Travel insurance underwriters

If you’re hunting for travel insurance, you will have noticed the huge range of policies out there. What you may not have noticed is that these policies are issued by a handful of insurers, who are also known as the underwriter. Knowing who underwrites your travel insurance policy is an important consideration when choosing your policy, as it may help you save time when you shop around.

Brand	Underwriter	Who handles general claims?	24/7 emergency assistance providers	Apply
	Zurich Australian Insurance Limited	Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited	Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited	Get quote
	Zurich Australian Insurance Limited	Freely c/o Cover-More	Cover-More	Get quote
	HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia	Zoom Travel Insurance	First Assistance	Finder Award Get quote
	Lloyd's	Fast Cover	Fast Cover Emergency Assistance	Get quote
	Chase Underwriting Pty Ltd	Gallagher Bassett Services	Fullerton Health Emergency Assistance	Get quote
	Chase Underwriting Pty Ltd	Gallagher Bassett Services	Fullerton Health Emergency Assistance	Get quote
	Europ Assistance Australia Pty Ltd	InsureandGo	EUROP ASSISTANCE	Get quote
	Europ Assistance Australia Pty Ltd	Tick Travel Insurance	EUROP ASSISTANCE	Finder Award Get quote
	World2cover	World2Cover	World2Cover	Get quote
	Zurich Australian Insurance Limited	Cover-More	Cover-More Emergency Assistance	Get quote
		Southern Cross Travel Insurance	Southern Cross Emergency Assistance
	Lloyd's	nib Travel Services (Australia) Pty Ltd	nib International Assistance	Get quote
	Zurich Australian Insurance Limited	Cover-More	Cover-More	Get quote
	Zurich Australian Insurance Limited	Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited	Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited	Get quote
	Zurich Australian Insurance Limited	Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited	Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited	Get quote
	Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd	battleface Insurance Services Pty Ltd	battleface Insurance Services Pty Ltd	Get quote
	Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd	battleface Insurance Services Pty Ltd	battleface Insurance Services Pty Ltd	Get quote
	Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd	battleface Insurance Services Pty Ltd	Stella’s specialist Emergency Assistance team Robin Assist	Get quote
	Zurich Australian Insurance Limited	Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited	Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited	Get quote

Note: This information was last updated March 2024

Who underwrites the policies compared on finder.com.au?

At finder.com.au, we aim to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed purchase decision. The table above will help you figure out who you are buying from and who you need to deal with if you have to make a claim circumstances or have an emergency.

How it all works

1. You purchase a policy. When you purchase a policy from an insurance provider or a travel insurance brand, you’ll need to pay a premium.
2. Underwriter is paid. The premium goes to the underwriter of the policy.
3. Provider takes a cut. The underwriter then pays a commission to the travel insurance provider or brand.

Why does it concern me?

If something goes wrong on your holiday and you need to make a claim, you need to know that your travel insurance policy is backed by a reliable underwriter with a simple and efficient claims handling process. A reputable underwriter can ensure you don’t end up out of pocket for unexpected travel disasters and will also offer a 24/7 emergency hotline.

You’ll need to consider the following factors when choosing your underwriter and the service being offered:

• Reputation. You can gauge a company’s standing in the industry through recommendations from industry experts, online reviews and financial comparison websites.
• Experience with the Australian market. Consider how long the underwriter been issuing policies to Australians and if it has a good grasp of the ins and outs of the Australian insurance industry.
• The claims process. Consider what you need to do when you make a claim, how long it takes for claims to be processed, and whether the company has a good reputation for paying out claims.
• The emergency response team. Check to see if the underwriter runs a 24/7 emergency hotline that you can contact from anywhere in the world. An emergency response team that can help you find a doctor, a police station or whatever help you may need in a foreign country can be handy.
• The benefits. The benefits and limitations of a policy can usually be associated with the underwriter.
• The exclusions. Check if the underwriter excludes certain activities and incidents from its policies, such as participation in sports and adventure activities while on holiday. Cross-check that with another underwriter.

Save time by comparing underwriters first

You can save time if you compare underwriters instead of insurance policies first. Policies issued by the same underwriter will generally be similar to one another, whereas you’re likely to find bigger differences between a policy issued by underwriter A and underwriter B. You can then look at different policies from the same underwriter to further refine your choice.

Do I make claims through my provider, the underwriter or someone else?

Who handles your claim will vary depending on:

• Your policy
• The type of claim

Read your product disclosure statement (PDS) for instructions on who you need to contact in the event of a claim.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between a travel insurance underwriter and a travel insurance provider or brand?

  A travel insurance underwriter is the actual insurer that assumes the financial risk of your policy. They are the company legally responsible for paying out claims. The travel insurance provider or brand is typically the company you interact with directly. They market and sell the policies handle customer service and may manage the initial claims process. The brand partners with an underwriter to offer the insurance product.

• Why do some travel insurance brands use different underwriters for their policies?

  Travel insurance brands often partner with different underwriters to leverage their expertise financial backing or to offer a broader range of products to specific customer segments. This arrangement allows the brand to focus on marketing and customer relationships while the underwriter manages the core insurance risk assessment and capital requirements.

• What happens if my travel insurance underwriter goes out of business?

  In Australia, travel insurance underwriters are regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority APRA. If an underwriter experiences financial difficulty or goes out of business APRA has frameworks in place to protect policyholders. This may involve transferring policies to another solvent insurer or managing an orderly wind-down to ensure valid claims are still met where possible. Your policy is ultimately with the underwriter so their financial stability is important.

• How can I check the financial stability and reliability of a travel insurance underwriter?

  You can assess an underwriter's financial strength by looking for ratings from independent credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's Moody's or Fitch. These ratings provide an indication of an insurer's ability to meet its financial obligations. You can also research the underwriter's industry reputation and read reviews from other customers.

• Can I choose a specific underwriter for my travel insurance policy?

  Typically you choose a travel insurance provider or brand directly not the underwriter. Each brand usually partners with one or a few specific underwriters for their policies. While you cannot directly select your underwriter you can choose a travel insurance brand that is transparent about its underwriter and is known to work with a financially stable and reputable insurer.

• What regulatory bodies supervise travel insurance underwriters in Australia?

  In Australia, travel insurance underwriters are primarily supervised by two key regulatory bodies. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority APRA regulates their financial soundness and stability ensuring they can meet their obligations to policyholders. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission ASIC is responsible for market conduct consumer protection and ensuring that products are sold fairly and transparently.

Written by

Jessica Prasida

Travel Insurance Expert

Jessica Prasida brings a decade of experience in the travel industry, including over four years as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel. She holds a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Marketing from the University of Technology, Sydney, as well as a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification that complies with ASIC guidelines. An avid traveller herself, Jessica combines her professional expertise with a passion for ensuring safe and enjoyable journeys for all travellers. Jessica was a Travel Insurance Publisher at Finder from 2019 to 2024. See full bio