An annual policy, sometimes called a multi-trip policy, covers you for as many trips as you can fit into an entire 12-month period and you only need to get a policy once, which means you'll have more time and money left over to plan your next holiday.
An annual travel insurance policy is one that covers you for an unlimited number of trips during a 12-month period, unlike a single-trip policy. Although you can go on as many trips as you'd like, there's usually a maximum trip duration of anywhere from 21-93 days. That means none of your individual trips can last longer than the timeframe listed on your policy.
Is an annual policy worth it?
If you travel frequently, an annual travel insurance policy can save a lot of precious money, time and hassle. That makes it easily worth it in our opinion. Here's how it can help:
Money. An annual policy can usually save you money if you're taking three or more trips per year but depending on where you are going, it's possible to save even if you only travel twice.
Time. You don't have to fill out new forms for every new trip.
Hassle. If you want to travel at the drop of a hat, you can just pick up and go - with one less thing to worry about.
How is multi-trip travel insurance different?
It's true that an annual policy offers similar cover to a single-trip policy. However, there are some differences - here's what to look out for:
Trip duration limits. Most insurers place a limit on the maximum duration of each individual trip. We've seen limits anywhere from 21-93 days and in many cases you can choose your limit (for example, 30, 45 or 60 days).
Business vs leisure. Some policies have different duration limits for business trips vs leisure trips. For example, the same policy might have a 90-day limit on leisure trips but only a 30-day limit on business trips.
Age limits. Annual policies sometimes have tighter age restrictions than single-trip policies, meaning past a certain age you might be eligible for an insurer's single-trip policy but not their annual one. If that's the case, you'll need to find an insurer with a higher age restriction (if you're under 100, you should be able to find something).
Domestic cover. Some annual policies will only cover international trips and not domestic ones. However, there are plenty of policies that cover both domestic and international travel and you can find plenty on Finder.
Before choosing your policy, consider the maximum duration of each of your trips. Some brands will let you travel for up to 90 days while others will only let you travel up to 30 days. Check out the comparison of annual travel insurance policies from Finder partners below.
Multi-trip travel insurance covers all the same things as a single-trip policy. This means you can expect cover for:
Medical expenses including evacuation. If you get sick or injured while overseas, your policy will cover the cost of your ambulance, hospital bed, surgery fees and evacuation to the nearest hospital (or back to Australia if necessary). Most annual policies offer unlimited medical for international trips, which helps with peace of mind knowing you're covered no matter where you go.
Additional emergency expenses. This covers the additional travel and accommodation expenses related to emergencies outside of your control, like becoming medically unfit to travel or the unexpected death of a close relative back home. Most policies will also pay for someone in Australia to travel to you if you're hospitalised overseas.
Cancellation fees and lost deposits. This covers your non-refundable pre-paid travel expenses and any cancellation fees if you have to cancel your trip due to unexpected events outside of your control.
Luggage and personal belongings. Covers the repair or replacement costs for luggage and personal items are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip. Some policies will pay you an emergency allowance to help you purchase essential clothing and toiletries if an airline temporarily misplaces your luggage.
Travel delay. This pays for unexpected meal and accommodation costs when your flight or other prepaid transportation is rescheduled or delayed for a significant amount of time.
Rental vehicle excess insurance. This brings down the unreasonably high excess car rental companies charge if you damage one of their cars. Some policies offer this for free. Others charge extra for it.
Personal liability. This pays your legal fees and penalties if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property while travelling.
What's not covered?
All policies have a list of exclusions, which outlines what your policy won't cover and what situations will void your policy.
You're travelling somewhere there's a travel warning. The Australian Government issues advisories for a reason. If you choose to travel to these countries and ignore these warnings, your insurance will be invalid.
You don't take care of your belongings. Your insurer won't pay for lost items if you weren't careful with them. This includes leaving your luggage or valuables unattended or leaving your hotel room unlocked.
You were acting recklessly. Your insurer can deny your claim if they find you were acting recklessly at the time. This can include being drunk, being high, breaking the law or putting yourself in harm's way.
Illness or injury from pre-existing conditions. If you fail to disclose any pre-existing conditions, your insurer could deny medical claims if they think the new injury or illness is related.
You're pregnant. Most policies will not cover childbirth at all and they'll stop covering pregnancy-related complications up to a certain point in the pregnancy (varies from insurer to insurer). However, they will cover all unrelated medical conditions like a broken wrist for the duration of the trip.
Looking for the best annual travel insurance? Here's how to find it
Since you're signing up for a year's worth of cover, it makes sense to get the best policy you can for your needs. Here's how to find the best policy depending on which of these statements apply to you:
You've got some long trips planned. Most policies set limits on the number of days you'll be covered per individual trip. Limits can vary from 21 - 93 days depending on the insurer, the destination and the purpose of the trip (i.e. business vs. leisure). If you'll be gone more than three weeks on any one trip, the best policy for you will be the one that offers to cover you for the whole thing.
You're travelling both internationally and domestically. Some policies only offer this cover for international trips and won't apply it toward domestic ones. If you want covered internationally and domestically, the best policy for you will be one that covers both types of trips. Otherwise, you'll have to buy separate policies, defeating the whole purpose!
You're a senior. Some insurers have lower age limits on their annual policies than they do on their single-trip policies. For example, they might cut you off at 64 for an annual policy but still offer you a single-trip policy until age 69. The best one for you will one that doesn't force you into buying multiple single-trip policies throughout the year.
You're going on a cruise. Most annual policies don't automatically cover you when you're at sea, but plenty will offer to cover you for an additional fee. So if you are going cruising, the best annual policy will be one of the few that automatically covers you or one that at least offers you added cruise cover at a reasonable cost.
You're taking part in specialised activities. You'll usually need extra cover if you are going skiing, golfing, trekking or taking part in any other activity that could either be considered risky or involve expensive equipment and/or access fees. The best policy for you will be one that either automatically includes cover for your chosen activity or offers it at a reasonable rate.
Seven steps for comparing annual multi-trip travel insurance
Here are seven steps to help you land the right policy at the right price.
Decide where you'll be travelling and for how long. You might not have all the details ironed out but there are some important details you'll need to know like: will you be travelling internationally, domestically or both? About how long will your longest trip be?
Run some quotes. Use our search feature above to grab dozens of quotes based on your travel details.
Sort based on your preferences. When you get your results, sort by trip duration to find policies that are long enough to accommodate your travel plans. Look at the "age" column to make sure you're eligible.
Compare features. Once you've identified several policies that work with your travel plans, take a look at what features they offer. Since you might be booking trips months in advance, you'll probably want to look at unlimited cancellation cover since anything can happen in a year. Not all policies offer this.
Read the fine print. Many policies won't automatically cover you for specific activities like skiiing, going on a cruise or trekking in certain conditions. Make sure the policies you are considering automatically cover all of your activities or at least offer to cover you at an additional yet reasonable fee.
Look at the excess. This is the amount of money you pay out of your own pocket when you claim. It varies from policy to policy and sometimes insurers will let you increase it so that you can save on premiums.
Look at the price. This comes last because you first need to find a few policies that offer what you need. Now that you've narrowed it down to a few policies, it's safe to compare on price. Just be sure to factor in an extra costs like ski cover and cruise cover. If you're lucky, you may even stumble upon some discounts
How much does yearly travel insurance cost?
The cost of annual travel insurance will be different for everyone since everyone's trip details will be different and personal details like age and health will also factor in. However, we wanted to give you some sense of cost, so we ran some quotes offering a glimpse into the price.
This example compares the cost of an annual policy vs the cost of a comparable two-week long single-trip policy for 35-year-old travelling to the United States. As you can see, it's possible to save in as little as two trips! Three trips would save this traveller an average of $155.41 among the brands we compared.
Brand
Price for an annual policy
Price for a single policy
Amount saved with 2 trips
Amount saved with 3 trips
Insure4Less AMT Medical Only
$131.31
$75.55
$19.79
$95.34
Online Travel Insurance Multi-Trip
$197.84
$127.50
$57.16
$184.66
Travel Insuranz AMT Classic
$199.95
$75.95
No savings
$27.90
Travel With Jane Annual multi-trip
$257.40
$120.51
No savings
$104.13
Australia Post International Basic Annual Multi-Trip
$268.00
$134.00
No savings
$134.00
WorldCare Multi-Trip
$268.80
$138.40
$8.00
$146.40
*The quotes above are from 8 March 2019. Please use the tool above for the most accurate pricing.
Questions you might have about annual travel insurance
Yes, there are plenty of insurers who will offer annual multi-trip travel insurance policies to seniors. Some will cover people up until the age of 100, while others will set the age limit a little lower. Others don't have an age limit at all, and will consider your age together with your pre-existing conditions and other personal details to determine if they'll cover you or not. You may find that a select few insurers will set a lower age limit on their annual policies than they use on their single policies.
Some insurers automatically offer cruise cover but most don't. If you're going cruising, you'll most likely need to add cruise cover to your policy for an additional fee.
Some insurers allow you to select a blanket annual policy that offers a worldwide destination option. Other insurers allow you to pick specific regions and the region you select affects the cost of your policy. If you're going to multiple regions, such as Asia, Europe and the Americas, you can usually just include all three in your quote form. If you're unsure, just call the insurer and ask.
Yes, there are some insurers that offer annual travel insurance policies for families.
It will depend on your provider. However, as long as you're named on the Certificate of Insurance you'll generally be covered if you travel separately.
Annual cover is usually not available for groups. If you're planning on travelling in a group, you'll need to opt for a single-trip policy.
For sure! Business cover is usually included in an annual frequent travel insurance policy, which means it doesn't matter whether you are travelling for business or going on a holiday.
However, insurers usually won't pay any medical bills that's already covered by your employer's worker's compensation policy. Some policies will also exclude manual labour from cover.
No. Unfortunately, you can't claim travel insurance as a tax deduction.
Just barely. The longest max-trip duration we've seen is 93 days from Travel Insuranz. If you're taking a single trip that's longer than that, you'll need to get a separate single-trip policy for that trip. You can find single-trip policies that will cover trips of up to 540 days.
As Finder's Group Publisher for Insurance, Zahra Campbell-Avenell leads a team of over 10 insurance experts to deliver on Finder’s mission to help Australians make better decisions. Zahra has a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in Washington DC, with a double major in Anthropology and English. She has worked for companies such as Booking.com and Bank of America, as well as a number of non-profit organisations.
Please send quotes for comprehensive annual travel insurance. Travel several times a year for personal travel and conference – international and local. Sometimes travel together and other times independently. We are both healthy.
Since you need to start comparing your travel insurance options, kindly enter all details asked on the table such as where you’re going to, age of travellers and date of your first trip then click on the get quote green button. The page will then show quotes and you may filter your search including level of cover – Basic, Standard and Comprehensive, as well as required cover options. Once you have chosen an insurer, please click on the green go to site button to be redirected to the provider’s official page to learn more on the multi-trip travel insurance they offer or even start your online application.
Yes, they are included in an annual multi-trip travel insurance. It covers you for as many trips as you can fit into an entire year with just one policy paid for upfront.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Have you tried using the travel insurance engine on this page? It allows you to enter the dates of travel and your destination to generate quotes for your travel insurance options.
I travel to Europe for pleasure typically from
Apr-Oct each year..sometimes stopping off in Asia on the way. What is the best insurance to cover me for this length of time? I do not always book my trip originating from Australia…sometimes it can originate from Europe. My partner is not an Australian resident (European).
Here at finder we are unable to give recommendations, we can offer general advise.
The page you visited is accurate as it will allow you to compare qoutes between insurers. You just need to enter you details and all the destinations you will be going to and from there you can receive qoutes.
While annual travel insurance covers an unlimited number of trips, there is a limit to the maximum duration of each individual trip. This limit varies from one insurer to the next, but you’ll often have several options to choose from. For example, you may be able to choose a maximum individual trip limit of 30, 60 or 90 days.
It would be best to check on the level of cover first and contact the insurer you are interested in to make sure all your questions are answered that way you select the insurance that would suit you best.
I want to find a combined annual multi trip policy for myself and my husband. But we won’t be travelling on all the same trips throughout the year. Please can you tell me which policies cover this? I know there are some that do,I just don’t know which ones.
Thanks for your question. GoInsurance provide this cover only on the Go Plus level of cover. With 1Cover you are able to put two adults on an annual policy as it allows cover for you both individually. However, you must travel together for more than 75% of your trips and not exceed 90 days for a single trip.
This is in no way a comprehensive list of the cover options available nor is it an endorsement of these products. You should carefully consider your needs and review the product prior to making a decision.
Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is a comparison service and not an insurer. If you would like to compare your daughters travel insurance options, please enter her travel details into the quote engine generator above.
Thanks for your question. Annual travel insurance covers you for world-wide travel. However, when selecting a policy you’ll need to choose a particular destination or region. You will need to select the highest region that applies to the area you’re travelling to, as this will ensure you’re covered by the policy in the event you need to make a claim.
My husband and I are missionaries and traveling during the year. Most of the times we spend more than 3 months in one country. What kind of annual multiple trip traveling insurance can you offer to us?
Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is a comparison service and not an insurer. Unfortunately, there is only one provider in our panel that provides cover on an annual policy of more than 90 days, Travel Insuranz, and even then it is only 93 days.
If you are unable to find an annual policy that will cover extended periods, it may be best to just take out a single trip policy if you are only going to be travelling back and forth to the same country. If you take a standard single trip policy for a 12 month period, but plan to return home briefly in the middle of your trip, provided you have not returned early and made a claim on the insurance, you may be able to have continuous cover whilst overseas. Remember that you will not be insured whilst in your home country. You may also want to consider a backpackers travel insurance policy if you are planning on going to multiple countries.
Hi, we are looking at travelling to Bali 29/8 – 7/9/2015 we are 69 and 71 years of age.
Also going to Vancouver in November/December then 2016 going to England.
How much would it cost for a 12 month policy for us and how many days can we be out of the country at one time, also excess and what are we covered for.
Thanks Carole
Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is a comparison service and not an insurer. If you would like to compare the policies from our providers, please enter your travel details into the travel form at the top of the page.
I am a volunteer missionary doing education work in East Africa. I travel to Africa for four months, then I’m back in Aus. for four months, and so on. In Africa I have a lot of travel by road, and a little by air. At 68yrs of age, but in great health, what’s best for me.
Thanks for your question. It will depend on a number of factors. Unfortunately, most annual policies have a maximum trip duration of 90 days, so you may need to take out separate policies.
Thanks Richard.
If I did that – i.e. took out two 60 or 90 day policies consecutively, which companies/policies would be best geared for my circumstances.
John.
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, finder.com.au is a comparison service and we are not permitted to provide product recommendations. However, you may find the following resources helpful: Travel Insurance for Seniors Travel Insurance for Volunteers
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Trip duration limits. Most insurers place a limit on the maximum duration of each individual trip. We've seen limits anywhere from 21-93 days and in many cases you can choose your limit (for example, 30, 45 or 60 days). 
Business vs leisure. Some policies have different duration limits for business trips vs leisure trips. For example, the same policy might have a 90-day limit on leisure trips but only a 30-day limit on business trips. 
Age limits. Annual policies sometimes have tighter age restrictions than single-trip policies, meaning past a certain age you might be eligible for an insurer's single-trip policy but not their annual one. If that's the case, you'll need to find an insurer with a higher age restriction (if you're under 100, you should be able to find something).
Domestic cover. Some annual policies will only cover international trips and not domestic ones. However, there are plenty of policies that cover both domestic and international travel and you can find plenty on Finder.
1cover
AllClear 
American Express
Australia Post
Columbus Direct
Cover More
InsureandGo
Insure4less
Online Travel
Travel Insuranz
Virgin
Webjet
World Care
Zoom
Please send quotes for comprehensive annual travel insurance. Travel several times a year for personal travel and conference – international and local. Sometimes travel together and other times independently. We are both healthy.
Hi Sam,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
Since you need to start comparing your travel insurance options, kindly enter all details asked on the table such as where you’re going to, age of travellers and date of your first trip then click on the get quote green button. The page will then show quotes and you may filter your search including level of cover – Basic, Standard and Comprehensive, as well as required cover options. Once you have chosen an insurer, please click on the green go to site button to be redirected to the provider’s official page to learn more on the multi-trip travel insurance they offer or even start your online application.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
I will be travelling to South Africa in August then cruising from Barcelona to Dubai in November. Can I get annual insurance to include both?
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
Yes, they are included in an annual multi-trip travel insurance. It covers you for as many trips as you can fit into an entire year with just one policy paid for upfront.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Age is 76 years Still working Would like Annual policy mixture of work and pleasure trips Work 10 Days (av) and pleasure 35 Max Days
Hi David, thanks for your inquiry.
Have you tried using the travel insurance engine on this page? It allows you to enter the dates of travel and your destination to generate quotes for your travel insurance options.
I hope this helps.
Thanks,
Jonathan
I travel to Europe for pleasure typically from
Apr-Oct each year..sometimes stopping off in Asia on the way. What is the best insurance to cover me for this length of time? I do not always book my trip originating from Australia…sometimes it can originate from Europe. My partner is not an Australian resident (European).
Hi Des,
Thanks for reaching out.
Here at finder we are unable to give recommendations, we can offer general advise.
The page you visited is accurate as it will allow you to compare qoutes between insurers. You just need to enter you details and all the destinations you will be going to and from there you can receive qoutes.
While annual travel insurance covers an unlimited number of trips, there is a limit to the maximum duration of each individual trip. This limit varies from one insurer to the next, but you’ll often have several options to choose from. For example, you may be able to choose a maximum individual trip limit of 30, 60 or 90 days.
It would be best to check on the level of cover first and contact the insurer you are interested in to make sure all your questions are answered that way you select the insurance that would suit you best.
Cheers,
Joanne
I want to find a combined annual multi trip policy for myself and my husband. But we won’t be travelling on all the same trips throughout the year. Please can you tell me which policies cover this? I know there are some that do,I just don’t know which ones.
Hi Jean83,
Thanks for your question. GoInsurance provide this cover only on the Go Plus level of cover. With 1Cover you are able to put two adults on an annual policy as it allows cover for you both individually. However, you must travel together for more than 75% of your trips and not exceed 90 days for a single trip.
This is in no way a comprehensive list of the cover options available nor is it an endorsement of these products. You should carefully consider your needs and review the product prior to making a decision.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
My daughter is going to South America only, from 14/08 to 15/11 (95 days?).What are her travel insurance options.??
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is a comparison service and not an insurer. If you would like to compare your daughters travel insurance options, please enter her travel details into the quote engine generator above.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
does multi trip travel insurance cover worldwide destination, not a particular country?
Hi Sunny,
Thanks for your question. Annual travel insurance covers you for world-wide travel. However, when selecting a policy you’ll need to choose a particular destination or region. You will need to select the highest region that applies to the area you’re travelling to, as this will ensure you’re covered by the policy in the event you need to make a claim.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
My husband and I are missionaries and traveling during the year. Most of the times we spend more than 3 months in one country. What kind of annual multiple trip traveling insurance can you offer to us?
Hi Csaba,
Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is a comparison service and not an insurer. Unfortunately, there is only one provider in our panel that provides cover on an annual policy of more than 90 days, Travel Insuranz, and even then it is only 93 days.
If you are unable to find an annual policy that will cover extended periods, it may be best to just take out a single trip policy if you are only going to be travelling back and forth to the same country. If you take a standard single trip policy for a 12 month period, but plan to return home briefly in the middle of your trip, provided you have not returned early and made a claim on the insurance, you may be able to have continuous cover whilst overseas. Remember that you will not be insured whilst in your home country. You may also want to consider a backpackers travel insurance policy if you are planning on going to multiple countries.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
Hi, we are looking at travelling to Bali 29/8 – 7/9/2015 we are 69 and 71 years of age.
Also going to Vancouver in November/December then 2016 going to England.
How much would it cost for a 12 month policy for us and how many days can we be out of the country at one time, also excess and what are we covered for.
Thanks Carole
Hi Carole,
Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is a comparison service and not an insurer. If you would like to compare the policies from our providers, please enter your travel details into the travel form at the top of the page.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
I am a volunteer missionary doing education work in East Africa. I travel to Africa for four months, then I’m back in Aus. for four months, and so on. In Africa I have a lot of travel by road, and a little by air. At 68yrs of age, but in great health, what’s best for me.
Hi John,
Thanks for your question. It will depend on a number of factors. Unfortunately, most annual policies have a maximum trip duration of 90 days, so you may need to take out separate policies.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
Thanks Richard.
If I did that – i.e. took out two 60 or 90 day policies consecutively, which companies/policies would be best geared for my circumstances.
John.
Hi John,
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, finder.com.au is a comparison service and we are not permitted to provide product recommendations. However, you may find the following resources helpful:
Travel Insurance for Seniors
Travel Insurance for Volunteers
I hope this was helpful,
Richard