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One-way Travel Insurance

Whether it be for a permanent move or you've no return date insight, one-way travel insurance can be ideal for those leaving Australian soil.

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Richard Laycock
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While most insurers need you to have a return date, a number of travel insurance brands cover one-way trips. Here's how to make sure that you can get covered and how to compare policies.

What is one way travel insurance?

One way travel insurance is very similar to a normal policy in that you get the same benefits. You can usually get cover for up to 365 days, or have it expire once you reach your final destination and you've organised local health insurance.

What are the benefits of one way travel insurance?

  • You get the same benefits as a normal travel insurance policy.
  • Suitable for different travellers, whether you're immigrating to another country or just not sure when you'll return home.
  • The flexibility of being able to extend your expiration date if you give enough notice to your insurer. This way, you only pay for the cover you need.
  • Being covered while you sort out local health insurance at your final destination.

How does one-way travel insurance work?

One-way travel insurance works similar to regular travel insurance, except you don't need to provide the exact end date of your trip.

You'll still need to give an estimated end date. When you purchase a one-way policy, most insurers will still ask for a trip end date. For most insurers offering one-way policies, these dates are flexible which means that you can extend your cover further if you need to. You can't end the policy early and ask for a refund of the unused policy.

What if I'm moving to a country indefinitely? If you're immigrating to another country, some insurers will end your cover between 24 hours to 7 days from leaving immigration control at the airport. This is for those who don't have a return date to Australia at all. The reason for this is because if you're relocating to another country, you're no longer "travelling" as such, so it's expected that some form of local health insurance will kick in.

What does a one-way policy cover?

There are no major differences between one-way travel insurance and standard travel insurance in terms of what's typically covered. However, the exact type and level of cover differ among insurance providers.

So, what is typically covered by a comprehensive one-way travel insurance policy?

  • Cancellation and amendment fees. If unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your trip, you’ll be reimbursed for any cancellation fees or lost deposits on prepaid travel arrangements such as flights, meals, accommodation and activities.
  • Medical expenses. A medical complication overseas can be expensive, so your one-way travel insurance will cover things like medical costs, hospital costs and emergency dental costs.
  • Repatriation. The expense of your medical repatriation back to Australia is also covered but you may have to reimburse your insurer for the price of an economy ticket (if you had already purchased a return flight, the insurer might have been able to obtain a refund for it. But since you don’t have a return ticket, you might be responsible for their inability to recoup those funds).
  • Additional accommodation and travel expenses. If your trip is disrupted or you have to return to Australia sooner than expected due to unforeseen circumstances, your one-way travel insurance will cover the additional accommodation and travel expenses you incurred.
  • Lost, stolen or damaged personal items and luggage. If your luggage and/or personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged, your one-way travel insurance will cover the cost of their repair or replacement.
  • Misplaced luggage. If a travel provider misplaces your luggage, you’ll receive the funds you need to buy emergency clothing and toiletries.
  • Lost, stolen or damaged documents, credit cards and travellers’ cheques. If your important travel documents (including your passport) are lost, stolen or damaged, your one-way travel insurance will cover their replacement.
  • Theft of cash. You’ll be covered up to a certain limit for the theft of cash from your person.
  • Travel delays. If your prepaid transport is delayed, cancelled or rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances you’ll be reimbursed for the cost of things like extra accommodation, meals and transfers.
  • Personal liability. Your policy will cover you if you cause bodily injury or property damage to a third party.
  • Rental vehicle excess. If your rental car is stolen, damaged or crashed, your one-way travel insurance will cover the cost of the rental company’s insurance excess.
  • Accidental death. Your family will receive a benefit if you die as a result of an accident while overseas.
  • Disability. You’ll receive a benefit if you become disabled as a result of an accident while travelling.
  • Loss of Income. If you are injured while travelling and unable to work when you return to Australia, your one-way travel insurance will cover your lost income for a certain period of time.
  • Resumption of Journey. If your trip was cut short due to an unforeseen circumstance, you will be covered for the return flight to the nearest international airport where your trip unexpectedly ended.

What's not covered by one-way travel insurance?

There are certain circumstances under which travel insurance claims will not be paid. These are similar to those you'll find with standard travel insurance and include:

  • If your claim is the result of attempted suicide or an attempted self-inflicted actbar restaurants
  • If your claim is a result of you acting unlawfully or recklessly
  • If your claim results from you being under the influence of drugs, except for those prescribed by a medical practitioner
  • If your claim results from you being excessively under the influence of alcohol
  • If you ride a motorcycle on your trip (unless you are wearing a helmet and are licensed to ride a motorcycle in Australia)
  • If your claim results from you leaving your belongings unattended in a public place and they are lost or stolen
  • If you participate in high-risk adventure sports and activities like skydiving (unless you have added this to your policy)
  • If you are more than 26 weeks pregnant and you suffer any pregnancy-related complications.

What else can I get cover for?

There are a number of reasons you might need to add to your coverage. Some providers offer the following optional add-ons:

  • Winter sports or adventure activities. If you partake in more risky and/or expensive winter sports activities, adding this to your policy will cover you for accidents and equipment.
  • Pre-existing conditions. Not all pre-existing conditions are covered under a typical one-way travel insurance policy, but some of these can be added for an extra fee if you undertake a medical assessment. Even if your pre-existing medical condition does not qualify, you may still be able to get coverage for everything not related to that condition.
  • Pregnancy. Depending on how far along you are in the pregnancy and whether or not you are having complications, you may not need any extra insurance. But in some cases you will need to be assessed and may have to pay additional cover or forfeit any pregnancy-related claims.
  • Valuable items. If you plan to take items that are more valuable than your policy will cover you for, you may be able to upgrade this portion of your policy to the level you need.
  • Cruise. This offers additional cover for specific things that could go wrong on a cruise. Some providers automatically cover cruises under their travel insurance policies, while others charge an additional fee. So if you’re planning a one-way cruise to New Zealand, then make sure your plan covers it.

If you require additional coverage for your one-way travel insurance, it is important to ensure your provider offers it before choosing a policy, and to read the PDS thoroughly to understand the terms and conditions,

Am I covered for one-way trips back to Australia?

Coming back home to Australia? You’ll need insurance for Australians that are already overseas. Most insurers offering this will need for you to purchase your policy while overseas and to already have a return ticket booked to Australia.

If you want to continue your travels within Australia after your return home, you will need to add a separate domestic travel insurance policy. This will cover non-medical-related travel risks (since Australians are already covered for medical expenses through Medicare).

If your residency status has expired (usually after 5 years of being overseas), you can get inbound travel insurance for non-residents but only if you have another return ticket out of Australia.

Anything else I need to know?

  • Do I need to tell my insurer I'm going on a one-way trip? You’ll need to tell your insurer that you’re travelling on a one-way ticket when you apply for cover. If you fail to do so, your policy could be void. It’s always important to be upfront and honest with your insurance provider and disclose any relevant information about your travels.
  • How long am I covered? Terms and conditions differ between policies. Some policies let you nominate an end date of your choosing up to a year from the date your policy starts. Others only cover you during transport and the policy will cease anywhere from 24 hours to 7 days after you arrive at your final destination. It is important to read the PDS of each policy and understand the specific terms and conditions.
  • Can I extend my cover from overseas? Some policies will allow you to extend your coverage from overseas for up to a maximum of one-year total coverage from the start of your journey.
  • How old can I be when taking out one-way travel insurance? Every travel insurance policy comes with a maximum age limit. This may be 75 years on some policies, or 100 or more on others. You’ll need to be aware of this when applying for cover.
  • I have a pre-existing condition. Does it matter? You need to inform your insurer of any pre-existing medical conditions you have. Whether or not you’ll be able to take out cover for those conditions will depend on your insurer and the nature of your illnesses or injuries. In some cases you may be denied coverage. In other cases you will be able to take out cover, but will be unable to make claims related to the pre-existing condition.
  • Do I need to come home to make a claim? No. You can make the claim from anywhere in the world. The point of travel insurance is to make you life easier while travelling, not harder.
  • In the event I need to be repatriated, can I choose where I am repatriated to? Some policies allow you to nominate a final destination that is different than Australia. If you need to be repatriated, you can choose to be repatriated to that destination. Be sure to check the PDS and/or talk to a consultant to find how each insurer handles this option.

Ready to compare policies?

Travel insurance is essential for trips of all shapes and sizes, from quick getaways to extended overseas jaunts. And just because you’ve only got a one-way ticket booked doesn’t mean you can’t take out cover. In fact, one-way travel insurance offers protection against an extensive range of travel risks, including everything from cancellation fees to lost luggage and flight delays.

Questions you still might have about one-way travel insurance

When do I need one-way cover?

It makes sense to get one-way travel insurance if:

  • You're going overseas and you're not sure when you're coming back home. For example, if you've decided to backpack around Asia and haven't decided when you will return home, you need one-way cover to safeguard against any risks you encounter while travelling.
  • You're moving overseas and need to be covered until you organise insurance in your new country. For example, if you're moving to the USA for a new job, you'll want to make sure that you're covered for cancellations, luggage and medical expenses before you land.
  • You already have insurance organised in your new country and you only need cover for the flight over. For example, if you're a UK citizen who is returning to the UK from Australia, this cover can act as a bridge to make sure that you and your possessions arrive home in one piece

Can I buy one-way travel insurance while travelling?

Not usually. One of the conditions to one-way travel insurance is that you must depart from Australia. If you've already left, you might consider an already overseas policy.

What alternatives are there to one-way travel insurance?

Traditionally, backpacker insurance has been a popular choice for those planning longer trips. This type of insurance typically gives you 12 or 18 months to complete your trip. However, this cover is usually for Aussie residents who intend to return to Australia.

Be sure to check for any COVID updates and/or exclusions in any travel policy you compare.

How do I cancel my travel insurance after I arrive?

Your travel insurance will automatically cancel after the expiry date or if you get some form of local health insurance. You can't cancel the remaining unused portion of a policy for a refund after the cooling-off period.

Picture: GettyImages

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24 Responses

  1. Default Gravatar
    ScottJune 15, 2018

    i am working in Indonesia and am travelling for holiday within Indonesia and then onto the UK , I am returning to work in Indonesia and my wife is travelling back to Australia. Is it easier to get 2 single policies? All the policies I have looked at indicate a return flight to Aus must be booked. Is there any policies that can start and end OS?

    Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      ArnoldJune 16, 2018

      Hi Scott,

      Thanks for your inquiry

      You’ll need to inform your insurer that you’re traveling on a one-way ticket when you apply for cover. Since some of the online enquiry does not allow that. You may need to contact the insurer directly to disclose this. If you fail to do so, your policy could be void. It’s always important to be upfront and honest with your insurance provider and disclose any relevant information about your travels.

      Hope this information helps

      Cheers,
      Arnold

      Reply
  2. Default Gravatar
    ValAugust 7, 2017

    We have taken out travel insurance last Nov for a trip to Sth Africa in 3 weeks. We have now discovered they do not insure us for 4 days in Zimbabwe. They will not refund the policy. Can I get insurance from any another Company for these 4 days only? Could I get travel medical insurance only for this period. We are 72 and 75 years old and with only a few minor pre existing illness.

    Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      LiezlAugust 7, 2017

      Hi Val,

      Thanks for your question.

      You may get another policy from different insurance brand however, you have to disclose to them your existing insurance policy. You may find our guide on having multiple insurance policieshelpful.

      Since terms and conditions vary extensively among providers, it’s crucial that you declare any medical conditions that are not automatically covered at the time of application. You may find our page about travel insurance with pre-existing conditions helpful.

      Moreover, InsureandGo does not automatically exclude any conditions and claim to assess all conditions on a case-by-case basis. Also, CoverMore may be able to cover you for an additional premium, subject to the outcome of a short medical assessment.

      Cheers,
      Liezl

      Reply
  3. Default Gravatar
    DeniseAugust 1, 2017

    I’m in ireland on holiday and need insurance to return to Australia one way. Is there a suitable policy given I’ve already commenced my trip.

    Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      LiezlAugust 1, 2017

      Hi Denise,

      Thanks for reaching out. Yes, you can check already overseas travel insurance and find the right one for you. So, you don’t have to worry as there are insurance brands who can still provide you with a policy even if you are already overseas.

      Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features and details, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you.

      Cheers,
      Liezl

      Reply
  4. Default Gravatar
    MadelineMay 6, 2017

    I am currently overseas and my policy has expired. I am not sure when I will be returning home, possibly in 10 months time. Is there a provider who will insure me from overseas without a return ticket? I think I saw somewhere that there is a company which will insure you and if something happens the cost of a return ticket will be taken from the money you would receive back. Is that the only option and if so do you know which company this might have been?

    Thanks,

    Madeline

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      ZubairMay 8, 2017Staff

      Hi Madeline,

      Thank you for your question.

      finder.com.au is a comparison and information service and we are not permitted to provide our users with personalised financial advice or product recommendations.

      There are various Australian travel insurance brands that offer cover to people who are already overseas. You may find our already overseas travel insurance page helpful.

      I hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Zubair

      Reply
  5. Default Gravatar
    JessApril 5, 2017

    If I am not an Australian citizen, will the one way insurance options above cover me?

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      ZubairApril 7, 2017Staff

      Hi Jess,

      Thank you for your question.

      I’m afraid no. Our one-way travel insurance guide is only for Australian residents. Eligibility of cover will depend on many factors based on your trip details. However, in our panel of travel insurers, DUInsure does cover one-way travel to your country of residence from Australia.

      You may find our Non-Resident Travel Insurance page helpful.

      All the best,
      Zubair

      Reply
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