Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a way of obtaining cover for yourself for a range of unexpected events that could happen when travelling overseas or in Australia. This may include covering medical or hospital bills, cancellation costs, or the cost of replacing items that were lost or stolen during your trip.

The level of cover you receive is dependent on the level of cover you select. There is no such thing as ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to travel insurance. Make sure you read the Product Disclosure Statement to see which level of cover is right for you and to ensure that the policy matches your needs.

Without travel insurance, you run the risk of incurring some significant expenses that may take years to pay off.

If you’re travelling overseas, travel insurance is an important consideration for unexpected medical bills and hospitalisation. Other unforeseen expenses could include the replacement of lost or stolen luggage, delays or cancellations to your trip, and many other unfortunate scenarios.

When travelling within Australia, your medical expenses are mostly covered by Medicare or your private health provider. However, you may wish to take out insurance for domestic flight changes or cancellations, lost or stolen baggage, or rental vehicle excess.

Travel insurance may cover you for a range of unexpected events that may affect your trip, such as emergency medical assistance if you become ill or injured while travelling overseas, including arranging your evacuation if needed.

Other incidents that travel insurance may cover include costs due to unexpected delays and cancellations, rental vehicle insurance excess, and personal liability. You also have the option to purchase additional cover for activities such as adventure sports or skiing.

Cover limits vary from insurance provider to insurance provider, so it’s important to read the Product Disclosure Statement to make sure you fully understand what is covered, the limits applying to the policy, and to ensure the policy is appropriate for your needs.

The length of your travel insurance policy is dependent on the travel dates you supply to the insurance provider. When obtaining a quote, or purchasing a policy, you will be prompted to enter in your departure and return dates – this will be the period of cover for your travel insurance policy.

The period of cover is also shown on your Certificate of Insurance, which is sent to you at the time of purchase. You may want to extend the length of your holiday abroad (and hence require an extension of your period of cover) and you may be able to do this within specified timeframes.

If you think you may travel more than once a year, you may wish to consider a Multi-Trip Policy.

Travel insurance exclusions are the activities, equipment and circumstances that your travel insurance provider will not cover in the event of a claim, meaning that you will be responsible for any costs incurred.

Allianz Comprehensive Travel Insurance, Multi-Trip Travel Insurance and Domestic Travel Insurance can provide some cover for lost or delayed luggage and personal effects when travelling – such as suitcases and backpacks including their contents, and articles worn or carried by you including your valuables. You can find out more about what is or is not covered by reading the Product Disclosure Statement.

There are a number of scenarios that are not covered by travel insurance such as accommodation booking errors, intentionally acting in a way that poses a risk to your safety, or medical expenses incurred within Australia. You can find out more about what is or is not covered by reading the Product Disclosure Statement.

When considering which travel insurance is right for you, make sure you consider your needs and requirements, as well as your financial situation. Reading the Product Disclosure Statement is a good place to start as it will give you more detail so you can decide if the plan is right for you.

Allianz Travel Insurance offers a number of travel insurance plans – Basic, Comprehensive, Domestic, Non-Medical or Multi-Trip Travel Insurance. You can see more detailed information on our Compare Cover Options page.

A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is a document required by the Commonwealth Corporations Act 2001 that contains information that may help you to decide whether a particular insurance product is right for you and help you to compare it with other products you may be considering.

The PDS also describes the cover available and the terms and conditions which apply. The PDS is particularly important if you decide to make a claim, as the travel insurance provider will assess your claim in accordance with the terms and conditions laid out in the PDS. After purchasing travel insurance, please make sure that the PDS, together with the Certificate of Insurance and any other relevant documents sent to you, are kept in a safe place during your trip.