Southern Cross travel insurance offers unlimited cover for trip cancellation or amendments for domestic trips – just one of the benefits that helps this brand stand out from some competitors.
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Important:
Travel insurance rules continue to change as a result of the pandemic. Some information may not be accurate at this time. It’s even more important to double-check all details that matter to you before taking out cover. Please note:
Some policies may not be available through Finder at this time
It’s unlikely that your policy will cover expenses from border closures
Our Verdict
Southern Cross' cover limit of $15,000 for theft or damage to your luggage and personal items in Oz was the highest sum of 10 brands we reviewed.
This provider offers a manageable standard excess payment of $100 for Australia-linked claims – this figure was less than most partners on our site.
Its personal liability cover of up to $2,500,000 could meet the needs of most, but competitors such as Amex and Fast Cover do offer twice as much for their domestic cover.
Review by our senior insurance writer James Martin
Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) offers cover to travellers from Australia and New Zealand. Its comprehensive policies include cover for international and domestic travel.
Travel with Kit travel insurance is not currently available via finder. You can visit their website at www.scti.com.au for more information or compare alternative options available below.
Compare your travel insurance quotes
Finally, some good news! Domestic travel is picking up, so some insurers have started offering cover again 🦘 Just remember, you won't be covered for any pandemic related claims if you do take out domestic travel insurance. International travel insurance is limited and sometimes unavailable at this point.
What policies are available with Southern Cross Travel Insurance?
Southern Cross offers three travel insurance policies. These are:
Domestic Travel Insurance
This covers you for all the important things you generally get protected for when you travel except you don't need to get cover for medical care because thanks to Medicare, you don't need it. A domestic policy can cover you for cancelling or changing your travel plans, luggage and personal items, pet care and childcare costs if you're delayed getting home, personal accident and more.
Overseas Single Trip
Comprehensive cover for international travel for up to 12 months. This includes medical and evacuation, cancelling or changing your journey, baggage, rental car excess cover and more. It also provides automatic cover if you're travelling overseas on a cruise ship. This policy doesn't cover you if you're travelling on a domestic-only cruise.
Overseas Annual Multi-Trip
This is designed for those who travel a few times within a year who are looking for comprehensive cover. You can choose a maximum trip duration of 30, 60 or 90 days and get cover for all the same benefits as the single trip policy, except you don't need to worry about buying multiple policies throughout the year.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance review of policy benefits
Here are some of the main policy benefits to help you find out if SCTI can provide the right cover for you.
Domestic travel
Overseas travel - Individual
Overseas travel - Family
Medical and evacuation
Unlimited
Unlimited
Cancelling or changing your journey before you leave
Unlimited
Cover chosen
Cover chosen
Changes to your journey once you have left
$50,000
$100,000
Baggage and personal items
$15,000
$25,000
$50,000
Cash, bank cards, travel documents and passports
$1,000
$2,000
Personal accident
$25,000
$25,000
$50,000
Rental vehicle excess
$6,000
$5,000
$5,000
Cash allowance whilst in hospital (to help cover extra costs like parking fees)
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
Personal liability
$2,500,000
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
Table was last updated: June 2021
Domestic travel insurance also provides cover for an "accompanying person" (for example, to have a loved one travel to be with you while you're in hospital), pet services and childcare expenses.
Optional extras with Southern Cross Travel Insurance
For more flexibility, Southern Cross Travel Insurance gives you the option to add extra cover onto your policy. This can be done after you select your level of cover.
Taking any valuables? Under the Baggage and Personal Items benefit, you will have sub-limits for items such as jewellery and electronics (including cameras). If the value of the item that you're taking on your trip exceeds these amounts, you might want to get specified items cover. This is for personal items which are valued at more than $1,500. You can pay an additional premium for them to be listed on your Certificate of Insurance.
Going skiing or snowboarding while overseas? Get additional cover to be protected for gear damage or the medical expenses incurred if you injure yourself on the slopes. You'll need to wear a helmet or you might void your policy.
Riding a moped or motorbike while overseas? Get additional cover to protect yourself and your bike in case the unexpected happens. SCTI will only cover incidents involving bikes under 200cc.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance for cruising
SCTI includes cruise cover in its overseas travel policies at no additional costs. However, just be mindful that if you fall ill while the cruise ship is in Australian waters, you'll need to seek treatment through Medicare or your private health insurance. You can make a claim under your overseas travel policy for any costs that are not covered.
Top tips for cruise travel insurance from SCTI:
Make sure you declare all the countries that you will visit on the cruise, along with all the other countries you might visit while on land.
If you plan on engaging in water sports such as snorkelling or kayaking, double-check your product disclosure statement (PDS) to make sure you're covered for these activities. A list of excluded activities can be found on page 36 of the PDS.
Buy your insurance early to cover you for cancellations prior to departure.
What won't be covered under my policy?
Southern Cross Travel Insurance will not generally provide any cover in the following situations:
If your claim arises due to a pre-existing condition that is not covered by your policy
If your claim arises due to a sexually transmitted infection (excluding covered conditions relating to HIV)
Pregnancy after the 20th week
If you travel against medical advice
If your claim relates to most elective or cosmetic procedures
If your claim arises because of being under the influence of alcohol, solvents or any other illegal drug
If you go hitchhiking
If you engage in any unlawful activity
If your claim is for loss of enjoyment
If you participate in any professional or contact sport, motorsport, hunting, abseiling or paragliding
If you intentionally or recklessly put yourself in harm's way
Read Southern Cross Travel Insurance's PDS for a full list of situations that won't be covered.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance covers kids for free but they must be "dependent children". This means, they need to be under 21 years old at the start date of your policy, they need to be unmarried, financially dependent on you and not be employed full time. Children include your direct kids, can be stepchildren, foster children, grandchildren and even nieces and nephews.
Yes, if you have a Single Trip policy. If you're overseas and you want to extend your journey, you can request an extension of your policy by emailing the insurer at info@scti.com.au. Keep in mind that the maximum duration for one trip, including any extensions agreed to by SCTI, is 12 months.
SCTI's product disclosure statement does not list automatically included pre-existing conditions. It's best to declare everything at the time of policy purchase and fill out a medical assessment so SCTI is aware of your medical conditions.
If your condition isn't automatically included, SCTI can use the medical assessment to consider your cover and any applicable premium costs.
Yes, 14 days cooling-off period applies.
No. Southern Cross Travel Insurance doesn't provide any cover for financial insolvency.
The maximum duration is 12 months.
You can buy cover online for up to 11 overseas travellers or 10 domestic travellers.
You can apply for cover if you're on a visa or permit that allows you access to public healthcare (Medicare) until after the end date of your insurance policy.
Gary Hunter is a writer at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, health, travel, home and pet insurance for over three years, has pored over hundreds of product disclosure statements and written more than 500 insurance articles. Gary is passionate about helping Aussies understand their insurance policies so that they can get better value for their money.
What should I be looking carefully at for mum’s travel insurance?
She is 82yrs old, we are going to Europe.
My main concern is if she falls and breaks a bone will any insurance cover her for that, even though she has osteoporosis?
Thank you very much.
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. 😃
The answer to your question would depend on your policy’s level of cover. It is worth noting that there’s a chance that your chosen travel insurance company would charge more for policies or change the coverage limits for older travellers such as your mum.
Osteoporosis is most likely considered a pre-existing condition. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get travel insurance for your mum. You simply need to disclose it upon booking your travel insurance.
To find a list of travel insurance for seniors, simply enter your mum’s travel details on the form to get a quote.
Trying to find out looking for travel insurance for two weeks I am waiting for knee replacement surgery am I covered for this if I have a problem with them not expecting anything as it is controls by meds till have it done only take meds when required am aged 62
Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is comparison service and not an insurer. Cover for pre-existing conditions vary from insurer to insurer and from case to case. You should contact the travel insurance brand you’re interested in to discuss your options.
My husband and I took out Southern Cross Travel insurance. We were to fly to Istanbul on 29 June 2016. On 28 June there was a terrorist attack at the airport at Istanbul.
We were advised at the airport not to continue with our travel plans so spent approx $5000 and bought new flight tickets home. Can we make a claim with our travel insurance policy?
Thanks for your question. It will depend on when you bought your policy. You’ll need to contact SCTI directly for claims, which you can by heading to their claims page.
Thanks for your question. The highest listed engine capacity listed by the travel insurance brands in our panel is 250cc. For more information, you may find our travel insurance for motorcycles page, useful.
Thanks for you question. There are some travel insurance brands that will cover financial default. You can see a list of insurers and compare them from our guide on how to get travel insurance for insolvency.
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.
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Finally, some good news! Domestic travel is picking up, so some insurers have started offering cover again 🦘 
What should I be looking carefully at for mum’s travel insurance?
She is 82yrs old, we are going to Europe.
My main concern is if she falls and breaks a bone will any insurance cover her for that, even though she has osteoporosis?
Thank you very much.
Hi Maritza,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. 😃
The answer to your question would depend on your policy’s level of cover. It is worth noting that there’s a chance that your chosen travel insurance company would charge more for policies or change the coverage limits for older travellers such as your mum.
Osteoporosis is most likely considered a pre-existing condition. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get travel insurance for your mum. You simply need to disclose it upon booking your travel insurance.
To find a list of travel insurance for seniors, simply enter your mum’s travel details on the form to get a quote.
You can also find travel insurance for pre-existing conditions.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Trying to find out looking for travel insurance for two weeks I am waiting for knee replacement surgery am I covered for this if I have a problem with them not expecting anything as it is controls by meds till have it done only take meds when required am aged 62
Hi Diane,
Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is comparison service and not an insurer. Cover for pre-existing conditions vary from insurer to insurer and from case to case. You should contact the travel insurance brand you’re interested in to discuss your options.
All the best,
Richard
My husband and I took out Southern Cross Travel insurance. We were to fly to Istanbul on 29 June 2016. On 28 June there was a terrorist attack at the airport at Istanbul.
We were advised at the airport not to continue with our travel plans so spent approx $5000 and bought new flight tickets home. Can we make a claim with our travel insurance policy?
Hi Louise,
Thanks for your question. It will depend on when you bought your policy. You’ll need to contact SCTI directly for claims, which you can by heading to their claims page.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
What travel policies cover riding motorcycles over 250cc when correctly licenced , and define a motor vehicle includes a motorcycle
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for your question. The highest listed engine capacity listed by the travel insurance brands in our panel is 250cc. For more information, you may find our travel insurance for motorcycles page, useful.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
Do any insurers / policies cover cancellation costs resulting from the financial failure of a service provider?
Thanks
Hi Mike,
Thanks for you question. There are some travel insurance brands that will cover financial default. You can see a list of insurers and compare them from our guide on how to get travel insurance for insolvency.
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