Travel insurance brokers

Travel insurance helps protect you financially if something unexpected happens before or during your trip, whether you’re travelling overseas or within Australia.

This cover can include mishaps like emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, cancelled or delayed flights, and the loss or theft of luggage and personal items.

Ultimately, it is designed to reduce the financial impact of common travel problems that could otherwise be stressful and expensive.

Travel insurance helps protect your finances when things don’t go to plan. If you travel without this cover, you’ll be responsible for paying any unexpected costs yourself.

These can include significant expenses, such as medical bills, emergency flights home, or replacing lost or stolen belongings.

For instance, in many countries, medical treatment for visitors can be very costly, and even a minor incident can lead to large out-of-pocket expenses.

Most travel insurance policies cover a range of common travel risks, such as emergency medical expenses if you become ill or injured overseas, medical evacuation or repatriation, and trip cancellations or interruptions.

Many policies also include cover for lost, stolen or damaged luggage, travel delays, rental vehicle excess, and personal liability.

Optional add-ons may be available for activities like skiing, cruising or adventure sports, depending on the insurer and the policy you choose.

Travel insurance does not cover every situation. Typical exclusions include losses caused by reckless or illegal behaviour, undeclared pre-existing medical conditions, accommodation booking errors, and most medical expenses incurred within Australia.

Some activities, destinations or high-value items may also be excluded unless you add specific cover.

As exclusions and limits vary between insurers, it’s important to read the Product Disclosure Statement, so that you clearly understand what is and isn’t covered.

If you, a family member or an employee has an existing medical condition, it’s important to address this before buying travel insurance.

Standard travel insurance policies automatically exclude many existing medical conditions unless they are declared and accepted by the insurer.

In some cases, you may be able to add cover for the condition by completing a medical assessment and paying an additional premium, or by taking out a specialist policy.

Whether a condition can be covered depends on the insurer, the type and severity of the condition, how recently it was treated, and whether it is considered stable.

If you don’t declare a pre-existing condition, any claim linked to that condition, such as medical treatment overseas or cancelling a trip due to illness, is likely to be declined.

Moreover, medical care in another country can be extremely expensive, and in places like the United States, you may be asked to show proof of insurance before receiving treatment.

Annual business travel insurance usually covers multiple trips within 12 months, but each trip has a maximum length set out in the policy.

Cover may also be affected by government travel advisories. If a destination is subject to a high-level warning from the Australian Government, your policy may limit or exclude cover for travel to that country.

Checking advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade before travelling can help avoid gaps in cover.

It’s best to take out travel insurance as soon as you book your trip or pay any non-refundable costs.

Many policies allow you to choose an immediate start date, which means you can be covered for cancellations or disruptions before you leave.

Buying travel insurance early helps ensure you’re protected if flights are cancelled, itineraries change, or other unforeseen expenses occur before departure.

A travel insurance policy usually lasts for the travel period you nominate when purchasing it, based on your departure and return dates.

Cancellation cover generally starts from the date the policy is issued, while other benefits apply during your trip.

If your travel insurance plans change and you stay longer than expected, you may be able to extend your policy, provided you apply before it expires and meet the insurer’s conditions.

The cost of travel insurance depends on factors such as your age, destination, length of travel, and the level of cover you choose.

When comparing policies, it’s important to look beyond the price and consider the cover limits, exclusions and benefits to make sure the policy suits your travel needs and financial situation.

Our travel insurance brokers are here to help you obtain a comprehensive policy at a competitive price.