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.
Easter, much like many other holidays, is a time for travel and exploration. But with travel comes the essential addition of travel insurance, particularly when you’re heading abroad. But just what should you consider when it comes to travel insurance?
Read MoreAustralian travel is on an exciting upturn according to Tourism Research Australia. We're back to pre-pandemic levels in terms of domestic trips and spending, with a 30% and 57% year-on-year increase, respectively. The real story, however, lies in where we’re going.
Read MoreAustralia’s appetite for travel, while not completely in the black, has recovered impressively after the pandemic, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Read MoreMy recent encounter with Green Tick Travel Insurance has left me deeply disappointed and frustrated. Despite purchasing top cover, including 24-hour medical assistance, the company has not only failed to pay our claim over two months after the event but has also shown a complete lack of assistance during our time of need. This review aims to shed light on the abysmal service provided by Green Tick Travel Insurance, cautioning potential customers to think twice before entrusting their travel safety to this company. Unfulfilled Promises: One of the main reasons we chose Green Tick Travel Insurance was their promise of comprehensive coverage and round-the-clock medical assistance. However, when I found myself in a dire situation, their response was far from what we expected. I required timely medical assistance, needing to access urgent services, including a medical evacuation. We had requested preauthorisation and, it became evident that their claims of providing assistance were nothing more than empty words. Could not get a timely response and therefore had to pay significant costs upfront for potentially lifesaving treatments. We were fortunate to have access to a credit card and funds via family back in Australia to cover up front costs. Lack of Payment:To add insult to injury, Green Tick Travel Insurance has not yet paid out our claim, despite the fact that we held what we believed to be top cover. Their lack of transparency and failure to pay out our claim in a timely manner is not only disheartening but also raises serious questions about their integrity as an insurance provider. It is clear that their commitment to their customers’ well-being is nothing more than a façade. We have since been asked to fill out form after form and answer not applicable questions. Unhelpful Customer Service:When we finally managed to reach their customer service department, we were met with unhelpful and dismissive attitudes. Instead of addressing our concerns and providing the assistance we desperately needed, they seem more interested in deflecting blame and avoiding responsibility and have since stopped replaying to emails and despite numerous requests have not returned out calls. This complete disregard for customer satisfaction is utterly unacceptable and reflects a lack of professionalism on their part. Conclusion:My experience with Green Tick Travel Insurance has been nothing short of a nightmare. Their failure to fulfill their promises, refusal to pay our claim, and unhelpful customer service have left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. I strongly advise potential customers to steer clear of this company and explore other options for their travel insurance needs. Green Tick Travel Insurance has proven itself to be unreliable, unworthy of our hard-earned money and untrustworthy to take care of travel insurance needs.
Read full reviewMy recent encounter with Green Tick Travel Insurance has left me deeply disappointed and frustrated. Despite purchasing top cover, including 24-hour medical assistance, the company has not only failed to pay our claim over two months after the event but has also shown a complete lack of assistance during our time of need. This review aims to shed light on the abysmal service provided by Green Tick Travel Insurance, cautioning potential customers to think twice before entrusting their travel safety to this company. Unfulfilled Promises: One of the main reasons we chose Green Tick Travel Insurance was their promise of comprehensive coverage and round-the-clock medical assistance. However, when I found myself in a dire situation, their response was far from what we expected. I required timely medical assistance, needing to access urgent services, including a medical evacuation. We had requested preauthorisation and, it became evident that their claims of providing assistance were nothing more than empty words. Could not get a timely response and therefore had to pay significant costs upfront for potentially lifesaving treatments. We were fortunate to have access to a credit card and funds via family back in Australia to cover up front costs. Lack of Payment:To add insult to injury, Green Tick Travel Insurance has not yet paid out our claim, despite the fact that we held what we believed to be top cover. Their lack of transparency and failure to pay out our claim in a timely manner is not only disheartening but also raises serious questions about their integrity as an insurance provider. It is clear that their commitment to their customers’ well-being is nothing more than a façade. We have since been asked to fill out form after form and answer not applicable questions. Unhelpful Customer Service:When we finally managed to reach their customer service department, we were met with unhelpful and dismissive attitudes. Instead of addressing our concerns and providing the assistance we desperately needed, they seem more interested in deflecting blame and avoiding responsibility and have since stopped replaying to emails and despite numerous requests have not returned out calls. This complete disregard for customer satisfaction is utterly unacceptable and reflects a lack of professionalism on their part. Conclusion:My experience with Green Tick Travel Insurance has been nothing short of a nightmare. Their failure to fulfill their promises, refusal to pay our claim, and unhelpful customer service have left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. I strongly advise potential customers to steer clear of this company and explore other options for their travel insurance needs. Green Tick Travel Insurance has proven itself to be unreliable, unworthy of our hard-earned money and untrustworthy to take care of travel insurance needs.
To anyone looking for travel insurance this year I would recommend against @InsureandGoAU as they DO NOT cover cancellation by airline (with a top tier insurance policy) even though their website claims they do
Read full reviewTo anyone looking for travel insurance this year I would recommend against @InsureandGoAU as they DO NOT cover cancellation by airline (with a top tier insurance policy) even though their website claims they do
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 !