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Already Overseas Travel Insurance
Already Overseas Travel Insurance
Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Laura Crowden
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettEasily compare Travel Insurance
Save time and effort by comparing a range of travel insurance policies with iSelect
Why do you need travel insurance?
Long story short
Holiday emergencies don’t wait for anyone
From a scooter accident in Bali to surprise appendicitis, having travel insurance will cover your trip and help save you from coming home with empty pockets.
Already overseas travel insurance has a few conditions
To get an already overseas policy, you’ll need to have plans to return back home. Some providers will only cover you after a certain period away from Australia.
Already overseas cover won’t kick in straight away
Most already overseas policies have a waiting period (usually 48-72 hours), so you won’t be able to claim straight away if something goes wrong.
Why do you need travel insurance?
Think of travel insurance as your backup partner on your holiday. If something goes sideways (fingers crossed it won’t), travel insurance can save you from emptying your account or having to head back home early. No matter where you’re heading, travel insurance is always recommended by Smartraveller before you trip starts.1For more information see Smartraveller – www.smartraveller.gov.au However for those who’ve already taken out cover and are looking to turn their trip into ‘just a few more days’ of unplanned adventure, already overseas travel insurance can help make sure you’re protected. Whether you want more island time or you’ve found a few new countries to stop off at on your rerouted journey back home, you can find mid-trip coverage with an already overseas travel insurance policy. Keep in mind that these policies are only for those who are already overseas. So, they’re perfect if your original policy won’t cover a detour to one (or a handful) more islands.
Can I get travel insurance when I’m already overseas?
Yep! The name is the game with already overseas travel insurance. These policies are designed for those already mid-escape, whether you’ve decided to keep the holiday going or you need some extra coverage. But for some travel insurers, there’s a maximum number of days you can be away, beyond that, you might struggle to get coverage. You’ll also need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and plan on returning home to Australia at the end of your policy. Every provider will have their own checklist, but if you tick the right boxes, an already overseas policy can give you peace of mind if you’re extending your OOO reply.
What does overseas travel insurance already cover, and what’s excluded?
Already overseas travel insurance generally includes the same stuff you’d expect if you’d taken a policy out before your trip started. But what’s included and excluded can depend on who your provider is and the level of coverage you’ve signed up for. Here’s a quick look at what’s typically in and out, so you’re not caught off guard mid-trip.
Medical and dental expenses
Emergency evacuations
Personal liability
If you have to return home for a reason outside of your control
Luggage coverage
Transport cancellations
Lost or stolen belongings
Any claims or events that happen within the waiting period
Acting irresponsibly
Change of plans for personal reasons
Pre-existing conditions that haven’t been declared
Travelling against travel warnings
Claims resulting while intoxicated
Claims resulting from breaking the law
Claiming for an activity not under your policy
Medical and dental expenses
Emergency evacuations
Personal liability
If you have to return home for a reason outside of your control
Luggage coverage
Transport cancellations
Lost or stolen belongings
Any claims or events that happen within the waiting period
Acting irresponsibly
Change of plans for personal reasons
Pre-existing conditions that haven’t been declared
Travelling against travel warnings
Claims resulting while intoxicated
Claims resulting from breaking the law
Claiming for an activity not under your policy
Are there any other considerations with already overseas travel insurance?
Pre-existing conditions
If you have a pre-existing condition, you can still get already overseas travel insurance. However much like when you purchased your original policy, you’ll need to declare your condition(s) to make sure you can still be covered. Some providers will ask you a few questions, while others might need a more thorough assessment. Either way, you’ll want to make sure you don’t skip this section if you want to be covered.
Waiting periods
Most already overseas travel insurance policies will come with a waiting period, which could be anywhere between 48 and 72 hours. This means if anything does go wrong in these first day or two, you won’t be able to make a claim. While some travel insurance policies might only have waiting periods for a few of their more premium benefits, it’s important to understand that already overseas insurance won’t cover anything at all during the waiting period. That’s why it’s always smart to line up your new policy before your old one runs out.
Accidents that happen before your policy coverage starts
While there’s a no-coverage period in those first few days after getting already overseas coverage, there’s also no coverage for anything that happened before your policy starts. So, if you’ve already been overseas for a few days and forgot to take out insurance, you won’t be able to claim anything that happened before you took it out. For example, if you lost your bags on the way over, your already overseas insurance policy won’t be able to lend a helping hand.
Fixed excess
Unlike regular policies, it’s likely you won’t be able to change your excess on an already overseas travel insurance policy. These excess amounts are set in stone and could fall anywhere between $250 to $500, but it depends on your chosen provider. Whatever the excess amount is, it’ll apply to most claims you make on your new policy, so make sure you are across your policy and excess details.
Does travel insurance cost more if I’m already overseas?
It can, but it depends. Your age, holiday destination, trip length, and the types of things you’ve got planned will all influence the cost. So, the price of your already overseas policy might differ from your original policy you took out back home. If you’re just trying to fill the gaps in your coverage, or you’re upgrading to cover some riskier activities, you can probably expect to pay a little bit more. It all really depends on your trip and why you need to take out another policy. And since you don’t want to cheap out when it comes to your holiday, comparing already overseas policy options can be well worth it.
Helpful tip
If you have not yet settled on a return date, you’ll need to select the approximate date of your return when taking out already overseas travel insurance. Most providers offer set policy durations, some have a 90-day period, while others might allow up to 12 months. Just keep in mind that if you head home earlier than planned, you won’t be refunded for those unused days in your policy. So, it’s worth checking with your provider.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
What should I look for when choosing travel insurance mid-trip?
Age factors
Many travel insurers have age limits for their policies, and the same is true with already overseas policies. So, make sure to double check you can still make it through – especially since already overseas policies usually have a different age limit.
How long you’re extending your trip for
While you might want to extend your holiday indefinitely, your insurer might have other plans (not to mention your employer!) Some already overseas policies cap how long you can extend your trip for, or how many times you can get cover in the middle of your trip (like once every 12 months). So, make sure your fly home date won’t mess with your insurer’s rules.
Coverage limits and waiting period
Before you jump on the train to take you to your next destination, take a good look at your policy’s details and waiting periods. Some already overseas policies take a day or two to kick in before you can claim. So, it pays to know what these limits and no coverage periods are, especially if things start going downhill in a hurry.
What are you planning to do?
If you’re travel plans have evolved from beach naps to diving with sharks, your insurance should be able to keep up. Check that your new policy will cover all the new things you want to do or read up on what extras are offered for more high-risk activities before signing up.
Policy overlaps
If you left home with a different policy and are looking to upgrade your coverage for the new leg of your trip, make sure there’s no gap between the two. Most already overseas insurance policies will have a recommended time frame to follow for when your two polices need to start and end, with some making this a requirement of the policy. Even a tiny gap in coverage could mean no help when you really need it, so make sure the timing is all lined up, because it’s better safe than stranded.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add more countries to my already overseas travel insurance policy?
Getting a new already overseas travel insurance policy doesn’t restrict you to the same policy details as one you left home with. If you’ve decided you want a week-long pitstop on your way home from your European holiday, you can add all the new countries you plan on visiting to your policy. You can even change the level of coverage from your original policy to suit your new travel plans.
Can I just extend my original policy when travelling overseas?
Most providers will let you extend your original policy once while you’re on your holiday. However, if you need to add some extra countries or add-ons (like adventure activity cover), your best option is to take out a new already overseas policy. That way, you can create a more updated travel insurance policy that fits your new itinerary.
Can I get travel insurance mid-trip if I don’t have a return flight to Australia?
Yes. Already overseas travel insurance policies are only available for people who are already overseas. So, if you’re on a backpacking trip with no end in sight or if you’ve decided to stay in tropical paradise for a few more days, you can get a policy that will stick with you. You’ll just need to make sure you book some return flights home within the period set out by your insurer.
How long your already overseas travel insurance policy lasts for will depend on the insurer, with some limiting cover for 90 days while others will insure you for up to two years. Even if you’re not sure when you’re heading home, you might still need to provide a rough return window to lock in your policy.
When should I take out travel insurance?
If you haven’t left home yet, then the best time to take out travel insurance is usually when you first outlay a significant cost towards your trip, such as booking flights. Whether you do it then or a few days before take-off depends on your risk appetite and how organised you are! Just keep in mind that the closer to your trip start date, the more risk that you might not be covered if something goes wrong and you need to cancel your cover.
But if you’re already overseas and looking to take out new cover, the timings are more strict. Most policies only let you buy already overseas coverage if you’re already off home soil or your current cover expires within a certain timeframe. This could be anywhere from five to 14 days, depending on your insurer.
Already overseas travel insurance for the spontaneous traveller
Whether you’re taking a family vacay to Greece or you’re zipping over to Singapore for a work trip, having travel insurance means you don’t have to wing it without cover. While travel insurance is always better taken out sooner than later, already overseas travel insurance can save you if you get lost in the pre-trip admin.
But if you want to get it ticked off your list nice and early, you can start comparing online from a range of providers and policies with iSelect. So, all that’s left to do is start counting down the days until you hit a reasonable time to start packing.
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