What might my travel insurance cover?

People purchase travel insurance for many different reasons. Travel insurance is not just for injury or liability purposes, as there are many common situations that travel insurance will also cover. Below is a list of events that are covered by most travel insurance companies.

Catastrophic/Financially Damaging Events

These are events that would normally put a large financial strain on you or your loved ones. Although they are not likely to happen to most travellers, if these events do happen they can have huge negative life-changing effects. Coverage by your travel insurance may include:

• Medical expenses (health & dental)
• Transportation to a hospital
• Transportation of a body back to Australia
• Liabilities to others
• Loss of income due to any of the above

Regional Emergencies

These events are rare, but seem to happen during peak travel seasons in popular travel destinations. These events can include natural disasters or intentional attacks on human life. Either way, if you find yourself in this situation, travel insurance can help by:

• Covering expenses related to leaving a country early due to evacuation
• Covering expenses to resume your travels after returning to Australia because of an emergency.

Common Travel Situations

These events are less catastrophic and less costly than the situations above, but are very common and happen to a high percentage of travellers. Although these may not be life-altering events, it can still be a relief to have experienced help on your side. These events include:

• Lost/stolen travel documentation
• Lost/stolen luggage or other personal items
• Trip cancellation

The above situations are all coverable by most travel insurance companies and can help relieve you of related expenses. This list includes events that are covered by a majority of companies, but each company may also have additional events that are covered under a specific policy.

Although you will be covered if a major or minor event happens to you, it is best not to find yourself in these situations at all. You can minimise your risk by following the Australian government's Top 10 Travel Tips.