Travel Insurance with COVID Cover

All Medibank Travel Insurance Plans have some COVID-19 cover included as standard.

Plus, Medibank and ahm health members save 15%.

Medibank travel insurance COVID cover

What is travel insurance with covid cover?

A travel insurance policy with COVID-19 benefits includes cover for certain unforeseen COVID-19-related scenarios and can help reduce the financial risk of travelling. Depending on the level of cover you choose, benefits can include such things as COVID-19 overseas medical expenses, trip amendments & cancellation costs, and additional expenses.

COVID-19 policy benefits are for both international and domestic plans, but it's important to understand that not all COVID-19 scenarios will be covered. Continue reading to learn more about what you are - and aren't covered for when it comes to travel insurance with covid cover.

What COVID-19 benefits do we offer?

When taking out travel insurance with Medibank, cover will be provided for some common scenarios related to COVID-19. This means there's no need to "add covid cover" when purchasing Medibank Travel Insurance because every policy will come with some level of inbuilt covid cover.

Which benefits are included and the cover amount will depend on the travel insurance plan you select. Benefits may include: 

Cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs ¹

Cover for covid-19 cancellation and amendments ², cover for additional covid-19 expenses ³.

Limits, sub-limits, conditions, and exclusions apply to COVID-19 travel insurance benefits. Please read our  Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)  for full details.

COVID-19 travel insurance options

All Medibank Travel Insurance Plans contain some inbuilt COVID-19 Cover. The information below helps you understand some of the high level inclusions at a glance.

Comprehensive COVID travel insurance

International Comprehensive Travel Insurance

  • $Unlimited  COVID-19 overseas medical costs 1
  • Up to $10,000  for COVID-19 trip cancellations and amendments 2
  • $Unlimited  additional expenses if diagnosed with COVID-19 on trip and admitted to a hospital 3
  • Up to $5,000  additional expenses if diagnosed with COVID-19 and unfit to travel 3

travel insurance covid cover

International Medical Only Travel Insurance

  • $Unlimited  COVID-19 overseas medical costs 1
  • No cover provided for COVID-19 trip cancellation and amendments
  • $Unlimited  additional expenses if diagnosed with COVID-19 on trip and admitted to hospital 3

covid travel insurance Australia

Domestic Travel Insurance

  • No cover provided for any COVID-19 medical costs
  • Up to $5,000  for COVID-19 trip cancellations and amendments 2
  • Up to $10,000  additional expenses if diagnosed with COVID-19 on trip and admitted to hospital 3
  • Up to $5,000  additional expenses if diagnosed with COVID-19 and unfit to travel 3

Limits, sub-limits, conditions, and exclusions apply to COVID-19 travel insurance benefits. Please read our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for full details.

Canstar Award

Multi-award winning travel insurance

We're proud to be winners of Mozo's Experts Choice awards in 2022 & 2023 and Canstar's 2023 Most Satisfied Customer - Travel Insurance award.

We're proud winners of Mozo's Experts Choice awards in 2022 and 2023.

Travel insurance with COVID-19 cover: what is included?

COVID-19 benefits are available on our International Comprehensive and Medical Only , and Domestic travel insurance plans. Covid benefits apply to both Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip policies. 

What is covered depends on the type of policy you purchase. COVID-19 benefits may include:

Pre-trip cancellation:², cover for your on-trip cancellation and amendment costs:², additional expenses:³, cancellation due to a relative or business partner having life-threatening covid-19:², $unlimited overseas medical costs:¹, cover for essential health care workers:.

What is not covered:  

  • Cancellation and Amendment cover is not available if you purchase an International Medical Only Plan.
  • Medical and Hospital Expense cover is not available on a Domestic Plan.   

Medibank Travel Insurance is proud to offer COVID-19 benefits, but unfortunately, we can’t cover every scenario that may arise as a result of COVID-19.

For example, we will not pay any claims arising from or caused by COVID-19 if: 

  • Your destination is subject to a ‘Do not travel’ advice on the Smartraveller website at the time you enter the country or part of the country. (This ‘Do not travel’ exclusion does not apply if your destination is Australia or New Zealand).
  • Your claim is related to you having travelled on a multi-night ocean or sea cruise and you have not purchased the additional Cruise Cover for your policy. (Note: Cabin confinement cover is not available even if Cruise Cover has been added). 
  • Your costs are related to a government directed border closure.
  • Your costs are due to mandatory quarantine or isolation orders required to cross a border, such as a border between states, countries, or regions. 

It is important to read the  Product Disclosure Statement  before you consider purchasing a travel insurance policy. Please take note of limits to cover. For full details on our covid travel insurance benefits, please read the  PDS  here.

FAQs: Before you travel

Remember to check the PDS  for full details. For more information, contact 13 23 31 .

Is COVID-19 cover an additional add on?

No, our COVID-19 benefits are in-built into every Medibank Travel Insurance policy. This means you do not need to add additional COVID-19 benefits cover when purchasing a policy. 

However, don't forget that if you are travelling on a multi-night ocean or sea cruise then you will need to make sure you have purchased  Cruise Cover  to be eligible to make any claims that are in any way related to cruise travel (this includes COVID-19 related cruise claims). 

Not every policy has the same level of covid cover, so it's important to carefully read the  PDS  to understand any limits, sub-limits, conditions and exclusions that apply to COVID-19 benefits. 

Will the COVID-19 benefit cover me if I’m diagnosed with COVID-19 and need to cancel my trip?

If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 by a qualified medical practitioner and they confirm that you are unfit to travel, you may be able to claim the non-refundable cancellation costs. 

Cover details: 

  • Domestic Plan: Cancellation and amendment benefit limit $5,000.
  • International Comprehensive Plan: Cancellation and amendment benefit limit $10,000.
  • International Medical Plan: No cover for cancellation and amendment costs.

Cover conditions:

  • Subject to evidence of your positive COVID-19 diagnosis as diagnosed by a qualified medical practitioner who certifies you are not fit to travel. 
  • There is no cover if symptoms or diagnosis occurred prior to buying your policy.
  • Pre-booked sea and ocean cruises are included provided you added  Cruise Cover  to your policy.

Will the COVID-19 benefit cover me if I am deemed to have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and need to cancel my trip?

Unfortunately, no cover is provided if you are deemed to be a close contact and must isolate and can therefore no longer go on your trip. 

Will the COVID-19 benefit cover me if I want to cancel as the government issued a ‘do not travel advice’ to my destination after I booked?

Unfortunately, no. If you booked your trip to a destination deemed safe to travel by the Australian Government and purchased Medibank Travel insurance, but prior to travelling that destination is now under a ‘Do not travel’ warning on smartraveller.gov.au , you may need to cancel your trip due to the risks of travel. There is no cancellation cover when cancelling your trip due to COVID-19 related travel warnings, regardless of the warning level.

  • Cover applies for this event if the country or part of the country you travelled to was not subject to “Do not travel” advice on the smartraveller.gov.au website at the time you entered the country or part of the country. However, for trips in Australia or New Zealand, the Smartraveller “Do not travel” condition will be waived.
  • This cover is subject to evidence of your positive COVID-19 diagnosis (confirmed by a qualified medical practitioner).
  • No costs or expenses are covered if a quarantine or isolation order is placed on you by a government or public health authority.

Can I buy travel insurance if I am not vaccinated?

Yes, there are no limitations on getting an insurance policy with Medibank due to vaccination status.

FAQs: During your trip

Remember to check the  PDS  for full details. For more information, contact 13 23 31 .

Who should I contact if I get COVID-19 while overseas?

If you suspect you have COVID-19 you should call the Medibank 24/7 emergency assistance line. They'll be able to give you advice on what you need to do in order to make a claim against your policy. This can include how and where find a qualified medical practitioner to confirm a COVID-19 diagnosis. 

Learn more about our 24/7 emergency assistance .

Will Medibank Travel Insurance COVID-19 benefit cover me if I am diagnosed with COVID-19 while travelling and need to extend my stay?

If you get sick on your journey and need to extend your stay because a qualified medical practitioner certifies that you're unfit to travel as a result of COVID-19, then you'll be able to claim up to $5,000 of additional accommodation and transport expenses. 

If you are hospitalised as a result of COVID-19 then $10,000 of additional expense cover applies to Domestic Plans and $Unlimited additional expense cover applies to International Comprehensive and Medical Only Plans to help cover the cost of additional accomodation and transport as a result of extending your stay.

Please note, there is no cover for this event if your COVID-19 diagnosis requires you to enter a period of cabin confinement while on board the cruise ship, even if your policy includes Cruise Cover.

  • Cover applies for this event if the country or part of the country you travelled to was not subject to “Do not travel” advice on the  smartraveller.gov.au  website at the time you entered the country or part of the country. However, for trips in Australia or New Zealand, the Smartraveller “Do not travel” condition will be waived.
  • Other expenses you may incur (such as food, drinks, groceries, laundry etc.) are not included.

Terms conditions and exclusions apply, for full details, make sure you check out the  PDS .

Will Medibank Travel Insurance COVID-19 benefits cover me if I’m diagnosed with COVID-19 while travelling and need medical treatment?

Yes, on the International Comprehensive and International Medical Only plans, cover is available if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 by a qualified medical practitioner and require medical treatment overseas.

Non-cruise travel: Yes, cover is available.

Cruise travel:  Yes, cover is available for overseas emergency medical expenses and ship-to-shore expenses if Cruise Cover is added to your policy.

There is no cover for medical expenses on the Domestic plan.

  • Cover applies for this event if the country or part of the country you travelled to was not subject to “Do not travel” advice on the smartraveller.gov.au website at the time you entered the country or part of the country. 
  • For trips in Australia or New Zealand, the Smartraveller “Do not travel” condition will be waived.
  • Cover is subject to evidence of your positive COVID-19 diagnosis (confirmed by a qualified medical practitioner).

Do I need medical proof of my COVID-19 positive test result?

Yes, you will need a qualified medical practitioner to diagnose you with COVID-19 and certify that you are unfit for travel. A positive test result will not be sufficient proof to make a claim. 

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Ready to book?

Great, use our handy tool for a quick and easy online quote or give us a call on 132 331 to chat through your options.

Things you should know

1  Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from onset. Medical evacuation cover subject to claim approval. 

2  Conditions and limits apply to COVID-19 cancellation cover. Cancellation cover applies to the International Comprehensive and Domestic policies. See the  Combined FSG/PDS  for more information.

3  Cover is for reasonable Additional accommodation expenses (room rate only) and Additional transport expenses. Conditions apply to COVID-19 additional expense cover. See the  Combined FSG/PDS  for more information.

Limits, sub-limits, exclusions and conditions apply. This is general advice only. Medibank Private Limited, ABN 47 080 890 259, an Authorised Representative, AR 286089, of Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited, ABN 73 144 049 230 AFSL 360138 arranges the insurance on behalf of the insurer. The insurer is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited ABN 13 000 296 640, AFSL 232507. Please consider your own needs and the  Combined FSG/PDS  to decide if this product is right for you. For information on the Target Market and  Target Market Determinations , visit  medibank.com.au/travel-insurance/help/

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COVID-19 Health Assist - Expression of interest

Complete this form to express your interest in one of our programs. If you're eligible, a member of our team will call you within 2-3 business days.

What program are you interested in?

Sorry, only members with current Hospital cover are eligible to participate in these programs

Eligible Medibank members with Extras cover are able to access a range of telehealth services included on their cover - you can find out more here . Alternatively, if you would like to talk to one of our team about your cover, we're here on 132 331 .

Your membership details

Please provide your details so we can know how to contact you.

Your contact details

By clicking Submit, I understand that Medibank or its subsidiaries may contact me to discuss my eligibility for the Covid-19 Heath Assist program(s), and will disclose my personal information within the Medibank Group of companies and to third party service providers. Please see Medibank’s privacy policy for further information about how Medibank will handle my personal information, and how to contact Medibank: https://www.medibank.com.au/privacy/

Thank you for expressing your interest in one of our COVID-19 Health Assist programs.

If you are eligible, one of our health professionals will call you in 2-3 business days to discuss your situation and help to enrol you in the relevant program.

There is no cost to participate, however some referred services may incur an out of pocket cost.

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covid cover travel insurance australia

COVID-19 benefits with Travel Insurance

Benefits with cover for covid-19.

  • Cancellation if you or your travel companion are positively diagnosed with COVID-19 during your period of cover 1,2
  • Additional Expenses 1,3 related to changing your travel arrangements while travelling
  • Overseas Medical and Hospital Expenses 1,4
  • Overseas Emergency Assistance available 24 hours a day, with access to Registered Nurses and Doctors 1,4

What COVID-19 benefits our plans offer

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Comprehensive

Why choose us, thousands of satisfied customers, network of medical experts, emergency assistance available, we’re an established insurer, flexible covid-19 policy cancellation options.

We offer the flexibility to cancel your Allianz Travel Insurance policy at any time if your plans need to change due to COVID-19, provided you haven't made or intend to make a claim or exercise any other right under your policy. 1

You may be entitled to receive a full or partial premium refund if you can’t travel or need to change your journey because of COVID-19 border closures or mandatory quarantine periods. This applies when travelling both domestically and internationally. 1

If you haven’t started your journey, we’ll provide a full premium refund. If you’ve started your journey, we’ll provide a partial premium refund, based on a pro-rata basis from the date you returned home from your journey until the end date of your policy listed on your Certificate of Insurance. Eligibility criteria applies, refer to the PDS for full details.

If you need to cancel your policy due to COVID-19, contact us on 1800 440 806 or email our Travel Helpdesk .

Ready to get started?

Frequently asked questions.

Yes, you can apply to buy a policy even if you haven’t received the recommended vaccinations against COVID-19. The section headed ‘Who is eligible to purchase this product’ in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) contains important information about who is eligible to buy a policy, age limits and cover types.

You may not be covered if you don’t follow any advice or warnings by the Australian government or that were published in a reliable mass media source.

Refer to Smartraveller and the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs for the most up to date travel advice.

Make sure you’re aware of what is required, including any proof of vaccination, before you travel.

If you select Comprehensive , Multi-Trip, or Domestic Travel Insurance, which include the cancellation benefit cover when you buy your policy, you may be able to make a claim if you:

  • are subsequently positively diagnosed with COVID-19, which prevents you from travelling and
  • need to cancel, reschedule, or shorten your trip as a result. 1

The Cancellation benefit is designed to cover the non-refundable costs, up to the amount chosen, associated with cancelling, rescheduling or shortening the paid and unused portions of your journey. 2

If you’re positively diagnosed with COVID-19, we’ll reimburse your reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses 3 up to the limit shown in the Table of Benefits for the Plan you have selected, if you meet each of the following three conditions:

  • You have bought a Comprehensive, Domestic, or Multi-Trip Travel Insurance plan
  • You can’t continue your journey or your journey is disrupted because you or your travel companion are positively diagnosed with COVID-19
  • You need immediate and continued treatment from a medical adviser

Call emergency services in your location if your condition is life threatening.

If you’ve contracted COVID-19 overseas and need emergency assistance, contact our Emergency Assistance team on +61 7 3305 7499 . Call charges may apply.

We're here to help

Give us a call, or send us a message, follow us on, *conditions apply.

  • Policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions, and sub-limits apply to particular types of losses, premium refunds (full or partial) or claims. This product has a general exclusion, with limited exceptions, against epidemics and pandemics. That means we don’t cover claims that arise from, or are related to, an epidemic or pandemic. However, you’re covered under selected benefits in this product if, during your period of cover, you’re positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19. Refer to the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to see which benefits offer cover if you contract a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, and the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that apply.
  • Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits apply. Cancellation cover is only available on Comprehensive, Domestic and Multi-Trip Plans. Refer to ‘Cancellation’ and ‘General Exclusions’ sections of the Product Disclosure Statement for full details.
  • Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits apply. Refer to ‘Additional Expenses’ and ‘General Exclusions’ sections of the PDS for full details.
  • Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and applicable sub-limits apply. For full details and before making a decision, consider the relevant PDS.
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Any advice here does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and applicable sub-limits apply. Before making a decision about this insurance, please consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Policy Wording and Supplementary PDS (if applicable). Where applicable, the PDS/Policy Wording, Supplementary PDS and Target Market Determination (TMD) for this insurance are available on this website.

Travel Insurance is issued and managed by AWP Australia Pty Ltd ABN 52 097 227 177 AFS Licence No. 245631, trading as Allianz Global Assistance (AGA) as agent of the insurer Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence No. 234708 (Allianz). Travel Insurance is underwritten by the insurer Allianz. Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and applicable sub-limits apply.

^The 15% off Travel Insurance ‘EASTER15’ discount is available from 12:01am AEST 18/03/2024 until 11:59pm AEST 29/03/2024 by entering the valid promo code. The discount applies to new policy purchases and is based on standard premium rates (including optional extras). It applies automatically upon successful input of the promo code and applies to any changes, upgrades or amendments made to the policy prior to commencement of the journey. The discount may apply to changes made after commencement of the journey, contact Allianz Global Assistance to find out more. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

We don’t provide advice based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision, please consider the Product Disclosure Statement available on this website. If you purchase this insurance, AGA will receive a commission that is a percentage of the premium. Ask us for more details before we provide you with any services on this product.

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Choice travel insurance buying guide.

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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.

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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.

  • Join CHOICE

Does travel insurance cover COVID-19 or other pandemics?

What you're covered for when travelling during an epidemic or pandemic like covid-19..

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Fact-checked

Checked for accuracy by our qualified fact-checkers and verifiers. Find out more about fact-checking at CHOICE .

Australians are back on the international travel bandwagon, but many of us still have bad memories of travel plans that went south due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With those hard-learned lessons behind us, you'll want to ask the tough questions of your travel insurance policy for any future trips. Will travel insurance cover COVID-19 medical expenses or cancellation due to related government travel bans or isolation requirements? And will travel insurance policies cover future pandemics or epidemics?

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Can you get travel insurance to cover COVID-19?

Which travel insurers cover covid-19, domestic travel insurance for covid-19, does travel insurance cover covid-19 on a cruise, can you get a refund on travel insurance, your travel insurer declined your covid-19 claim. now what, does travel insurance cover pandemics or epidemics (other than covid-19).

Many travel insurance policies will provide limited cover if you or your travelling companion get COVID-19.

Cover will likely be limited to medical, and sometimes quarantine and cancellation costs if you contract COVID-19. Some policies may cover you for expenses if you can't travel because you're a close contact.

Travel insurance is unlikely to cover you for cancellation due to government travel bans.

Many of the most popular travel insurers in Australia, like Cover-More, Allianz, Tick and Travel Insurance Direct, provide cover for COVID-19. The table below shows which international travel insurance policies cover COVID-19 medical and cancellation costs if you're diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas. 

You may have to pay an optional extra fee for COVID-19 cover. Check the insurer's product disclosure statement (PDS) for more details. 

  • 'Variable' means multiple cover options are available and you can select the level of cover you require (for an additional fee).
  • Cancellation may not cover you if you're deemed a close contact but haven't tested positive yourself. 

* No cancellation prior to departure; $5000 if you contract COVID-19 on your trip.

Does travel insurance cover medical expenses for COVID-19?

Policies that cover medical expenses for COVID-19 will pay for emergency medical and hospital, and medically assisted repatriation to Australia, if deemed necessary. Most policies that cover COVID-19 provide unlimited cover for medical expenses.

Does travel insurance cover cancellation due to COVID-19?

Some policies will cover cancellation and amendment expenses if you get COVID-19 before you leave or while you're overseas. These policies may also cover you for cancellation and amendment expenses if you're deemed a close contact of someone who tests positive to COVID-19, but this isn't always the case. The cover amount can be limited to as little as a couple thousand dollars, so check with your travel insurer specifically to find out what they'll cover because it can be tricky.

Below are some of the typical exclusions for cancellation cover.

  • Cooling-off periods for COVID-19 cancellation cover are usually 72 hours.
  • Cover-More and other policies underwritten by Zurich, such as Flight Centre, AHM and Medibank, place restrictions on COVID-19 cancellation cover if you bought the policy within 21 days of your departure date. Check your PDS for details.
  • Most (but not all) policies that cover COVID-19 cancellations will provide limited cancellation cover if a non-travelling relative residing in Australia has contracted COVID-19.
  • These policies may also cover cancellation and amendment costs if you're designated a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and are required to self-isolate while on your trip.
  • Travel insurance is unlikely to cover cancellation costs if you're unable to travel due to general travel restrictions, like lockdowns at home or at your destination, or government travel alerts due to COVID-19.

Does travel insurance cover additional expenses and quarantine costs for COVID-19?

If you contract COVID-19 while on your overseas trip, some policies will provide limited cover for additional accommodation and meal costs under specific circumstances, such as:

  • if you're denied boarding scheduled public transport because you have tested positive to COVID-19
  • if you have to go to hospital or self-isolate with COVID-19.

If you're ordered into quarantine while overseas because you've contracted COVID-19, some policies will cover your quarantine expenses. However, if you're ordered into quarantine as a close contact, without having contracted COVID-19, very few policies will cover your expenses in this scenario.

There are several insurers selling domestic travel insurance, but not all insurers will cover COVID-19. Domestic travel insurance doesn't cover medical expenses, because that's covered by Medicare or your private health insurance. So you'll just need COVID-19 cover for cancellation or additional expenses if you're travelling around Australia. 

Read the travel insurance PDS to check whether you're covered for cancellation if you, or someone you're travelling with, catches COVID-19. Travel insurance is unlikely to cover you for government travel bans.

Travel insurance for an Aussie holiday may be worth considering if you're:

  • spending a lot of money on your trip
  • carrying expensive equipment, such as custom-made surfboards
  • hiring a car, as some travel insurance can cover the damage excess .

Travel insurance policies that offer cruise cover will often (but not always) cover medical costs if you contract COVID-19. Some of these policies will also cover you if you need to cancel your trip due to COVID-19, or if a non-travelling relative in Australia has contracted COVID-19.

If you're going on a cruise, you'll usually have to pay an extra fee to add cruise cover to your travel insurance, or buy a separate cruise-specific policy. Cover for COVID-19 is restricted, so check your PDS for details.

Travel insurance policies have a 14-day cooling-off period (or longer). If you change your mind in this period, you can cancel your policy and get your money back from the insurer.

AFCA (the Australian Financial Complaints Authority) considers a credit or refund of your premium a fair outcome where:

  • you got a refund or credit from all of your travel providers, so there's nothing left to claim on your travel insurance
  • your travel insurance policy has a COVID-19-related exclusion that prevents you from claiming on the policy.

Ask your travel insurer what they can do for you.

Partial policy refunds

From the moment you buy a travel insurance policy, cover kicks in for cancellation due to unforeseen events. So if your insurer offers you a refund, they may calculate a partial refund to take into account the cover that you've already received with your policy. 

AFCA considers proportionate refunds for the remaining unused period fair, but your insurer should outline how they calculate it. 

Visit AFCA's website for more information on what they deem fair treatment from insurers when it comes to COVID-19 claims.

Read your travel insurance PDS. In the first instance, it's up to you as the policyholder to establish that you have a valid claim under the policy terms and conditions. That generally means handing in lots of documentation. 

Then it's up to the insurer to decide if your claim is valid and that there are no policy exclusions that should be applied. 

If you disagree with the insurer's decision regarding your claim, raise a complaint via their internal dispute resolution service. 

If you don't get a satisfactory result from the insurer's internal dispute resolution,  escalate your complaint to AFCA , which is the external ombudsman for the insurance industry.

The chance of experiencing a pandemic similar to COVID-19 in a lifetime is estimated to be 38%. Many travel insurance policies now cover COVID-19 to some extent, but not as many policies will cover future pandemics or epidemics other than COVID-19.

There are several policies that cover COVID-19 for medical expenses, but not other pandemics, and very few policies now cover cancellation expenses for pandemics that aren't COVID-19.

An  epidemic  is an outbreak of disease that happens in a wide geographic location and affects a lot of people. 

A  pandemic  is an epidemic that has spread throughout a whole country or across continents. 

Which travel insurers will cover pandemics or epidemics (other than COVID-19)?

Insurers such as Allianz, Travel Insurance Direct and Cover-More cover pandemics or epidemics for medical costs, but Travel Insurance Direct and Cover-More exclude cover for cancellation costs incurred due to a pandemic that isn't COVID-19. 

The table below shows which international travel insurance policies cover pandemic medical and cancellation costs if you're diagnosed with an illness that's classified as a pandemic or epidemic by the World Health Organisation while overseas. Bear in mind that if the pandemic or epidemic is classed as a 'known event' before you buy the policy, then cover will probably be excluded.

When an event becomes 'known' is a grey area, but generally it's when it's publicised in the media or on official government websites. So check the Smartraveller information for your destination before you go

* If the policyholder is diagnosed with a pandemic or epidemic illness.

** Excluding avian influenza.

Stock images:  Getty, unless otherwise stated.

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You can now get COVID-19 travel insurance. Here's what it does and doesn't cover

A woman and a man packing in a bedroom.

Australians travelling overseas for the first time since international borders reopened are paying hundreds of dollars for travel insurance — but the fine print reveals some very big COVID-related exclusions.

Key points:

  • Major companies including NIB and Qantas are starting to sell travel insurance again
  • Most are offering limited protection for medical and travel expenses if people get COVID while overseas
  • No policies cover people for general lockdowns or border closures outside Australia or New Zealand

Sydney couple Beth and Larry Lee are about to fly to the United States to meet a grandchild they've never seen in person.

"I'm the kind of person [who] watches people at airports and cries when the people they know come in," Ms Lee says.

"So, I'm really excited, but also a little nervous."

The Lees' nerves about their trip to the United States comes down to the unpredictability of post-COVID travel.

A recent survey by consumer group Choice found only 23 per cent of Australians were confident making travel plans.

"There are nerves because, if something happens, we might get stuck over there. We might end up in hospital," Mr Lee says.

"And we won't have money to cover that."

To try to protect themselves financially, Beth shopped around for travel insurance that could cover them for COVID-related issues.

She called several companies and got knocked back, before finding one with a supplementary policy for COVID-19.

What does their COVID travel insurance cover?

The Lees' travel insurance with the company Southern Cross cost $698 for two people for three weeks to the United States.

It was slightly more expensive than standard cover because the retired couple have some pre-existing medical conditions.

Beth and Larry's COVID travel insurance fineprint shows what it covers

The Lees were only able to take out their policy to travel to the United States after the Smartraveller travel advice was downgraded from "do not travel" to instead "travel with caution", due to its ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks .

When it comes to what their policy covers for COVID-19, the Lees are protected for:

  • Medical expenses if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 while on their journey
  • Costs to change their travel arrangements if they, or a relevant person, are diagnosed with COVID-19 before they leave and their journey is cancelled or amended
  • Costs to change their travel arrangements if they, or a relevant person, are diagnosed with COVID-19 after they leave and their journey is interrupted or cut short.

Importantly, if the travel advice to the United States changes to "do not travel", ABC News has confirmed that Southern Cross will not cover them for COVID-19 expenses if they decide to push forward with their plans.

"They would be able to claim under our COVID-19 cover for costs to [cut short] their journey and return to Australia, as the change happened after they left and was unexpected," Southern Cross said in a statement.

"It's really important people monitor when they're travelling around.

"You could be in New York and, while you're there, there's a huge surge in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles. Smartraveller updates change to say "do not travel" to Los Angeles because of the surge.

"If you go to that high-risk city, regardless of government advice, and catch COVID, there won't be cover. If you go anyway, against government advice, and have an unexpected medical event, then there would be cover."

It's also important to note that Australia has  reciprocal healthcare agreements with 11 nations, including the UK, New Zealand and Italy .

This covers Australians travelling there for urgent medical treatment, however, often not the entire bill. Evacuations also aren't covered by reciprocal healthcare agreements. 

What about lockdowns or border closures?

The most glaring omission from the Lees' travel insurance is coverage that would see them refunded travelling costs or compensated for rearranging plans in the event of general COVID-19 lockdowns or border closures.

Southern Cross says providing this sort of generalised cover for travellers would simply be too expensive.

"Our customers also want affordable travel insurance, so our policies currently don't provide cover for lockdowns, which would expose us to much greater insured losses," the company explains.

"Were our policies to provide lockdown cover, they'd be less affordable, so fewer people would have insurance cover."

Yet, as the current situation in Europe highlights, lockdowns are still very much a consideration for travellers .

A man and a woman carrying luggage.

The Lees feel somewhat less nervous, knowing that their travel insurance covers them for contracting COVID-19 and associated medical and cancellation expenses.

They're both vaccinated but will still be travelling to San Francisco and then on to Los Angeles with caution.

"We're going to do rapid antigen testing twice a week while away," Beth says.

"We probably will not go into a restaurant to eat inside over there.

"We've thought about it and are taking as many precautions as we can. We want to see our family, we pray we'll get back there safely and come back safely."

They're still nervous about not being covered for rolling lockdowns or border closures.

"That's the tricky one," Larry says.

"You could certainly book into a place and be left high and dry. That could be a problem.

"We don't want to go into our superannuation. And it could take huge amounts of money."

The retired teachers have so far spent $10,000 on their short-term accommodation and flights to the United States.

Their flights aren't refundable but they may be able to get travel credits if their plans need to change.

They've intentionally booked short-term rentals where the cancellation policies say they can be given full refunds until just up to a few days before they're due to check-in.

A man and a woman sit on a couch outdoor.

"We love to travel, so we won't stop travelling," Beth says. 

"We're aware of the fact that your travel plans can be up-ended at any time."

Is this the best COVID travel insurance on offer?

ABC News contacted a range of other major insurers that are offering overseas travel insurance, including Allianz, CoverMore and NIB.

None of them offers overseas travel insurance with COVID protections beyond what Southern Cross was selling, except CoverMore, which offers some general lockdown coverage for travel to New Zealand. (More on that later.)

Allianz is also offering customers a partial refund of the insurance that they paid for if they get caught out by general COVID-19 issues.

Mark Fitzgibbon, managing director of NIB health insurance. Interviewed by 7.30, July 2019

Pre-COVID, NIB was one of the bigger providers of travel insurance, with $200 million in premiums taken every year.

"But, of course, throughout COVID-19, things have been much tougher. And, you know, we've been losing money," NIB's chief executive Mark Fitzgibbon tells The Business.

NIB had to exit the market altogether this year after its financial backer — or underwriter — AXA ended its financial arrangement.

"Travel insurance is not the most popular category for global insurers at the moment, for obvious reasons," Mr Fitzgibbon says.

"We thought we had another underwriting arrangement in place but it fell apart at the last minute. So, frankly, we've had to scramble to establish a new underwriting partnership.

"We [now] have and, very soon, we'll be back online and selling travel insurance across Australia and New Zealand."

The NIB policy that will be on offer — underwritten by new backer Pacific International Insurance — will be very similar to the coverage offered by Southern Cross, without any protection for general COVID-19 lockdowns or border closures.

Mr Fitzgibbon says it's unlikely that NIB would ever offer this sort of coverage. He says this doesn't come down to the insurance companies who sell premiums, but the underwriters who carry the financial risk of paying out policies.

"You talk to people at some of the global underwriters, and they certainly confirm that it's not an insurable risk if the entire world shuts down and closes borders. The financial consequences are just too dire."

Unclear if premiums to rise dramatically

Mr Fitzgibbon says premiums will rise due to the extra pandemic coverage.

"There'll be a little bit of pressure on premiums as a result of that additional COVID cover, but we're talking maybe 5 to 10 per cent. Nothing particularly egregious," he predicts.

After a "collapse" in the market of 99.3 per cent at the start of COVID, insurance comparison website Compare The Market is currently experiencing a return of browsers looking for deals.

a man in a blue shirt in front of a company sign

The website's travel insurance specialist, Warren Duke, says brands are also slowly re-entering the market.

"At this stage, we've not seen any travel insurers that have included cover if you need to cancel because of a border closure," he says.

"But we're all hoping that border closures and travel bans are a thing of the past.

"So, hopefully, that won't be much of an issue going forward.

"We've not seen prices change to a great degree at this stage. It's a little bit hard to tell because not all insurers have returned to the market.

"We're probably a couple of months away from understanding if the impact of introducing COVID-19 cover has had a dramatic impact on the price of policies."

What about add-on travel insurance?

Many people buy overseas travel insurance directly from companies, including Larry and Beth Lee.

However, there's also travel insurance that people sometimes buy when purchasing plane tickets or even the sort many get given for free by banks when signing up for credit cards.

A row of Qantas planes are on the tarmac, viewed from inside an airport terminal where cafe benches are packed away.

The Australian airline Qantas halted sales of travel insurance during the pandemic.

ABC News has confirmed that it has just resumed selling travel insurance with a product offered through NIB, meaning people who buy travel insurance through the airline should get the general COVID-19 coverage that the insurer offers.

Online ticket sales website FlightCentre is also selling travel insurance through CoverMore which, as well covering people internationally if they catch COVID-19, offers additional protection including:

  • For essential workers who have their leave revoked due to COVID-19 and can no longer travel
  • If the person you were planning on staying with in Australia or New Zealand has to go into quarantine for COVID-19 and you need to find new accommodation
  • If your accommodation in Australia or New Zealand is cancelled for a deep clean
  • For refunds, if your holiday activities in Australia or New Zealand are cancelled due to COVID-19.

plane window 2.jpg

When it comes to free travel insurance offered to people when signing up for credit cards, it appears the coverage for COVID-19 is exceedingly limited.

ABC News looked at the policies for the big four banks. All exclude pandemics as a general rule.

"While there is a broad exclusion on pandemics, including COVID, this is consistent with other types of travel insurance across the industry," Commonwealth Bank said in a statement.

"We are looking at ways to offer broader cover to provide better protection for customers."

"The travel insurance offered through some CBA credit cards is complimentary. Customers can, if they choose, take up additional cover for extra cost."

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Covid-19 Travel Insurance Benefits

Are you looking for travel insurance with coverage for Covid-19 related events? InsureandGo policies provide you with several travel insurance benefits related to Covid-19. We are all excited to travel again and we want to give travellers peace of mind on their next holiday, domestically or overseas. We understand the travel landscape has changed and our travel insurance policies need to account for the new risks that travellers can face. Our Covid-19 travel insurance will give you additional coverage whenever you are ready to explore the world again.

Always visit Smartraveller to understand if your destination is marked as safe to travel. If your destination is marked as a “do not travel” on Smartraveller website, travel insurance coverage is not available. The below content is a summary only, always check the PDS  for full details and  Target Market Determination  to understand if our policies are right for you.

For more information, check the FAQ’s below or visit our help centre  here

Overseas policies

Our One-Trip and Cruise policies can cover you for the following benefits, in case your trip is impacted by Covid-19:

  • Overseas medical expenses (Unlimited Coverage in our Silver and Gold policies, not included in our Bare Essentials Policies): We will pay for the necessary and reasonable medical costs incurred outside of Australia as a result of you being medically diagnosed with COVID-19. This includes emergency medical, surgical, hospital, ambulance and repatriation costs where necessary.
  • you being medically diagnosed with COVID-19 after you purchase the policy,
  • a close relative being diagnosed with Covid-19 after purchasing the policy and the treating doctor confirms in writing the level of infection is life threatening or
  • a travelling companion being medically diagnosed with Covid-19 after purchasing the policy

We will pay up to the amount shown in the Table of benefits for:

  • travel and accommodation expenses and pre-paid meal expenses which you have paid or have agreed to pay under a contract and which you cannot reasonably recover from any sources;
  • the cost of excursions, tours and activities which you have paid for and which you cannot reasonably recover from any sources;
  • your additional reasonable and necessary travel and accommodation expenses, incurred after departure, that are over and above what you had originally budgeted to pay, where you need to catch-up to your original schedule;

Domestic Policies

Our Single-Trip and Cruise Domestic policies also provide benefits for Covid-19 related events. Medical expenses in Australia are covered by Medicare or Private Health Insurance, so there are no medical benefits related to Covid-19 in our domestic policies. However, we provide coverage for the Cancellation or amendment of your trip if your travel plans are impacted by Covid-19.

  • you being medically diagnosed with COVID-19 after you purchase the policy and you are unfit to travel
  • a travelling companion being medically diagnosed with Covid-19 after purchasing the policy and they are you are unfit to travel

Most Common Questions

Am i covered if i get covid-19 overseas.

Our Silver and Gold levels of cover provide benefits for necessary and reasonable medical costs also necessary and unavoidable cancellation or amendment of your trip, related to a diagnosis of COVID-19. See the PDS for the details of what is covered. 

Am I covered for Cancellation if there is a border closure?

Unfortunately our policies exclude any claims arising from border closures, or any other claims relating to any government travel bans, “Do not travel” warnings; or mandatory quarantine or self-isolation requirements related to cross border, region or territory travel.

Can I claim for cancellation if a family member gets Covid-19?

Under the InsureandGo Silver and Gold levels of cover, we will provide coverage if it is necessary and unavoidable for you to cancel or amend your trip if a close relative in Australia is diagnosed with Covid-19 after purchasing the policy and the treating doctor confirms in writing their level of infection is life threatening.

Can I claim for cancellation if a travelling companion gets Covid-19?

Our Silver and Gold levels of cover provide benefits for necessary and unavoidable cancellation or amendment of your trip if your travelling companion is medically diagnosed with COVID-19 after purchasing the policy. See the PDS for the details of what is covered. 

Can I claim for cancellation if I get diagnosed with Covid-19 before going away?

Yes, our Silver and Gold policies provide coverage if it is necessary and unavoidable for you to cancel your trip if you are diagnosed with Covid-19 after purchasing your policy.

Am I covered for quarantine or travel delay if I get Covid-19 while overseas?

Our Gold and Silver policies provide coverage for your reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses if you are unexpectedly forced into quarantine whilst overseas as a result of being diagnosed with Covid-19. We cannot provide cover if you are forced into quarantine for any other reason other than you being diagnosed with Covid-19.

What should I do if I get diagnosed with Covid-19 while travelling?

If you are diagnosed with Covid-19 while travelling, please contact us on  +61293333999  or email  [email protected] . Our teams will guide you through the process on what to do and how to submit your claim.

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Please Note - If you are cruising around Australia you need to select Pacific. With Regions, variances can apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. You are not required to enter stop-over countries if your stop-over is less than 48 hours.

If you don’t know where you’re traveling to within the next 12 months, choose Worldwide to ensure you’re covered no matter where you go. If you’re travelling to multiple countries choose the region that you are visiting that is furthest away (excluding stopovers less than 48 hours). In most cases you will be covered for the closer regions as well. For example, if you choose Europe, you will also be covered in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific.

Worldwide means anywhere in the world

Americas means USA, Canada, South America, Latin America, Hawaii and the Caribbean

Europe means all European countries, including UK

Middle East refers to the area from Syria to Yemen; Egypt to Iran

Asia generally means Asia and the Indian subcontinent. For some insurers this excludes Japan*

Pacific means the South West Pacific, Australia and Indonesia/Bali*. Select Pacific for domestic cruises in New Zealand waters

New Zealand means domestic travel within New Zealand only

*Note: Variances apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. Check that your destination is covered once directed to your chosen insurer’s site.

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Why Buy Travel Insurance?

We’re not silly, we know that plenty of Aussies go on holiday and have an amazing time exploring new and exciting places without buying travel insurance. But taking a gamble on your much-needed break can be risky. Here’s why!

Exxy Medical Costs

If you buy a policy for just one reason, this is it! Falling ill or being injured while travelling overseas can be extremely costly. Hospital costs in the USA can reach up to $10,000 per day, while emergency transport home for treatment can easily exceed $100,000! Ouch!

Disasters Can Strike

The excitement of getting on that plane has you knotted up like a pretzel. Picture your dismay if you had to cancel last minute. Worse still, imagine you’re mid-martini when bad news breaks. Should you need to return home, you’ll be covered for unforeseen events like injury or illness of a close relative.

Your Stuff Is Important

Loss, theft or damage to your prized possessions can be a common, yet gut-wrenching experience. If your personal belongings go AWOL while you’re away the right policy will pay to replace or repair them. Win!

Peace Of Mind

Because you have to.

Still not convinced? We hate to be the fun police, but some countries simply won’t let you in without cover! For example, it is mandatory to take out travel insurance when travelling to Thailand or Cuba.

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Travel Insurance  Frequently Asked Questions

Does travel insurance cover coronavirus (covid-19).

It depends! Unfortunately, the answer isn't a straightforward one. There are some situations where cover is available, and others where it is an exclusion. It largely depends on which insurer you bought your policy with ; when you bought it; where you're travelling to; when you're travelling; and, the reason for your claim. As travel continues to open up around the world, most (but not all) insurers provide cover for overseas hospital & medical expenses if someone named on the policy was positively diagnosed with COVID-19. Some insurers also provide cover for additional expenses and cancellation benefits.

Which is the best travel insurance in Australia?

The best travel insurance depends entirely on your planned trip and your circumstances. If you're a backpacker on a strict budget, you might want a no-frills medical-only policy, while if you've paid a lot in deposits or if you have pre-existing health conditions, a more comprehensive policy might be best for you. While there's no single best travel insurance that's right for everyone, finding a policy that works for you is easy when you use our quote comparison to start comparing prices and features. With Compare Travel Insurance, you can also read up on travel insurance reviews from customers to learn about their customer service and importantly claims experience.

What does comprehensive travel insurance cover?

Comprehensive travel insurance includes coverage for unexpected medical expenses overseas in the event of injury or illness, as well as cover if your luggage is lost or stolen, cancellation and disruption benefits if you need to cancel or are delayed for unforeseen reasons, as well as public liability cover. Go to our comprehensive travel insurance guide to learn more.

What do medical-only policies cover?

Medical-only trip insurance a.k.a basic policies generally only offer coverage for unexpected medical expenses overseas. Some basic policies also include a small amount of coverage for luggage or cancellations. Our website allows you to filter quotes for basic, mid-range and comprehensive travel insurance policies and their features to help you find the policy which is right for you.

Is it too late to buy travel cover?

Although we recommend buying a policy as soon as you've started paying deposits for flights, accommodation and tours, you can buy travel insurance at any point, even if you are already overseas . Exclusions often apply though, so be sure to check the PDS before you buy.

Can I purchase travel insurance at the airport?

Yes, you can. Generally speaking, you can purchase travel insurance up to a year before your trip, right up to boarding at the airport. With comprehensive travel insurance, you are covered for cancellation benefits from the moment you buy your policy, so we recommend buying it as soon as you start paying for flights, tours and accommodation.

Can I get travel insurance if I'm already overseas?

You can buy cover if you are already overseas, although each travel insurer has different rules on age limits and waiting periods. Check out our already overseas travel insurance guide to learn more.

Does travel insurance cover pregnancy?

You can buy travel insurance to cover you when you're pregnant, but every brand has different rules depending on how many weeks gestation you are, whether you've had complications, and whether you're looking for cover in case of emergency birth. Check out the handy table on our pregnancy guide for more information.

Do I need cover in Australia?

If you're an Australian resident, a domestic policy covers you for cancellations, luggage cover and often rental vehicle excess, but as you're covered by Medicare, medical coverage is not included. International visitors to Australia are currently not required to have travel insurance by law, but it is highly recommended to protect you from eye-watering medical bills and more.

Which is the cheapest policy?

The cost of travel insurance depends on a range of factors including your destination, duration of travel, age of travellers, planned activities, whether or not you have any medical conditions and the type of cover you choose (medical only, mid-range or comprehensive). The cheapest travel insurance is generally to less risky parts of the world - places with cheaper healthcare and less risk of injury, illness or theft - and policies which offer less coverage - so ones without benefits for adventure activities or pre-existing conditions. To get cheap travel insurance from Australia for your trip, create a quote and compare prices, but remember that the cheapest isn't always the best. You should consider your trip and what you require cover for.

Why should I buy travel insurance direct online?

Comparing prices and features online makes it easier to find the policy that's right for you and your circumstances. With comparetravelinsurance.com.au , the price you see is the same price direct from the insurer. Sometimes you're not after the best policy but rather the best bang for your buck and comparing prices and features online can save you time, worry and loads of money.

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Comparetravelinsurance.com.au is Australia’s leading comparison site solely focused on travel insurance.

Our comparison is a free service that allows users to compare quotes in a few simple steps based on limited personal criteria. Comparisons supplied are not a recommendation or opinion about the suitability of a policy for a user. Comparisons are default ranked according to price and users have the ability to sort by popular cover levels. Whilst we compare a vast range of policies, we do not compare all providers in the market. This site compares the following brands: 1Cover, AllClear, Budget Direct, Downunder, Fast Cover Travel Insurance, Insure4Less, InsureandGo, iTrek, Simply Travel Insurance, Ski-Insurance, Travel Insurance Saver, Travel Insuranz, Wise Traveller, Zoom Travel Insurance . The directors and shareholders are common with companies i-Trek Pty Ltd, Zoom Travel Insurance and 1Cover Pty Ltd including it’s subsidiary brand Ski-insurance. CoverDirect takes all reasonable care when preparing this information but does not warrant its accuracy. Pricing information is supplied by the providers who participate on this site and should be verified with the insurer before you purchase. This site links users to the website of the provider to verify quotes and access the relevant PDS to understand what is, and is not, covered by a policy prior to purchase.

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Travel Insurance: Compare and Save

Compare travel insurance quotes from 13 brands – that’s more than any other site in australia..

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Why compare travel insurance with Finder?

We compare prices from more travel insurance brands than any other site in Australia

We don't ask for your phone or email to see prices

You pay the same price as buying directly from the travel insurer

How do I compare travel insurance?

  • Use the travel insurance quoting tool
  • Tell us your trip details like destination, trip length and age
  • Get a list of quotes from your favourite travel insurers - you can even get these results emailed to you
  • Create a shortlist. Select up to 4 policies to compare benefits side by side

What does travel insurance cover?

Hospital

Medical costs

Most travel insurance policies give you unlimited cover for medical expenses and 24/7 emergency medical assistance.

Coronavirus

COVID-19 cover

You can get cover for COVID-related medical expenses now and up to $5,000 towards cancellation or rearrangement costs.

Plane icon

Flight cancellations

It can also pay to get you on an alternative flight. Plus, many will cover your accommodation costs if your trip is disrupted.

Lost luggage

Lost luggage

You can get around $250 a day if your luggage is delayed by the airline. Many also cover stolen or accidentally damaged luggage.

See a full list of what travel insurance can cover

  • Accidental death
  • Overseas emergency dental expenses
  • Hospital cash allowance
  • Loss of income
  • Overseas emergency assistance
  • Overseas medical and hospital expenses
  • Permanent disability
  • Resumption of journey
  • Alternative transport for special events
  • Cancellation and amendment fees
  • Travel delay expenses
  • Daily delayed luggage allowance
  • Luggage and personal belongings
  • Theft of cash
  • Travel documents and bank cards
  • Personal liability
  • Rental car excess insurance
  • COVID-19 Medical Expenses
  • Rearrangement costs if you get COVID-19

I'm ready to compare travel insurance

Is there any travel insurance that covers COVID?

Our research shows that more than 20 insurers now offer some cover for COVID-related expenses . Here's a rundown of what this typically includes:

  • Medical costs if you get sick from COVID-19 . This can include hospital expenses and RATs if you catch COVID-19 while overseas (but not mandatory PCRs).
  • Trip rearrangement costs. For example, if you catch COVID and are forced to change your plans. Many let you claim up to $5,000 towards these expenses.
  • Expenses if you need to isolate. For example, if you or someone you're travelling with catches COVID-19, travel insurance can cover the costs to push back your flight and stay in your accommodation longer.

A few insurers go even further and can cover you for the following:

  • The accommodation or venue you planned to stay at is suddenly closed.
  • A prepaid activity that's booked in Australia or New Zealand is shut down.
  • If you're denied boarding on transport due to symptoms.
  • Extra child care costs if you get COVID.
  • Added pet care costs if you're infected and can't return home.

What's not covered by COVID travel insurance?

Your policy won't typically offer cover for these COVID-19-related events:

  • You cancel plans due to government-enforced border closures or lockdowns.
  • You enter into quarantine or self-isolation that you knew about in advance.
  • You ignore a doctor's advice that you aren't well enough to travel.
  • You travel to a country deemed by unsafe by Smartraveller (Level 3: Reconsider your need to travel or Level 4: Do not travel)
  • PCR or rapid tests where you are required to be tested in order to travel.

Some providers, including Cover-More and Easy Travel Insurance, won't accept COVID-related claims within 21 days of your trip . Just one reason you should get insurance as soon as you book your trip.

Compare Finder's travel insurance award winners

Finder travel insurance customer satisfaction logo

Customer satisfaction winner

Tick travel insurance has ranked first place for customer satisfaction in 2023 .

This survey was conducted by Dynata, where 95% of respondents said they would recommend Tick to a friend, and it scored the highest in the 'value for money' category.

About why Tick won

Finder comprehensive travel insurance awards winner

Travel insurance - comprehensive winner

Southern Cross Travel Insurance has taken the top position in the 'Travel insurance - Comprehensive' category for the 2023 Finder Awards . Why? It's got to do with its wide COVID-19 coverage and how it handles cancellations due to unexpected events.

Adding to that, its average pricing was pretty affordable compared to other brands who offer less coverage for a higher price.

About why SCTI won

Finder travel insurance value awards winner

Value travel insurance winner

Fast Cover is the winner of the 2023 Finder Awards for the 'Travel insurance - Value' category. How? We compared the average prices of 28 international travel insurance policies, and Fast Cover came out on top.

But what does ' value' mean? It means we looked at more than just price. Fast Cover doesn't include everything on its policies, but it offers good value.

About why Fast Cover won

Finder domestic travel insurance award winner

Domestic travel insurance winner

InsureandGo has taken the top place for the 'Travel insurance - Domestic' category in the 2023 Finder Awards .

Why? We analysed 23 domestic policies and found that InsureandGo were generous with their benefit limits for things like cancellation and rental car excess insurance.

About why InsureandGo won

Finder seniors travel insurance awards winner

Seniors travel insurance winner

Southern Cross Travel Insurance is the winner of the 'Travel insurance - Seniors' category in the 2023 Finder Awards . Why? It has higher age limits and generous benefits.

We also appreciated SCTI's easy-to-read product disclosure statement. This means that customers can easily understand their policies, and travel with confidence.

Finder innovation award finalist

Insurance innovation finalist

Fast Cover Travel Insurance's COVID-19 Benefits & Refund Policy earned it a place among the finalists in the Insurance Innovation category of this year's Finder Innovation Awards .

It goes further than many other insurers, covering COVID medical expenses and evacuation, up to $5,000 for COVID-related cancellations and additional expenses.

Best travel insurance

Gary Ross Hunter and Jessica Prasida

Meet our experts

Our team of insurance experts have published over 450 guides on travel insurance and are regularly cropping up on TV shows, including Sunrise, Seven News and 10News, with the latest travel insurance tips and tricks.

Whether you're heading overseas with the family or exploring somewhere closer to home, we're passionate about helping you get the best policy for your holiday.

Latest travel insurance articles

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Kicking, screaming and stinking: Plane neighbours annoy millions

Finder’s Travel Inflation Report: International trips cost 33% more

Finder’s Travel Inflation Report: International trips cost 33% more

12 Days of Holiday Offers: Enter the draw for $5,000 cash with SCTI

12 Days of Holiday Offers: Enter the draw for $5,000 cash with SCTI

12 Days of Holiday Offers: 15% off Travel Insurance with InsureandGo

12 Days of Holiday Offers: 15% off Travel Insurance with InsureandGo

Cheap but deadly: Australian travellers skimp on insurance

Cheap but deadly: Australian travellers skimp on insurance

Buying Taylor Swift resale tickets? Don’t forget your travel insurance

Buying Taylor Swift resale tickets? Don’t forget your travel insurance

Some top tips from travel insurance experts.

Good to know – only a handful of insurers including SCTI and CoverMore can cover you for trip cancellations or changes before your journey because of an unexpected event . The majority don't do this. They only cover you for certain reasons . So for example, if your flight was cancelled or delayed for a reason not listed in the PDS, you might not be covered.

Gary Ross Hunter

Gary Ross Hunter Finder's insurance and innovations editor

Like many others, I’ve had plenty of delays and even flight cancellations while travelling since the pandemic. Insurance has a place in these events. I've just been lucky that none of these was due to COVID. For me, taking out a policy with high benefit limits for COVID coverage offers heaps of peace of mind. I don’t know why you'd risk travelling without it.

James Martin

James Martin Finder’s insurance editor

Many people don't realise that travel insurance can include cover for your rental vehicle excess. Not knowing this means people may choose to reduce their rental vehicle excess instead of relying on their travel insurance coverage, and end up paying an additional fee to the rental car company. We recommend that you check your travel insurance policy to see if you can avoid paying the rental car company’s excess reduction fee.

Jo McCauley

Jo McCauley CEO - Southern Cross Travel Insurance

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel… plain and simple. Things can and do go wrong and you want to be covered for everything from losing luggage to needing prohibitively expensive medical treatment.

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon Freelance finance journalist

Travel insurance: 4 things you need to know

Number 1

Travel insurance doesn't protect you from yourself

Your claim will be voided if the insurer finds that you failed to act responsibly. Consider this before you have a few too many drinks on your trip or jump on a moped without a helmet.

Number 2

Rules about renting motorcycles and scooters on your holiday

Travel insurance will only cover you if you're riding with an Australian motorcycle licence or a valid licence in that country. You also need to be wearing a helmet and stick to a specific engine size.

Number 3

You might need to pay more for activities such as skiing and motorcycling

This can be added when applying online. You'll find that most Australian insurers have a list of activities in the PDS which are covered for free.

Number 4

You won't always be covered for natural disasters and pandemics

If you buy your policy after a natural disaster or a pandemic becomes a "known event" (e.g. it's in the news), you typically won't be covered, with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elizabeth Barry

We recently had to cancel a trip to Europe due to a family emergency, resulting in thousands of dollars lost in tickets, accommodation bookings and more. Thankfully we had travel insurance through our credit card which made sure we were covered from when we booked. We received all money lost back in full for anything we couldn’t cancel.

Find out more about the type of travel insurance you need

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Compare and save. Check out our latest deals

Not only will you be paying the same price as buying directly with the insurer, we regularly run exclusive deals with our partners – that means policies can be even cheaper. Check out some of our current offers below:

Travel insurance guides for our most popular destinations

Looking for inner peace? Get peace of mind with the right cover in Bali.

Bali

Don't chew gum in Singapore, don't go there without the right travel insurance either.

Singapore

With some of the highest medical costs in the world, travel insurance is a no-brainer.

USA

Italy? France? Greece? Get cover for them all with a Europe travel insurance policy.

Europe

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Why you can trust Finder's travel insurance experts

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Frequently asked questions, what is travel insurance.

Travel insurance covers emergencies or accidents that might happen to you or your belongings while you're away from home. You pay a travel insurer a fee (known as a premium) that is calculated based on the risks associated with your trip. In exchange, your insurer will pay you for unexpected costs related to your trip such as the following:

  • Medical expenses if you're sick or injured overseas.
  • Reimbursing you if you need to cancel your trip or cut it short.
  • Covering your valuables and travel documents if they get lost, stolen or damaged.

Can I get travel insurance that covers COVID-19?

Yes, many insurers offer some cover for COVID-19 . You'll normally be covered if you get diagnosed with coronavirus and can't go on your trip, but you won't be covered for events like border closures.

What's the best travel insurance in Australia?

The best travel insurance depends on your circumstances – for example, where and who you're travelling with. To help you find the right policy, we created a best travel insurance guide where we've selected top picks for COVID-19 cover, domestic trips, families, pre-existing conditions and adventure trips.

Is travel insurance worth it?

Something going wrong at home is bad, but if something goes wrong overseas it can be catastrophic. From medical costs to flight cancellations, travel insurance is basically always worth it . Smartraveller , which is maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), says "if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel". Taking out a policy is a small price to pay compared to the thousands you could lose if something unexpected happens.

How much does travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance costs have increased since the pandemic. However, it's possible to find a cheap policy for around $5 a day. Your age and travel destination will impact how much you pay.

Does travel insurance cover cancellations?

Yes. Travel insurance can cover you for flight cancellations if something unexpected happens and you're unable to go on your trip. It can also pay for additional accommodation costs and other pre-booked plans associated with disrupted or cancelled flights. However, read the product disclosure statement because some may only cover you for certain cancellations.

Are there age restrictions on travel insurance?

You can usually get travel insurance with most providers if you're a senior up to the age of 80 but you might not be eligible for annual or frequent traveller policies with some brands once you turn 65. If you have any pre-existing conditions, you may have to complete an online medical questionnaire and pay more for a policy.

Most policies will cover kids for free if they're travelling with a parent or guardian. You usually need to be under 23 to be eligible as a dependant, though this varies slightly between brands.

Can I just get complimentary credit card travel insurance?

Complimentary credit card travel insurance can offer similar cover to a standalone travel insurance policy but it often comes with lower caps on how much you can claim and many still do not cover COVID-19 .

You'll need to read the product disclosure statement (PDS) for the fine print regarding the excesses you will have to pay, the benefit limits, the maximum trip duration and which pre-existing medical conditions are automatically excluded.

If you find the few dollars you save isn't worth the risk of being out of pocket, consider taking out a standalone policy instead.

Will travel insurance cover me for my pre-existing medical condition?

It depends on your condition. Insurers will list what pre-existing conditions they automatically cover in the product disclosure statement.

If your condition isn't on the list, let your insurer know about your ailment and they will decide whether to cover you for claims related to that condition. You might have to pay more for a policy but you will still be able to get insurance.

What's a PDS?

A PDS (product disclosure statement) is a legally binding document that outlines what you're covered for. If something's not mentioned in a PDS then that insurer typically won't cover you for it. You'll also find a list of common exclusions, which are events you won't be insured for. Read more definitions of common travel insurance terms .

What's an excess?

An excess is the upfront fee you'll have to pay if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy. Depending on how risk-averse you are, you can opt for a higher excess , which will mean lower premiums (policy cost), but this might mean that smaller claims are not worth it.

Can I get flight only travel insurance?

Travel insurance to cover your flights only isn’t really a thing in Australia. A travel insurance policy will generally cover the cost of your flights and potential delays, while also covering a bunch of other things like medical expenses and your valuables.

  • Smartraveller: Travel Smart advice for all travellers
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  • 2022 Travel Sentiment Report

covid cover travel insurance australia

Gary Ross Hunter

Gary Ross Hunter is 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).

Read more on this topic

The best travel insurance policies are different for each individual traveller.

Airline lost your luggage? Here's what you need to know.

Find out how travel insurance for trip disruption actually works and policies from Australian brands.

Guide to travel insurance for strikes and industrial action.

Travelling overseas with valuable items and cash? Find out how travel insurance can cover you in robberies and instances of theft.

If you've booked your trip and have had your visa denied, read here for more info on travel insurance covering you for cancellation costs and fees.

Ever wonder who is behind the travel insurance brands available on finder.com.au? Find out who and how it affects you when you claim.

Will you get your money back if your travel agent goes bust before processing your booking? Here's what you need to know.

Getting married overseas and looking for some extra cover? Discover the benefits of a destination wedding travel insurance policy.

Everyone can feel invincible when on holidays until they aren’t. Be a smart traveller with finder.com.au – learn about the ins and outs of travel health insurance and why you’ll absolutely need one for your upcoming holiday.

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59 Responses

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I need a hard copy of my health insurance going over seas

Avatar

You should be able to print your policy. You should have a copy on your email or you can access it from online banking. If you’re having any issues, perhaps contact your health insurer for some assistance.

Hope this helps!

Greetings I am taking a 19 day tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. During the tour I will be on a boat for one night in Halong Bay. InsureandGo advised that I need to take out a cruise premium because of the one night on a vessel. The cruise premium is double the price of its Gold premium. Is there a company that would be a better option for me?

Most insurers charge a higher premium for cruise cover, as they are pricing it based on risk. Insurers are aware that there’s a higher chance of claims related to cruising, such as illness, slips and fall injuries and cancellation fees, which can increase the premium paid.

Unfortunately you have to select cruise coverage for the entire trip, so you have a few options: – Pay the higher price and get the peace of mind of full coverage. – Pay for coverage without cruise cover, and take the risk of travelling knowing you have no insurance if something goes wrong on that one day. – Enquire about taking out 2 policies: one standard policy for the entire trip without cruise cover, and another 2-day policy to cover your cruise.

Some of the things cruise travel insurance may cover includes: Pre Paid Shore Excursions Cancellation Missed Cruise Departure Cabin Confinement/Loss of Enjoyment Missed Port Cover Formal Attire Cover Formal Attire Delay Allowance Unlimited medical cover and emergency assistance (on-board and while docked) Weather delays or natural disasters. COVID cover

Hello, I am finding it difficult to obtain the necessary information on-line. I am booked on a cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest with several stopovers and a train journey from Budapest to Prague. My flight is with a stop-over in Doha enroute to Amsterdam with a stop there of several nights. My return flight is from Prague again with a stopover in Doha. My holiday is from 24th September until 16th October, 2024. Are you able to provide me with your cheapest quote including Covid cover. Thank you for your time. Kind regards Judi Boxall

We’re a review and comparison site, so we don’t have any products or provider quotes ourselves and we’re unable to provide personal customer service.

However, if you pop your destinations (Amsterdam, Budapest, Prague, Doha) in the table above and add your age and travel dates, you’ll get a number of quotes and options for your travel insurance.

When the quotes are listed, you can add covid cover as an optional extra on the left hand side.

I am travelling overseas later this year and have activated my credit card insurance. However the policy does not cover me if I need to cancel/postpone my trip due to COVID 19. Is there a stand alone policy I can purchase to cover cancellation / postponed trip due to COVID before I leave? Many thanks

Hi Kaylene,

Yes you can check some options for covid cover when travelling here: https://www.finder.com.au/travel-insurance/covid-cover

Hi, I got a quote and paid for travel insurance yesterday from Southercross Travel. I haven’t received any paperwork from them, the telephone number has a message saying not taking any calls. I have also sent an email. I was wondering if you have any issues or other complaints? Thanks

We’re not aware of any issues with Southerncross Travel. Have you checked your spam?

You can also contact their support team via phone or email here: https://www.scti.com.au/help-support

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covid cover travel insurance australia

Win 1 of 3 $1000 travel vouchers

Do you want to escape, unwind and be in the running to win? Before you zip up your suitcase, there's one more thing you should consider packing - travel insurance. And for a limited time only, your travel insurance policy could help you WIN 1 of 3 $1000 travel vouchers when you use promo code TRAVEL. Hurry entries close 11.59pm AEDT 14 April 2024. Terms and Conditions apply.

Your policy in your pocket... and more

Register your trip in our app for access to your travel insurance policy details, as well as up-to-date travel advice, real-time safety alerts and 24/7 emergency assistance, all in the palm of your hand.

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Travel's back on - and we've got your back

Feel in control by choosing the most suitable plan for you

Feel safe with 24/7 access to Emergency Assistance

Feel joy with 80+ adventure activities included

Feel confident with our 35+ years of travel expertise

Looking for the best travel insurance plan for your holiday?

Whatever your travel budget, style or needs, let's travel the world together - safely.

covid cover travel insurance australia

International Basic

Essential cover designed for Australian travellers on a budget.

Pre-trip cover if you're diagnosed with COVID-19

On-trip cover if you're diagnosed with COVID-19^##

Unlimited~ overseas emergency medical expenses^

Up to $5,000 luggage cover

Existing medical conditions cover available

Optional cancellation cover

Single Trip policies

Annual Multi-Trip policies^

Rental vehicle insurance excess

covid cover travel insurance australia

International Comprehensive

Extensive cover and benefit limits to provide extra financial protection.

Pre-trip cover if you're diagnosed with COVID-19#

On-trip cover if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 while travelling^##

Up to $15,000 luggage cover*

Optional cancellation cover with Cancellation Extensions

Single Trip or Annual Multi-Trip^^ policies

Rental vehicle comprehensive cover

covid cover travel insurance australia

International Comprehensive +

Everything our Comprehensive Plan includes and more + higher benefit limits.

Pre-trip cover if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 before travelling#

Up to $25,000 luggage cover*

Business trip benefits

* Item limits apply.

~ Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness, condition, or injury.

^ For cruise-related expenses, Cruise Cover must be included in the policy. There is no cover for cabin confinement related to COVID-19.

^^ Policy availability subject to age, trip duration and area of travel. Policies may not be available to all travellers.

# Up to $5,000 per policy (or the amount chosen if this is less) applies to International Comprehensive Plan and Comprehensive+ Plan policyholders with Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover included. You must be diagnosed with COVID-19 and certified by a qualified medical practitioner as being not fit to travel for cover to apply.

## Up to $5,000 per policy (or the amount chosen if this is less) applies per policy for policyholders with Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover included. You must be diagnosed with COVID-19 and certified by a qualified medical practitioner as being not fit to travel for cover to apply. A special excess applies.

Searching for COVID-19 cover?

To help you explore the world with confidence, our travel insurance provides cover for COVID-19-related:

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Overseas medical costs*~#

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Amendment and cancellation costs*^

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Additional expenses*#^

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*Limits, sub-limits, conditions, and exclusions apply.

~Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from onset.

#Cover for medical costs related to COVID-19 is not available on our Domestic Plans.

^A special excess will apply.

covid cover travel insurance australia

Holiday hasn't  gone to plan?

You can submit a Cover-More travel insurance claim online at any time – and from anywhere.

Get emergency support, fast. We're here 24/7.

When adventure awaits... we can help provide cover.

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Setting sail for two or more nights? You'll need to let us know and Cruise Cover will be added to your policy.

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Snow Sports

Hitting the slopes? Consider protecting your winter getaway with one of our two levels of Snow Sports Cover.

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Adventure Activities

Planning on engaging in extreme activities? We've got two additional Adventure Activities Cover options for you.

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Motorcycle & Moped

Want to take to the road on two wheels? See if one of our Motorcycle/Moped Riding Cover options is right for your trip.

We're by your side when you need us most

We've been protecting Australian travellers for over 35 years. Read our customers' Cover-More travel insurance reviews to discover how our expert team provides exceptional care during uncertain times.

Mosquito bite in Bali

Shannon was bitten by a mosquito in Bali, which caused Dengue Fever.

"Cover-More were absolutely fantastic. I wasn't responding well to medical treatment, so they flew in a specialist from Singapore to accompany me all the way home. I'm so glad I had Cover-More travel insurance."

Boat crash in Thailand

Natalie was involved in a speedboat crash in Thailand, which resulted in a fractured pelvis and a brain haemorrhage.

"Luckily I had Cover-More insurance. They took care of everything and made sure we had the best medical treatment available."

Accidental fall in Poland

Irene was visiting family in Poland when she had a fall, which resulted in a bad fracture and extensive medical costs.

"Amazing. I can't praise them highly enough. Wonderful, wonderful people... Nobody should travel without insurance."

Protect your trip with us - get a free travel insurance quote now.

How can we help you travel smarter.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or a first-timer, we’re here to help you feel empowered to travel further, safely.

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Have an EMC? We can provide cover for various conditions to help keep you exploring, safely.

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7 ways COVID-19 has changed the way we travel

Worried about travel risks during COVID-19? Discover how you can help ensure a safer trip.

covid cover travel insurance australia

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Planning a ski trip at home or abroad? Don't depart without reading our expert advice.

Got a question about travel insurance? We're here to help

What is travel insurance.

Travel insurance is a specific type of insurance that helps cover several costs and disruptions when travelling both domestically and overseas. Levels of cover differ per plan; however, travel insurance typically protects against trip cancellation, delays, lost luggage and personal belongings, overseas medical expenses and repatriation, and personal liability.

Most travel insurance providers offer single or multi-trip policies, which can cover multiple countries within a specific timeframe. Things like the destination, length of trip, optional additional cover for specific activities and pre-existing medical conditions all help determine the cost of a travel insurance policy.

How much does travel insurance cost?

The cost of a travel insurance policy varies from traveller to traveller because various factors affect the amount payable.

At Cover-More, we consider a number of factors when calculating the total amount payable. The following is a guide on these key factors, how they combine and how they may impact the assessment of risk and therefore the premium paid:

  • Area: higher risk areas cost more.
  • Departure date and trip duration: the longer the period until you depart and the longer your trip duration, the higher the cost may be.
  • Age: higher risk age groups cost more.
  • Plan: International Comprehensive+, which provides more cover, costs more than International Comprehensive or Domestic.
  • Excess: the higher the excess the lower the cost.
  • Cruise cover: additional premium applies.
  • Cancellation cover: on some policies you can choose your own level of cancellation cover. The more cancellation cover you require, the higher the cost may be.
  • Adding cover for Existing Medical Conditions and pregnancy (where available): additional premium may apply if a medical assessment is completed and cover is accepted by us.
  • Options to vary cover (where available): additional premium applies.

While a cheaper policy cost upfront may seem appealing, always read the Product Disclosure Statement to ensure your needs are adequately covered should an incident occur.

How does travel insurance work?

Travel insurance protects you when travelling domestically or internationally by providing coverage against unforeseen circumstances that may impact your travel plans. By purchasing travel insurance with cancellation cover prior to departure, your policy can help by providing cover for the costs of trip cancellations should you no longer be able to travel, as well as the costs of overseas medical treatment, lost passports, and personal items while you’re travelling.

The customer usually pays for these costs upfront, before being reimbursed by the travel insurer upon claim approval. To approve a claim, travel insurers require documentation such as medical reports, itemised medical bills or police reports to confirm the incident occurred.

However, at Cover-More, if our customer becomes ill overseas, they can also contact our 24-Hour Emergency Assistance team for support and to seek approval for expensive medical bills to be paid directly by us to the medical care provider/s instead.

Always read the Product Disclosure Statement before purchasing a travel insurance policy to ensure it provides adequate coverage for your circumstances.

What does – and doesn’t – travel insurance cover?

Unfortunately, travel insurance can’t cover absolutely everything. This highlights the importance for travellers to read the  Product Disclosure Statement  before purchasing to avoid becoming frustrated if claims are unsuccessful. It will contain details on the situations you likely won’t be covered in, including cancellation, pre-existing medical conditions, theft or loss of belongings, adventure sports, COVID-19 scenarios and more.

For full details of the exclusions within our Cover-More travel insurance plans, consult the  Product Disclosure Statement  .

When is the best time to purchase travel insurance?

The best time to purchase travel insurance is as soon as a trip is booked, as this can increase protection. When purchased ahead of time, a Cover-More customer can cancel their travel insurance policy for a full refund within the 21-day cooling-off period. If the policy is purchased before departing on the trip, claims for rearrangements and cancellations caused by unforeseen circumstances can also be made where cancellation cover is added to the policy.

Fast Cover Announces Flexible Travel Insurance for Modern Australian Travelers

As international borders reopens and travel restrictions ease, Australians are once again embracing their love for travel.

covid cover travel insurance australia

Royal Exchange, Australia - March 11, 2024 /NewsNetwork/ —

Fast Cover , a popular Australian travel insurance provider, has committed itself to meeting this resurgence in customer demand. With its award-winning services and customer-focused products, Fast Cover is committed to revolutionizing the way Australians think about and purchase travel insurance.

Established with the intent to simplify the often-complex travel insurance process, Fast Cover has developed a range of policies that can cater to the needs of a wide range of traveler types, from the adventure-seekers to those looking for a relaxed family holiday. Recognizing the evolving nature of travel, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fast Cover has introduced flexible policy options that offer coverage for certain expenses that may incur when COVID-19 impacts travel.

Fast Cover's intuitive online interface allows customers to obtain quotes and eligible travelers from Australia to purchase insurance in just a few steps - a streamlined process that acknowledges the modern traveler’s desire for efficiency and speed. Their approach to online travel insurance as a coverholder at Lloyd’s is a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation and customer service excellence.

As the travel industry navigates post-pandemic recovery, Fast Cover’s agility and adaptability position it well to address the changing insurance needs. Their insurance products which can be customised by the customer depending on the customers individual travel needs, demonstrate an understanding that the landscape of travel has changed, with more Australians seeking domestic travel options.

By offering competitive domestic travel insurance, Fast Cover meets this demand head-on, providing a variety of Benefits with possible coverage for car rental excess, luggage, personal effects, and trip cancellation fees and more.

With the industry on the cusp of a major comeback, Fast Cover's approach to travel insurance signifies a broader shift in the sector towards greater flexibility and customer-centricity. As travel habits continue to evolve, Fast Cover is not just keeping pace but focused on setting the trend for what travel insurance should look like in the 21st century.

For Australians at home or abroad, taking to the skies or cruising the seas, Fast Cover's message is clear: “Our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team is ready and waiting to help our policy holders when they need us most.”

If getting a quote, customers should consider their Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination on their website as any advice provided is general advice only and may not be suitable for the customer.

For more information on Fast Cover’s travel insurance policies which are underwritten by Lloyd’s and to obtain a quote, visit their website https://fastcover.com.au .

Fast Cover Pty Ltd ABN 98 143 196 098, AFS Licence 538708 (Fast Cover). Insurance policies are arranged, administered and varied in accordance with the binder issued to Fast Cover by the underwriters and are underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd's. Any advice provided is general only and insurance coverage is subject to underwriting eligibility criteria, policy terms, conditions, limits, sub limits and exclusions. Fast Cover's compensation is included in the total amount customer's pay. Fast Cover receives a portion of the insurer's premium for promoting Fast Cover Travel Insurance policies. Consider the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) which are available at fastcover.com.au before deciding whether this product is right for the customer.

Contact Info: Name: Craig Morison Email: Send Email Organization: fastcover Address: PO Box R1384, Royal Exchange, NSW 1225, Australia Website: https://fastcover.com.au/

Release ID: 89123899

  • Travel Insurance

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.

1Cover Comprehensive Travel Insurance Review

Updated: Aug 8, 2023, 1:39pm

1Cover Comprehensive Travel Insurance is an affordable travel insurance product for those looking to travel to any of its 15 regions worldwide. It is easy to receive a quote online to find out the approximate total cost of your coverage, and the process for applying is also easy and straightforward.

While all ages are covered including children up to 19 years of age–pertaining to certain conditions–those aged 80 years older will incur a $3000 excess.

Related: How to find the best travel insurance policy for you .

  • Quick application process online
  • Unlimited medical cover that includes COVID-19 medical expenses
  • Offers a 5% discount when applying online
  • Individuals aged over 80 years old attract a $3000 excess
  • Limited dental cover
  • Winter Sports incur an additional fee for the sports and activity coverage

1Cover Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Table of Contents

About 1cover comprehensive travel insurance, what is covered, does it cover me for covid, what about pregnancy, what if i have a pre-existing medical condition, what about sports and activities, customer service, who should take out this insurance.

1Cover is solely a travel insurance company that has insured more than 1.5 million customers since its inception in 2003. With its specific focus, 1Cover offers Australians 10 different travel insurance plans across 15 regions worldwide, and provides customers with a 5% discount for taking out its comprehensive travel insurance plan online.

All of its travel insurance plans are underwritten by specific insurance underwriters at Llyod’s. Its comprehensive plan has been given an average ranking of 4.3 stars (out of 5) from 4553 reviews on Australia’s consumer review site, Product Review.

Related: Allianz Comprehensive Travel Review.

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

covid cover travel insurance australia

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Southern Cross Travel Insurance

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Medical Cover

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

$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited

1Cover Comprehensive Travel Insurance is available to all ages, and includes children up to age 19 in an adult’s plan–if the child is not in full time employment and is travelling with you 100% of the time.

Personal liability is covered up to $5 million, while credit card fraud is also covered up to $5000. While the insurance covers cancellations of its plan if policy holders decide it is not best for them, there are cancellation terms depending on your circumstances.

It also covers connecting flights if the layover was more than four hours and car hire excess of $5000, which can be increased to $6000, $7000 or $8000.

Lost luggage

1Cover Comprehensive Travel Insurance covers lost luggage up to the value of $15,000. For individuals requiring higher values, additional luggage cover can be added on at various rates depending on the value.

Unlimited overseas medical and hospital expenses are covered. Pre-existing medical conditions are also covered, but need to be disclosed prior.

Is dental cover included in medical?

The 1Cover Comprehensive Travel plan does include dental, however it is limited up to $1000.

It depends. The 1Cover Comprehensive Travel plan includes COVID-19 in its medical expenses. However, it does not include flight or travel cancellations due to COVID-19.

As mentioned, connecting flights are only covered if the layover was more than four hours. This includes missed connections due to COVID-related delays.

Pregnancy is covered up to week 24 if pregnant with one baby. For any more than one baby, the pregnancy cover is only up to week 19.

There are 35 pre-existing medical conditions that are covered by 1Cover Comprehensive Travel Insurance, as per its product disclosure statement. These include–but are not limited to–mental illness, heart conditions, any type of cancer, terminal illness and any physical or mental disability.

While these conditions are covered, a medical assessment may be required along with other past medical documentation of the condition.

There are more than 100 sports and activities covered in the 1Cover Comprehensive Travel Plan. However, winter sports are only covered when winter sports cover is added to the policy at an additional cost.

The Winter Sports pack must be added at least 24 hours before partaking in winter sport activities, and policy holders must be aged 64 or under at the time of the policy issuing.

According to reviews, 1Cover is easy to contact and has a good response over both web chat and email.

1Cover has 24/7 emergency assistance which can be accessed over the phone, and emailed enquiries will receive a response within a business day according to the 1Cover website.

1Cover comprehensive travel insurance is an affordable, comprehensive plan with multiple options to add or increase cover to suit the individual traveller. However, while unlimited medical expenses is ideal, there is a limit to dental of $1000–which could easily be exceeded if extensive overseas treatment is required.

All ages are covered, so anyone of any age can take out the policy (keeping in mind that there may be age restrictions for certain add-ons, such as the Winter Sports Plan). Travellers aged over 80 will incur an excess of $3000 and are only covered for a maximum of six months.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does 1cover travel insurance cover travel to bali.

1Cover includes Bali in its list of destinations.

For all Australian travellers entering into Indonesia, travel insurance with COVID cover is now mandatory. The requirements also include $100,000 in medical travel insurance cover, which 1Cover’s Comprehensive Travel Insurance policy meets due to its unlimited medical cover inclusion.

What is the 1Cover Travel Insurance phone number?

For emergencies only, 1Cover provides the following phone numbers to its customers depending on their destination for emergency assistance:

Australia: 1300 884 508 New Zealand: 0800 192 742 Thailand: 1800 011 857 USA/Canada: 1 855 912 3443 UK: 0808 178 5380 Indonesia: 001 8030 612 053

1Cover says the best way to contact the company about its travel insurance or questions about claims, is to send a message via its website support centre. For general sales and enquiries, you can contact [email protected] for response within a business day.

Is there a 1Cover Travel Insurance discount code?

For individuals taking out the 1Cover Comprehensive Travel Insurance online, a 5% discount will be applied.

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 site, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally. Sophie grew up on the Gold Coast and now lives in Melbourne.

  • Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance
  • Best Seniors Travel Insurance
  • Best Cruise Travel Insurance
  • Best Domestic Travel Insurance
  • Travel Insurance Cost
  • Pregnancy Travel Insurance Guide
  • Travel Insurance For Bali
  • Travel Insurance For Fiji
  • Travel Insurance For The USA
  • Travel Insurance For Thailand
  • Travel Insurance For New Zealand
  • Travel Insurance For Japan
  • Travel Insurance For Europe

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  1. Travel Insurance with Covid Cover

    What is travel insurance with covid cover? A travel insurance policy with COVID-19 benefits includes cover for certain unforeseen COVID-19-related scenarios and can help reduce the financial risk of travelling. Depending on the level of cover you choose, benefits can include such things as COVID-19 overseas medical expenses, trip amendments & cancellation costs, and additional expenses.

  2. Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance Policies In 2024

    Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000) Key Features. 25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating. 2. Cover-More Travel Insurance. Get a Quick Quote. On ...

  3. Travel insurance for COVID-19

    If you catch COVID-19 overseas, you may require medical treatment for your illness. If your policy covers COVID-19, your insurer might guarantee to pay your overseas hospital bills or reimburse you after your return to Australia. Without COVID-19 cover, any medical expenses will have to be paid out-of-pocket. You should always keep all receipts ...

  4. Best travel insurance in Australia March 2024

    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.

  5. COVID-19 Benefits Available with Allianz Travel Insurance

    Benefits with cover for COVID-19. Cancellation if you or your travel companion are positively diagnosed with COVID-19 during your period of cover 1,2. Additional Expenses 1,3 related to changing your travel arrangements while travelling. Overseas Medical and Hospital Expenses 1,4. Overseas Emergency Assistance available 24 hours a day, with ...

  6. CHOICE travel insurance buying guide

    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.

  7. Travel insurance that covers COVID

    Some providers, including Cover-More and Easy Travel Insurance, won't accept COVID-related claims within 21 days of your trip. Just one reason you should get insurance as soon as you book your trip.

  8. Is There Travel Insurance To Cover COVID-19?

    Yes. Important notes: No COVID-19 cover for claims arising from border closures, or any other claims relating to government travel bans. No cover for places with 'Do not travel' warnings, or mandatory quarantine or self-isolation requirements related to cross-border travel.

  9. Does travel insurance cover COVID-19 or other pandemics?

    The chance of experiencing a pandemic similar to COVID-19 in a lifetime is estimated to be 38%. Many travel insurance policies now cover COVID-19 to some extent, but not as many policies will cover future pandemics or epidemics other than COVID-19. There are several policies that cover COVID-19 for medical expenses, but not other pandemics, and ...

  10. Finding travel insurance for Covid

    Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000) Key Features. 25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating. 2. Cover-More Travel Insurance. Get a Quick Quote. On ...

  11. You can now get COVID-19 travel insurance. Here's what it does and

    NIB's chief executive, Mark Fitzgibbon, says offering travel insurance that offers coverage for general lockdowns and border closures isn't financially sound. (ABC News: Jerry Rickard) Pre-COVID ...

  12. Find Travel Insurance That Covers Coronavirus

    COVID-19 Travel Insurance Cover. The below information relates to COVID-19 cover included in policies sold on or after 26 July 2023. For policies purchased prior to this date, please consult the relevant PDS and/or your Policy Wording.. IMPORTANT: Our customer service team cannot provide customers with personal advice over the phone or confirm if a claim will be approved.

  13. Get Award Winning Travel Insurance in Australia

    Covid Cover. 1Cover policies include overseas medical cover for COVID-19, but not for trip cancellation due to Covid 19. ... If you're leaving Australia, travel insurance is just as essential as a passport. Medical expenses are the number one reason to get insurance, believe us when we say the cost of medical treatment overseas really can be ...

  14. Travel Insurance Direct Review

    While Travel Insurance Direct offers a comprehensive policy with significant Covid-19 cover, emergency evacuation and other features, it is only available for those aged up to 75 years old at the ...

  15. InsureandGo Australia

    Our One-Trip and Cruise policies can cover you for the following benefits, in case your trip is impacted by Covid-19: Overseas medical expenses (Unlimited Coverage in our Silver and Gold policies, not included in our Bare Essentials Policies): We will pay for the necessary and reasonable medical costs incurred outside of Australia as a result ...

  16. Travel insurance and COVID cover: Your top questions answered

    A handful of providers including Cover-More and Easy Travel Insurance also won't accept COVID-related claims within 21 days of your trip, so make sure you take out cover at least 3 weeks before ...

  17. What does COVID-19 travel insurance actually cover?

    1. COVID-19 cancellation/amendment cover in Australia and New Zealand. If your trip is disrupted due to one of the following scenarios, then you may be able to claim on the cancellation/amendment portion of your policy. When you're diagnosed with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone diagnosed, and can no longer travel.

  18. Travel Insurance

    Does travel insurance cover coronavirus (covid-19)? ... Which is the best travel insurance in Australia? The best travel insurance depends entirely on your planned trip and your circumstances. If you're a backpacker on a strict budget, you might want a no-frills medical-only policy, while if you've paid a lot in deposits or if you have pre ...

  19. Compare Travel Insurance Quotes Online

    Fast Cover Travel Insurance's COVID-19 Benefits & Refund Policy earned it a place among the finalists in the Insurance Innovation category of this ... Best travel insurance in Australia March 2024.

  20. Cover-More Travel Insurance Review: Pros and Cons

    Our Verdict. Cover-More Travel Insurance offers Australians high-quality cover within its comprehensive plan, including unlimited medical cover that extends to Covid-19. While dental isn't ...

  21. Travel Insurance Quote

    Extensive cover and benefit limits to provide extra financial protection. Pre-trip cover if you're diagnosed with COVID-19#. On-trip cover if you're diagnosed with COVID-19 while travelling^##. Unlimited~ overseas emergency medical expenses^. Up to $15,000 luggage cover*. Existing medical conditions cover available.

  22. Travel Insurance

    The Domestic policy offers cover for a single trip within Australia. It is designed to cover: ... There is no COVID-19 related cover: for travel to a country subject to a 'do not travel' advice on www.smartraveller.gov.au or ... The Code covers car insurance, home insurance, travel insurance and pet insurance.

  23. Fast Cover Announces Flexible Travel Insurance for Modern Australian

    Fast Cover's intuitive online interface allows customers to obtain quotes and eligible travelers from Australia to purchase insurance in just a few steps - a streamlined process that acknowledges the modern traveler's desire for efficiency and speed. Their approach to online travel insurance as a coverholder at Lloyd's is a testament to the ...

  24. 1Cover Comprehensive Travel Insurance Review

    Its comprehensive plan has been given an average ranking of 4.3 stars (out of 5) from 4553 reviews on Australia's consumer review site, Product Review. ... travel insurance with COVID cover is ...