and the information we provide is not intended to replace or be relied upon as independent financial advice. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. Forbes Advisor encourages readers to seek independent expert advice from an authorised financial adviser in relation to their own financial circumstances and investments before making any financial decisions. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Forbes Advisor provides an information service. It is not a product issuer or provider. In giving you information about financial or credit products, Forbes Advisor is not making any suggestion or recommendation to you about a particular product. It is important to check any product information directly with the provider. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Target Market Determination (TMD) and other applicable product documentation before making a decision to purchase, acquire, invest in or apply for a financial or credit product. Contact the product issuer directly for a copy of the PDS, TMD and other documentation. Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our partners. For more information, read our Advice Disclaimer here .

Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally.

U.S. News takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

The 5 Best COVID-19 Travel Insurance Options

Travelex Insurance Services »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

World Nomads Travel Insurance »

Generali Global Assistance »

IMG Travel Insurance »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best COVID Travel Insurance Options.

Table of Contents

• Travelex Insurance Services
• Allianz Travel Insurance
• World Nomads Travel Insurance

Even though COVID-19 is no longer considered a global emergency, concerns around illness-related costs remain for many travelers. If you're looking for travel insurance that covers COVID – as well as other potential disruptions like flight delays and lost luggage – these are your best options.

• Travelex Insurance Services: Best Optional Coverage Add-ons
• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best for Multitrip and Annual Plans
• World Nomads Travel Insurance: Best for Active Travelers
• Generali Global Assistance: Best for Comprehensive Travel Insurance
• IMG Travel Insurance: Best for Travel Medical Insurance

Plans include coverage for COVID-19

Optional CFAR coverage is available with Travel Select plan

Some coverages require an upgrade, including rental car collision, accidental death and dismemberment, and more

Not all add-ons are available with every plan

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Allianz offers some travel insurance plans that come with an epidemic coverage endorsement

Single-trip, multitrip and annual plans available

COVID-19 benefits don't apply to every plan

Low coverage limits with some plans (e.g., only $10,000 in emergency medical coverage with OneTrip Basic plan)

24-hour travel assistance services included

More than 200 sports and activities covered in every plan

Low trip cancellation benefits ($2,500 maximum) with Standard plan

No CFAR option is offered

Free 10-day trial period

Some coverage limits may be insufficient

Rental car damage coverage only included in top-tier Premium plan

Offers travel medical insurance, international travel health insurance and general travel insurance plans

Some plans include robust coverage for testing and quarantine due to COVID-19

Not all plans from IMG offer coverage for COVID-19

Cancel for any reason coverage not available with every plan

Frequently Asked Questions

When comparing COVID-19 travel insurance options, you'll want to make sure you fully understand the coverages included in each plan. For example, you should know the policy inclusions and limits for COVID-related claims, including coverage for testing, treatments, trip cancellation or COVID-related interruptions that can occur. Meanwhile, you should understand how your coverage will work if you contract some other illness while away from home.

Also ensure your travel insurance coverage will kick in for other mishaps that occur, and that limits are sufficient for your needs. If you're planning a trip to a remote area in a country like Costa Rica or Peru , you'll want to have emergency evacuation and transportation coverage with generous limits that can pay for emergency transportation to a hospital if you need treatment.

You can also invest in a travel insurance policy that offers cancel for any reason coverage. This type of travel insurance plan lets you cancel and get a percentage of your prepaid travel expenses back for any reason, even if you just decide you're better off staying home.

It depends on your private health insurance provider and/or travel insurance policy. As of May 11, 2023, private health insurers are no longer required to cover the cost of COVID-19 testing. Out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 test kits at local drugstores and on Amazon are relatively affordable, however.

As you search for plans that will provide sufficient coverage for your next trip, you'll find travel insurance that covers COVID-19 quarantine both inside and outside the United States. However, you'll typically need to have your condition certified by a physician in order for this coverage to apply. Also make sure your travel insurance plan includes coverage for travel claims related to COVID-19 in the first place.

Many travel insurance plans do cover trip cancellation as a result of COVID-19, although the terms vary widely. You typically need to be certified by a physician in order to prove your condition. Disinclination to travel because of COVID-19 – such as fear of exposure to illness – will generally not be covered. This means you will actually have to test positive for coronavirus for benefits to apply; simply not wanting to travel is not a sufficient reason to make a claim.

If you want more flexibility in your COVID-19 travel insurance, ensuring you have a cancel for any reason policy may be your best bet, but be sure to check with your chosen travel insurance provider to assess your options.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning writer who has been covering travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched the best travel insurance options for her own trips to more than 50 countries around the world and has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. Over the years, Johnson has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations. Johnson also works alongside her travel agent partner, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states.

You might also be interested in:

The Best Senior Travel Insurance for 2024

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Does My Health Insurance Cover International Travel?

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8 Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies Worth the Cost

U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering pricing data, expert recommendations and consumer reviews.

Is Travel Insurance Worth It? Yes, in These 3 Scenarios

These are the scenarios when travel insurance makes most sense.

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Best COVID-19 Travel Insurance in June 2024

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Table of Contents

Factors we considered when picking travel insurance that covers COVID

An overview of the best travel insurance for covid , top travel insurance for covid options , additional resources for covid-19 travel insurance shoppers.

No matter how well you prepare, travel plans don’t always go as expected. Some travelers buy travel insurance to protect their investment in prepaid travel costs. Amid the ongoing pandemic, exploring travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is recommended. With the right policy, you can protect yourself if you need to cancel your trip or end it early due to illness. Many insurers offer travel insurance policies with this kind of coverage. 

This is the shortlist of the best travel insurance for COVID options: 

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection . 

John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc.  

Seven Corners . 

Travelex Insurance Services . 

Travel Insured International . 

WorldTrips . 

We used the following factors to choose insurance providers to highlight in our best travel insurance for COVID list: 

Range of coverage: We looked at how many plans each company offered with COVID-19 coverage, plus the range of available plans. 

Depth of coverage: We compared the maximum caps for trip cancellation and trip interruption claims between carriers and plans.

Medical benefits: We examined whether plans included emergency medical benefits for COVID-19 reasons and whether plans included medical evacuation and repatriation benefits. 

Cost: We determined an average cost for shoppers to benchmark plan prices by looking at the basic coverage costs for plans with COVID-19 benefits across multiple companies.

We looked at quotes from various companies for a six-night trip in May 2023 to Croatia. The traveler was 30 years old, from Texas and planned to spend $1,500 on the trip, including airfare.

On average, the price of each company’s most basic coverage plan with COVID-19 coverage was $47.22. The prices listed below are for the most basic COVID-19 travel insurance coverage. All insurers offer multiple COVID-19 policies with greater coverage coming at a higher cost. 

Let's take a closer look at our eight recommendations for travel insurance with COVID coverage: 

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

What makes Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection great:

Several plans allow policyholders to cancel for COVID-19 sickness as part of trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance benefits. 

Several plans include COVID-19 medical coverage benefits.

Medical evacuation benefits are included in these plans. 

Plans include limited sports and activities coverage and sports equipment loss benefits. 

Basic Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection will run you $50 for an ExactCare Value policy, the company’s most basic COVID-19 travel insurance coverage option.

What makes IMG great:

Many plans include COVID-19 cancellation benefits.

Most of these plans also include COVID-19 medical benefits (the Travel Essentials plan doesn’t include this). 

Medical evacuation coverage is available on select plans. 

Coverage for adventure travel is available for an extra cost. 

IMG is a good option for the budget-minded: Its Travel Essential plans cost more than $10 less than average based on our comparison. 

John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc. 

What makes John Hancock Insurance Agency great:

Multiple plans offer COVID-19 cancellation benefits as part of the included trip interruption and trip cancellation coverage. 

These plans offer COVID-19 medical benefits.

Medical evacuation coverage is included in all COVID-19 coverage plans. 

The John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc. basic plan (Bronze) costs $56. 

Seven Corners

What makes Seven Corners great:

Multiple plans offer COVID-19 cancellation benefits as part of the included trip interruption and trip cancelation coverage. 

These plans include COVID-19 medical benefits and evacuation and repatriation benefits.

There is no medical deductible. 

Seven Corners’ basic coverage plan (RoundTrip Basic) for our trip to Croatia costs $44.

Travelex Insurance Services

What makes Travelex Insurance Services great:

Multiple plans include Covid-19 sickness coverage, which reimburses prepaid and nonrefundable trip payments if a trip is canceled or interrupted due to a traveler contracting the virus.

These plans also include COVID-19 medical benefits.

Medical evacuation and repatriation benefits are included. 

Basic coverage (Travel Basic) from Travelex Insurance Services costs $44 for our sample trip, which is slightly cheaper than average. 

Travel Insured International

What makes Travel Insured International great:

Multiple plans cover COVID-19 cancellation benefits as part of the included trip interruption and trip cancelation coverage. 

These plans also include COVID-19 medical benefits, including medical evacuation. 

Limited sports and activities coverage is included in plans with COVID-19 coverage. 

Travel Insured International's basic coverage (Worldwide Trip Protector Edge) begins at $55 — only a few dollars more than the average basic policy price. 

What makes Tin Leg great:

A wide range of plans offer COVID-19 cancellation benefits as part of the included trip interruption and trip cancelation coverage. 

All of these plans also include COVID-19 medical benefits. 

All of these include medical evacuation benefits. 

An adventure travel policy is available. 

Another plus: Tin Leg’s basic coverage plan (Basic) for our trip to Croatia costs $48.85 — making it right around the average price for the policies we covered. 

WorldTrips 

What makes WorldTrips great:

Several plans include medical coverage for COVID-19. 

Sports and activities and sports equipment loss are included. 

Coverage can be extended for up to thirty days, including for medical quarantine purposes. 

WorldTrips’ most affordable plan with COVID-19 coverage (Atlas Journey Economy) starts at $44, making it a low-cost option. 

Do you want to learn more about travel insurance before you spend money on a policy? Take a look at these resources: 

What is travel insurance?  

What does travel insurance cover? 

The best travel insurance companies 

How to find the right travel insurance for you

10 credit cards that provide travel insurance

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The best travel insurance – 3,000 policies analysed (seriously…!)

It wasn't our idea of fun, but now your trip can be..

• Get an online quote in just a few minutes
• Free cover for dependent kids, under 21 travelling with you
• Optional add-on cover for your valuables

• Health members get 15% off
• Cheaper than average
• COVID cancellation

• Covers children up to age 25
• Kids travel for free
• COVID cover included

• Claim up to $5,000 for COVID cancellations
• Claim up to $50,000 for cancellation costs
• $7,500 rental car excess cover

In this guide

Compare quotes to find the best travel insurance for you

Get help finding the best travel insurance policies, why you can trust our research, great for value, great for covid cover, great for families, great for domestic travel, looking for the best travel insurance in australia, travel insurance deals for september 2024, best travel insurance faqs.

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Did the CrowdStrike outage affect your holiday?

The global IT outage caused by CrowdStrike's glitch caused chaos at airports and ruined or delayed many people's travel plans.

We spoke to some of Australia's leading travel insurers to see what's covered and what's not. Read on to see what you may be able to claim for.

Our insurance specialists have gathered 300+ quotes for 50+ popular Australian travel insurance policies. We shortlisted 4 policies based on 2023 Finder Awards , customer reviews and expert analysis. Remember, there's no single best travel insurance policy that suits everyone's needs, since we all have different travel plans and needs.

Show summary

• Great for value: Southern Cross Travel Insurance
• Great for COVID cover: Medibank travel insurance
• Great for families: World2Cover
• Great for domestic travel: InsureandGo

Insurance plans analysed

PDS features analysed

Recent travelers surveyed

2.6 million

Quotes served since 2014

See how this score is calculated

Pros and cons

• It's affordable compared to other popular insurers including Cover-More and Allianz.
• Its PDS is much easier to understand compared to the other 28 other international policies we looked at.
• High customer ratings on Finder (4.16/5) and other popular review websites such as product review (4.7).
• Our awards data suggests Fast Cover and Medibank tend to be slightly cheaper.
• Customers rated Tick more highly in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards.
• $2,500 cap on cancellations is low and risky for expensive trips. For example, it's unlimited with Fast Cover.

How Southern Cross Travel Insurance compares

*Example quote based on a single 40-year-old travelling to Bali for 2 weeks. Comprehensive policies. Data collected in October 2023.

Why we picked it

SCTI has one of the best claims experiences and an easy-to-read PDS. It's not just us that thinks so. It earned a finalist spot for General Insurance Claims Team of the Year at The International Travel & Health Insurance Journal Awards and won the Best Plain English Legal Document at the most recent Plain Language Awards.

SCTI also received a mere 3 complaints to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) in the latest period. By comparison, Mitsui, which underwrites insurers including InsureandGo, received 47. Very large insurers such as Zurich and AWP (Allianz) received 325 and 95.

It's also consistently good value. On average, it's one of cheapest comprehensive travel insurers, according to our 2023 Finder Awards research. Out of 28 policies, only Fast Cover and Medibank were marginally cheaper.

The majority of comprehensive travel insurance policies cover COVID now but Medibank is a standout. Its $10,000 limit for COVID related trip cancellations is double the majority of insurers. Considering that 42% of Australians spend an average of $6,765 on holidays , Medibank is a safe choice. It also has a helpline that lets you chat to a doctor at any time.

• $10,000 cap for COVID cancellation costs and unlimited medical expenses.
• It's cheap – $233 less than average, according to 300+ quotes we gathered.
• 15% discount for health members (making it the cheapest out of 28 policies).
• ahm and Travel Insurance Saver also cover up to $10,000 for cancellations.
• Only Medibank and ahm health members can access discount.
• $15,000 cap for luggage. SCTI and Cover-More have a $25,000 cap.

How Medibank Travel Insurance compares

Out of 19 comprehensive travel insurance policies, Medibank was one of three to come with a $10,000 cap on COVID related cancellations. ahm and Travel Insurance Saver also cover COVID related cancellations. However, Medibank has a higher Finder Score.

Additionally, our research showed a Medibank international policy cost $353 on average for a 2-week trip overseas. That's $233 cheaper than average, according to our research of 28 policies. It's even cheaper if you're a Medibank or ahm member. It could knock $53 off a $353 policy.

World2Cover lets kids under 25 travel for free, so long as they're financially dependent on you. Most insurers including Cover-More and Southern Cross stop offering free cover when your children turn 20. It has a 9.4 Finder Score and out of the 50+ Product Disclosure Statements I looked at, it was one of the easiest to understand.

• Can cover kids up to the age of 25
• Up to $3,500 Covid cancellation cover per person – that's more than SCTI and Cover-More
• Unlimited cancellation cover
• Its underwriter received 43 complaints to AFCA – 21 more than Chubb and 40 more than SCTI (similar sized insurers)
• $5,000 rental car excess is lower than some e.g. Southern Cross ($10,000) and Allianz ($6,000)

How World2Cover Travel Insurance compares

*Example quote based on two 40-year-olds travelling to Bali for 2 weeks with 3 children aged 14, 12 and 7. Comprehensive policies selected. Data collected in October 2023.

Out of 20 travel insurers, World2Cover was one of the only brands to cover children up to the age of 25. It also doesn't have a limit on how many dependents can travel for free. Allianz can also cover kids on a family policy. However, it typically cost more in our research.

• It's very cheap. Out of 23 insurers, it's $180+ less than average.
• Get 10% off your travel insurance policy, using the code Finder10.
• Up to $7,500 towards car rental excess cover. That's $2,500 better than most.
• We found its PDS can be confusing and hard to understand.
• Cover-More, Fast Cover and SCTI also offer reasonably priced domestic policies.
• You absolutely need to read the PDS beforehand. There are lots of conditions attached to every benefit.

How InsureandGo Travel Insurance compares

*Example quote based on a single 40-year-old travelling in Australia for 1 week. All are domestic policies. Data collected in October 2023.

It's competitively-priced and won Finder's 2023 Best Domestic Travel Insurance Award. We looked at 23 domestic travel insurance policies as part of the awards and scored the same 14 features for every policy. These benefits included COVID rearrangement costs, theft or damage to luggage and rental car excess cover.

InsureandGo scored highly for a number of benefits including rental car excess cover, COVID cover, cancellation cover and luggage cover. You get up to $50,000 for cancellations, $25,000 for travel delays, $8,000 for lost luggage, $5,000 for COVID cancellation and rearrangement costs and $7,500 for rental car excess cover.

Similarly, it's good if you plan to rent a car while you're away. InsureandGo's top policy will cover the rental car excess for up to $7,500 if your car is damaged, stolen or involved in an accident. The average is $5,000. This sometimes isn't enough to cover the excess rental car companies charge.

It is also cheaper on average. Overall, it ranked in first place.

Top 5 policies in travel insurance – domestic

• InsureandGo Gold Domestic
• Australia Post Domestic Travel Insurance
• Cover-More Domestic Comprehensive Travel Insurance
• NRMA Domestic Comprehensive Travel Insurance
• Southern Cross Domestic Travel Insurance

Its main drawback is its Product Disclosure Statement which contains lots of conditions and could leave room for instances where you won't be covered. For example, it can cover cancelling your trip before departure but only for a specific number of reasons. These include: " your unforeseeable death, injury or illness; you have to go to court to be a witness or be on a jury (but not as an expert witness); there is an accident involving a vehicle you were planning to travel in, which happens within seven days before the date you planned to leave and means you cannot use the vehicle (This only applies to self-drive holidays). "

Keep in mind: there's no single best travel insurance policy that suits everyone, since we all have different travel plans and needs.

Over 2 million left Australian shores in December 2023, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics . That's an annual increase of 500,000+ people.

To help you figure out what travel insurance company is the best in 2023, we asked over 1,200 Australians for their opinion and got our insurance experts to rate some of Australia's well-known brands.

Save 10% on InsureandGo policies with Finder

Protect your trip with Qantas Travel Insurance

Get 10% off Kogan travel insurance policies

Get 10% off on Tick travel insurance policies

ahm and Medibank members get 10% off travel insurance

Earn Velocity Points with Cover-More

Get 8% off your Wise and Silent policy

15% off travel insurance for Medibank Private members

Jillian, Kerry and Tyson travelled from Sydney to Dallas. 10 days in, Tyson (Jillian's son) caught COVID, a day before the family was supposed to leave for a ski trip in Colorado. As a result, they had to rearrange their travel plans.

Unfortunately, Jillian got COVID later and the family had to send Tyson and Kerry home to Sydney, while Jillian stayed another 4 days until she tested negative. She then rebooked her trip home.

Their insurer, Southern Cross Travel Insurance , covered just under $3,000 in costs . The family paid a $500 excess to claim on 2 events.

Get a free travel insurance quote

Why you can trust Finder's travel insurance experts

What's the best type of travel insurance?

There are two main levels of travel insurance; basic and comprehensive. A basic travel insurance policy can cover you for health and medical emergencies. A comprehensive policy can cover your possessions too as well as other things like cancellation.

What's the best travel insurance with COVID cover?

Most policies will include some level of COVID cover so what's best can depend on how much you've spent on your trip. For example, many policies include COVID cover for up to $5,000. If your trip is costing you $9,000 then this might not be good enough for you. We've found higher limits with Medbank; here you're covered for up to $10,000 if your trip is cancelled due to COVID related reasons.

How far in advance should I buy travel insurance?

It's worth getting travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way, you're covered straight away. If something happens – say you get sick or your flight is cancelled or delayed – you're covered.

Is it best to get a single trip or annual policy?

Single trip policies may be best if you don't plan on travelling much over the next year or, if you're going on a long trip ( annual policies cap the length you're allowed to travel per trip – typically 30, 45 or 60 days).

Annual (or multi-trip) policies may be better if you're a jet-setter who intends to travel several times a year. Generally speaking, an annual policy may work out cheaper than paying for 4 single-trip policies in a year.

But be aware, annual plans have been a little harder to come by since the pandemic.

What's considered a pre-existing condition for travel insurance?

Essentially, a pre-existing condition is any medical condition you've been diagnosed with, in a specified time period, prior to taking out cover. Such conditions include heart problems, high blood pressure and diabetes.

What's the best travel insurance for Bali?

There have been several flight cancellations and delays to Bali recently. Most travel insurance polices can reimburse you for flight cancellations. However, it's worth going with an insurer that will also cover additional travel expenses such as accommodation and pre-booked excursions. It can be very frustrating if something happens but if the cancellation is due to circumstances out of your control, your insurer is likely to cover you.

What's the best travel insurance for the US?

The US has a notoriously expensive healthcare system so it's worth getting a travel insurance policy that comes with unlimited medical expenses cover at the very least. Fortunately, most comprehensive policies offer this. Other important medical-related expenses worth considering are:

• Hospital cash allowance. An amount you'll be given per day if you're hospitalised to pay for additional expenses.
• Resumption of journey. This can help pay you to get home if you're very sick.

Gary Ross Hunter

Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

• Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
• Managing the cost of living

More guides on Finder

Ready to get moving? See quotes and compare travel insurance policies for Bali from 15 brands

Compare Travel Insurance Direct policies online to save time and money. Travel Insurance Direct offers various policies including Annual multi-trip, The Works, The Basics and Domestic travel.

Qantas Travel Insurance offers various cover choices with the added benefit of travel points rewards for spending money on insurance when booking flights through Qantas.

Beware when swimming at Byron, Ballina, Bondi and Bells.

Tick Travel Insurance offers competitive single trip insurance to suit a range of travellers with three levels of cover to choose from.

Ready to get moving? See quotes and compare travel insurance policies for USA from 15 brands

Compare Westpac Travel Insurance, see features, and more.

A guide to understanding cruise insurance - why you need it, what's covered, and what's not.

Domestic travel insurance can provide cover for trip cancellation (domestic flights), loss or damage to luggage and expensive items, car rental excess charges and much more. Find out why domestic travel insurance is worth getting and compare policies from Australian insurers.

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Australia's Best Travel Insurance for September 2024

Whether in 2024 you’re planning a resort holiday in Fiji, voyaging on a cruise , or hopping on a plane to Europe , it’s important to consider packing travel insurance .

But how could you go about finding the best policy? What features and perks could your holiday need, and which providers stand out for amazing coverage? 

That’s where the Mozo Experts Choice Travel Insurance Awards come in. 

Every year, Mozo’s expert judges compare dozens of travel insurance providers to see which ones fly above and beyond in terms of quality and value. Providers offering the best coverage take home a Mozo Experts Choice Travel Insurance^ win. 

“Finding a policy may be a bit daunting, especially when policy features and costs can change depending on where you’re going and what you’re doing,” says Mozo Experts Choice Awards, Judge Peter Marshall. 

“We wanted to examine everything across a range of holidays, head-to-head, to help Australians find the best value cover, and award those providers offering the best travel insurance.”

So without further ado, here are the winners crowned in 2024, along with some of the latest deals for this month highlighted by our editor's – and some expert tips on how you could find the best policy for your trip.

Expert recommendations: Mozo Experts Choice Award-winning best travel insurance policies

Each year, the Mozo Experts Choice Awards recognise travel insurance providers for having the most outstanding performance to suit the needs of different types of travellers. 

Categories include Exceptional Value and Exceptional Quality for various policy types, from comprehensive, multi-trip, cruise, ski, and basic coverage. 

Policies ranked highly for their quality are those that boast the most generous coverage (i.e. comprehensive travel insurance). Policies with great value offer a minimum level of coverage for the lowest price. 

Our expert judges look at many factors when evaluating a travel insurance policy for an award, especially:

• Price , including any excesses and limits, and how premiums vary based on the holiday.
• Coverage , including benefits and exclusions.

The insurance company with the most standout wins for both quality and value will receive the prestigious Travel Insurance Company of the Year ^ award.

Judges also compare how well a policy travels for different popular destinations and kinds of trips so we can nail down the best picks for as many types of holidays as possible.

Check out the Mozo Experts Choice Travel Awards^ methodology report for 2024 to see how judges made their choices.

As always, every travel insurance policy will have its terms and conditions laid out in the product disclosure statement (PDS). Be sure to read the PDS properly and thoroughly before signing up!

Our goal at Mozo is to help you make smart financial decisions and our award-winning comparison tools and services are provided free of charge. As a marketplace business, we do earn money from advertising and this page features products with Go To Site links and/or other paid links where the provider pays us a fee if you go to their site from ours, or you take out a product with them. You do not pay any extra for using our service.

We are proud of the tools and information we provide and unlike some other comparison sites, we also include the option to search all the products in our database, regardless of whether we have a commercial relationship with the providers of those products or not.

'Sponsored', 'Hot deal' and 'Featured Product' labels denote products where the provider has paid to advertise more prominently.

'Mozo sort order' refers to the initial sort order and is not intended in any way to imply that particular products are better than others. You can easily change the sort order of the products displayed on the page.

Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice. It is also advised to review Target Market Determination(TMD) of products that you are considering. The TMD can be found on the provider's website.

Freely - International Travel Insurance*

• Customisable, flexible coverage through the Freely app
• 10% off with a Mozo exclusive discount

Why it won:  For those looking for sheer convenience, it’s hard to beat Freely’s all-in-one travel app. Customise this flexible policy by adding or taking away extras and coverage as you need it to suit your holiday. Friends suddenly invite you whitewater rafting? Add adventure sports cover (with conditions). Optional extras include gadgets, snow sports, cruise, motorcycle cover, and more. For a limited time, you could also nab 10% off your policy with the Promo Code “MOZO10” (T&Cs). Freely's travel insurance policies won two Mozo Experts Choice Travel Insurance Awards^ in 2024.

Zoom Comprehensive Travel Insurance*

• Unlimited 24/7 emergency assistance
• Optional extras for car rental or sports activities (T&Cs)

Why it won:  Zoom’s Comprehensive Travel Insurance provides 24/7 emergency assistance to help protect you from unexpected events on your holiday. It also covers you for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost luggage, family emergencies and even more. Zoom picked up an award for Exceptional Value Essential Travel Insurance making it a a great choice for travellers looking for a great value package.  Add optional cover for extras such as Rental Vehicle Excess if you are hiring a car or a Sports Activities Pack if you’re feeling adventurous.

Travel Insurance Company of the Year - World2Cover*

• Multiple Mozo Experts Choice Awards^ winner in 2024
• Unlimited emergency, cancellation, and medical cover (T&Cs)

Why it won: World2Cover’s comprehensive Top policy picked up wins for both Exceptional Value and Exceptional Quality Travel Insurance for the second year in a row, making it the obvious candidate for this prestigious crown. With unlimited emergency, cancellation, and medical cover (with conditions), World2Cover makes an extremely competitive choice for travellers hunting the most inclusions for the best value. 

Standout perks include coverage for 38 pre-existing conditions (including migraines and sleep apnea), rental car excesses, and up to $2,000 for overseas dental treatment (all with T&Cs). Plus, many amateur and outdoor sports, like bungee jumping, can be covered at no extra cost (T&Cs).

Southern Cross Travel Insurance - International Comprehensive Family*

• Unlimited medical and evacuation cover (T&Cs)
• Optional extras for snow sports and motorcycle cover (T&Cs)

Why it won:  Whether travelling alone or with your family, this single-trip comprehensive insurance policy aims to please with some great standard features. Unlimited medical and evacuation cover headline the policy, and you have the option to increase cancellation to unlimited (though this will add to your premium). Travelling solo overseas for less than two days? Southern Cross claims your premium could cost less than a meal. Unfortunately, pre-existing conditions aren’t automatically included, but you can apply to have them added with a medical assessment for an additional premium (with conditions). Southern Cross Travel Insurance also won two Mozo Experts Choice Travel Insurance Awards^ in 2024.

Travel Insurance Saver - Bare Essentials*

• Unlimited overseas medical coverage (T&Cs)
• Up to $2,500 emergency cancellation and $2,000 lost luggage and effects coverage (T&Cs)

Why it won: Underwritten by NIB, this impressive essentials policy performed well in terms of Exceptional Value ^.

While limits apply, eligible expenses you could claim under this policy include emergency cancellation, lost luggage , and replacement passport and travel documents coverage (T&Cs).

Cover-More - International Comprehensive+*

• Multiple Mozo Experts Choice Award^ winner in 2024
• On- and pre-trip cover if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 (T&Cs)

Why it won: This ultra-comprehensive policy impressed judges enough to nab the same two wins in 2023 and 2024 – one for Exceptional Quality and another for Exceptional Quality Annual Multi-Trip. 

With generous coverage for a range of misadventures, including pre and on-trip COVID cover, up to $25,000 for lost or stolen luggage, unlimited overseas medical expenses, and special business trip benefits, Cover-More packs a punch for the holidays (T&Cs). You can also tailor your policy with optional extras like the Cancellations Extensions add-on to extend your coverage.

*Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.

Editor’s Picks: Top travel insurance policies for September 2024

Butter international travel insurance*.

• Unlimited medical cover
• 24/7 emergency assistance services

Be prepared for the unexpected on your adventures with Butter Travel Insurance. Get emergency medical and hospital cover. You’ll have COVID-19 cover and have the option of trip cancellation and interruption cover. 

Customise your cover and choose from an array of added extras like Motorcycle, ski cover and so much more (T&Cs apply) and holiday with peace of mind every time.

Fast Cover - Comprehensive Policy*

• Generous and flexible optional extras
• 43 pre-existing conditions automatically included (T&Cs)

Editor’s Pick: Looking for a solid all-rounder with amazing medical and COVID-19 benefits? Fast Cover’s comprehensive travel insurance policy makes a compelling option. Customers can select their cover based on region, activities, trip duration, and a host of optional extras like cruise, motorcycle, adventure, and rental vehicle excess insurance to tailor their plans for their holiday needs. Got any pre-existing medical conditions? Fast Cover offers cover for many pre-existing medical conditions, you just need complete a simple medical screening during the application process.

The comprehensive policy includes unlimited medical and cancellation cover, with unlimited medical cover if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 and a 5,000 limit for cancellation fees if you contract the virus and need to pull out of a leg of your journey. Keep in mind sub-limits, exclusions, and conditions apply, so make sure to read the PDS before signing up.

Australia Post Comprehensive Travel Insurance*

• 24/7 emergency support
• Get a quote in minutes

Editor’s Pick:  If you’re looking for cover from a name you can trust, Australia Post International Comprehensive Travel Insurance covers overseas medical expenses, cancellation costs and more (T&Cs apply). You can also get optional extras like cover for existing medical conditions and winter sports to tailor cover to your needs. Plus, you can also reduce your premium with your choice of excess.

Customer favourites: Best travel insurance from Mozo People’s Choice Awards

Expert recommendations are amazing, but what do real travellers think is the best insurance? Thankfully, the 2024  Mozo People’s Choice Awards have landed.

Mozo asked 1,487 of your fellow Australians which travel insurance providers they rate highly across a range of categories, from customer satisfaction and service to trustworthiness, sign-up and claims experiences, and whether they’d recommend them to a friend.

Winners were then given a Mozo People’s Choice Award, making them some of the best providers around (and in the air).

Here's a look at which categories each of this year's Mozo People's Choice Travel Insurance Award-winners   won awards in:

• Australia Post:  Outstanding Customer Satisfaction,  Excellent Claims Experience,  Most Recommended
• InsureandGo:  Outstanding Customer Satisfaction,  Excellent Customer Service,  Highly Trusted,  Sign-Up Experience
• Commonwealth Bank:   Excellent Customer Service,  Highly Trusted,  Most Recommended
• Flight Centre:  Highly Trusted
• Medibank:  Most Recommended

Australia Post - Comprehensive Travel Insurance*

• Won 3 Mozo People’s Choice Awards for 2024
• Flexible excess
• 10% off discount for a limited time

Why it won: Sending yourself overseas? Australia Post has developed a first-class comprehensive international travel insurance policy that took home three  Mozo People’s Choice wins in 2024. Aussies rates this provider highly for  Excellent Claims Experience,  Most Recommended and  Outstanding Customer Satisfaction.  And no wonder: Australia Post reckons you can get a quote in minutes. Tailor your policy by choosing your excess and level of coverage; the comprehensive plan comes with unlimited overseas medical and additional emergency expenses coverage, as well as benefits like money to resume your trip if cancelled for eligible reasons (T&Cs apply).

More best travel insurance winners

Here’s the full list of winners for the Mozo Experts Choice Travel Insurance Awards^ for 2024, broken down by category. 

BEST VALUE TRAVEL INSURANCE

If your travel budget is tight, weighing up the value you’re getting in a policy is crucial. This year, Mozo’s expert judges wanted to highlight great value plans to make the comparison process easier.

From medical-only and essentials cover to more comprehensive and annual multi-trip policies, these providers offered a required set of inclusions at the best prices. 

• Exceptional Medical Only coverage winners simply needed to have unlimited emergency overseas medical cover, including unlimited COVID-19 medical cover. 
• Essential coverage winners needed to have at least $2,000 coverage per traveller for personal items and $2,500 cancellation coverage, plus unlimited medical coverage. 
• Comprehensive, ski, cruise, and annual multi-trip coverage winners needed at least $7,500 of luggage cover per person, plus $15,000 cancellation cover per adult. Policies must also have unlimited COVID-19 coverage and at least $2,500 each for additional expenses and cancellations. Multi-trip policies were also assessed for a single traveller jet-setting for 30-day trips in a 12-month period.

Mozo’s expert judges also assessed some providers based on the value they offer vacation activities like snow sports or cruise travel . 

Check out the winners below.

Exceptional Value Medical Only Travel Insurance

These policies were the best value medical-only travel policies, based on the judges’ criteria.

• Australia Post – Basic policy
• Southern Cross Travel Insurance – International Medical Only policy

Exceptional Value Essential Travel Insurance

Want a little more coverage, such as lost luggage, on top of medical cover? Our expert judges thought these policies were winners.

• Freely – International Travel Insurance policy
• Tick Travel Insurance – Standard policy
• Travel Insurance Saver – Bare Essentials policy
• Travel Protect – Explorer policy
• WAS Insurance – Discovery Ultimate policy
• Zoom – Standard policy

Exceptional Value Comprehensive Travel Insurance

If you’re after the most coverage for the best value, these comprehensive policies are worth a look!

• Chubb Australia – Prestige Single Trip policy
• InsuranceandGo – Gold policy
• Tick Travel Insurance – Top policy
• World2Cover – Top policy

Exceptional Value Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

Heading to a few destinations in 2024? These multi-trip policies nabbed best value crowns.

• ahm – Annual Multi-Trip policy
• Medibank – Annual Multi-Trip policy
• NRMA – Comprehensive Annual Multi-Trip policy
• Qantas – Annual Multi-Trip policy
• Southern Cross Travel Insurance – Multi-Trip policy

Exceptional Value Cruise Travel Insurance

Cruisin’ should be breezy! Mozo’s expert judges thought these winners earned their best value cruise wins. 

• AllClear – Gold Plus
• Chubb Australia – Prestige Single Trip
• Qantas – International Comprehensive policy
• World Nomads – Explorer Plan

Exceptional Value Ski Travel Insurance

Hittin’ the slopes? Mozo's expert judges say these policies shouldn’t hit the wallet. 

• Medibank – Single Trip policy

BEST QUALITY TRAVEL INSURANCE

Some travellers want the best possible insurance, no matter the cost. That’s why Mozo’s expert judges analysed policies with the broadest and most generous cover for the Exceptional Quality travel insurance awards for comprehensive and multi-trip policies.

Exceptional Quality Travel Insurance

• Cover-More – International Comprehensive+ policy
• Flight Centre – YourCover Plus policy
• Kogan – International Plus policy
• NRMA – Comprehensive Plan policy
• RAA – Premium policy policy
• RAC – Comprehensive policy
• RACQ – Premium policy
• RACT – Comprehensive policy
• RACV – Comprehensive policy
• Webjet – Top policy

Exceptional Quality Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

• Cover-More – Multi-Trip International Comprehensive+ policy
• Webjet – Travel Safe Plus policy

What travel insurance do I need?

When finding the best travel insurance policy for yourself, it’s important to compare as many different policies as possible. But what if you’re not sure where to start? Let’s break down the tiers and types of travel insurance on offer. 

Travel insurance policies vary based on where you’re going and for how long. For example:

• Domestic travel insurance can be great if you’re just exploring Australia.
• International travel insurance can be great for a once-off trip abroad.
• Multi-trip travel insurance can be great if you’re making more than one trip, locally or abroad (usually within the same year).

Once you’ve picked the kind of travel insurance you’re after, providers will usually offer multiple tiers (or levels) of coverage, such as medical only, essentials, or comprehensive insurance.

You may also be able to get complimentary credit card travel insurance , which comes as a perk of your credit card.

Travel insurance policies can also include optional extras that tailor your coverage for specific holidays, like backpacker travel insurance or senior travel insurance .

Many clues can point to a travel insurance policy ranking among the best – exceptional price, excellent coverage, and a thumbs-up from fellow Aussie travellers . But the best indicator that a policy rocks? It’s the best for you. 

When comparing travel insurance policies, assess them like you’re giving out your own award: the win of your business! Read through the PDS, send for quotes, and ask yourself questions like:

• Does this policy cover my holiday needs?
• Is this within a price range I’m happy with? ( Cheap travel insurance has trade-offs). 
• Would I feel comfortable working with this provider when the worst happens?

If the answer is ‘yes’, you could be on to a winner.

Other considerations are important, too, however, especially the nitty-gritty details. For example:

• Do you have to meet any terms and conditions before they settle your travel claim ? 
• Is there an excess to pay? 
• Are there any other perks, too, like frequent flyer points? 
• Do you have pre-existing conditions that could impact your coverage? 

Because every situation is different, not every travel insurance policy is the best for everyone. Some people want an affordable price, while others want the most coverage, no matter the price. 

Comparing what’s on offer can help you determine which travel insurances offer you the best value and quality for your holiday.

FAQs about travel insurance

While not mandatory in Australia, travel insurance can be a useful financial tool to have in your back pocket. The right level of coverage could help your finances weather all kinds of unexpected emergencies, from medical treatment to flight cancellations.

Some overseas destinations have made basic travel insurance mandatory for entry at the border (usually to cover the costs associated with treating COVID-19). 

The best travel insurance coverage for you will depend on your needs and holiday. For instance, if you’re a relatively low-risk traveller who can pay for unexpected costs like flight cancellations or lost luggage out-of-pocket, a basic or essentials-only travel insurance policy could suit you. 

However, if you’re looking for the most protection possible, or you’re doing adventurous travel activities like skiing, comprehensive travel insurance might be a better option. Comparing multiple policies can give you an idea of the coverage and value available to your situation.

Travel insurance prices depend on the policy, provider, excess, level of coverage, and destination you choose. Your price may also vary if you’ve included optional extras or expanded your limits for personal items like an expensive smartphone or to cover a pre-existing medical condition. 

Mozo found the average cost for different travel insurance policies ranges from roughly $90 to well over $1,000, depending on the needs of the trip. Most settled between $200 - $400.

Forgetting to buy travel insurance before leaving  can be inconvenient, but there are options. Some policies may not cover trips already in progress: read the product disclosure statement (PDS) and get quotes to see what benefits, costs, and exclusions you could get. 

If you have a credit card, it’s also worthwhile investigating to see if you can get free travel insurance through your credit card company. Many will have activation requirements, like proving you’ve paid a certain amount of travel costs with your card.

Compare international travel insurance policies below.

Compare international travel insurance

Mozo experts choice awards won:

• Exceptional Value Ski Travel Insurance - 2024
• Exceptional Value Essential Travel Insurance - 2024
• Exceptional Value Comprehensive Travel Insurance - 2024

International Travel Insurance

Covid medical cover, covid cancellation cover, overseas hospital, cancellation cover.

Get protection in a few simple steps with Freely travel insurance all in the palm of your hand. Freely Travel offers 24/7 emergency and medical support, 24/7 customer service. Plus, you can tailor your policy so you only pay for what you need, and adapt your cover in near real time. Add-ons such as car rental excess, snow sports or other activities also available. Receive 10% off your travel insurance policy with promo code: MOZO10. T&Cs apply, go to site for full detail.

Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.

To see the Pre-existing Conditions and Activities covered by this policy please visit our detailed page about this product.

Comprehensive

Enjoy unlimited medical cover and 24/7 emergency assistance services when you travel. Get unlimited cover for cancellation fees and prepaid travel expenses. Cover for luggage and travel documents. $5,000,000 personal liability cover.

Backed by the NIB, one of Australia’s largest travel insurance providers, Travel Insurance Saver brings you peace of mind on your travels. Compare three tiers of insurance cover, featuring benefits like 24 hour emergency assistance, emergency medical cover, luggage cover, cancellation cover and more.

• Exceptional Value Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance - 2024

International Comprehensive Single

Enjoy the security of single trip cover on your next holiday with Southern Cross Travel Insurance. Get 24 hour emergency assistance, cover for cancelling or changing your journey before you leave, protection for lost, stolen or damaged goods as well as cover to replace lost or stolen cash, banks or travel documents. Be in to win 1 of 5 $1,000 cash prizes! T&Cs Apply. Offer ends 30 September 2023.

• Exceptional Quality Travel Insurance - 2024
• Travel Insurance Company of the Year - 2024

Be covered for international overseas and medical expenses. Emergency medical assistance 24 hours/365 days a year. Cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits. Cover for luggage and personal money. Dependents covered free of charge (conditions apply). Limited COVID cover available. Cancellation cover for COVID claims limited to $3,500.

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Travel Insurance Awards

Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.

While we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of products, we don't cover every product in the market. If you decide to apply for a product through our website, you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product and not with Mozo.

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Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits.

Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.

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International travel insurance

Get cover for your overseas holiday with 15% off for RACV Members

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RACV Travel Insurance $20K giveaway

You could win a share of $20,000 in prepaid gift cards with RACV Travel Insurance. Purchase a new policy by 30 September 2024 and you'll automatically go into the draw for a chance to win. Terms and conditions apply.

Travel Insurance for the unexpected

• Choose from 3 levels of cover, plus annual multi-trip option.
• Overseas medical and hospital cover included with all policies.
• Cover for unexpected events, stolen passport or lost luggage available.
• COVID-19 benefits# included with RACV Comprehensive Travel Insurance.

#Limits and sub-limits apply. Refer to the Product Disclosure Statement for details.

Make a claim online 24/7

• Make a claim
• Find a policy document
• Call 13 13 29
• Assistance when overseas

Choose from 3 levels of international cover

Find a full list of inclusions and exclusions for all policies in the Product Disclosure Statement.

Most popular

Comprehensive.

All international policies include unlimited** cover for overseas medical and hospital#. Comprehensive cover includes unlimited** overseas dental#.

Cover for stolen or lost luggage:

• $15000 for comprehensive#
• $7,500 for essentials#
• $2,000 for basics#.

Emergency expenses for general disruptions, including natural disasters and severe weather:

• unlimited^^ for comprehensive#
• $25,000 for essentials#
• $5,000 for basics#.

Cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits, due to unforeseen circumstances:

• Not applicable for basics.

This cover is per person listed in your policy.

• Comprehensive includes up to $8,000#
• Essentials includes up to $4,000#
• Rental car excess not covered with Basics.

Comprehensive includes:

• unlimited** overseas medical and hospital and emergency expenses#
• $3,500 combined benefits per person for cancellation fees and lost deposits, additional expenses# and special events, travel delay#.

COVID-19 benefits not included with Essentials cover and Basics cover.

• COVID-19 benefits not covered
• Cancellations and lost deposits not covered
• Rental car excess not covered

Things you should know

#Limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply. Refer to the Product Disclosure Statement for full details .

^^$unlimited means that generally there is no cap on the maximum dollar amount which may be paid out for this benefit, subject to the specific terms and conditions, sub-limits and exclusions that apply to this benefit.

**$unlimited means that generally there is no cap on the maximum dollar amount which may be paid out for this benefit, subject to the specific terms and conditions, sub-limits and exclusions that apply to this benefit. This benefit covers reasonable overseas medical and hospital costs as a result of an injury (including arising from a Terrorist Act) or illness occurring which first shows itself during Your Period of Insurance. Benefits may be paid up to 12 months from the time You received treatment for the injury or illness, but only for reasonable expenses incurred during that time. All medical treatments must be provided by Your Treating Doctor or Our Consulting Medical Officer. You must notify Us as soon as practicable of Your admittance to hospital.

Options and add-ons for your policy

No 2 overseas trips are the same, with RACV Travel Insurance, you choose policy options and add-ons.

Excess options

For single international trip policies, choose to vary your excess from these options: $0, $100, $250, $500 or $1,000 The excess amount you choose will increase or reduce your premium+.

Cruise cover

If you’re going on an ocean cruise for more than one night, choose the Cruise option when buying your policy. Cover for international river cruising is included automatically.

Ski and winter sports cover

This add-on covers you for some forms of skiing, snowboarding and winter sports activities. It must be purchased together with your policy. This cover is not available with Basics policies or for those aged over 85.

+Some cover benefit limits or sublimits may be less than your chosen excess and therefore the insurer may not contribute anything to your claim.

Planning multiple trips during the year?

Consider cover for multiple trips over a 12-month period, under the one policy with the Annual Multi-trip Travel Insurance plan#.

Why consider RACV Travel Insurance

24/7 emergency assistance.

Get overseas emergency assistance 24-hours a day. Make a claim online any time. 

Overseas medical cover

Cover for overseas medical and hospital on international travel insurance policies # , if you fall ill or sustain injuries while travelling.

Cover for fees and luggage

With Comprehensive or Essentials you can claim for missing luggage, cancellations and lost deposits # .

RACV Members save 15%

Already a Member with us? You’ll save 15% on all travel insurance policies. Check if you’re a member .

Find cover for your destination

Consider RACV Travel Insurance for these popular overseas destinations.

Bali (Indonesia)

Travelling to the tropics of Bali and Indonesia? Consider cover with RACV Travel Insurance.

From the iconic skyline of New York City to the breathtaking Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, find the right cover with RACV Travel Insurance.

Whether exploring centuries old temples and futuristic cities, or hitting the slopes, consider cover with RACV Travel Insurance.

With 44 countries to choose from, you’ll find history, beauty and charm in Europe. Consider cover with RACV Travel Insurance.

New Zealand

Take in stunning landscapes and thrilling outdoor adventures in New Zealand with RACV Travel Insurance.

From postcard-perfect Maya Bay and Railay Beach to bustling Bangkok, explore Thailand with cover from RACV Travel Insurance.

Planning on driving on your overseas holiday?

Check if you need an International Driving Permit and find out how to apply.

Frequently asked questions

When should i take out travel insurance.

You have the flexibility to choose when you buy your cover. You can choose to buy travel insurance as soon as you pay for any part of your trip. This means you're covered in case your trip is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. You can also choose to get RACV Travel Insurance online right before you go. Even if you're just about to leave there's still time to pack an RACV Travel Insurance policy for your trip.

How long do I have to make a claim?

You should make a claim as soon as possible.

• You can make a  claim online anytime .
• You can also call the claims team for support on  1300 207 387 .

You’ll need your personal information and information about the incident your are claiming for. This might include documentation of medical treatment, police reports for stolen items, receipts and proof of ownership.

Am I covered for any existing medical conditions?

RACV Travel Insurance covers 38 medical conditions automatically, provided you meet specific criteria. Some medical conditions are not covered.

Medical conditions not automatically covered: You can apply for cover by completing a medical assessment. If accepted, you may need to pay an additional premium. Check which medical conditions are covered .

Can I get travel insurance if I’m pregnant?

RACV Travel Insurance provides some automatic cover for a person who is pregnant, if the pregnancy is:

• 25 weeks or less
• a single, non-complicated pregnancy.

Pregnancy is classed as a medical condition. You may need to disclose your pregnancy when buying your policy.

Check what is covered .

Assistance and support

Emergency assistance while overseas.

The team of experts are available to provide emergency support 24-hours a day. Reverse charges are accepted.

Call as soon as practical if you are receiving medical care and the total cost is likely to exceed $2,000.

• Call +61 2 8055 1699

Travel alerts

Check travel status before you plan your trip and again before you leave.

RACV Travel Insurance won't cover you for destinations with a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade "Do Not Travel" status.

• Smart traveller
• Recent travel alerts

Medical conditions and things to consider

Medical conditions.

Find out if your medical condition is covered.

• Find out more

Medical tips to prepare for a trip

Stay healthy and happy while you're travelling at home and abroad.

The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations . For copies, visit racv.com.au. RACV Travel Insurance issued by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL 246 548. Terms & conditions apply, refer to the PDS. Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Ltd AR 001243563 is an authorised representative of the issuer and receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. 

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International post guide

Check the rules and guidelines for sending to a particular country, territory or region so your item is delivered without delay.

We don't seem to have a match for that destination. Try checking our destination index , or visit the Universal Postal Union website for sending guidelines.

Popular destinations

• New Zealand
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• United States

Make sure it's safe to send

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Size and weight guidelines

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Send parcels overseas

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Calculate the cost and time to send your item

Use our online calculator to estimate the postage price and delivery time to send your item overseas. Choose ‘Overseas’ and enter the ‘from and to’ postcode or country, then choose ‘Parcels’ or ‘Letters’. If you need more assistance, visit your local Post office and talk to our friendly team.

International destinations and service updates

International delivery times and destinations

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International disruptions and updates

Find out about delays, disruptions and service updates affecting international deliveries.

Service conditions apply. See the Australia Post Terms & Conditions for details.

Australia Post will endeavour to keep the International post guide up-to-date, but accepts no liability for losses arising from goods that are not cleared through customs. Customers should be aware that this tool does not represent a definitive view or legal advice as to what goods are prohibited from entry into specific countries. The entry of goods into specific countries will be subject to local customs officials.

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