Basic travel insurance

What does basic travel insurance cover?

Entry-level travel insurance policies are designed to protect you from some of the more common scenarios. Compare basic travel insurance policies by looking at what they cover, including:

• Overseas medical expenses. Without cover for these expenses, overseas injury or illness might leave you deeply in debt.
• Medical evacuation and repatriation. If you need to be medically evacuated or repatriated, such as if you break a leg and need an airlift while mountain climbing, or develop an illness that requires you to be return to Australia under medical supervision, travel insurance can cover it. These expenses also typically run into thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
• Personal liability. If you find yourself on the hook for personal legal liability when overseas – for example, if you’re involved in a car crash and the other party decides to sue you – basic travel insurance can cover the costs.

How much does a basic travel insurance policy cost?

You can get basic travel insurance from around $2.30 per day. To put that into context, we got quotes for a 2 week trip to Bali. Basic travel insurance policies ranged from around $30 to $100. By comparison, a comprehensive policy is likely to start from around $80 but it covers you for much more.

Is basic cover enough? What level of travel insurance do I need?

Before you choose essentials-only travel cover, you might ask yourself some questions to make sure it works for you.

• Where am I travelling and how long will I be away? Find a policy that covers you for all of your destinations and for the amount of time you will be travelling. If you are visiting an area that the Australian government has issued a travel advisory for, basic policies might not cover you.
• Do I have any pre-existing conditions? You might not be able to count on all insurers offering equal cover of pre-existing conditions. If this is relevant to you it is important to understand how your policy covers pre-existing conditions and which insurers might be more or less flexible.
• What do I want to do on my holiday? Will you be riding a motorbike, going skiing or participating in adventure sports? If so, you may need to check your policy’s list of exclusions and get additional cover.
• Do I just need cover for myself or for my whole family? Ideally your children will have cover too. You may want to look for a special family travel insurance policy, but you can also save money by finding travel insurance with free cover for kids.
• What happens if something goes wrong? Think about what would happen if the airline lost every single piece of luggage you were travelling with. And what if you lost your job, had to cancel your trip and really needed to get those non-refundable deposits back? Consider the real-world consequences of different situations for an idea of what type of cover you may need.

How to save money on travel insurance

Sticking to basic travel insurance can save you money, and following these tips can save you even more.

• Shop around. Don’t settle for the first policy you come across. Comparing quotes online is both fast and simple.
• Choose a bigger excess. Many insurers will give you the option to choose a higher excess in return for lower premiums.
• Keep an eye out for discounts. Promotions and discounts from insurers can help you enjoy sizeable savings, while promo codes are an incredibly easy way to pay less for the same cover.

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Some final questions you might have

• When should I buy travel insurance?

  The best time to take out cover is as soon as you have booked your trip. This ensures you can get refunds for cancellations that happen before leaving, such as if the airport at your destination is closed due to a storm.

• Does basic travel insurance cover medical expenses?

  Yes, basic travel insurance provides cover for overseas medical and hospital expenses.

• Does credit card travel insurance provide enough basic cover?

  Most credit cards offer complementary travel insurance. It's typically less comprehensive than standard travel insurance but if you're only looking for basic cover (such as medical expenses) then it's probably enough. Keep in mind you often have to book your trip with the card to get the travel insurance.

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Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full profile

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