Southern Cross offers generous $25000 luggage cover and a high age limit of 118 years.
Customers rate Southern Cross highly with 4.44/5 for satisfaction and 4.75/5 for trust.
COVID-19 cover often requires full vaccination and has further restrictions.
Pros
Comprehensive cover gives you automatic access to TravelCare Delay Assist, a built-in beneift for delayed flights, offering eligible customers a $40 AUD digital voucher per covered person.
SCTI's cover limit of $25,000 for theft or damage to your luggage and personal items is one of the highest we've seen.
SCTI has an age limit of 118 (a welcome option for senior travellers).
Cons
Its personal liability cover of up to $1,000,000 could meet the needs of most, but competitors such as Fast Cover and Medibank offer 5 times as much.
In total, Southern Cross offers 5 travel insurance policies. These are: Domestic, International Medical Only, International Comprehensive (Single Trip),International Comprehensive (Annual Multi-trip) and Working overseas. Here are some of the main insured events a policy can cover you for:
Domestic
International Medical Only
International Comprehensive Single Trip
International Comprehensive Annual Multi-trip
Working Overseas
The insurance is issued by Southern Cross Benefits Limited, trading as Southern Cross Travel Insurance.
The cooling-off period is 14 days which means you can change your policy or cancel within this period, and Southern Cross will refund your premium in full. The excess is the amount you usually need to pay when you make a claim, but with Southern Cross, you can choose to remove your excess for a higher premium.
Here's a breakdown of Southern Cross Travel Insurance features
Here are some of the main policy benefits to help you find out if Southern Cross Travel Insurance can provide the right cover for you.
Baggage and personal items
Cancelling or changing your journey before you leave
Cash, bank cards, travel documents and passports
Changes to your journey once you have left
Delayed journey to a special event
Emergency dental treatment
Medical and evacuation
Personal accident
Personal liability
Rental vehicle excess
Optional add-on
For more flexibility, Southern Cross Travel Insurance gives you the option to add extra cover to your policy. This can be done after you select your level of cover.
Taking any valuables? If the value of any items you're taking exceeds the limits of your policy, you can opt for specified items cover.
Going skiing or snowboarding? 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.
Taking a cruise? If you're taking a cruise, select additional cover to protect yourself. You'll need to make sure you've included all the destinations your cruise is visiting on your policy.
Riding a moped or motorbike? Get additional cover to protect yourself and your bike in case the unexpected happens. SCTI will only cover incidents involving bikes under 200cc.
Exclusions
Like all insurers, there are a few situations you won't be covered for under your travel insurance policy. Southern Cross Travel Insurance will not generally provide any cover in the following situations:
Make sure you read Southern Cross Travel Insurance's PDS for a full list of situations that won't be covered.
How to make a Southern Cross Travel Insurance claim
Making a claim with Southern Cross Travel Insurance is easy and the whole process can be done online. Remember to keep any supporting documents such as receipts, medical notes or police reports to help your claim go through smoothly.
Head to https://www.scti.com.au/claims/make-a-claim
Enter your policy number, email, full name and date of birth to log in
Complete your claim details by answering all sections
Upload any supporting documents relevant to your claim
Submit, then your claim should be processed within 10 business days
Here's the bottom line about Southern Cross Travel Insurance
Southern Cross offers 4 straightforward policies with enough customisation and flexibility to suit most travellers. You'll find generous limits for theft or damage to your belongings, your premium includes cover for your dependent children up to the age of 21, and the ability to extend your cover if you decide to stay overseas longer. All features that you don't find every day with other insurers.
Where Southern Cross Travel Insurance falls short is with certain exclusions in its policies. There is no cover for cruises that stay in Australian waters or pregnancy after 24 weeks. While Southern Cross does have COVID-19 cover, it comes with more restrictions than other insurers, including the need to be fully vaccinated.
The age limit for Southern Cross Travel Insurance's policy is 118.
SCTI's PDS 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, Southern Cross Travel Insurance includes cover for dependent children as part of your premium, but they must meet the definition of "dependent children". This means they need to be under 21 years old at the start date of your policy. Children can include your biological children, stepchildren, foster children, and even grandchildren.
Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards.
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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
Finder
RichardSeptember 2, 2016Finder
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
LouiseJuly 29, 2016
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?
Finder
RichardJuly 29, 2016Finder
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
BruceJune 14, 2016
What travel policies cover riding motorcycles over 250cc when correctly licenced , and define a motor vehicle includes a motorcycle
Finder
RichardJune 14, 2016Finder
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
MikeDecember 19, 2015
Do any insurers / policies cover cancellation costs resulting from the financial failure of a service provider?
Thanks
Finder
RichardDecember 21, 2015Finder
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
NoelDecember 2, 2015
I had a heart attack some 14 years ago,valve replacement stents and by pass 8 years later can you suggest a suitable policy for a 14day trip to miami
Finder
RichardDecember 2, 2015Finder
Hi Noel,
Thanks for your question.
Many providers will assess your pre-existing condition at the time of application. As these providers offer cover on a case-by-case basis there is no guarantee you will be granted cover. You can get your quotes for travel insurance that considers all pre-existing medical conditions. Read our review of the insurer or go directly to their website to get a quote.
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.
Check out our coupon codes for Southern Cross Travel Insurance.
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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
I had a heart attack some 14 years ago,valve replacement stents and by pass 8 years later can you suggest a suitable policy for a 14day trip to miami
Hi Noel,
Thanks for your question.
Many providers will assess your pre-existing condition at the time of application. As these providers offer cover on a case-by-case basis there is no guarantee you will be granted cover. You can get your quotes for travel insurance that considers all pre-existing medical conditions. Read our review of the insurer or go directly to their website to get a quote.
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