Did you know, most travel insurers require you to have a start and return date in Australia in order to buy a policy? So if you're going overseas and not planning on returning, finding cover can be a tad tricky!
One way travel insurance will cover you for any unforeseen events that could happen during your one way flight and trip away, however, in most cases cover typically ends when you reach your final destination and have passed immigration. This varies from insurer to insurer, some will cover you for a period in your final destination, so make sure you check this before purchasing.
Typical Conditions Of Cover:
- You must tell your insurer you’ve only bought a one way ticket otherwise your cover could be invalid
- You must be an Australian citizen
- A waiting period may apply to claims for illness or injury
- In many cases your trip must originate in Australia (but not always)
- Like any policy there might be age restrictions (listed below)
- You must tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions you have
- One way insurance might expire between 24 hours to 7 days after you arrive at your destination
It's important to note that should you require repatriation to Australia, travel insurance would normally use your return ticket to get you home. However, on a one-way journey (with no return ticket) you will need to contribute the equivalent of an economy ticket for the return journey.
Keep Your Insurer Up-To-Date
If you’ve purchased a single trip policy but decide to extend your trip but forget to extend your insurance, you will find yourself without cover. If you do not return home on the date that’s specified on your certificate of insurance, and you do not tell your insurer, your policy could be cancelled.
Read The Small Print
We know it's not particularly exciting, but each insurers' policy will vary, especially when it comes to their one-way insurance policies. Because of this make sure you read the small print to understand your cover. You don't want to find yourself in a situation when you thought you were covered when in fact you weren't!!
one way travel insurance faqs
Most Australian insurers offer Australian residents cover even if you don't have a return ticket, just so long as you intend to buy a return ticket to come home to Australia before your policy expires. If you're a non-resident going on holiday from Australia to another country, many insures will require you to have a return ticket at time of purchase as a condition. If you're leaving Australia with no intention to return home in the next 12-18 months, because you're holiday, working overseas or moving for the foreseeable future, most standard travel insurance policies won't cover you, and you'll need to look into a one-way travel insurance policy (like the ones on this page), or you'll may wish to consider coverage from your overseas country. Find out who covers pregnancy and learn more on the conditions of cover for each travel insurer using our table above.
Yes, the insurers in the table above offer coverage to travellers who are only travelling one-way, and do not require you to have a return ticket for their one-way policies.
Bupa's health insurance generally does not cover you while travelling, however they do offer a separate travel insurance product. If you're a non-resident, many insurers will ask if you have private health insurance in Australia if you don't have access to Medicare, and your Bupa health insurance may fulfil their criteria - but check the documents of both policies to be sure.
Eugene Wylde
Eugene is the king of insurance! Having spent more than ten years raising awareness on the importance of holiday protection, he is a self-confessed insurance geek extraordinaire when it comes to the world of travel cover. Eugene loves helping people save time, worry and loads of money with the right policy at the right price. His ideal holiday is any one where he has a pina colada in his hand. Salut!
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Travel insurance for visitors to Australia
Are you visiting Australia from overseas? Or do you live in Australia and need to arrange travel insurance for friends or family visiting you?
