{"menuItems":[{"label":"How does travel insurance protect me?","anchorName":"#how-does-travel-insurance-protect-me"},{"label":"Which brands cover loss of income?","anchorName":"#which-brands-cover-loss-of-income"},{"label":"Get travel insurance with loss of income cover","anchorName":"#get-travel-insurance-with-loss-of-income-cover"},{"label":"What conditions are not covered by travel insurance?","anchorName":"#what-conditions-are-not-covered-by-travel-insurance"},{"label":"What should I do if I\u2019m injured overseas?","anchorName":"#what-should-i-do-if-i-m-injured-overseas"},{"label":"FAQs about loss of income","anchorName":"#faqs-about-loss-of-income"}]}
Many comprehensive travel insurance policies include a loss of income benefit. Under the benefit, you’ll receive an ongoing weekly benefit if you are injured during your journey and are then unable to return to work when you get home. A regular income while you are unable to earn a living, can provide the financial assistance you need to keep your head above water and focus on recovering.
What you need to know
The loss of income benefit covers you if you’re seriously injured, and unable to return to work when you get back home. You can be covered for that lost income.
Illness is usually excluded from this benefit.
Loss of income is a common benefit found in most travel insurance policies.
How does travel insurance protect me?
If you're injured on your travels and can't return to work, then travel insurance can provide you with:
A substitute income up to a maximum specified amount
Cover for an extended period of time
Payments on weekly basis or monthly basis
In order to qualify for loss of income cover you'll typically need to satisfy the following conditions:
Disablement from the injury within occurs a certain time frame. This is usually 30 days or 90 days.
Disablement must continue for more than 30 days.The disablement must continue for more than 30 consecutive days following your return to Australia (or from when you originally planned to return to work)
You must be unable to return to previous work. As a result of your disablement, you are unable to return to your previous work or suitable alternative work
Medical certification. You must be under the regular care of a medical adviser and act in accordance with that adviser’s instructions. You will most likely also need the adviser to provide written confirmation that your disablement prevents you from gainful employment.
Centrelink payment may be deducted from the payment. Any benefits you receive through Centrelink or other insurance will be deducted from your payment.
Look for a comprehensive policy. Loss of income is typically not included in basic policies.
Pop in your trip details and get a quote for travel insurance that covers loss of income.
Got a quote before?
What conditions are not covered by travel insurance?
Some providers will exclude disability as a result of illness from loss of income cover. Other common exclusions are:
No cover for any loss of income as a result of your death
No cover for the first 30 days after you planned to return to work
No cover if you do not become disabled within 30 days of the injury
The benefit will only be paid for a limited time period, for example a maximum of 26 weeks
No cover if your injury is covered by any other insurance or statutory benefits
No cover for the loss of income of your dependents
What should I do if I’m injured overseas?
There are several things you can do to ensure that you receive the best possible care if you’re injured overseas, including:
Notify your insurer. You need to notify your insurer of any incident that may lead to a claim as soon as possible. You’ll usually need to fill out a claim form and your insurance provider will advise you of any other steps you need to take.
Get reports. If you’re caught up in an incident that involves the police, get a written copy of any police report. Ask your doctor for a medical report that includes the date of the accident, the injuries you received and any treatment.
Keep your receipts. In some cases your insurer will cover all your medical bills upfront, but in other situations you’ll need to pay for some expenses out of your own pocket and claim them back later. Make sure to keep receipts for everything.
Comply with your insurer’s requests. If your insurance provider requests additional information or documents to support your claim, make sure you provide them as soon as possible.
Why you can trust Finder's travel insurance experts
We're free
Our travel insurance engine is completely free to use. You pay the same as buying directly from the insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site.
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of travel insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped over one million people find travel insurance by explaining your options simply. We'll never ask for your number or email to see prices. We're here to help you make a decision.
When it comes to loss of income, most policies will exclude cover if you're unable to work due to an illness. Some policies will not specifically state an exclusion for illness however it's vital that you check the fine print of your policy to work out when cover will and will not apply.
Loss of income protects your family by still contributing income to your household while you’re unable to work. This benefit extends to your spouse or partner if they’re also listed on the policy. It doesn’t usually cover dependents.
Your travel insurer may contact Centrelink and check for any benefits you've received for your inability to work. If you have, then this amount will be deducted from the payment your travel insurer pays you. Both Travel Insurance Saver and NIB Travel Insurance explicitly state this in their product disclosure statements.
Jessica Prasida is a travel insurance expert for Finder. She lives and breathes travel, having worked as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel for over 4 years, then writing about travel insurance with Finder for another 5 years. Jess has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan and read any disclosure documents (such as any Target Market Determination (TMD) and/or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)) issued by the provider before making a decision.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.