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The cost of travel insurance can vary greatly between insurers, levels of cover and optional extras, so buy a policy that matches your needs to avoid paying more than you need.
Learn moreFor international trips and domestic cruises, comprehensive travel insurance offers medical cover, including cover for COVID-19 related medical expenses and some pre-existing medical conditions.
Learn moreBy increasing your excess (the amount you pay at the time of a claim), you can often lower the cost of your premium.
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Our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor, has some top tips on finding a suitable travel insurance policy for you.
Depending on your trip, a comprehensive policy may not cover all your planned activities. Consider purchasing optional extras for an additional premium to suit your trips needs. These may include cruise cover, adventure sports cover, rental car hire excess and more.
To have cancellation cover from the start, you should compare and purchase comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you make a booking and pay any deposits in case you need to cancel your trip before you even depart.
If you have any known pre-existing medical conditions, you may receive cover up to a limit – provided this is disclosed to and approved by your insurer before you take out your travel insurance policy. Some policies will only cover certain pre-existing conditions, while others may not provide cover at all. As such, it’s crucial to check the policy wording before purchasing.
Hello there. I’m Catriona Rowntree, host of Australia’s longest-running travel and lifestyle show, Getaway.
I have visited more destinations than I can count, so I know what a difference good travel insurance can make.
There’s no worse feeling than having your trip ruined by the unexpected costs that come along with plans going awry.
But that is where travel insurance comes in.
Travel insurance is designed to financially protect you from those unexpected events like illness or injury, while overseas lost or stolen baggage and personal effects
like your laptop, cameras or phones, last-minute cancellations and natural disasters.
So with all the big changes COVID-19 has brought to the way we travel, it pays to be organised before you take off.
Arming yourself with a travel insurance policy that covers your needs.
So when it comes to picking a policy, these are my top tips:
Make sure you purchase your travel insurance with cancellation cover the minute that you make a booking.
So if your trip is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, you will be able to claim back any cancellation fees.
Want to lower your premium? Well, consider a higher excess in exchange.
If you travel more than once throughout the year, you may find greater value in purchasing annual cover.
That’s travel insurance for a full year of trips up to a maximum amount of travel days per trip.
Be sure to check the product disclosure statement, the PDS, as you may need to be a certain distance from your home before cover comes into effect.
Consider your travel insurance must-haves and find a policy that meets your needs.
Do you need a cover for medical expenses, cancellation fees, luggage losses, rental vehicle excesses? Maybe additional coverage for cruises or ski holidays?
Oh, and if you have pre-existing medical conditions, make sure you are comparing products that allow you to declare these conditions as part of your application.
The insurer will then decide whether to cover these conditions or not.
So navigating what travel insurance is right for you doesn’t have to be difficult, and you have come to the right place.
Compare the Market can help you compare travel insurance policies online in minutes.
So you can travel with confidence.
Depending on the type of policy and its level of protection, you can be covered for a range of events that could bring your travel plans to a halt, like illnesses (including COVID-19) and injuries while you’re overseas, lost or stolen luggage and personal effects, cancellations and flight delays.
Depending on your level of cover, your travel insurance plan can financially safeguard your international and domestic trips from circumstances beyond your control.
Here are three reasons why you should consider travel insurance every time you travel.
Before you buy travel insurance, it’s a good idea to compare policies from several travel insurance providers to find a product that meets your needs and fits your budget. You’ll want to consider what your policy covers you for before you apply. All inclusions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits of your policy can be found in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). Check your insurer’s Target Market Determination (TMD) to see if the policy is suitable for you.
Travel insurance can protect you against financial loss that can come from unforeseen scenarios. Examples of these instances include (but aren’t limited to):
Depending on where you’re travelling to and how much cover you need, you can choose from a range of policies offering basic right through to comprehensive cover, with add-on cover options.
Keep in mind that you won’t be covered for financial loss due to a declared event (such as a natural disaster) that was known or could be reasonably predicted before you took out a policy. All policies come with exclusions and limits, so be sure to read the PDS before purchasing your policy.
Injuries or illnesses are some of the most important reasons to get travel insurance, as the cost of medical treatment overseas can be very expensive.
Domestic policies won’t include medical cover, as you’ll still be covered by Medicare and your private health insurance while travelling around Australia. However, many travel insurance policies won’t include medical cover for cruises as standard, so it’s vital you add this option to your policy or get cruise-specific insurance before you embark.
A comprehensive travel insurance policy may cover you for COVID-19 related expenses, including:
Cover is subject to limits, exclusions and restrictions. Check your policy’s PDS to understand the cover available to you, and check out our COVID-19 FAQ page for further information on COVID-19 cover.
There are different types of travel insurance to fit different travellers. Depending on your circumstances, you might want to know more about:
Groups
You could be eligible for discounts if you’re travelling in a group of up to 25 people. A group policy may also be cheaper and more convenient for groups of students requiring the same cover. On top of this, you can save time by taking out a single group travel insurance policy, as opposed to buying many individual policies.
Family
Family cover helps protect your loved ones all under one policy. This type of travel insurance cover can feature higher limits due to the number of travellers on the one policy. Most insurers can cover dependents travelling with one or more adults at no additional cost. Check the policy’s PDS to make sure all dependents are covered.
Couples
Travel insurance for couples is intended for two people to be covered under one policy. Despite the name, two regular travelling companions may also purchase couples cover if they have the same itinerary.
Cruise cover
Cruise cover is usually offered as an optional extra that may cover you for a range of scenarios, including:
Ski cover
Winter sports cover provides additional cover if you’re skiing or snowboarding on-piste (and sometimes off-piste) during your trip. Most travel insurance policies don’t automatically cover winter sports, so it’s important you select it as an add-on option to your policy (if available) before you hit the slopes.
Some top-line ski features can include (but aren’t limited to):
Motorbike and scooter cover
If you plan on driving a two-wheeled vehicle (e.g. motorbike, scooter or moped), a regular policy may not cover your medical costs if you’re in an accident unless you purchase this cover as an optional extra.
Annual cover
Otherwise known as an annual multi-trip policy, annual cover may offer more value than single-trip policies and can be more convenient for frequent travellers. Most multi-trip plans impose a maximum duration for each trip – anywhere from 15 to 90 days. You’ll be required to return home before your trip duration lapses, otherwise any losses you incur will not be covered.
The cost of your travel insurance depends on a range of factors, including:
On top of this, the cost of your travel insurance policy will also greatly depend on which insurer you go through. As each trip is unique, it’s important you compare from a range of insurers to ensure you’re getting the cover you need at a suitable price.
Excess refers to the amount you’ll pay if you claim on your policy and is agreed upon when you first take out cover. When you make a claim, you’ll pay this amount or have it deducted from your settlement, and your insurer will pay the rest of your costs up to your policy’s benefit limit.
While impromptu trips may be fun, a well-planned adventure is the best way to keep yourself and your belongings safe while overseas.
It’s time to forget stress and enjoy your holiday! However, protecting what’s waiting for you back home is also important.
At the end of a holiday, it can be hard to get back into everyday life, but you can do a few things to ease yourself back into your regular routine.
As Compare the Market’s resident expert in travel insurance, Adrian believes in educating customers about this product so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home.
As the Executive General Manager of General Insurance at Compare the Market, Adrian Taylor has over 13 years’ experience in the financial services industry. Adrian specialises in customer experience and is dedicated to helping customers better understand insurance products so they can save money.