Many Australians are planning an overseas trip as borders open internationally, but with the fun and excitement of travelling also comes the stress of having to be prepared to quarantine or be vaccinated to enter certain destinations.
As part of our Coronavirus Travel Costs cover (Explorer Plan only), your covered if you or a member of your travelling party are confined to compulsory quarantine because of your or their diagnosis of or confirmed close contact with a case of Coronavirus. We will pay for your reasonable additional travel, meals, and accommodation, including in-room entertainment.
You must also provide written confirmation from the attending medical practitioner or local health authority that your quarantine is necessary due to you or your travelling party's diagnosis or confirmed close contact.
Am I covered if I need to get a COVID-19 vaccine while overseas?
Regarding COVID-19 vaccinations while overseas, we don't cover any costs related to COVID-19 vaccinations as travel insurance only provides medical cover for emergency medical events that occur overseas and that are sudden and unforeseen.
If you test positive to COVID-19 or are a close contact be prepared to stay longer than required at some destinations as you will need to have a negative test before being allowed to leave quarantine.
If you're experiencing a medical emergency and need medical help, contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team who can guide you to the nearest hospital, answer any questions, arrange medical transport, set up direct payments to the medical facility, give support to your family, and help you navigate local customs.
To find out about our cover for Coronavirus-related events and what the terms, conditions, limitations & exclusions may apply to your specific plan, read our Coronavirus cover article.
Traveller tip: do your research on each country you intend to visit as you may be required to undertake a period of quarantine at designated facilities and be required to stay in your location for much longer than you had planned. You may also need to pay for any COVID-related tests such as PCR tests, Rapid Antigen Tests, COVID vaccines, and in some cases, mandatory travel and/or health insurance to enter certain destinations.
What's not covered
While we try and offer cover for as many events as possible, there are some things that we simply don't cover, these include, but are not limited to:
- Medical expenses incurred within Australia.
- A loss arising from travelling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is the subject of a ‘Do not travel' warning issued by the Australian Government (see smartraveller.gov.au).
- A loss arising from a lack of due care and responsibility on your part by neglecting to observe applicable preventative measures for the travel region, as outlined by the World Health Organization, including obtaining relevant vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis, and hygiene measures. Please refer to who.int for further information.
For additional answers to questions about travel and COVID-19 check out the following articles:
- COVID FAQs
- Travel tips for the COVID-19 era
- How the COVID-19 vaccine could impact your travel plans
- Our latest worldwide Travel Alerts
Travel insurance isn't designed to cover everything. Read your policy carefully and make sure you know what's covered and what's not before you buy. Terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. If you're not sure if something is covered or how to claim, contact us.
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Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.