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Comprehensive Travel Insurance
Comprehensive Travel Insurance
Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettEasily compare Travel Insurance
Save time and effort by comparing a range of travel insurance policies with iSelect
What is comprehensive travel insurance?
Long story short
Comprehensive travel insurance offers protection for most holiday mishaps
This can include trip cancellations, lost luggage, rental car excess, stolen cash, and some low-risk activities like cycling.
You might need extra cover on top of your comprehensive policy
For snow sports, cruises, riding scooters or mopeds, or high-risk activities like white water rafting and outdoor climbing, you’ll most likely need extra coverage.
Your age and trip details can affect your premium price
Premiums depend on your age, destination, trip length, and any extras you might need covered.
What is comprehensive travel insurance?
Comprehensive travel insurance is your all-in-one safety net. It’s designed to help cover the costs of most things that can go wrong on holiday. We’re talking about cancellation costs, overseas dental bills, lost luggage, and basic activities like surfing or horse riding. It helps give you the peace of mind that, if something goes wrong in the middle of your trip, it won’t be a total deal breaker.
Whether you choose comprehensive or a different level of travel insurance, it’s a bad idea to go without it. Some countries won’t even let you out of the airport without it, and Smartraveller calls it essential. So basically, your travel policy should be right up the top of your ‘do not forget’ packing list alongside your passport. With almost 165,000 travel insurance claims accepted in 2022–23 (costing travel insurers nearly $362 million), plenty of Aussies have learnt the value of getting covered before kicking their trip off.1Smartraveller – How to get travel insurance
What’s covered by comprehensive travel insurance?
Medical emergency and evacuation
If you need to be air lifted to the nearest hospital or have an emergency treatment, your insurance could cover some of the bill.
Cancellations and delays
If your flights get delayed or a tour gets cancelled due to the weather, you may be able to claim for lost deposits and cancellation fees.
Luggage, personal items, and travel documents
If you lose your bags or have your passport stolen, you may be able to claim the cost to replace your items and documents.
Rental car excess
If your rental car gets damaged in an accident, you may be able to claim your rental vehicle excess.
Cover for basic activities within your comprehensive plan
Some low-risk activities like cycling, snorkelling, and surfing are covered in comprehensive plans without an adventure activity add-on needed.
Pre-existing medical conditions that haven’t been declared
If you haven’t let your travel insurer know about a pre-existing condition, you won’t be able to make related claims.
Theft of items and belongings left unattended
If you leave your bags unattended in a public space and they’re stolen, you might not be able to claim back the cost of replacing your things.
Adventure sports or cover for things usually included in optional extras
If you’re going on a cruise or skiing and don’t have the relevant add-on option, you won’t be able to claim.
Travelling to a ‘do not travel’ destination
If Smartraveller recommends you don’t travel to a country, you won’t be covered for losses in that country.
Reckless behaviour or being under the influence
If you act recklessly or claim for something that happened while you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your claim is unlikely to be accepted.
Breaking the law
If you break local laws, you’re unlikely to be covered by your travel insurer.
Medical emergency and evacuation
If you need to be air lifted to the nearest hospital or have an emergency treatment, your insurance could cover some of the bill.
Cancellations and delays
If your flights get delayed or a tour gets cancelled due to the weather, you may be able to claim for lost deposits and cancellation fees.
Luggage, personal items, and travel documents
If you lose your bags or have your passport stolen, you may be able to claim the cost to replace your items and documents.
Rental car excess
If your rental car gets damaged in an accident, you may be able to claim your rental vehicle excess.
Cover for basic activities within your comprehensive plan
Some low-risk activities like cycling, snorkelling, and surfing are covered in comprehensive plans without an adventure activity add-on needed.
Pre-existing medical conditions that haven’t been declared
If you haven’t let your travel insurer know about a pre-existing condition, you won’t be able to make related claims.
Theft of items and belongings left unattended
If you leave your bags unattended in a public space and they’re stolen, you might not be able to claim back the cost of replacing your things.
Adventure sports or cover for things usually included in optional extras
If you’re going on a cruise or skiing and don’t have the relevant add-on option, you won’t be able to claim.
Travelling to a ‘do not travel’ destination
If Smartraveller recommends you don’t travel to a country, you won’t be covered for losses in that country.
Reckless behaviour or being under the influence
If you act recklessly or claim for something that happened while you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your claim is unlikely to be accepted.
Breaking the law
If you break local laws, you’re unlikely to be covered by your travel insurer.
What optional add-ons are there for comprehensive policies?
Snow sports
If you’re planning on hitting the slopes, you’ll most likely need some additional cover for your snow-related fun. Snow sports cover can give you some boosted emergency coverage, plus cover for snow gear, ski resort closures, and bad weather. So you can enjoy your first attempt at skiing or zip down the double diamond run without worry.
Cruise cover
Cruise add-ons are there to cover you against specific concerns that are more likely to occur on cruises. Since you’ll be out at sea with no other boat in sight, if something goes seriously wrong, you might need a pricey evacuation to the nearest shore. That’s where cruise cover steps in, with higher limits to help with medical care, cancellations, and any unexpected detours your ship has to make.
Adventure activities
Planning any activities that’ve got your mum worried? If you’ve signed a waiver or had a safety briefing, there’s a good chance you’ll need some extra coverage on top of your regular policy. Zip lining, quad bike riding, and outdoor rock climbing are just a few examples. Your product disclosure statement (PDS) will tell you which low-risk activities are covered in your standard policy and which high-risk ones you’ll need extra cover for.
Scooter and moped cover
If you plan on zipping around on a Vespa Italian-style or renting a scooter for a classic Bali vacay, you might need some extra cover while cruising. Scooter and moped cover will help out if something goes wrong while you’re riding (or hitching a ride on) a two-wheel vehicle. Just make sure you’ve got the right license for the scooter you’re renting, and follow all the local road rules. Read the conditions in your policy, as well.
What are the pros and cons of getting comprehensive travel insurance?
Comprehensive travel insurance is like getting the full package membership at your gym. Pool, sauna, PT, full gym access, and extra classes. It might seem like a great deal, but what if you won’t use all those extra perks? Comprehensive travel insurance is a great option that comes with all the bells and whistles to keep the unplanned in check. But like with all things, there are some pros and cons to work out before confirming that it’s the right choice for you.
Covers a wide range of situations
Comprehensive cover casts a wide net, from medical emergencies to overseas dental, rental car excess, personal liability, and more. Basically, you’ve got backup for most ‘what-if’ scenarios that might pop up, even the ones you don’t see coming.
Better peace of mind
If you’re an overthinker or a stressed parent on your first big family trip, comprehensive cover can help you breathe easier and enjoy your time away. Whether your flights get cancelled or your passport gets stolen, you’ll be relieved to know you’ve got a safety net in place.
Great for complicated trips
If you’ve got a 12-page itinerary planned out with back-to-back flights or expensive activities lined up, comprehensive policies can help you out. If one hiccup sets off a chain reaction of cancellations and rebookings, you may not have to stress about the deposits you’ve lost or additional expenses you incur.
More expensive
Because you’re getting more coverage, it makes sense that a comprehensive travel policy will cost more than others. But if you’ve got a limited figure sitting in your holiday fund, the top-level premium price might feel like a tough trade-off.
Might include cover you don’t need
If you’re travelling with the clothes on your back or have flexible plans, you might not need all those big policy limits. If you aren’t bringing any fancy cameras or laptops or renting a car, then it might suit you better to opt for a lower coverage option. That way, you’re still covered but aren’t paying for features you don’t need.
Exclusions still apply
Even comprehensive policies can’t cover you for everything under the sun. Most comprehensive policies have some exclusions or claim limits to their coverage. Exclusions could include certain medical condition exclusions and high-risk adventure sports, and limits could apply to things like replacing luggage.
Covers a wide range of situations
Comprehensive cover casts a wide net, from medical emergencies to overseas dental, rental car excess, personal liability, and more. Basically, you’ve got backup for most ‘what-if’ scenarios that might pop up, even the ones you don’t see coming.
Better peace of mind
If you’re an overthinker or a stressed parent on your first big family trip, comprehensive cover can help you breathe easier and enjoy your time away. Whether your flights get cancelled or your passport gets stolen, you’ll be relieved to know you’ve got a safety net in place.
Great for complicated trips
If you’ve got a 12-page itinerary planned out with back-to-back flights or expensive activities lined up, comprehensive policies can help you out. If one hiccup sets off a chain reaction of cancellations and rebookings, you may not have to stress about the deposits you’ve lost or additional expenses you incur.
More expensive
Because you’re getting more coverage, it makes sense that a comprehensive travel policy will cost more than others. But if you’ve got a limited figure sitting in your holiday fund, the top-level premium price might feel like a tough trade-off.
Might include cover you don’t need
If you’re travelling with the clothes on your back or have flexible plans, you might not need all those big policy limits. If you aren’t bringing any fancy cameras or laptops or renting a car, then it might suit you better to opt for a lower coverage option. That way, you’re still covered but aren’t paying for features you don’t need.
Exclusions still apply
Even comprehensive policies can’t cover you for everything under the sun. Most comprehensive policies have some exclusions or claim limits to their coverage. Exclusions could include certain medical condition exclusions and high-risk adventure sports, and limits could apply to things like replacing luggage.
How much does comprehensive travel insurance cost?
When it comes to travel insurance, there are a lot of variables. It’s hard to pin the price down to one number, since factors like age, destination, length, excess, and optional extras all play a part in that final premium figure.
But if you’re planning to visit any of Australia’s top 10 holiday spots (from 2023–24), here are some price estimates you can factor into your budgeting sheet. Just remember that these are averages, not price promises, and your price can change depending on your trip and what you need covered.
Who would comprehensive travel insurance policies suit best?
Comprehensive travel insurance policies might not be for every traveller. But for some trips, it makes a lot of sense to choose the extra coverage. Especially if you want your biggest travel decision to be whether you order the seafood platter or the pasta each night.
Families travelling with kids
No matter what age your kids are, you’ll want to make sure they’re covered if they get sick or leave their bag behind in the airport taxi. Comprehensive policies are there to keep the whole family protected, so you can introduce the kids to new experiences with less stress.
Travellers with a big budget
If you’ve treated yourself to luxury hotels, guided tours, or first-class flights, you’ll probably want coverage in case anything gets cancelled. Even if you have to shuffle around your itinerary, at least you won’t have to pay for it twice.
Older travellers
The older we get, the more we want backup in case something unexpected pops up. Comprehensive policies can help cover medical emergencies and give you a bit more breathing room if any issues pop up mid-holiday.
Travellers with medical conditions
If you have a pre-existing condition, you might want the added peace of mind to travel with a comprehensive plan. If something does happen and you have a flare-up mid-trip, a comprehensive policy can help you skip that massive bill so you can focus on your recovery.
Travellers with lots of connecting flights or destinations
If you’ve got a carefully curated list of connecting flights, a comprehensive policy can mean added assurance. If something derails your carefully planned schedule, at least you’ll be able to claim that extra night’s accommodation.
How do I choose the best comprehensive travel insurance policy for me?
When looking for the best comprehensive travel insurance policy, it’s not about clicking on the first option you see (although that may be tempting). There are a few things to check before choosing a travel insurance policy that works for your trip.
Your age
Age plays a big factor in your final premium price. Some travel insurers will cover travellers up to 100 years old, but premiums can creep up at certain ages. Make sure to check what age limits apply and what your premium might look like for your age bracket.
What’s included
Comprehensive, sadly, doesn’t mean all-inclusive. It’s worth checking what exactly is included in your policy and to make sure you’re covered for what’s important to you.
Your limits
Some comprehensive plans come with payout limits on how much you can claim. Some are unlimited, while others will have a set figure, so make sure that matches up with the price of your possessions or flight costs, and so on.
Any extra coverage you need
Comprehensive policies will let you add optional extra cover on top of your policy. If you’re going on a cruise or have some snow or adventure sports planned, make sure you’ve got the relevant extra cover ticked off.
Pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a pre-existing condition, make sure to declare it with your travel insurer beforehand. It might mean an increase in your premium, but it’s better than getting caught without cover if something flares up.
Excess amounts
Depending on your excess amount, you could see your premium rise or drop a little. You usually can tweak this amount slightly, so remember that the lower your excess, the more you’ll have to pay out of pocket if something does go wrong.
Helpful tip
There’s one thing that could bump up your budget: your age. Most travel insurers will cover people up to 100 years old, but if you’re over 60 or 80 (depending on the provider), your premium might start to climb. For travellers over 80, you could see your excess jump from around $100–$200 to anywhere between $2,000–$3,000 for claims relating to illness or injury. So it’s worth adding a little extra buffer to your travel insurance budget, just in case.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
Cover your trip from take-off to touchdown
Travel with confidence, no matter what unexpected event might throw you off your original plans. Whether you’re hit by some sudden and severe weather or lose your passport, comprehensive travel insurance is there to be your knight in shining armour. Start your search and compare from a range of travel insurance policies to find a great fit for your travel plans.
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