If your holiday is going to be the best trip abroad, it might require comprehensive cover so you can travel with confidence.
For all the things that will go right on your holiday (e.g. great food, incredible vistas, sightseeing), there are many other things that can go wrong, like food poisoning, bad weather or pickpocketing.
So, let’s look at the top level of protection for the worst-case scenarios – better known as comprehensive travel insurance.
When venturing overseas, everyone should consider having some form of travel cover. Comprehensive travel insurance covers you across a wider range of situations than other levels of cover. For example, a comprehensive travel insurance policy could reimburse you for expenses relating to medical and hospital expenses, cancellations, theft and more.
The most significant thing your comprehensive travel insurance will protect is your peace of mind, which can be in short supply when things go wrong in a foreign country. Luckily, with the right travel insurance, you won’t have to worry about surprise costs.
While comprehensive cover might include some benefits you think you may never need to claim on, this level of cover will generally have higher limits. Let’s take a look at some common benefits and inclusions of comprehensive travel insurance:
| What’s covered? | Details |
| Medical expenses | If you get injured or fall ill overseas, you might require medical assistance. Cover for overseas emergency transport, as well as both hospital expenses and general medical costs, is standard cover for many different travel insurance policies. |
| Stolen or lost belongings | You can receive a payout up to the limits and sub-limits listed in your PDS for your luggage, personal effects, credit cards and cash if they were lost in transit or stolen. Keep in mind that if theft or damage occurs because you left your belongings unattended, your claim will likely be rejected. |
| Trip cancellations and delays | If weather, flight cancellations or unexpected events prevent you from reaching your destination, the delay may be covered by travel policies. Fees resulting from having to cancel your trip may also be covered (e.g., a volcanic eruption halts all air travel to the area). |
| Surprise costs from extended stays | Meals, accommodation and transport expenses; travel delays can be costly, but travel insurance can help pay for an extended stay. |
| Repatriation (i.e., return home) | If you need to return to Australia (e.g. because of illness, injury or accidental death), your insurer may cover your repatriation costs. Travel insurance can also help pay for you to return home if you have a family emergency. |
| Personal liability | Your insurer may provide personal liability cover if you cause loss or damages to property or bodily injury to a person. Legal expenses may also be covered in the event legal action is required. |
| Please note: Policies differ, which means that not all comprehensive policies may cover the above inclusions, nor will the claim limits listed above necessarily represent exactly what you will be able to claim. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of any policy before you buy for more information about your coverage’s inclusions, exclusions, additional extras, limits and sub-limits. | |
That’s just some of what a policy might cover as standard. However, you can pay a little bit more to add some optional extras and ensure your policy covers even more mishaps. Here are a few examples of optional extras your policy might offer:
You may also have access to 24/7 medical and emergency assistance over the phone through your provider.
Here’s a rundown of some of the more common exclusions found in comprehensive travel insurance policies:
You don’t need to break the bank to get comprehensive travel insurance. In fact, a single adult traveller could comprehensively cover their trip for less than $50*, while a family could potentially take out a comprehensive policy for less than $91**!
*Based on a quote for a single adult travelling to New Zealand for seven days in July 2022.
**Based on a quote for a family of two adults and two children travelling to New Zealand for seven days in July 2022.
The cost of your policy can depend on a few factors that might affect the cost of your travel insurance.
A comprehensive plan will always cover you to a greater extent than basic travel insurance. If you’re a budget traveller planning international travel, a basic medical-only policy is a popular choice as it generally covers all your medical expenses. But before just choosing the cheapest option, consider your individual circumstances.
There are three main reasons you might want to consider a comprehensive policy:
If your destination is known for frequent travel delays, bad weather, natural disasters or higher crime rates, you may want the protection of a comprehensive policy. Preparing for the unexpected keeps you from paying hundreds or thousands out of pocket on re-booking flights and accommodation, replacing stolen belongings or wasting unused tickets.
You never know when something might go wrong on a trip, so an important reason you might consider a comprehensive plan is if you want trip delay and cancellation cover. A basic policy may sometimes cover some expenses, but comprehensive cover will grant you greater claim limits. In addition, you can also be covered for property damage or loss, higher levels of medical assistance, personal liability and more.
A comprehensive travel insurance policy will have higher claim limits with fewer conditions. This can be particularly helpful if you’re travelling with valuable items and need a higher limit for lost or stolen belongings. Or, if other unexpected additional expenses arise that you need compensation for.
Every travel insurance policy is different, so be sure to read the PDS to understand the extent of your cover.
While comprehensive travel insurance may be more expensive than a basic medical-only policy, you can still find good deals. If you don’t want to compromise on cover but don’t want to hurt your wallet either, consider:
Heading off on the trip of a lifetime soon and haven’t sorted your travel insurance? You can do that right here, right now through our travel insurance comparison service. All you need to do is enter a couple of details and we’ll show you a selection of comprehensive policies to compare and choose from. Simples!
