Compare travel insurance

Remember to compare policies before you buy travel insurance for Australia as T&Cs and cover levels can vary between different companies. Make sure any holiday insurance for Australia you are considering includes at least:

• Medical cover – look for a policy that includes repatriation to the UK.
• Cover for cancellation or curtailment - holidays to Australia don’t usually come cheap, so look for cover that is at least as much as the price of your trip, plus any excursions you’ve booked. And take out your travel insurance as soon as you book so you’re covered should anything unexpected in the run-up to your break stop you travelling.
• Personal liability – this will cover you should you accidentally injure someone or damage their property while you’re away and they then make a claim.
• Lost luggage and possessions – unfortunately, possessions and luggage can get lost or stolen while you’re away so ensure you’re adequately insured. Make sure both the overall limit set by the insurer and the individual item limits are suitable for you. You may also want to look for a policy that includes cover for a lost passport too.
• Missed departures – this will cover you should you miss your flight due to situations beyond your control.
• Delay cover – this will kick in after a set amount of time.

When you compare travel insurance for Australia, you may also want to look for policies that include protection for end supplier failure if you’ve booked a DIY trip rather than a package holiday. This will pay out should an element of your holiday, such as your airline or hotel, go bust. You may also want to add on catastrophe cover for financial protection should an earthquake or natural disaster cause disruption.

And, while it can be tempting to go for the cheapest policy, this could be a false economy if you’re not covered for what you need. The easiest way to find the best deal on travel insurance is by comparing policies online. Don't forget to play close attention to the T&Cs to ensure you find the right policy for you.

In the T&Cs of all policies, there will be some exclusions, so read these carefully to prevent a claim being unsuccessful. Some common exclusions to be aware of are:

• Pre-existing medical conditions – always disclose any medical conditions to your insurer before you take a policy out or you risk claims being rejected. Some policies may exclude any claims that are as a result of these but there are specialist pre-existing medical travel insurance policies available too.
• Accidents as a result of certain activities – while you’re in Australia, you may get swept away with the outdoors lifestyle and decide to try an extreme or water sport. But many policies will exclude adventure sports, so check your policy and buy extra cover if you need it.
• Incidents while you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs – if you hurt yourself or others while intoxicated, or something else goes wrong, you’re unlikely to be able to claim for the damage.
• Refused entry – make sure you have all of the correct, up-to-date documents for your trip.
• Limits on the number of days you’re travelling – if you’re going to Australia for an extended trip, check how many consecutive days you’ll be covered for. Specialist backpacker travel insurance policies may be more suitable if you’re travelling for a longer period.

Don’t forget to look at the excess levels on policies too – the amount you’d have to pay out if you made a claim.

If you are a British citizen with residency in the UK and are travelling with a British passport, you will be entitled to some medical treatments for free in Australia under reciprocal healthcare agreements.

However, this is limited and doesn’t cover items such as the treatment of pre-existing medical conditions or non-urgent medical issues, use of the ambulance service, medical evacuations, or the prescription of medicines (unless you’re a hospital in-patient).

So don’t let this lull you into a false sense of security that you won’t need travel insurance, as it’s not a substitute.

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