Don't leave Australia without it. Here's what you need to know.
Medicare does not cover you overseas (except in a few countries with reciprocal healthcare agreements, and even then, only for essential treatment). A medical emergency overseas without insurance can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. A medical evacuation flight from a remote area can cost $50,000-$100,000+. Travel health insurance is not optional — it's essential.
Not all travel insurance is equal. For health coverage, check for: unlimited or high-cap medical cover (at least $1 million), medical evacuation and repatriation cover, cover for pre-existing conditions if relevant, 24/7 emergency assistance hotline, cover for hospital admission and surgery, and cover for dental emergencies.
If you're engaging in adventure activities (trekking, diving, motorbike riding), check that your policy covers these specifically — many standard policies exclude them.
This is critical if you're travelling to countries with limited medical facilities — think Papua New Guinea, remote parts of Africa, Nepal, or small Pacific islands. Medical evacuation can mean an air ambulance to the nearest hospital with appropriate facilities, or repatriation back to Australia. Without insurance, you pay the full cost.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you must declare it when purchasing travel insurance. Some policies exclude pre-existing conditions entirely. Others will cover them for an additional premium. Failure to declare a pre-existing condition can void your entire policy — not just the claim related to that condition.
The Australian Government's Smartraveller website strongly recommends travel insurance for all overseas travel. They advise checking your policy covers your specific destination, planned activities, and the full duration of your trip. Check their website for current advice.
Australian travel insurance policies vary widely. Before buying, check that the policy covers each of the following — many cheap policies have meaningful gaps.
Look for unlimited medical and hospital cover, or at minimum $5 million. Costs for serious illness or accident overseas can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. A US hospital admission for appendicitis can exceed AUD $80,000. A hip-fracture admission in Bali requiring evacuation to Singapore plus treatment plus follow-up evacuation home can exceed AUD $250,000.
This is the single most expensive component of overseas medical events. A medical-equipped flight from Bali to Australia is typically $40,000–80,000. A flight from Europe with a doctor and nurse escort can exceed $200,000. Confirm that evacuation is covered without a sub-limit, that the insurer arranges the evacuation (rather than you paying upfront and claiming back), and that repatriation of remains is included.
Most policies cover only emergency pain relief, not restorative work. A broken filling that requires a crown abroad will typically be paid out-of-pocket. Standard cover ranges from $500–$2,000.
Cancellation cover for non-refundable bookings (flights, accommodation, tours) if you can't travel due to illness, injury, family emergency, or — increasingly important — natural disasters and political unrest at the destination. Confirm whether pandemic-related cancellation is covered (most older policies excluded it; many post-2020 policies now include partial cover).
Standard policies often exclude or sub-limit motorbike riding (the leading cause of insurance claims in Bali, Vietnam, and Thailand), scuba diving below 18 metres, snow sports, mountain trekking above defined altitude limits, and motorsport. If your itinerary includes any of these, buy a policy with explicit cover or a specific adventure-travel rider.
Australian insurers generally cover pre-existing conditions only if they are declared, assessed, and accepted (often with an additional premium). Failing to declare a condition that later contributes to a claim is the most common reason for denied claims. Common conditions that need declaration include diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease, mental-health conditions, pregnancy, and recent surgery.
A pre-existing condition is generally defined as anything for which you have received medical advice, treatment, or medication in the past 12–24 months, or any chronic or ongoing condition. Read your policy's definition carefully — it varies between insurers.
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with several countries that provide access to subsidised public-system care for medically necessary treatment. As of the most recent DFAT update, RHCAs are in place with the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, and the Netherlands.
RHCAs are not a substitute for travel insurance. They cover only "medically necessary" public-system treatment and do not cover medical evacuation, repatriation, private hospital care, ambulance transfers, or any non-medical losses. The agreements have specific eligibility rules and sometimes time limits — confirm with Services Australia before relying on one.
If you need medical treatment overseas, contact the insurer's 24-hour emergency line as soon as possible — most policies require it for cover to apply. The insurer will arrange direct billing with the hospital where possible. Keep all receipts, medical reports, and police reports (for theft or accident-related claims). Most claims must be lodged within 30–60 days of return.
If a claim is denied and you believe it should not be, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) provides free dispute resolution for travel-insurance claims under $500,000.
Independent of insurance, register your trip with Smartraveller. The Australian Government subscription service alerts you to changes in advisory level, sends emergency information during major incidents, and provides a record that DFAT can use to contact you in a crisis. It is free, takes about two minutes, and is recommended for every overseas trip.
Last updated: April 2026