Annual multi-trip travel insurance can be cheaper and more convenient than buying multiple policies. Compare quotes and get set up for an exciting year of travel.
Annual travel insurance typically covers multiple trips in one year for trips up to 90 days.
Annual travel insurance can be cheaper than a single policy if you travel to multiple places in a year.
Most annual policies cover overseas medical expenses, luggage and personal effects and cancellation fees.
Cheap annual travel insurance
Cheap picks selected by Gary Ross Hunter – insurance and innovations editor at Finder
Cheap comprehensive: Frequent Traveller Saver
It can cover you for up to 45 days per trip. The average is around 30 days.
It comes with COVID-19 cover. This includes unlimited medical expenses and rearrangement costs if you or someone you are travelling with catches the virus.
It comes with fairly high limits, most likely enough for multiple trips e.g. up to $12,000 for luggage, $10,000 for cancellations, $5,000 rental car excess insurance and unlimited travel delay expenses.
Fast Cover Frequent Traveller Saver comes with unlimited cancellation cover. Frequent Traveller Saver has a $10,000 cap.
There are more comprehensive options, if you're willing to pay more. For example, Fast Cover and CoverMore have annual policies that all come with higher limits. These could be better for trips over $10,000.
Finder's insurance and innovations editor looked at 45 annual travel insurance policies available on the Finder engine and a handful of other well known brands including CoverMore and Medibank. Frequent Traveller Saver offered the cheapest comprehensive policy for 5 different annual multi trips:
Bali, USA, New Zealand
Bali, Japan, New Zealand
Bali, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand
Bali, Italy, France, New Zealand
Bali, Thailand, New Zealand
Cheap basic: Insure4Less Annual Multi Trip Essentials
It's good if you want a very cheap policy covering medical only, including if you catch COVID-19.
Out of 45 annual multi trip policies, it was the cheapest available on Finder.
It really is a bare bones policy. It only covers medical expenses. It's no help if you need to cancel, rearrange or your luggage is delayed or lost.
It can cover you for up to 31 days per trip. If you have a longer trip planned, you should look elsewhere.
Our insurance and innovations editor picked Insure4less because it's typically the cheapest annual multi trip policy in the Finder database. Insure4less offered the cheapest basic policy for 5 different annual multi trips:
Bali, USA, New Zealand
Bali, Japan, New Zealand
Bali, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand
Bali, Italy, France, New Zealand
Bali, Thailand, New Zealand
Is it cheaper to buy annual travel insurance?
It's typically only cheaper to buy an annual travel insurance policy if you plan to go on a few big trips in the next 12 months. If you're only going away for around 2 weeks per trip, multiple single travel insurance policies are often cheaper.
For example, when we got quotes for an annual multi trip policy to multiple locations (Bali, Japan, Canada and Europe), the cheapest comprehensive policy was $399. It was $815 for multiple single travel insurance policies.
Here's a table showing the prices if you were to take out multiple single travel insurance policies, as opposed to taking out a multi trip travel insurance policy.
Location & duration
Policy cost
Bali - 7 days
$63
Japan - 45 days
$225
Canada - 45 days
$418
Italy, France, Germany - 21 days
$109
Total cost
$815
"I saved $500 getting an annual multi-trip policy. I had two big overseas trips planned, one a ski trip, and it was cheaper to get an annual policy instead of individual cover (this was for 2 people). And now I'm covered for the rest of the year too, including on domestic trips. "
It is important to note that the true value of an annual policy often depends on trip length. A 2024 CHOICE analysis found that if you plan three or four overseas holidays, single trip policies are generally cheaper if your trips average two weeks or less. However, once your trips stretch beyond three weeks, multi trip insurance tends to offer better value. For those planning five trips, a multi trip policy becomes a better option for journeys exceeding 16 days (Source: CHOICE 2024).
What does annual travel insurance cover?
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 that 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.
Cruise and Ski cover. Some annual travel insurance policies include cruise cover and ski cover in their policies. Benefits include onboard medical expenses, missed ports, cabin confinement and more.
Personal liability. This pays your legal fees and penalties if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property while travelling.
When comparing high level plans, you will often encounter the term unlimited overseas emergency medical cover. This is a critical inclusion for frequent travellers because it ensures that there is no financial cap on necessary hospital stays, surgeries or emergency medical evacuations while abroad. Major providers like 1Cover, Allianz, and Fast Cover typically include this as a standard feature in their comprehensive annual plans, providing peace of mind for those visiting regions with high healthcare costs like North America or Europe.
Our expert says
"At first annual travel insurance might seem like a bit of an upfront cost, but if you have a couple of big trips planned in the next 12 months (it looks like many of us do – there's been a 50% increase in departures compared to this time last year) then it's often cheaper than buying multiple individual policies."
Choosing the right annual policy depends on your specific travel habits and existing memberships. Below is an analysis of how four major Australian providers stack up:
1Cover: Frequently recognised for its outstanding value, 1Cover is a strong choice for those who want flexible cancellation limits. Unlike many competitors, they allow you to choose your specific cancellation cover amount, which then applies to all covered medical conditions equally (Source: 1Cover 2025).
Medibank: This provider offers a significant advantage for existing health insurance members. Medibank and ahm health members can save 15% to 20% on their travel insurance premiums. They are also highly regarded for their specialised assessment process for travellers with pre-existing health conditions (Source: Medibank 2024).
Fast Cover: A standout feature for this provider is their Frequent Traveller Saver policy, which includes automatic cruise cover at no additional cost. This is particularly beneficial for travellers who plan to mix land based holidays with ocean or river cruises throughout the year (Source: Fast Cover 2025).
Allianz: Known for a vast global assistance network, Allianz is often recommended for families and those travelling to Europe. Their multi trip policies provide a robust safety net with 24/7 access to a worldwide team of medical specialists and multilingual assistance staff (Source: Allianz Australia).
Regional coverage and trip duration
When selecting an annual multi trip policy, you must consider regional variations and trip limits. Most insurers require you to select a coverage region, such as "Asia Pacific" or "Worldwide." If your year includes a mix of domestic and international travel, a worldwide policy will typically cover you for trips within Australia as well, provided you are a set distance from home (usually 100km to 250km) (Source: Cover-More).
It is also vital to check the maximum duration for any single journey. While the policy lasts 12 months, individual trips are usually capped at 15, 30, 45 or 60 days. If you plan one long adventure alongside several short ones, ensure your chosen plan accommodates your longest intended stay.
What's not included?
All policies have a list of exclusions, which outlines what your policy won't cover and what situations will void your policy. These include if:
You're travelling somewhere there's a travel warning. The Australian Government issues advisories for a reason. If you choose to travel to a do not travel country 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're taking part in extreme or dangerous activities. Most policies won't cover extreme sports or other dangerous activities such as base jumping or mountaineering.
You were acting recklessly. Your insurer can deny your claim if it finds 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 you if you're pregnant at around 30 weeks. However, they will cover all unrelated medical conditions like a broken wrist for the duration of the trip.
Frequently asked questions about annual travel insurance
Yes, many annual multi-trip policies provide cover for domestic trips within Australia. Typically this cover applies when you are a certain distance from your home often between 100km and 250km. Always check your specific PDS to confirm domestic trip cover, the required travel distance and any exclusions that may apply.
Yes, most annual multi-trip travel insurance policies have age limits. The maximum age for eligibility can vary significantly between insurers, with some capping cover at 65 or 70 years of age, while others may offer policies for travellers up to 80 or 85 years old. Travellers over a certain age, for example 60 or 65, may face higher premiums or specific exclusions. It is always best to compare quotes from various providers to double check their age criteria.
Pre-existing medical conditions can affect your annual multi-trip travel insurance. You generally need to declare all pre-existing conditions during the application process. Some conditions may be automatically covered, some may require a medical assessment and additional premium or some may be excluded from cover entirely. Failure to disclose conditions could invalidate your policy so it is important to be honest and thorough. Some insurers specialise in assessing pre-existing conditions so it is worth comparing options.
To make a claim on your annual multi-trip travel insurance policy you typically need to contact your insurer as soon as possible, ideally while still travelling for emergencies. You will need to complete a claim form and provide supporting documentation such as police reports for theft, medical reports for illness or injury, original receipts for lost or damaged items and booking confirmations for cancelled trips. It's also a good idea to hang on to all relevant documents including flight tickets, accommodation details and medical records as evidence.
No, you generally cannot extend a single trip beyond the maximum duration specified in your annual multi-trip policy. If you plan to travel for longer than the per-trip limit, such as 30, 45 or 60 days, you will need to purchase a separate single trip travel insurance policy to cover the entire duration of that longer journey. Your annual policy's individual trip limit applies strictly to each separate overseas excursion.
Many annual multi-trip policies offer options to cover your family or children, often referred to as a family policy. This typically covers two adults and their dependent children, usually under a certain age like 21 or 25, travelling together or sometimes independently. It's important to confirm the specific definitions of a "family" or "dependent child" in your PDS and whether children are covered when travelling alone.
Annual multi-trip insurance covers an unlimited number of shorter trips, each usually lasting up to 30, 45 or 60 days, within a 12 month period. Long term travel insurance on the other hand is a single policy designed to cover one continuous journey that extends for a much longer period, often from three months up to two years or more. Annual policies are for frequent short breaks, while long term policies are for extended travels like a sabbatical or backpacking trip.
Sources
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Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards.
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Finder guides across topics including:
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
Finder
RichardApril 30, 2015Finder
Hi Carole,
Thanks for your question.
Your search for a multi-trip insurance policy will depend on a number of factors. Most annual multi-trip policies will only cover you for the maximum trip duration that you choose at the time you buy the policy. It can vary amongst different brands but it can range from 15 days up to 90 days. If you would like to compare the policies from our providers, please enter your travel details into the travel insurance quote engine.
Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
JohnApril 29, 2015
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.
Finder
RichardApril 30, 2015Finder
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
JohnApril 30, 2015
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.
Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
SteveoApril 15, 2015
I am going on a ski trip to Canada in 2016. Flights have been bought with NAB platinum Amex card . Will the travel insurance that is provided with the card cover me for on-piste and off-piste skiing injuries?
thanks
Finder
RichardApril 15, 2015Finder
Hi Stevo,
Thanks for your question.
I had a look at the NAB Platinum Amex card product disclosure statement(PDS), and there does not seem to be any mention of ski cover, so you may want to contact QBE Insurance (the issuers of the policy) on 1800 187 025 for clarification. It is important to remember that to qualify for cover, you must purchase a minimum of $500 of your prepaid transportation, accommodation, or tour costs on your NAB Platinum Amex card.
If you are unable to get cover with your NAB card, you mayget your quote from our guide to Ski Travel Insurance.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
AlanFebruary 18, 2015
I am a retiree, and am starting to travel a bit i think my travel will fit in the annual travel policy.My Q is When does the policy start say if i travel on 15 april and expiry of the annual policy date. I plan to travel in mid april 2015 to London from Melbourne aust.stop over in kl then to london for a month’s stay then back to kl for a longer stop over stay then return to Melb.Total to – fro journey 90days.
Finder
RichardFebruary 18, 2015Finder
Hi Alan,
Thanks for your question. You can specify when you want the annual policy to start, e.g. commence immediately or begin at the commencement of your trip. When choosing your annual travel policy, make sure to check the maximum duration a single trip can be, some policies limit trip durations to as little as 30 days.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
JaneFebruary 1, 2015
Looking for the right insurance not sure which one I should buy, annual multi trip or single policy’s as I understand Medicare does cover you on any domestic cruises? We are a family of four and we’re going on a domestic cruise this year for 7 nights then extending our holiday for 6 nights in the Gold Coast, we have also booked flights to the UK visiting family for 5 weeks. Please can you advise me. Thanks
Finder
RichardFebruary 3, 2015Finder
Hi Jane,
Thanks for your question.
You are correct. Medicare does not cover you for cruise travel. Once you have decided on a provider and or policy, it really comes down to the cost for this. Have you got travel insurance quotes for these trips already? If not, please have a look at our travel insurance on our homepage. Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
Our verdict: AllClear Travel Insurance covers globetrotters of any age and more than 1,300 pre-existing medical conditions, including heart complications and diabetes.
If you need a policy that covers the risk of medical expenses when you travel outside of Australia, then it is pivotal that you look beyond your Medicare cover. Compare the medical coverage of travel insurance policies online.
Planning a holiday is a lot of work. Webjet Travel Insurance makes the job easy with its range of policies, including comprehensive.
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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.
Your search for a multi-trip insurance policy will depend on a number of factors. Most annual multi-trip policies will only cover you for the maximum trip duration that you choose at the time you buy the policy. It can vary amongst different brands but it can range from 15 days up to 90 days. If you would like to compare the policies from our providers, please enter your travel details into the travel insurance quote engine.
Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
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.
You may find the following resources helpful:
Travel Insurance for Seniors
Travel Insurance for Volunteers
Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
I am going on a ski trip to Canada in 2016. Flights have been bought with NAB platinum Amex card . Will the travel insurance that is provided with the card cover me for on-piste and off-piste skiing injuries?
thanks
Hi Stevo,
Thanks for your question.
I had a look at the NAB Platinum Amex card product disclosure statement(PDS), and there does not seem to be any mention of ski cover, so you may want to contact QBE Insurance (the issuers of the policy) on 1800 187 025 for clarification. It is important to remember that to qualify for cover, you must purchase a minimum of $500 of your prepaid transportation, accommodation, or tour costs on your NAB Platinum Amex card.
If you are unable to get cover with your NAB card, you mayget your quote from our guide to Ski Travel Insurance.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
I am a retiree, and am starting to travel a bit i think my travel will fit in the annual travel policy.My Q is When does the policy start say if i travel on 15 april and expiry of the annual policy date. I plan to travel in mid april 2015 to London from Melbourne aust.stop over in kl then to london for a month’s stay then back to kl for a longer stop over stay then return to Melb.Total to – fro journey 90days.
Hi Alan,
Thanks for your question. You can specify when you want the annual policy to start, e.g. commence immediately or begin at the commencement of your trip. When choosing your annual travel policy, make sure to check the maximum duration a single trip can be, some policies limit trip durations to as little as 30 days.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
Looking for the right insurance not sure which one I should buy, annual multi trip or single policy’s as I understand Medicare does cover you on any domestic cruises? We are a family of four and we’re going on a domestic cruise this year for 7 nights then extending our holiday for 6 nights in the Gold Coast, we have also booked flights to the UK visiting family for 5 weeks. Please can you advise me. Thanks
Hi Jane,
Thanks for your question.
You are correct. Medicare does not cover you for cruise travel. Once you have decided on a provider and or policy, it really comes down to the cost for this. Have you got travel insurance quotes for these trips already? If not, please have a look at our travel insurance on our homepage. Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard