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To compare travel insurance in Australia, look beyond the headline price and assess whether each...
What Is Travel Insurance for Australians in 2026
Travel insurance is designed to help protect Australian travellers from certain unexpected expenses and disruptions before or during a trip.
Depending on the policy you choose, it may provide cover for overseas medical emergencies, cancellations, lost or stolen belongings, travel delays and other covered events.
Planning a holiday usually begins with the exciting decisions: where to go, where to stay and what to do when you arrive. It is also important to consider what could happen if you become unwell, your travel plans change or your belongings go missing.
This guide explains what travel insurance is, how overseas travel coverage works, when to buy travel insurance and what Australians should consider when choosing cover in 2026.
Key takeaways
- Travel insurance may help with eligible expenses arising from medical emergencies, cancellations, lost belongings and travel disruptions.
- Medicare does not cover Australians while they are overseas.
- Reciprocal healthcare arrangements are limited and are not a substitute for travel insurance.
- The right cover depends on your destination, travel costs, medical circumstances, planned activities and belongings.
- It is generally worth considering travel insurance as soon as you have booked and paid for part of your trip.
In this guide
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Explore Go Insurance ```What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance is a type of insurance that may help cover eligible expenses and financial losses arising from certain unexpected events connected with a trip.
Depending on the policy and cover selected, travel insurance may respond if you:
- unexpectedly become sick or injured overseas
- need to cancel or change your trip for a covered reason
- have baggage or personal belongings lost, stolen or damaged
- experience certain delays, missed connections or travel disruptions
- need urgent assistance while travelling.
Travel insurance does not cover every event or expense. All cover is subject to the applicable policy terms, benefit limits, conditions, exclusions and any optional covers selected.
Go Insurance allows eligible travellers to build travel insurance around their trip , including their destinations, cancellation amount, excess and relevant optional covers.
Why is travel insurance important for Australians?
For Australians travelling internationally, overseas medical cover is one of the most important travel insurance benefits to consider.
Medicare does not cover Australians while they are overseas. Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with a limited number of countries, but these agreements generally provide access only to certain medically necessary care within the public health system.
Reciprocal arrangements may not cover private treatment, ambulance costs, medical evacuation, repatriation or every medicine and medical expense. They are not a substitute for appropriate travel insurance.
Overseas hospital treatment, specialist care, medical evacuation and repatriation can be expensive.
Travel insurance may also help protect the money you have invested in flights, accommodation, tours, cruises and activities if an unexpected covered event affects your plans.
Official travel guidance
Smartraveller expects Australians travelling overseas to take out appropriate insurance for their trip. You can also review Smartraveller’s travel insurance guidance and Services Australia’s Reciprocal Health Care Agreement information .
What does travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance policies differ, but common areas of cover may include the following.
Overseas medical emergencies
Overseas medical cover may help with eligible hospital treatment, doctor or specialist consultations, ambulance transport, emergency dental treatment, medical evacuation and repatriation if you unexpectedly become sick or injured.
In a serious situation, contact the Go Insurance emergency assistance team as soon as reasonably possible. In a life-threatening emergency, contact local emergency services first.
Trip cancellation and amendment costs
Cancellation cover may help with eligible prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses if you must cancel or change your trip because of a reason covered by the policy.
Standard cancellation cover does not usually respond simply because you change your mind. Go Insurance also offers Cancel For Your Reason as an optional upgrade with Go Ultra, subject to its eligibility requirements, limits and conditions.
Lost, stolen or damaged baggage
Baggage cover may help if your luggage or personal belongings are unexpectedly lost, stolen or damaged during your trip.
Overall limits, individual item limits, depreciation, excesses and security requirements may apply. High-value electronics, jewellery, sporting equipment and other expensive belongings may need additional consideration.
Travel delays and disruptions
Some policies provide benefits for certain delays, missed connections, additional accommodation or changed travel arrangements. The cause of the disruption and the expenses incurred must satisfy the applicable policy terms.
Personal liability
Personal liability cover may respond if you accidentally injure another person or damage their property and become legally liable. Exclusions may apply to vehicles, employment, deliberate conduct and property under your control.
Cruises, snow sports and other activities
Some holidays involve risks that are not automatically covered under a standard policy.
Check whether you need cruise travel insurance , Snow Sports Cover or approval for particular sports and leisure activities .
What types of travel insurance are available?
Different insurance types suit different travellers and travel plans.
| Insurance type | Who it may suit |
|---|---|
| Single-trip travel insurance | Travellers arranging cover for one particular domestic or international journey. |
| Annual multi-trip insurance | Frequent travellers taking multiple eligible trips over a 12-month period. Maximum journey durations and other conditions may apply. |
| Budget or essential cover | Travellers primarily seeking protection against major risks, such as eligible overseas medical emergencies. |
| Comprehensive or flexible cover | Travellers looking for broader benefits or higher limits for cancellation, baggage, disruption and other risks. |
| Optional or specialist cover | Travellers planning cruises, snow sports, higher-risk activities, business travel or other specialised trips. |
When should you buy travel insurance?
It is generally worth considering travel insurance as soon as you have booked and paid for any part of your trip.
Buying early may allow cancellation cover to begin sooner for certain unexpected events occurring before departure. Waiting until shortly before you leave may mean your prepaid flights, accommodation, cruise, tours and other arrangements have been exposed for weeks or months.
Insurance generally will not cover an event that had already occurred, was already known or was reasonably foreseeable before the policy was purchased.
Already booked your trip?
Consider your travel insurance options now rather than waiting until the day you leave.
Find cover for your tripHow do you choose the right travel insurance?
Price matters, but the cheapest policy will not necessarily be suitable for your trip. Before purchasing, consider the following questions.
1. Does the policy cover your full itinerary?
Include every destination you plan to visit, together with any relevant stopovers and transit countries.
Check current travel advice before purchasing and again before departure. Go Insurance’s Smartraveller warnings page provides current advisory levels and information about how those levels relate to Go Insurance cover.
2. Is the cancellation limit sufficient?
Add up your flights, accommodation, tours, cruise costs, activities and other prepaid arrangements. Select a cancellation amount that reflects the financial exposure you want to insure, subject to the limits available under the policy.
3. Are your planned activities covered?
Do not assume every activity is automatically included. Motorcycle or scooter riding, snow sports, sailing, hiking, organised sport and other activities may be subject to specific requirements, restrictions or optional cover.
4. Have you addressed your medical history?
Go Insurance does not automatically cover every pre-existing medical condition. Some common conditions may be automatically covered where the applicable eligibility criteria are met.
Other conditions must be declared and assessed. The outcome may include cover on standard terms, cover subject to an additional premium or other terms, or an inability to offer cover.
Learn more about pre-existing medical conditions and Go Insurance’s medical screening process .
5. Are the baggage limits appropriate?
Check the total baggage limit and the maximum amount payable for each individual item. Consider how the limits apply to phones, laptops, cameras, jewellery, sports equipment and other valuable belongings.
6. What excess applies?
An excess is the amount you may need to contribute towards an accepted claim. A higher excess may reduce the policy premium, but it can also reduce the practical value of smaller claims.
7. How do you get help in an emergency?
Save your policy details and emergency contact information before leaving Australia. Keep the details somewhere accessible to you and your travelling companions.
What might travel insurance not cover?
All travel insurance policies include limits, conditions and exclusions. Depending on the policy, common exclusions may relate to:
- known events or circumstances existing before policy purchase
- changing your mind about travelling
- pre-existing medical conditions that were not properly declared or assessed
- travelling against medical advice
- activities that are excluded or require optional cover
- travel to destinations or regions not covered by the policy
- unattended, unsecured or inadequately supervised belongings
- alcohol, drugs, illegal conduct or reckless behaviour
- failure to obtain required police, medical or transport-provider reports
- expenses exceeding the applicable benefit limit.
The exact terms differ between products. Always read the current Product Disclosure Statement before purchasing.
Do Australians need travel insurance for New Zealand?
Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with New Zealand, but this does not replace travel insurance.
The agreement may provide eligible Australians with access to certain medically necessary public healthcare. It does not necessarily protect you against cancellation expenses, lost baggage, travel disruption, private medical treatment, ambulance transport or repatriation to Australia.
How do you make a travel insurance claim?
Having the required information and evidence available can help your claim be assessed efficiently.
- Seek urgent help first. Contact local emergency services where required. For an overseas medical emergency, contact Go Insurance emergency assistance as soon as reasonably possible.
- Notify the appropriate organisation. Report theft to police and lost or delayed baggage to the airline, cruise line or transport provider.
- Keep supporting evidence. This may include receipts, medical reports, police reports, booking confirmations, cancellation notices and correspondence with travel providers.
- Submit your claim promptly. Follow the claims procedure and timeframes that apply under your policy.
Visit Go Insurance claims support for the claim form, required-document information and contact details.
Travel insurance and holiday safety checklist
- Check the current Smartraveller advice for every destination.
- Consider travel insurance after making your first trip payment.
- Include your full itinerary and relevant transit countries.
- Choose cancellation cover that reflects your prepaid travel costs.
- Declare your medical history as required.
- Confirm that cruises, snow sports and other planned activities are covered.
- Review baggage limits and individual item limits.
- Understand the excess, benefit limits and important exclusions.
- Save your policy and emergency assistance information.
- Keep receipts and obtain appropriate reports if something goes wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Is travel insurance compulsory for Australians?
Travel insurance is not generally compulsory under Australian law. However, a destination, visa, cruise line, tour operator or other travel provider may impose its own insurance requirements.
Can I buy travel insurance after booking my holiday?
Yes. You can generally purchase travel insurance after booking flights, accommodation or other arrangements. Buying earlier may provide earlier protection against certain covered cancellation events.
Does Medicare cover Australians overseas?
No. Medicare does not cover Australians while they are overseas. Reciprocal healthcare arrangements exist with some countries, but these arrangements are limited and do not replace travel insurance.
Can I get travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?
Potentially. Some conditions may be automatically covered where eligibility requirements are met. Other conditions must be declared and assessed through medical screening. The outcome depends on the condition, your circumstances and the insurer’s underwriting requirements.
Can I buy travel insurance after leaving Australia?
Eligible Australian travellers may be able to purchase Go Insurance after leaving Australia . Residency requirements, waiting periods and other policy conditions may apply.
Does travel insurance cover every cancellation?
No. Standard cancellation cover applies only where the reason and expenses satisfy the policy terms. Change of mind is not normally covered unless a specific optional benefit applies.
Is baggage automatically covered for its full value?
Not necessarily. Overall limits, individual item limits, depreciation, excesses and security requirements may apply. Check the limits for any high-value items you are taking.
Is annual travel insurance better than single-trip insurance?
It depends on how frequently you travel, the length of each journey and the cover you need. Frequent travellers should compare an annual multi-trip policy with purchasing separate single-trip policies.
What should I do if I need emergency medical help overseas?
Contact local emergency services first if the situation is life-threatening. You should then contact your insurer’s emergency assistance team as soon as reasonably possible and follow any instructions provided.
Find travel insurance for your next trip
Travel insurance is not one-size-fits-all. The cover you choose should reflect your destinations, prepaid travel costs, medical circumstances, planned activities, belongings and the level of protection you need.
Go Insurance offers flexible travel insurance options for Australian travellers. Visit the Go Insurance website to explore the available products, review the relevant policy information and begin a quote for your next trip.
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Explore travel insurance ```This article provides general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs.
Before purchasing, read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination and consider whether the product is appropriate for you.
