Travel insurance is very important, especially for backpackers. The biggest reason is the medical insurance. Australia has reciprocal health care agreements with 11 countries, but they only help with some urgent, medically necessary care in each country's public health system. What's covered differs by country, they don't cover private treatment or medical evacuation, and they're not a substitute for travel insurance. Smartraveller, the Australian government's official travel site, says if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Basic and standard policies can also cover you for accidental death (e.g. getting your body home to loved ones), emergency evacuation if you get really sick or injured and personal liability if you injure or damage someone or their property.
More comprehensive policies can cover you for trip cancellations, lost or stolen luggage and personal items, rental car excess and more.
Australia has RHCAs in place with the following countries:
"I've spent a lot of time traipsing around countries when I was younger. I would always take out the most basic cover for medical expenses but it was almost never what went wrong on trips. It was usually cancelled flights and delayed or lost luggage. If you want cover for these things too, you should probably get comprehensive travel insurance."
FastCover was highly commended in the comprehensive travel insurance category, making it a good choice for backpackers on a budget who don't want to compromise on cover. This includes COVID cover, cancellations, unlimited medical, travel delay expenses, lost luggage and more. Head to our best travel insurance guide for more information.
Tick is hard to beat when it comes to price, making it a potentially good option for backpackers who want cheap cover for medical expenses. Our research shows it's commonly the cheapest basic travel insurer for popular destinations including Bali, Italy and the UK.
| Brand | Maximum length covered in one trip | How does it work? | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 12 months | You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | Where your journey is necessarily extended due to an unforeseen circumstance outside your control, your period of insurance will be extended until you are physically able to travel home by the quickest and most direct route. The period of insurance will not be extended for any other reason. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months. | Get quote |
| 24 months | You can purchase a 12-month policy and apply to extend for another 12 months after your trip has started. | |
 | 12 months | You can normally extend Your policy whilst You are overseas up to a maximum period of 12 months in total from the date cover first started. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | You can normally extend Your policy whilst You are overseas up to a maximum period of 12 months in total from the date cover first started. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | Cover can be extended, subject to approval from InsureandGo. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | Cover can be extended, subject to approval from Tick. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months. | More info |
 | 12 months | You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months. | |
 | 12 months | You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months. | Get quote |
 | 12 months | You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months. | More info |
 | 12 months | If you choose to continue travelling after your first 12 months, you may be able to get a further 12 months of cover by taking an "Already Overseas" policy. | More info |
 Worldcare | 12 months | You can purchase the new cover subject to approval and duration of cover cannot exceed the total of 12 months. |
Table updated November 2024
You will need to buy non-resident travel insurance from an insurer in Australia. Travel insurance is not the same as Overseas Visitor Health Cover. If you're here on a visa and are required to have some form of health insurance in place, you will need OVHC.
If you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia and you are backpacking here, your medical expenses are already covered via Medicare. Your best bet is to simply purchase a domestic travel insurance policy – either a single-trip policy covering the entire duration of your trip, or an annual multi-trip policy if you will be returning home periodically between travels.
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