The Need for International Travel Insurance

The DFAT smartraveller.gov.au site states only around 0.6% of Australians departing Australia for overseas destinations each year encounter any difficulties - sickness or accident, theft or other event. When you read a figure like that it seems incredibly insignificant. It would be easy to think you could get away without international travel insurance until you discover a few more facts.

Over 20,000 cases are helped by our Embassies and Consulates each year - approximately 700 of these are hospitalisations, about 600 are deaths and about 100 are emergency medical evacuations. But note - these figures do not include all the cases, both minor and major, that are attended to direct by the various insurance companies who cover Aussies abroad.

Low Cost Back-Up at a Critical Time

The back-stop of international travel medical insurance is placed totally in perspective when you consider figures like $800 per day in many overseas hospitals for the bed alone, medical evacuation costs that can reach $100,000 plus, and countries where you will not be seen unless you have travel insurance or where you need to pay before treatment. This is where the emergency medical component of your travel insurance is absolutely vital.

Each insurance company aligns their policies with an international emergency assistance group which provides the actual emergency assistance and medical evacuation if necessary. As well as comparing the travel/theft elements of your policy when you get international travel health insurance, you need to confirm what the emergency assistance component offers.

Emergency medical can include 24/7 over the phone advice from a medical professional, legal advice, hospital case management, payment guarantees, assistance in replacing lost documents, providing updates to family.

Never underestimate the value of someone to'hold your hand' when you're overseas and in trouble.

Finding Cheap International Travel Insurance

Check out these keys points to purchasing high quality cover at the cheapest price:

• Get your international travel insurance quote and purchase online. Savvy travel insurance companies have really focussed on this fast and easy way to purchase cover, with a number of companies keeping costs really low by operating totally online.
• If you're a student traveller, are taking off on your gap year, or are a backpacker on a budget, check around for companies and policies that are tailored to your specific needs.
• Avoid purchasing through a travel agent. That's right, you don't 'have to' purchase travel insurance with the agent when you book a tour/accommodation/flights - it is your choice to check around and find the cheapest and best international travel insurance for you.