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Travelling can be expensive, and travel insurance protects travellers from forking out more money due to unexpected events that may occur while on their trip. These may include medical problems, trip cancellations, lost or stolen luggage, and other unanticipated incidents. Travel insurance products help to cover expenses that may otherwise leave travellers paying out of pocket.
Many people with visas reside and work in Australia; if you’re one of them, you can still purchase a travel insurance policy. However, not all providers will cater for temporary visitors or non-Australian residents. There may be certain requirements that you have to fulfil before those travel insurance policies can cover you.
Travel insurers define non-residents differently to the Australian Tax Office. Insurers will refer to non-Australian residents, non-citizens or refer to those who have not been granted permanent residency. The Australian Tax Office typically classifies people as residents or non-residents in Australia.
Each travel insurance policy is different, so reading your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Target Market Determination (TMD) before purchasing travel insurance is crucial. These documents outline the exact cover options and eligibility conditions. Understanding these details will help you choose a policy that best suits your needs and circumstances.
Most non-resident travel insurance policies only cover permanent resident visa holders (e.g. student visa, partner visa, work visa and more) who travel overseas temporarily and return to Australia at the end of the trip. However, some insurers will provide cover to other forms of temporary visitors. Travel insurers might have different requirements for the types of non-Australian citizens that they choose to cover.
Travel insurance for non-Australian residents requires some or all the following:
Although the exact benefits and level of cover offered may differ between insurance providers, most comprehensive policies will be able to provide cover for:
Similar to all Australians, there are certain types of travel insurance options that non-Australian residents can consider, including:
No, you generally don’t need to enrol in Medicare to get travel insurance as a non-Australian. Medicare is Australia’s public health insurance system, providing free or subsidised medical care for citizens and permanent residents. It also extends to citizens of countries with Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCAs) with the Australian government (e.g. the UK, New Zealand, Italy).
Some travel insurance providers may require non-Australian residents to have Medicare before allowing them to purchase cover. However, as most non-residents, such as temporary visa holders, are not covered by Medicare, you may have to rely on having private health insurance (such as the Overseas Visitors Health Cover) if you want to be covered by that specific travel. Always read your PDS to ensure that you qualify for the insurance cover before purchasing the product.
Like all Australians, finding the best travel insurance plans involves research and planning. To find the travel insurance plan that suits you best, you can:
Some insurance companies automatically cover a specific list of pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. controlled asthma, high blood pressure); this applies to both Australian citizens and non-Australian residents. You may need to declare your condition during the application process for other conditions. In some cases, insurers might charge an additional premium to include cover for the pre-existing condition. Not all policies cover pre-existing conditions, so checking with the insurer and fully disclosing any relevant medical history is important.
A pre-existing medical condition is any illness, injury or medical condition for which you have received treatment, medication or advice before purchasing the travel insurance. This includes asthma, diabetes, heart disease or ongoing injuries. Insurers define pre-existing medical conditions in various ways, so it is important to read the PDS of your chosen insurer to understand the cover they provide.
As the Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.