International Travel Insurance Quotes

Australians departing Australia.

Adventure awaits as you prepare for your first - or latest - international trip. But - without wanting to put a damper on your plans - so do mishaps. Whether you're planning on basking in the sun on a beach in Bali, or hiking the foothills of the Himalayas, there are many things that could go wrong while you're on holiday, and having travel insurance will help put your mind at ease that you're covered for most unfortunate events.

You definitely don't want to reach your destination, only to find that your luggage hasn't arrived with you, or travel thousands of miles to discover you really are allergic to shellfish.

What Does International Travel Insurance Cover?

With the right international travel insurance, you'll enjoy benefits that include:

• Most medical expenses, including ambulance and hospital expenses, and some dental treatments.

• Medical evacuation, if you need to return to Australia while still receiving medical treatment.

• Emergency evacuation, in the event of natural disasters, or political instability.

• Additional travel and accommodation expenses, should your return trip be delayed under certain circumstances.

• Costs associated with cancelling or delaying part or all of your trip. If you have prepaid certain expenses, these too would be covered.

• If your luggage is lost, stolen, or significantly delayed. Although some airlines already offer some cover for this, it might not be sufficient, and only covers your luggage when travelling by plane. You will either be given a cash allowance to cover the costs of a few emergency purchases, or reimbursed for some of your out-of-pocket expenses when buying new clothing items and toiletries.

• Your wallet, travel documents, and other valuables being misplaced or stolen, including when you have already reached your destination.

• Insurance excess for a rental vehicle if it is damaged or involved in an accident. You could also have cover against personal liability.

• Loss of income benefits, if you are unable to return to work for some time due to an injury or illness relating to your trip.

What You Should be Aware of When Getting International Travel Insurance

The effectiveness of the travel insurance you select, and the cost, is dependent on a few things, such as:

• Being honest about where you are travelling to, and whether you will be spending more than 72-hours in any other destinations.

• Knowing if you intend participating in any high-risk activities such as rafting, skydiving, mountaineering, skiing, or diving. If you don't declare it, you might not receive any benefits for injuries that result from such activities.

• Disclosing pre-existing medical conditions. You may be asked to produce a letter from a medical professional stating that you are able to travel, despite any pre-existing medical conditions. This includes pregnancy.

• Knowing whether your cover includes benefits for injuries sustained while riding a motorcycle.

• Knowing what the excess is for each type of claim. There will always be a portion of the costs you will need to cover out-of-pocket, along with limits set for certain benefits.

• You need to ensure you also fully understand the claims process: how much time do you have to make a claim, where can you submit a claim, and are all costs covered upfront, or do you have to pay out-of-pocket and claim back later?

Searching for international travel insurance quotes online can make the whole process much easier, allowing to conveniently compare the benefits and costs of various policies. Each quote you receive should also include the insurers Product Disclosure Statement, which will list all the terms, conditions, and exclusions associated with the policy. It is always important to remember that cheap travel insurance isn't always the best, you should be looking for something that offers the benefits you need, at an affordable price.