Budget Direct Travel Insurance

Our verdict: Budget Direct offers a broad range of customisations and is one of the few insurers to make COVID-19 benefits optional.

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By

Nicola Middlemiss

Edited by

Joselle Delos Reyes

Updated

Fact checked
Budget Direct Travel Insurance Deals

Key takeaways

  • Budget Direct offers optional add-ons for high-risk activities like Everest Base Camp trekking.
  • Optional COVID-19 cover does not protect against provider cancellations due to the virus.
  • Cover for unexpected pregnancy complications applies only up until the 24th week of pregnancy (23 weeks and 6 days); the maximum age limit for applicants is 125.

Pros

  • Budget Direct offers cover for high-risk activities that many other brands don’t, including trekking to Everest Base Camp and trekking the Kokoda Trail.
  • There is a broad range of customisations available so you can tailor cover to suit your specific needs.

Cons

  • Even if you choose to add COVID-19 cover to your policy, it doesn’t offer the most comprehensive protection.
  • Cover for pregnancy complications is only available up until the 24th week, but there are many brands that extend cover for longer.
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Summary of Budget Direct's Comprehensive policy

Overseas Medical and Hospital ExpensesUnlimited
Cancellation and Amendment FeesCover chosen
Luggage and Personal Effects$10,000
Maximum Age Limit125

Table updated March 2026

How does Budget Direct Travel Insurance cover COVID-19?

Budget Direct is one of the few travel insurers that lets you customise your cover for COVID-19.

As standard, you will receive cover for overseas medical expenses, including emergency evacuation or repatriation if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19. You’ll also be able to claim up to $5,000 for additional expenses if you are hospitalised or a deemed unfit to travel by a certified practitioner.

However, if you want cover for amendment or cancellation costs, you’ll have to add that to your policy. If you add the benefit to your policy, you’ll be covered for amendment or cancellation costs if you or your travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19.

There are many scenarios that are not covered by Budget Direct, even if you add on the policy. For example, you won’t be covered if your tour or accommodation cancels due to COVID-19.

There is also no cover if you were diagnosed with COVID-19 before heading on your trip but you went anyway.

What policies does Budget Direct offer?

Budget Direct offers four insurance policies to travellers: Comprehensive, Essential, Basic and Domestic. All of these policies can be taken out as a single or multi-trip policy, with the exception of Basic, which is only available as a single-trip policy.

Travel plane luggage passport

Comprehensive

Passport

Essential

Luggage

Basic

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Domestic

The insurer of this product is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited. It comes with a cooling-off period of 21 days and choice of $100, $200 or $300 standard excess for international plans.

Here's a breakdown of Budget Direct Travel Insurance features

Standard features
Optional add-ons
Exclusions

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Standard features

These are some of the main insured events that Budget Direct will cover. Some of these benefits may only apply on the comprehensive international policy.

  • Overseas medical treatment
  • Emergency dental costs
  • Trip cancellation or amendment costs
  • Lost, damaged or stolen property
  • Luggage and travel delay
  • Additional accommodation and transport
  • Theft of money
  • Rental car excess
  • Permanent disability
  • Hijack
  • Personal liability
  • Accidental death

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Optional add-ons

Budget Direct also offers several add-on options that provide cover for a wider range of risks or activities while you’re on holiday.

  • Cruise Cover Extends your insurance policy to cover cruises and a range of cruise-specific risks such as missed ports, sea sickness, and cabin confinement.
  • Adventure Covers you for participation in a range of risky activities such as quad biking, rock climbing, and horse trekking.
  • Adventure+ Extends your cover to even higher risk activities, such as trekking to Everest Base Camp or the Kokoda Track.
  • Snow sports Covers you for on-piste snow skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
  • Snow sports+ Extends your snow sports cover to include skiing and snowboarding off-piste as well as heli-skiing and heli-boarding.
  • COVID-19 cover. Protection for cancellations and amendment costs if you or a travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • Increase item limits. Boost your coverage for valuable items to ensure you're fully protected during your travels.
  • Motorcycle cover. Stay secure on your rides with optional coverage specifically designed for motorcycles.

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Exclusions

Unfortunately, travel insurance doesn’t cover everything. Generally, Budget Direct will not pay your claim if it relates to:

  • Unlawful, reckless or unreasonably unsafe behaviour by you
  • Behaviour while you were drunk or under the influence of drugs
  • Expenses related to a pre-existing medical condition
  • An act of war, invasion or revolution
  • Insolvency of a travel agent, tour operator or accommodation provider
  • Mandatory quarantines or isolations
  • You being unfit to travel or travelling against medical advice
  • Childbirth or pregnancy complications from the start of the 24th week of pregnancy or if you have had previous pregnancy complications
  • A multiple pregnancy or one where the conception was medically assisted
  • An elective medical or dental treatment, cosmetic procedure or body modification (including tattoos or piercing)
  • Self-inflicted injury or illness, suicide or attempted suicide

Make sure you review the Budget Direct PDS for a detailed breakdown of what won't be covered, found under its list of general exclusions.

How to make a Budget Direct Travel Insurance claim

To lodge your claim online, visit claims.travelinsurancepartners.com.au/budgetdirect and follow the prompts.

Alternatively, you can download, print and complete a claim form from budgetdirect.com.au/travel-insurance/claims.html and then send it to the following address.

Budget Direct Travel Insurance
C/o-Travel Insurance Partners Claims Department
PO Box 168,
North Sydney
NSW 2060

Here's the bottom line about Budget Direct Travel Insurance

Budget Direct could be a good option for high-adrenaline travellers as it was one of the few brands we found to offer cover for risky activities such as trekking the Kokoda Trail or heli-skiing.

Don’t forget to add the optional adventure or snow sports packs if you want cover for these activities though.

If you're still not sure about Budget Direct, you can compare other travel insurance companies here.

Frequently asked questions

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Joselle Delos Reyes's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Joselle Delos Reyes as part of our fact-checking process.
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Nicola Middlemiss is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance and insurance. She has contributed to Domain, Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Insurance Business Australia, offering in-depth insights into commercial insurance in the Australian market. Nicola holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Leeds and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which complies with ASIC standards. See full bio

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22 Responses

    Edward's avatar
    EdwardNovember 19, 2018

    I am 83 years old. Is medical cover unlimited for Europe?

      John Basanes's avatarFinder
      JohnNovember 20, 2018Finder

      Hi Edward,

      Thank you for leaving a question.

      Yes, Budget direct does cover until 100 years old. Depending on the policy you take out with them, medical cover may be unlimited for a European tour. Hope this helps!

      Cheers,
      Reggie

    Alicia,'s avatar
    Alicia,February 21, 2017

    We will travel for 6 months overseas (Philippines) and will be back to Australia on Aug 20 2017. Although we want to purchase comprehensive insurance for 3 months only until May 31st 2017 and renew the policy for another 3 months, is that possible? Pls advice…..thanks

      Zubair Hassan's avatarFinder
      ZubairFebruary 21, 2017Finder

      Hi Alicia,

      Thank you for your question.

      You have contacted finder.com.au and not actually Budget Direct Travel Insurance, finder.com.au is a comparison and information service and don’t represent any insurance brand listed on our website.

      You may need to organise two single trip policies or annual multi-trip policy if you will come back to Australia within the six-month duration. If it is a continuous trip without coming back to Australia, you may be eligible for a one-time single trip policy.

      Cheers,
      Zubair

    Susanne's avatar
    SusanneMarch 23, 2016

    I am 79 and my husband is82.We are after a single trip travel insurance with preexisting conditions
    Will you insure us?

      Richard Laycock's headshotFinder
      RichardMarch 23, 2016Finder

      Hi Susanne,

      Thanks for your question.

      Yes, you may be able to get cover from insurance brands that offer single trip travel insurance. You may need to work out with insurers on your coverage needs and shop around for suitable cover for your pre-existing conditions.

      You can find a list of insurers and get your quotes for travel insurance that considers all pre-existing conditions. You can also find a helpful reference to a list of insurers and a helpful guide for senior travel insurance.

      Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and terms and conditions 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

    Vicki's avatar
    VickiJanuary 26, 2016

    What is the cheapest insurance for a passenger travelling on a ship to the South Pacific aged 86

      Richard Laycock's headshotFinder
      RichardJanuary 27, 2016Finder

      Hi Vicki,

      Thanks for your question.

      A cruise travel insurance can provide effective cover for you. Insurers offer special cruise travel insurance policies while others will require you to purchase a cruise pack with your regular policy. You can fill out a form on the page with your travel details to get a quote from insurers. 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

    Thanh's avatar
    ThanhOctober 7, 2015

    I would like to buy the travel insurance to Vietnam but I don’t know the insurance cover or not for high blood pressure and diabetes

      Richard Laycock's headshotFinder
      RichardOctober 7, 2015Finder

      Hi Thanh,

      Thanks for your question. Whether or not you will be able to get cover may depend on the insurer. Below are some links to pages you may find useful:

      – Travel insurance for diabetics
      – Travel insurance for heart conditions.

      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

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