There’s a lot to think about and plan when going overseas, like accommodation, flights, activities and currency, so you could be forgiven for forgetting to take out travel insurance and only remembering once you’re already overseas. Plans can change as well once you’ve embarked on your trip, and the policy you took out before you left might not cover your change of direction.
The good news is you can get travel insurance if you’re already overseas, but it’s important you understand what conditions apply and what you’re covered for.
Travel insurance provides a financial safety net for a range of things that could go wrong overseas. A suitable travel policy can cover medical bills, luggage and belongings, a range of sports gear, money, travel delays and more.
It’s recommended that you take out travel insurance before you begin your journey, ideally just after you’ve booked your flights or accommodation. That way, you’re likely to be covered from the very beginning, and if your trip is cancelled, you can make a claim to recover lost deposits and booking expenses.
Terms and conditions apply to every policy. Make sure you read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for details. Travel insurance does not cover travel to countries or regions where there is a travel warning. Travel advice can be found on Smartraveller.
The travel insurance you get when you’re already overseas typically covers the same things that travel insurance purchased before your journey covers – though there might be some different limits and conditions. Depending on your policy, you could be covered for:
There may be additional terms and conditions that affect your travel insurance if you purchase cover when you’re already abroad.
One major condition is that providers will often enforce waiting periods on policies purchased when you’re already overseas. You might find that you won’t be covered for losses incurred during this time (usually 72 hours).
Another common condition is that you’ll need to already have booked a return ticket to Australia. Travel insurance for those already overseas typically has time limits for when you need to purchase cover and how long it lasts for.
For example, you may need to purchase travel insurance within 15-30 days of leaving Australia, and it will only cover you for a set period, such as 90 days.
Specific conditions may differ across insurance providers, so it’s important to check the details of the policy before purchasing. You can typically find these details in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
In most cases, only Australian citizens and permanent residents can get travel insurance after they leave Australia. Some providers might also have age limits on who can purchase a travel policy once they’ve left Australia, and a return ticket is also usually required for cover.
Some providers will stipulate that you need to have a return ticket to Australia to get travel insurance when already overseas. Other policies might require that your trip ends in Australia or that you return home by the final date covered in your insurance.
Like regular travel insurance policies, travel insurance for people already overseas can have age limits on who can take out cover. Age limits can range across travel insurance providers, so be sure to check the limits of a policy before purchasing.
Find out more about seniors travel insurance.
You can still purchase travel insurance if you’re overseas already, but you typically won’t be able to make any claims for an incident related to a pre-existing condition. You’ll still have coverage for other emergency medical expenses as well as all other events listed in your policy.
Some providers may allow you to extend your coverage if you already had travel cover but must extend your time abroad beyond the period covered by your original policy. If your provider doesn’t allow you to extend your policy, your other option is to take out a new, already overseas policy.
If you’re intending to stay abroad for a long time, you should consider long term travel insurance instead.
Travel insurance taken out when you’re already overseas generally has the same coverage as if you purchased it before you left. If your policy includes emergency overseas medical expenses, medical repatriation to Australia is typically covered as well. Be sure to check your policy’s PDS for details.
If you’re planning a trip overseas, come see us for your travel insurance before you go! You can compare and purchase a policy online in minutes with our simple and free-to-use travel insurance comparison service. Our tools help you weigh up coverage, costs and excess payments with ease – all at no cost to you.
If you’re already overseas and need to extend your policy or take out a new one, contact your provider directly for help.
