Travel insurance foolishness - 8% of Aussies have a holiday death wish

By Ceyda Erem · · 3 min read
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Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s better to be safe than sorry? Apparently not, according to the Survey of Australian Travel Insurance Behaviour (2017) report, which found that nearly 1 million Aussies travel without insurance.

Shockingly, the report also found that 52% of uninsured travellers were just as likely to participate in risky behaviour, like water sports or rock climbing - a cause for concern with summer holidays fast approaching.

And even among those that did travel with insurance, 87% were unsure about which countries their travel insurance covered.
“When purchasing travel insurance, it is important to ensure that the insurance will cover all the places to be visited; all the activities planned, and any pre-existing medical conditions and current medical treatments,” said Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) officials.

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The fact that Aussies aren’t taking travel insurance seriously is a real worry considering 1,615 Aussies died overseas in 2016-17 - an increase of 9% from the previous year. Another concern is the financial burden they may find themselves in should an accident occur.

“Travellers without insurance, or with insurance that does not cover them for their activities or pre-existing conditions, could pay potentially very expensive costs for emergency treatment and medical evacuation,” Government officials warned.

Hospitalisations were another area that saw an increase by 2%, with 1,701 Aussies hospitalised in the last year. And according to a case study by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), basic travel insurance may not cut it and unlucky travellers could follow in the shoes of one case study, and wind up with bills of up to $90,000 in medical expenses.

As Aussies across the country start their annual end-of-year holiday, it’s time to have a quick cram on travel insurance. You can read about the basics when it comes to travel insurance down below, or check out our range of guides that has everything you need to know.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is a type of insurance that will cover you for any disasters that may occur while overseas, like stolen luggage, personal liability or flight cancellations.

Do I need travel insurance?

While it is up to you on whether you take out travel insurance before you head overseas, keep in mind that you will be expected to pay for any mishaps, like medical bills, which can cost thousands of dollars in countries like America.

What does travel insurance cover?

This will depend on the type of policy you choose, however, here are a few common things you can expected to be covered for:

  • Luggage and personal effects
  • Medical expenses
  • Personal liability
  • Flight cancellations and delays

How much does travel insurance cost?

The price of travel insurance tends to be influenced by a number of factors, such as your age and where you’re travelling. However, there is an upfront cost that will need to be paid, called the ‘premium’. And you may have to pay a higher premium in certain circumstances, for example, if you are pregnant or have a pre-existing medical condition.

Ready to take out travel insurance? You’ll need our travel insurance comparison tool.