A basic travel insurance policy will cover you for medical expenses but not much more.
More comprehensive travel insurance policies can cover medical, luggage, cancellations, rental car excess and more.
Travel insurance will not cover you for known events (e.g. a volcano eruption that has already been in the news).
What is covered by travel insurance?
Medical benefits
Medical treatment for injuries or illness incurred overseas, including medical, hospital, surgical and nursing expenses
Overseas medical assistance, including 24/7 assistance, ambulance fees, medical evacuation, funeral arrangements, messages to family at home and hospital guarantees
Permanent disability e.g. a benefit payable for loss of sight in one or both eyes or loss of use of a limb within 12 months of an injury sustained on your trip
Accidental death e.g. an accidental death benefit is payable if you die as a result of an injury sustained during your trip
Additional transport expenses following travel delays in order to reach events such as weddings, funerals, conferences and prepaid tours
Cancellation fees and lost deposits e.g. cover for your prepaid travel arrangements is important when circumstances beyond your control such as illness, injury and natural disasters occur
Disruption of journey covers the cost of additional meals and accommodation incurred after a delay if your journey is disrupted because of unforeseen circumstances beyond your control
Family emergency covers the cost of additional travel expenses if your travelling companion or relative is disabled by an injury, requires hospitalisation or dies unexpectedly
A resumption of journey benefit protects you from the cost of airfares to resume your journey if it was disrupted due to the death or hospitalisation of a relative
Personal belongings benefits
Replacement of luggage and personal effects if they are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip
Replacement cost of lost or stolen credit cards and losses resulting from their fraudulent use
Delayed luggage provides cover to buy clothing and essential items due to the delay, misdirection or misplacement of your luggage and personal items by a carrier for more than 12 hours.
Cover for the theft of bank notes, currency notes, postal orders and money orders
Replacement cost of lost or stolen travel documents such as passports, travel documents and travellers cheques
Personal benefits
A hospital cash allowance provides a daily allowance if you are hospitalised overseas for longer than 48 continuous hours.
Loss of income pays out a weekly benefit if you become disabled as the result of an injury sustained on your trip and are unable to work after returning home.
Liability benefits
Personal liability covers your legal liability for injury or property damage to third parties, including legal costs and compensation.
Rental vehicle excess covers the excess payable on your rental vehicle's insurance if it is stolen or damaged and the cost of returning it to the nearest depot if you are unable to do so.
Find travel insurance to cover a range of mishaps
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Finder survey: Why do Australians get travel insurance?
Response
Peace of mind
76.08%
High-risk trip
7.82%
Pre-existing medical conditions
6.83%
Mandatory
6.03%
Other
1.98%
Someone told me to get it
1.26%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1112 Australians, December 2023
What do the different types of travel insurance policies cover?
The three main types of travel insurance are single trip, annual and domestic travel insurance.
Are pre-existing conditions covered by travel insurance?
To be covered for a pre-existing medical condition in your travel insurance, you must either check the policy's PDS to confirm that your condition is covered or tell your insurer about your condition if it is not listed. Otherwise, if you experience any medical emergency on your trip related to that condition, you will not be covered.
What is covered?
Conditions covered by travel insurance vary from insurer to insurer, but usually include conditions such as asthma, cataracts and gastric reflux.
What isn't covered?
The conditions that insurers do not cover are also listed in the PDS and can include serious conditions such as cancers, heart disease and HIV.
Why you can trust Finder's travel insurance experts
We're free
Our travel insurance engine is completely free to use. You pay the same as buying directly from the insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site.
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of travel insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped over one million people find travel insurance by explaining your options simply. We'll never ask for your number or email to see prices. We're here to help you make a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Most travel insurance brands do not cover insolvency, collapse or default of airlines, travel agents, tour operators or accommodation providers.
If you pay for your trip with your credit card, however, you may be able to claim through the insurance on that. Otherwise, you can try applying for compensation through the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission).
Most travel insurance policies exclude claims for incidents linked to the excessive consumption of alcohol. Whether the consumption, and the actions stemming from it, were "excessive" is determined by the insurer.
Travel insurance provides cover for loss, damage or theft of personal belongings including tablets, smart phones and laptops. But you need to be aware that benefit limits apply and if you have expensive electronic items, you might want to consider taking out additional cover so you can replace them if necessary.
If you need to cancel your trip – as long as it's for a reason that is outside of your control – trip cancellation cover will pay for those transport and accommodation services for which you can’t get a refund. Possible reasons your trip might need to be cancelled could include sudden illness or injury, a natural disaster or being called up for jury duty.
Yes. If you have expensive items in your luggage or personal belongings that are not covered by the benefit limits, you can take out additional cover by paying an extra premium. Such items might include cameras, jewellery and electronics such as smart phones and laptops.
Yes. Cruises have their own particular risks and if all or part of your holiday includes a cruise, you need to ensure your travel insurance covers cruise travel. Cruise-related losses might include missing your departure due to airline delays, falling ill before your departure or falling ill onboard and having to be treated in the ship's sick bay or airlifted to the nearest hospital.
Yes. Winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling all carry a higher degree of risk, so many insurers exclude them from their travel insurance and it is up to the individual to take out extra cover for them. And injury from an accident is not the only risk that needs to be covered. This kind of holiday also involves the risk of financial loss from snow closures, lost or damaged equipment and unused prepaid ski passes and lessons.
Yes. If you are playing sport on your trip rather than just sightseeing, you are considered a higher risk by insurers, so you will need to take out sports insurance to cover you in case of injury. Even if it is a golfing trip, there is still the risk of being hit by a wayward golf club or ball or even struck by lightning, so sports insurance is still recommended.
Yes. If you end up staying overseas longer than you expected, some providers do allow you to extend your policy.
If you neglect to take out travel insurance before you leave on your trip, it is still possible to get cover while you are overseas. Most insurers have overseas contacts and you can usually obtain full cover after a short waiting period (normally seven days).
James Martin was the insurance editor at Finder. He has written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years. James often shares his insurance expertise as a media spokesperson and has appeared on Prime 7 News, WIN News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. He holds a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
Guide to high-risk travel insurance: What is and isn't covered.
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