Medibank travel insurance review

Medibank has been helping Australians at home for almost 50 years. With their travel insurance policies, they can also help you when you’re away, with unlimited overseas medical expenses, and free cruise and kids cover.

You don’t want to have to ring your insurer to adjust your policy every time your travel plans change. Visiting the south of France and decide on a last-minute Mediterranean cruise? All of Medibank’s international policies have cruise cover. Decide a rental car would be quicker than the train? All international and domestic policies (except the medical-only policy) include it.

With 24/7 emergency assistance and unlimited medical cover on all overseas policies, Medibank travel insurance can help you cover all your bases. This review will discuss the range of cover options offered and the different benefits available.

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Last verified 6 Dec 2018

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Deal ends 16 Dec 2018

Compare policies on offer from Medibank

Brands	Product	Product Details	Apply
	International Comprehensive	Unlimited overseas medical and hospital expenses Unlimited cancellation and amendment fee $5 million personal liability cover $8,000 cover for lost of luggage and personal effects	Get quoteMore info
	International Annual Multi-Trip	Unlimited overseas medical and hospital expenses Unlimited cancellation and amendment fee $5 million personal liability cover $8,000 cover for lost of luggage and personal effects	Get quoteMore info
	International Medical Only	Unlimited overseas medical and hospital expenses Unlimited cover for additional expenses $5 million personal liability cover	Get quoteMore info
	Domestic	Unlimited cancellation and amendment fee $5 million personal liability cover $10,000 cover for accidental death $10,000 cover for additional expenses	Get quoteMore info
	Domestic Annual Multi-Trip	Unlimited cancellation and amendment fee $5 million personal liability cover $10,000 cover for additional expenses $10,000 cover for accidental death	Get quoteMore info

• Who Underwrites Medibank Travel Insurance?

  The insurer of this product is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (ZAIL). ZAIL is part of the Zurich Insurance Group, a leading multi line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets.

Do I get a discount if I'm a Medibank member?

While there's nothing quite like a free lunch, finding a discount is up there. If you're already a Medibank member (e.g. if you already have health insurance through them), you're entitled to 15% off your Medibank Travel Insurance policy.

Want to find out more about discounted travel insurance?

Why take out cover with Medibank Travel Insurance?

Over 3 million Australians have their health covered by Medibank. There’s no telling when sickness and injury will strike, and having a healthcare company at the other end of the line can bring a bit of comfort should you find yourself in hospital overseas. Medibank provides a 24-hour emergency assistance line staffed by medical and logistical experts based in Australia and around the world, ready to help whenever bad luck strikes. What’s more, any children under the age of 21 who aren’t working full time and are travelling with you are also covered at no additional charge.

What policies can I choose from?

• Domestic travel insurance. Keeping within Australian borders? Domestic travel is what you’re seeking, covering cancellations, travel amendments and delays, as well as additional protection for damage to or theft of any rental car.
• International medical insurance. For the budget-minded traveller, international medical insurance covers you for all the bumps, bruises and medical run-ins you might have on your adventure.
• International comprehensive insurance. You pack everything but your worries with international comprehensive insurance, covering everything from medical and dental emergencies to inclusions for cancellations and personal items like phones, cameras and laptops.
• Multi-trip travel insurance. Is one trip not enough? If you find yourself on the move multiple times over the year, multi-trip travel insurance is the perfect option. Available for both domestic and international comprehensive cover, multi-trip covers any journey up to the duration you choose made in a twelve-month period.

Learn more about each of these policies:

• International Comprehensive Plan
• International Medical Only Plan
• Annual Multi-trip Plan
• Domestic Plan

Medibank Travel Insurance covers four regions:

• Worldwide (USA, Canada, Hawaii, South America, Africa & others)
• Europe, Asia, Middle East (Europe, Ireland, Asia, Middle East)
• UK and South East Asia
• Indonesia, New Zealand, South West Pacific and domestic cruises

^{_{*Conditions apply, please refer to the PDS}}

Medibank Travel Insurance Policy Benefits

Medical Expenses

Am I covered for medical expenses?

If you incur medical and hospital expenses during a trip overseas, you will get unlimited cover under the International Comprehensive Plan and the International Medical Only Plan. For the Domestic Plan, no compensation is provided. These expenses include:

Any medical or dental treatment provided in Australia is not covered and neither is treatment of dental issues due to use of precious metals.

Cancellation

Does Medibank Travel Insurance cover cancellation?

• If you choose either the International Comprehensive or Domestic Medibank Travel Insurance policy, you can benefit from unlimited cancellation and amendment fees.
• If you have to rearrange your travel plans before leaving for the trip, you can relax safe in the knowledge that your International Comprehensive or Domestic Medibank Travel Insurance policy has you covered.
• If you cannot rearrange your travel plans, your Medibank International Comprehensive or Domestic Travel Insurance can help you recover the non-refundable portion of the costs. This includes travel agent’s commission if it is part of the prepaid amount or less than $1,500.
• If you paid for your trip using frequent flier miles, Medibank Travel Insurance will reimburse the lost miles.

Additional Expenses

What kind additional expenses am I covered for?

• If you become sick while you're overseas you'll be covered for additional cost incurred including hotel charges, travel or ambulance expenses.
• If a family member becomes sick or your home is damaged by fire, flood or earthquake, Medibank Travel Insurance will cover the reasonable additional expenses to help you return to Australia.
• If you die overseas, Medibank Travel Insurance pays a reasonable amount for funeral, cremation and return of your remains to your home in Australia (but the maximum amount paid in such case is $20,000).
• Unlimited cover is provided under the International Comprehensive Plan and the International Medical Only Plan, but for the Domestic Plan, the upper limit of additional expenses compensation is $10,000.

Personal Belongings

Are my personal items covered?

• Cover for loss, damage or theft of personal belongings is provided under the most plans.
• The maximum payment on loss of an item paid under the International Comprehensive Plan is $500
• The maximum payment under the Domestic Plan is $300.
• For camera and video equipment, $3,500 is paid under the International comprehensive plan and $3,000 is paid for laptop and tablet computers under the domestic plan.
• For multiple items, the amount cannot exceed $8,000 or above $4,500 for single items.

Are there any optional cover types I should know about?

If you're the kind of person that is not content with just kicking back and relaxing, you may be able to benefit from these additional cover options.

Can I get cover for motorcyles?

• Motorcycle/moped riding. Travel by motorcycle or moped is an increasingly popular option in many countries, particularly in south-east Asia, so this extra benefit can provide a higher level of cover for travellers who wish to be a driver or pillion passenger of one of these vehicles during their journey. However, the engine capacity must be less than 200cc, you must wear a helmet and you must hold a licence that is valid in the relevant country. You must also not be racing nor participating in any professional capacity.

Am I covered for winter sports?

• Snow Skiing, Snowboarding and Snowmobiling. For an extra premium, your Medibank travel insurance policy can also cover you for on-piste skiing and snowboarding, so long as you are not racing. You also must not be participating in any professional capacity.

How do policies compare side by side?

What's not covered by my policy?

General exclusions include:

I have a pre-existing condition ... does that matter?

Before you apply for cover it’s important to understand how Medibank treats pre-existing conditions. Conditions that are covered include:

Conditions that cannot be covered by your policy include:

• Conditions involving the back or neck
• Drug or alcohol dependency
• Conditions for which you are travelling to seek treatment or review
• Trips which are booked against the advice of your medical practitioner.

Finally, there are certain conditions which Medibank will need to assess before deciding whether or not to offer cover. An assessment will need to be conducted by phone, online or by visiting your nearest Medibank store.

How much out-of-pocket excess do I need to pay?

There are many factors that will determine the excess you will be charged, including your premiums and the circumstances of the claim. Other factors include:

I still have some questions

• Can I make changes to my policies?

  Yes. You can extend or amend the period of your cover if you haven’t made a claim on it. Further changes will need to be applied for directly through Medibank, either online or with an representative over the phone or at a Medibank branch.

• Can I increase my cover?

  Yes, you can increase certain aspects of your Medibank travel insurance cover. If you pay an additional premium, you can increase your luggage cover by up to $4,500 for any single item. You can also increase your rental car insurance excess cover by up to $3,500 if you pay an additional premium.

• Can I choose my excess?

  Yes. Although Domestic Plans have a standard $50 excess, International Plans allow you to choose your excess. The higher the excess you choose, the lower your premiums will be.

• Is there a cooling-off period?

  Yes. The cooling-off period is 15 working days. If you change your mind for any reason and wish to cancel your policy, you can do so within this period and get a full refund, provided you have not started your journey or already made a claim. You can apply to have your policy cancelled or amended outside of their period by contacting Medibank either online, over the phone or in store.

• What additional benefits can I purchase?

  If you’re looking for a bit of extra protection, you can increase your luggage cover should you have any particularly expensive or important items such as laptops, tablets, smartphones or other items you’d like extra insurance for. You can also increase your rental car insurance excess cover.

I need to make a claim...what do I do?

For claims and 24-hour emergency assistance in Australia, call 1300 362 544. If you are overseas, call:

You can also go online to https://www.medibank.com.au/travel if you wish to make a claim or discuss policy options with a representative.

If you’re planning a holiday overseas, consider the many benefits offered by Medibank travel insurance. However, remember to compare Medibank’s cover with the protection provided by other insurers before deciding which policy best meets your needs.