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Travel insurance underwriters

Find out who is behind Australian travel insurance policies.

Jessica Prasida
Jessica Prasida

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Important:

Travel insurance rules continue to change as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We’re working hard to keep up and make sure our guides are up to date, however some information may not be accurate during the pandemic. It’s even more important to double-check all details that matter to you before taking out cover. Please know that some policies may not be available through Finder at this time. Here are some helpful tips:
    • If you're buying a policy today, it's unlikely that you'll be covered for any coronavirus-related claims
    • If your travel plans go against government advice, your policy will most likely be voided and you won't be covered
    If you’re hunting for travel insurance, you will have noticed the huge range of policies out there. What you may not have noticed is that these policies are issued by a handful of insurers, who are also known as the underwriter. Knowing who underwrites your travel insurance policy is an important consideration when choosing your policy, as it may help you save time when you shop around.

    BrandUnderwriterWho handles general claims?24/7 emergency assistance providersApply
    AMEX Travel Insurance

    American Express

    		ACEAmerican ExpressACE Assistance
    Budget Direct Travel Insurance

    Budget Direct

    		Auto & General Insurance Company LtdBudget DirectBudget Direct
    Columbus Direct

    Columbus Direct

    		Lloyd’sFullerton Health Corporate ServicesFullerton Health Corporate Services
    Fast Cover

    fastcover

    		HollardFast CoverFast Cover Emergency Assistance
    InsureandGo

    Insureandgo

    		Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, LimitedInsureandGoMAPFRE ASSISTANCE
    iTrek

    iTrek

    		Lloyd’sitrekAAI Australia
    Skiinsurance.com.au

    Ski-insurance

    		Lloyd’s1coverFirst Assistance
    Tick Travel Insurance

    Tick Travel

    		Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, LimitedTick Travel InsuranceMAPFRE ASSISTANCE
    none

    Travel Insurance Saver

    		Lloyd'snibnib International Assistance
    Travel Insuranz

    Travel Insuranz

    		Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance CompanyGallagher Bassett Services (Travel Insuranz Claims Dept)Customer Assist
    Insure4less Icon

    Insure4less

    		Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance CompanyGallagher Bassett Services (insure4less Claims Dept)Customer Assist
    Virgin Money

    Virgin Money

    		AllianzAllianz Global AssistanceAllianz Global Assistance
    worldcare travel insurance logo

    Worldcare

    		AllianzAllianz Global AssistanceAllianz Global Assistance
    youGo

    youGo

    		Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (ZAIL)youGoyouGo

    Who underwrites the policies compared on finder.com.au?

    At finder.com.au, we aim to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed purchase decision. The table above will help you figure out who you are buying from and who you need to deal with if you have to make a claim circumstances or have an emergency.

    How it all works

    1. You purchase a policy. When you purchase a policy from an insurance provider or a travel insurance brand, you’ll need to pay a premium.
    2. Underwriter is paid. The premium goes to the underwriter of the policy.
    3. Provider takes a cut. The underwriter then pays a commission to the travel insurance provider or brand.

    Joe shops online for travel insurance and decides 1Cover Comprehensive Travel Insurance is suitable for his trip to Italy. Joe buys the policy and the premium he pays goes to Lloyd's, the underwriter of 1Cover travel insurance. Lloyd's then pays a portion of that premium to 1Cover as a commission for selling the travel insurance policy to Joe.

    Why does it concern me?

    If something goes wrong on your holiday and you need to make a claim, you need to know that your travel insurance policy is backed by a reliable underwriter with a simple and efficient claims handling process. A reputable underwriter can ensure you don’t end up out of pocket for unexpected travel disasters and will also offer a 24/7 emergency hotline.

    You’ll need to consider the following factors when choosing your underwriter and the service being offered:

    • Reputation. You can gauge a company’s standing in the industry through recommendations from industry experts, online reviews and financial comparison websites.
    • Experience with the Australian market. Consider how long the underwriter been issuing policies to Australians and if it has a good grasp of the ins and outs of the Australian insurance industry.
    • The claims process. Consider what you need to do when you make a claim, how long it takes for claims to be processed, and whether the company has a good reputation for paying out claims.
    • The emergency response team. Check to see if the underwriter runs a 24/7 emergency hotline that you can contact from anywhere in the world. An emergency response team that can help you find a doctor, a police station or whatever help you may need in a foreign country can be handy.
    • The benefits. The benefits and limitations of a policy can usually be associated with the underwriter.
    • The exclusions. Check if the underwriter excludes certain activities and incidents from its policies, such as participation in sports and adventure activities while on holiday. Cross-check that with another underwriter.

    Save time by comparing underwriters first

    You can save time if you compare underwriters instead of insurance policies first. Policies issued by the same underwriter will generally be similar to one another, whereas you’re likely to find bigger differences between a policy issued by underwriter A and underwriter B. You can then look at different policies from the same underwriter to further refine your choice.

    Do I make claims through my provider, the underwriter or someone else?

    Who handles your claim will vary depending on:

    • Your policy
    • The type of claim

    Read your product disclosure statement (PDS) for instructions on who you need to contact in the event of a claim.

    Different policy, different process

    Columbus Direct Travel Insurance is underwritten by Lloyd’s, but you would need to make a claim for a stolen laptop with Columbus Direct. If you require medical treatment at a hospital overseas, you will need to contact its medical assistance provider, Specialty Group Ltd. On the other hand, if you have a 1Cover policy, you would direct any claim (regardless of its nature) to the underwriter, Allianz.

    Ready to compare individual policies? Enter your trip details below

    warning Finally, some good news! Domestic travel is picking up, so some insurers have started offering cover again 🦘
    Just remember, you won't be covered for any pandemic related claims if you do take out domestic travel insurance.
    International travel insurance is limited and sometimes unavailable at this point.

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    2 Responses

      Default Gravatar
      richardJuly 24, 2017

      HI I am Australian on a holiday in Europe, 71 years old and have travel insurance for Europe with AXA. I decided on the spot to go to Cuba with friends for 8 days, leaving Frankfurt on 26 July. Not easy now to find travel insurance for that trip!!! I searched the web and asked AXA and others, all negative. I am sure some company will cover me but which one? Can you help. Thanks richard

      Reply
        Default Gravatar
        ArnoldAugust 3, 2017

        Hi Richard,

        Thanks for your inquiry.

        Please note finder is a comparison and information service and not an insurer. We are not permitted to provide our users with personalized financial advice or product recommendations.

        If you would like to compare policies from the travel insurance brands in our panel, please enter your travel details like destination, age and dates of the trip into the comparison form.

        Once you have done you can click on ‘Go to site’ button to head over to the Insurer website.

        Hope this information helped.

        Cheers,
        Arnold

        Reply
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