Compare Travel Insurance in Australia

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19 live offers compared from 19 providers, from A$50 /year. Updated daily.

What is travel insurance in Australia?

Travel insurance covers unexpected costs when you travel, including overseas medical treatment, trip cancellation, lost or delayed luggage and personal liability. For Australians heading overseas it is considered essential because Medicare does not cover treatment abroad, and hospital bills in countries such as the US can be enormous. Policies are sold as single-trip or annual multi-trip cover, for domestic or international travel, and increasingly bundle cover for cancellations caused by illness or unforeseen events.

How the Australian market works

Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with a handful of countries that cover some essential medical care, but these are limited and do not include medical evacuation or repatriation, so travel insurance remains important even for those destinations. Many policies are underwritten by a small number of large insurers even when sold under different brands, and cover levels vary widely between budget and comprehensive products, so reading the Product Disclosure Statement is critical before you buy.

Benefits of travel insurance

Overseas medical cover — The headline benefit is unlimited or high-limit emergency medical and hospital cover, plus evacuation home if needed, which is the single most important reason to buy.

Cancellation protection — Non-refundable flights, accommodation and tours can be reimbursed if you must cancel or cut short your trip for a covered reason such as illness.

Luggage and delay — Cover for lost, stolen or delayed baggage and out-of-pocket costs from significant travel delays, subect to item limits and excesses.

How to choose a policy

Match the policy to your destination, trip length and activities — some regions such as North America and certain adventure activities cost more or need add-ons. Compare medical and cancellation limits, the excess per claim, and cover for existing medical conditions, which usually must be declared and assessed before travel. Frequent travellers should weigh an annual multi-trip policy against several single-trip ones, and cruisers should confirm cruise cover is included.

Leading providers in Australia

The comparison features Cover-More, InsureandGo, Allianz Travel, NIB Travel, Medibank Travel, Allianz Australia, 1Cover and Travel Insurance Direct. Cover-More and Allianz are large specialist travel insurers with strong emergency-assistance networks, while health funds such as NIB and Medibank offer travel cover to members and non-members. Choice comes down to the balance of price, medical and cancellation limits, and how the insurer treats cover for pre-existing conditions.

What it costs

Pricing depends heavily on age, destination, trip length and cover level; the indicative figure in this comparison is around A$50 for a representative policy, though comprehensive cover for older travellers or long trips costs considerably more. Declaring existing medical conditions and choosing a higher excess affect the premium. Cruise cover and adventure-sports cover typically attract an extra charge, and buying at the time you book locks in cancellation protection sooner. Families can often cover dependent children at no extra cost on a parent's policy, and some domestic policies focus on cancellation and luggage rather than medical, since Medicare covers treatment within Australia.

Protections and regulation

Travel insurers are regulated by APRA and ASIC and must belong to AFCA for disputes. The General Insurance Code of Practice sets claim-handling standards. Read the exclusions carefully — claims linked to undeclared conditions, alcohol, or travel against government advice are commonly denied. Smartraveller, the government's official travel-advice service, can affect whether a destination is covered, so check its advisories before you go.

Common questions

Do I need it if I have Medicare? — Yes for overseas travel; Medicare does not cover treatment abroad, and the limited reciprocal agreements exclude evacuation and repatriation.

Are pre-existing conditions covered? — Only if declared and accepted by the insurer, sometimes for an additional premium; undeclared conditions usually void related claims.

Travel Insurance in Australia — FAQ