Travel insurance is a type of insurance that is designed to provide cover while travelling away from home. Typically it provides cover for events such as medical emergencies, sudden cancellations, lost or stolen luggage, alternative transport expenses and so forth. Travel insurance can usually be purchased for both domestic and international trips, although it is generally more popular for people travelling overseas.
Need to knows about Australian Government Guidelines
Key aspects to consider before travelling
What’s covered and what’s not
Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits.
Cover for when you are holidaying or visiting international destinations
Learn about domestic holiday cover for when you’re travelling within Australia.
Annual cover if you take more than one overseas trip per year.
Select the type of travel insurance you’ll need.
Compare policy limits and features of each travel insurance provider based on your needs.
Get a quote directly. You’ll need to know your travel dates, number of travellers and key destinations.
Thanks to mass vaccination, the world continues to reopen in 2022. Vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers alike can now leave Australia to visit countries not classified as "do not travel" (which still require an exemption).
There are four travel advice levels for classifying countries. The levels are based on factors such as crime, terrorism, health, medical care, and natural disasters. From 1-4, the advice levels are:
According to Smart Traveller, most travel insurance providers will offer cover for travel to countries classified level one or two. Read more about the latest international travel advice for the country or countries you are planning on travelling to at: smartraveller.gov.au.
Fully vaccinated Australians can now travel outside of Australia without applying for an exemption. Plus, if you have been fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, you will also be able to apply for an International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate.
Before you get carried away thinking about all the places you could travel to though, it is important to remember that travelling now is nothing like travelling in pre-pandemic days. Prior to departing, you will need to make sure you are aware of what the rules are for entering the country you're visiting. For example, many countries now require a negative COVID-19 test on arrival, as well as proof of vaccination. Some countries may also still have quarantine in place for vaccinated travellers. Others still will require you present valid travel insurance upon entry that at least covers the emergency medical costs associated with treating COVID-19.
To make sure you are prepared for an accident or emergency overseas, it’s a good idea to know what the laws are in the country you are travelling to and what emergency situations your travel insurance covers.
A few things you may want to take note of prior to travelling are:
While you can contact the Australian embassy or call the CEC for things like a lost or stolen passport, in a crisis situation Smart Traveller recommends getting in touch with the local authorities. If you have travel insurance cover, you could also call your travel insurance provider’s emergency assistance phone line.
What travel insurance covers will depend on a number of things including, whether you’re purchasing domestic or international travel insurance, what level of coverage you opt for and which insurance provider you go with.
Generally, domestic travel insurance offers cover for things like luggage and personal belongings, trip cancellations and delays, rental vehicle excess and personal liability. It should also be noted that most travel insurance companies will only offer domestic cover if you are travelling more than a certain number of kilometres away from your home – usually around 100 to 250km.
International travel insurance takes into account a few more things like medical or dental emergencies. Typically it includes cover for instances such as overseas medical and hospital expenses, lost or stolen luggage, cancellations and trip delays, rental vehicle insurance excess and personal liability. Some policies may also provide cover for things like replacement travel documents and credit card fraud.
While the cost of travelling is expensive enough, there's no reason why you have to spend more than necessary on a travel insurance policy – after all, when you're travelling you don't want to spend all your time fretting about your finances.
That's why it's important to look into cheap travel insurance, and the ways you might be able to trim the fat on your policy and premium.
Finding the best travel insurance policy shouldn’t be difficult, which is why every year Mozo announces the Mozo Experts Choice Travel Insurance Awards to help you find one that complements your personal needs and budget.
Mozo’s expert judges analyse hundreds of travel insurance policies to find the best value and best quality insurance across a range of coverage tiers, from medical only to comprehensive, for a variety of different holiday activities and destinations.
Head to our best travel insurance hub page to compare this year's winners.
Generally travel insurance providers will offer four different types of cover, these are:
A few providers may offer more specific cover for things like going on a cruise, travelling as a student or in a group. Some may even provide cover specifically tailored towards seniors, skiing trips and Australians who are already overseas.
Whether you see travel insurance as expensive or a necessary cost for peace of mind will depend on your perspective. As with all types of insurance, travel insurance premiums are calculated on a case-by-case basis.
The cost of travel insurance will depend on a number of factors:
Having cover while abroad could help you dodge hefty costs if things do go wrong, so it can be a small price to pay to know you are covered.
We should start by saying that no one travel insurance policy will be the ‘best’ for everyone. People have different reasons for travelling, budgets and needs. That said, shopping around can help you find travel insurance that works best for you. Are you worried about being covered for medical expenses? Or are you more concerned about lost luggage? Once you have an idea of the cover you need, then you can compare policies.
Comprehensive travel insurance is the highest level of cover you can get when taking a trip overseas. Generally it offers cover for things like:
A lot of comprehensive travel insurance providers will also offer optional extras for specific types of holiday. For instance, things like snow cover or cruise cover. Others will also offer cover tailored towards certain individuals, such as cover for students, seniors and people travelling in a group.
Flight insurance is generally insurance that covers unexpected delays or incidents that happen when flying. Insurance providers do not typically offer standalone flight insurance, rather this will usually be included in a travel insurance policy.
Generally travel insurance providers will give customers the option to make a claim online, via email or by giving them a phone call. Details on how you can make a claim can usually be found on the travel insurance provider’s website. It might be a good idea to note down how to make a claim, before heading off on your trip.
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We had a genuine claim for my wife’s breast cancer knocked back and not one call to explain why ??? Very poor communication and service !! Would NOT recommend !
Read full reviewWe had a genuine claim for my wife’s breast cancer knocked back and not one call to explain why ??? Very poor communication and service !! Would NOT recommend !
BEWARE: If your situation isn't on the list, it's not covered My recent travel experience with World Nomad Travel Insurance has left me feeling utterly frustrated and disappointed. Due to unforeseen circumstances at Beijing airport, I had to spend an extra $3,000 rerouting my flights. I checked with World Nomads and they said it shouldn't be a problem to claim this. However, later, I was told this situation wasn't covered in the set of specific situations you can claim for with World Nomads Insurance. I was genuinely shocked that this kind of situation was not covered by insurance, but World Nomads has a very specific set of situations and if your situation does not fall into that it is not covered. The Situation: I had planned a trip from Madrid to Melbourne with a three-day layover in Beijing, having researched extensively the complex visa-free transit regulations in China. Upon arriving in Beijing, I was detained at the airport for three hours and informed that I needed to rebook my flights because my original itinerary involved a layover in Guangzhou, which is not permitted under the 144 temporary transit visa I was applying for. This unexpected development was not mentioned in the 144 visa information online, and even the New Zealand diplomats I consulted before my trip were unaware of this rule. The Consequences: As a result of this unforeseen complication, I had no choice but to book new flights with Air China since my original carrier, China Southern, did not offer direct flights from Beijing to Australia. This necessitated a re-routing of my travel plans with a stopover in Sydney instead of Melbourne. Additionally, I had to cancel my non-refundable tickets with China Southern. Challenges in Communication: Being in China, I was unable to use essential communication tools like Google and WhatsApp. Thankfully, a friend, assisted me in booking new flights and contacting both China Southern and World Nomads to explore my options. She was told by World Nomads that it should be fine for me to rebook my flights and then claim the money back afterwards. Conclusion: While I understand that visa regulations can be complex and ever-changing, it was incredibly frustrating to encounter such a significant obstacle due to inadequate information and communication. World Nomads could improve its service by providing more comprehensive travel advisories or assistance in situations where customers encounter unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. I was genuinely shocked this kind of situation was not covered by insurance, but World Nomads have a particular set of situations and if your situation does not fall into that it is not covered. I appreciate the support I received from my friend and her quick thinking in assisting me during this stressful situation. However, I am left with an unexpected financial burden due to additional expenses and the lack of clarity surrounding my travel arrangements. In light of my experience, I encourage travellers to thoroughly research and consider the potential pitfalls of visa regulations when planning their trips. Additionally, I hope World Nomads takes steps to provide clearer and more updated information to help their customers navigate such complex situations in the future. I am extremely disappointed and out of pocket as this is exactly the type of situation I would expect insurance to cover - and why I buy expensive insurance in the first place! Annie
Read full reviewBEWARE: If your situation isn't on the list, it's not covered My recent travel experience with World Nomad Travel Insurance has left me feeling utterly frustrated and disappointed. Due to unforeseen circumstances at Beijing airport, I had to spend an extra $3,000 rerouting my flights. I checked with World Nomads and they said it shouldn't be a problem to claim this. However, later, I was told this situation wasn't covered in the set of specific situations you can claim for with World Nomads Insurance. I was genuinely shocked that this kind of situation was not covered by insurance, but World Nomads has a very specific set of situations and if your situation does not fall into that it is not covered. The Situation: I had planned a trip from Madrid to Melbourne with a three-day layover in Beijing, having researched extensively the complex visa-free transit regulations in China. Upon arriving in Beijing, I was detained at the airport for three hours and informed that I needed to rebook my flights because my original itinerary involved a layover in Guangzhou, which is not permitted under the 144 temporary transit visa I was applying for. This unexpected development was not mentioned in the 144 visa information online, and even the New Zealand diplomats I consulted before my trip were unaware of this rule. The Consequences: As a result of this unforeseen complication, I had no choice but to book new flights with Air China since my original carrier, China Southern, did not offer direct flights from Beijing to Australia. This necessitated a re-routing of my travel plans with a stopover in Sydney instead of Melbourne. Additionally, I had to cancel my non-refundable tickets with China Southern. Challenges in Communication: Being in China, I was unable to use essential communication tools like Google and WhatsApp. Thankfully, a friend, assisted me in booking new flights and contacting both China Southern and World Nomads to explore my options. She was told by World Nomads that it should be fine for me to rebook my flights and then claim the money back afterwards. Conclusion: While I understand that visa regulations can be complex and ever-changing, it was incredibly frustrating to encounter such a significant obstacle due to inadequate information and communication. World Nomads could improve its service by providing more comprehensive travel advisories or assistance in situations where customers encounter unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. I was genuinely shocked this kind of situation was not covered by insurance, but World Nomads have a particular set of situations and if your situation does not fall into that it is not covered. I appreciate the support I received from my friend and her quick thinking in assisting me during this stressful situation. However, I am left with an unexpected financial burden due to additional expenses and the lack of clarity surrounding my travel arrangements. In light of my experience, I encourage travellers to thoroughly research and consider the potential pitfalls of visa regulations when planning their trips. Additionally, I hope World Nomads takes steps to provide clearer and more updated information to help their customers navigate such complex situations in the future. I am extremely disappointed and out of pocket as this is exactly the type of situation I would expect insurance to cover - and why I buy expensive insurance in the first place! Annie
Thank you I know insurance very importent to us so i'm happy .
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