Fast Cover’s travel insurance buying guide is designed to help Aussie travellers like you better understand:
Our goal is to help make buying travel insurance straightforward, stress-free, and help you understand what you need to know before you buy travel insurance and after you buy travel insurance.
While we aim to help make buying travel insurance a fast and simple process for Aussie travellers, please note that any advice is general advice only and doesn't consider your personal and financial circumstances. Please always remember to do your own research for more information.
This page provides only a summary of some benefits available under Fast Cover’s travel insurance policies and does not replace the Product Disclosure Statement which sets out the full terms and conditions of cover including benefit limits, sub-limits and exclusions that apply. Please note we can only provide cover for the circumstances and situations covered by your travel insurance policy and listed on your Certificate of Insurance. Every traveller’s needs are different, so check the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination to find the right policy for you and decide whether you need travel insurance.
Travel insurance is a type of insurance that provides cover for the cost of unexpected and unforeseen emergencies and events that may impact travellers before and during their trip. Travel insurance is designed to help travellers better prepare to deal with unexpected and unforeseen situations and circumstances that could arise before they leave for their trip or while they are travelling, should the unexpected happen.
Think of travel insurance like a safety net that travellers contribute to together. When you buy a travel insurance policy with Fast Cover, you’re paying a premium that goes into a shared pool with other travellers. In a very broad sense, insurers pool money together from the large number of people who purchase a travel insurance policy. This pool of money is what allows travel insurers like Fast Cover to step in and help cover the costs when a policy holder experiences an unexpected situation that is covered under their travel insurance policy before their trip or while travelling.
Not everyone who buys a travel insurance policy will need to make a claim, but having travel insurance ensures you won’t face large upfront costs if an unexpected event that is covered by your policy occurs before or during your trip. If you need to make a claim, this shared system provides financial support so that if something unexpected happens, such as having to cancel your trip, you can access applicable policy benefits and avoid being left with out-of-pocket expenses.
Travel insurance policy prices vary between trips, travellers and travel insurance companies. A premium is the price a traveller pays for their travel insurance policy. The policy price or premium is calculated by considering a number of factors. Some of the factors that travel insurance companies may take into account when considering your premium include but are not limited to:
Some travel destinations pose higher risks to travellers, or generally are more expensive for travellers seeking medical treatment. For example, staying overnight in hospital in the United States can be significantly more expensive than staying in a hospital in Thailand.
For this reason, travel insurance policies for individuals travelling to the United States may generally be more expensive than travellers going for the same period of time to Southeast Asia.
Older travellers are generally found to be more likely to make a claim from an incident while travelling. The cost of these claims can also be more expensive due to their severity.
If you are travelling for a longer period of time, you increase your risk of experiencing an unexpected emergency. The policy premiums for travellers going on longer trips will generally be higher than policy premiums for travellers going to the same destinations for a shorter period of time.
If you have an existing medical condition which is typically defined in the PDS, a travel insurer may automatically provide cover for the condition, or not provide cover for the condition, or provide cover for the condition if you pay an additional premium.
Travellers usually need to complete a medical screening over the phone or online to determine if their existing medical condition can be covered under applicable policy benefits.
Travel insurance companies typically offer a range of travel insurance policies with different benefits and/or different benefit limits allowing customers to choose from a range of policies that suit your unique travel needs.
Comprehensive policies tend to include the most benefits and have the highest benefit levels, compared to basic policy options which typically provide medical only cover and may have some lower policy benefits. Policies that have lower levels of cover and lower benefit limits and sub-limits can result in a cheaper policy, however it is important to note that there would be limited situations in which you would have cover.
Different activities involve different levels of risk. Some travel insurance policies will automatically cover some activities such as bungee jumping, trekking to a specified altitude, and snorkelling.
However, there are activities which may not be automatically covered due to their higher risk, such as going on a cruise, skiing or snowboarding, riding a motorcycle, moped or scooter, quad biking or jet skiing. If you are planning on doing higher risk activities, you may need to pay an additional premium for adding optional extras to your travel insurance policy to ensure you have cover for these types of activities.
Travellers may be able to pay an additional premium to specify some of their items as specified high-value items on their Certificate of Insurance. These specified high-value items would be covered for more than what they’re covered for under the standard luggage and personal effects terms and conditions of your policy.
Travel insurance excess is the amount that you are required to pay or bear for each claimable event under your policy. The excess on claims depends on the excess you chose at the time that you purchased your policy and will be listed on your Certificate of insurance. A higher excess can result in a lower policy premium.
Most travel insurance companies offer a range of policies with different cover levels and cover types, allowing customers to choose from a range of policy options that suit their unique travel needs. Each policy type and cover level will have specific terms and conditions, benefit limits and sub-limits and exclusions that may apply. Cover can vary significantly between different insurers, and even between different products and policies offered by the same travel insurance provider, so it’s essential to read key policy documents to understand the cover that may be available to you.
Below is an example of the cover types and some levels of cover available with Fast Cover. Keep in mind that travel insurers may have different names for the types of cover and levels of cover they offer. Each travel insurer will have unique policy terms and conditions of cover.
When purchasing a travel insurance policy, travellers can typically choose from one of the following cover types depending on who is travelling:
Single travel insurance policies typically cover one person travelling alone, or one traveller and their dependants (which is typically defined in a Product Disclosure Statement).
A Duo travel insurance policy covers two adults who are travelling together.
A family travel insurance policy can cover multiple people travelling together, usually parents and children, or grandparents and their grandchildren.
Often called a Medical Only policy, a Basic policy most of the time just covers medical expenses while you are travelling overseas. Fast Cover’s Basics Policy provides the necessary emergency assistance and medical cover with the option of adding luggage cover.
A Standard policy usually may offer a medium level of cover. It usually includes cover for costs associated with overseas medical emergencies, unexpected cancellations, and cover for loss, theft or damage to luggage and personal effects. For travellers who are more budget conscious but still want a high level of cover, Fast Cover’s Standard Saver Policy may be a great choice.
A Comprehensive policy is generally the highest level of cover available among travel insurance providers. It may provide the same benefits as a Standard policy, but with higher benefit limits and additional benefits available to provide cover for the costs associated with travel delay expenses and other events. If you are the kind of person who likes to have broad cover, the Comprehensive Policy offers Fast Cover’s highest level of cover.
Before you buy travel insurance, it’s important to consider a number of factors that may affect you, your travel plans and your travel insurance policy. We’ve put together a guide on what you might want to consider before buying travel insurance.
No one likes reading the fine print, but reading key policy documents such as the Product Disclosure Statement (commonly referred to as the PDS) before you purchase a travel insurance policy is an important step to take before deciding if the travel insurance policy is right for you. Travel insurers place the responsibility on you to read the PDS in full to decide if the cover offered is right for you before buying a policy.
The insurer will ask you to carefully consider:
When it comes to making a claim, travel insurers assess each claim on a case-by-case basis with reference to your Certificate of Insurance and the Product Disclosure Statement. So, it is essential that you review the PDS carefully to understand the policy terms and conditions, benefit limits and sub-limits, as well as any exclusions that may apply. This ensures you are aware of the circumstances and situations in which your policy may provide cover, and those in which you may not have cover.
A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is a written document that includes information relating to a particular financial product such as travel insurance, health insurance or a home loan. A PDS generally includes eligibility criteria, terms and conditions of the product, benefits, limits, sub-limits and any exclusions that apply.
Before we dive into the detail, here’s a quick (and brief) summary on how to read key sections of a travel insurance PDS, though it is very useful to read through the whole PDS to understand your travel insurance cover and conditions in detail:
A travel insurance PDS includes the following key sections:
The PDS typically sets out the eligibility requirements travellers must meet in order to be eligible to purchase a travel insurance policy. This may include criteria about where you reside, where your trip starts and ends and age limits among other criteria.
Insurers will often define what is meant by key terms for example, ‘dependant/s’, 'luggage and personal effects’, ‘snow sports’, etc.
The PDS includes terms and conditions of cover to explain the situations and circumstances in which cover under the various benefits would apply. Insurers explain the terms and conditions in which they will and won’t pay out a claim.
The policy benefits explain the circumstances, situations and events in which you may have cover under your policy subject to the terms and conditions, limits and sub-limits and exclusions that may apply to your policy. Benefits include limits and sub-limits which explain the dollar amount for which you may be covered up to if you need to make a claim.
Benefit limits specify the maximum dollar amount that you can claim for or be covered for. The dollar amount is typically in Australian dollars, especially if the policy is bought from an Australian travel insurance company like Fast Cover. Limits can depend on a number of factors including but not limited to:
Benefit sub-limits are smaller limits within the specified benefit limits. A benefit sub-limit is the maximum dollar amount that you can claim or be covered for, for a specific item, or event under your policy. For example, a luggage and personal effects benefit may have a benefit limit of $15,000 but there may be a sub-limit of up to $3,000 for a mobile phone.
General exclusions outline instances where to the extent permissible by law, your travel insurance policy will not provide you with cover. General exclusions typically apply to all policy benefits and can include situations, circumstances, events, acts or omissions carried out by you. This means that if your claim arises from a situation outlined as a general exclusion, your travel insurer may not be able to provide you with cover.
Although travel insurers are all different, common exclusions in travel insurance may include:
It’s important to know what’s required when making a claim and which documents you’ll need to provide to your travel insurer. Depending on the type of claim, this could include things like a police report, a letter from a medical practitioner, or a statement from your airline or carrier.
The PDS will provide information on how to make a claim, this could include the following among other things:
Your insurer’s PDS will explain how to make a complaint and the steps involved in their dispute resolution process. The PDS will also outline how you can refer your complaint to an external dispute resolution body, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), within the required timeframe if your complaint isn’t resolved to your satisfaction.
No two trips are the same - and your travel insurance shouldn’t be either. Unexpected situations and factors outside of your control could change your travel plans and leave you with out-of-pocket expenses. That’s why it’s important to think about what you might want to consider when you’re looking around for a policy to suit your next holiday. Travel insurance can help better prepare you to deal with unexpected and unforeseen situations that could impact your travel plans, should the unexpected happen. It’s important to consider your personal and financial circumstances and the terms and conditions of your PDS before you decide to get travel insurance.
Here are some situations which you might consider before deciding if you need to purchase travel insurance for your next trip and whether your travel insurance policy can provide cover for these situations:
Are you planning a getaway in Australia or a trip overseas?
You can typically take out a domestic travel insurance policy or an international travel insurance policy. Keep in mind that certain policy benefits are not available when travelling in Australia. For example, travel insurance providers may not provide cover for any medical expenses incurred during your trip within Australia for Australian residents and as medical expenses in Australia are typically covered by Medicare or your private health insurance.
Are you planning a solo adventure, a family trip during the school holidays, or perhaps a romantic getaway to celebrate your anniversary overseas?
You may wish to check whether your travel insurance policy provides cover for singles, couples and families or groups. Consider how the policy benefits and benefit limits apply to all travellers listed on the Certificate of Insurance.
Are you planning to do any additional activities on your trip?
Travel insurance covers a multitude of activities from bike riding to skiing and snowboarding. Depending on your age and the type of policy you choose, you may be able to customise your policy to be covered for the activities you’re planning to do. You may wish to check whether the travel insurance policy provides cover for the types of activities you plan to do in your destination, for example:
Cover for these types of activities may require an additional cover to be added and may incur an additional premium and may have different age limits to standard terms and conditions of your policy.
Will you be riding or be a passenger on a motorcycle, moped or scooter while overseas?
You may wish to check whether the policy provides cover for injuries resulting from those activities, and what conditions (such as licensing requirements or helmet use) may apply.
Perhaps you’ll be renting a vehicle while overseas?
You may wish to check whether the travel insurance policy provides cover for the rental vehicle excess component of the rental vehicle insurance with your car hire company overseas in case your rental vehicle is in an accident, damaged or stolen during your trip abroad.
Worried your valuable personal items like your phone, camera or laptop might be lost, stolen or damaged while you travel?
You may wish to consider whether the travel insurance policy includes cover for luggage and personal effects, including any applicable limits, sub-limits and conditions.
Have you booked a tour, accommodation or flights for your trip?
You may wish to consider whether the travel insurance policy includes cancellation cover in case you can’t travel due to an unforeseen circumstance such as an unexpected illness or injury.
Rescheduling a cancelled trip and dealing with lost deposits and non-refundable flights and accommodation can become stressful and expensive. Consider if your travel insurance can provide cover for trip cancellation expenses.
If you need to cancel your trip due to an existing medical condition, you could be left out of pocket for non-refundable pre-paid trip bookings. While medical expenses you incur in Australia are covered by Medicare or your private health insurance, you could still be out of pocket for non-refundable pre-paid trip bookings if an existing medical condition forces you to cancel your domestic trip.
You may wish to check if your travel insurance policy can provide cover for trip cancellation expenses if you need to cancel your trip due to your existing medical condition/s.
Bad weather and airline operational issues could cause delays and mean you might have to spend extra money on food and accommodation while you wait for a new flight. Consider if your travel insurance can provide cover for travel delay expenses such as reasonable additional meals and accommodation.
If your scheduled transport to special events is cancelled, delayed, shortened or diverted, you could risk spending thousands of dollars on additional transport to make way to your special events on time. Worse yet, you could miss out on special events you’ve already booked and paid for. Consider if your travel insurance can provide cover for special event transport expenses. Keep in mind that special events are typically defined under the PDS and won’t cover every type of event and all situations.
Even if you're an experienced skier, a fellow thrill-seeker may make an unexpected move, you might mogul the wrong way or come off second best with an obstacle on the ski slopes. Consider if your travel insurance can provide cover for unexpected injuries or medical situations including emergency medical and hospital expenses, and emergency medical evacuation and repatriation if you become unexpectedly injured while participating in covered snow sports overseas.
A travel insurance policy can provide cover for a wide variety of situations and may include benefits that provide cover for financial assistance and emergency assistance, although the exact level of cover and benefits available will depend on your policy and PDS. The benefits you might want to look for when buying travel insurance will depend on what kind of trip you’re taking and what’s most important to you.
Below is only a summary of the benefits available under some of Fast Cover’s travel insurance policies to give you an idea of the types of benefits you might want to consider and check if they are included in your policy before purchasing travel insurance. Each insurer and policy have specific terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits so always read the PDS before deciding which policy is right for you and your travel needs.
Medical cover is usually the main reason why travellers buy a policy. The cost of medical expenses in some overseas hospitals can run into the hundreds of thousands, so it is an important benefit to consider when purchasing travel insurance for many travellers.
If you have an existing medical or pregnancy condition that you wish to be covered for, you may be able to complete a medical screening online or over the phone with your travel insurer to determine if they can cover your existing medical or pregnancy condition under your policy.
Medical emergencies can happen anywhere - even on holidays. Consider if your travel insurance policy includes access to a 24/7 Emergency Assistance hotline to support you if you experience an unexpected medical emergency overseas. Emergency Assistance teams may be able to help arrange experienced medical support services in the event of unexpected circumstances.
An unexpected trip to a hospital overseas is the last thing you might want on your itinerary. Consider if your travel insurance policy can provide protection against the financial burden of reasonable and unexpected overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses associated with unexpected illness or injuries, incurred by you, for which you are not reimbursed, during your trip overseas.
Serious pain to your natural teeth is bad enough when you’re at home, let alone overseas. Consider if your travel insurance is able to provide some cover in the event that you need emergency dental treatment overseas.
If you become seriously injured or sick while travelling overseas, access to emergency medical care could make a huge difference. Consider if your travel insurance can help with the cost of getting you to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment or even the cost of flying you back to Australia.
Hospitalised in a foreign country? Consider if your travel insurance is able to help cover some of the out-of-pocket, non-medical expenses which you may have, for example, phone calls or internet access.
Unfortunately, some travellers become injured overseas and are not able to do their usual occupation upon returning home and experience a loss of income. Consider if your travel insurance policy is able to provide some cover to ease the financial strain of loss of income.
In the event that you become injured and permanently disabled, consider if your travel insurance is able to provide you a lump sum payment if you become permanently disabled due to circumstances covered under your policy.
No one wants to die while they travel, however this is an unforeseen tragedy that sometimes does occur. If this does happen, consider if your travel insurance can pay out a lump sum to your estate.
Travel insurance is available to provide cover for a range of expenses and financial losses you may experience before and during your trip, depending on the terms and conditions of your policy. Consider whether your travel insurance is able to provide cover for the following benefits, and the policy terms and conditions, limits and sub-limits and exclusions that apply.
Being covered for trip cancellation expenses is an important consideration for a lot of travellers. Consider if your travel insurance is able to provide cover for reasonable non-refundable pre-paid trip bookings that you cannot recover elsewhere, such as flights, accommodation and tours if you’re unable to travel and need to cancel your trip. Consider which circumstances the policy may provide cover for.
Holidays don’t always go to plan. Consider if your policy is able to provide cover for your reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses if during your trip, your travel is interrupted due to circumstances either overseas or at home and is outside of your control.
Some situations and events can cause your trip to be interrupted. Consider if your travel insurance is able to provide cover for some of the additional expenses to return to or resume your trip if was unexpectedly interrupted.
Travel plans on pause? Events outside of your control such as your pre-booked carrier is cancelled and rescheduled, or delayed, could lead you to incur additional meal and accommodation expenses. Consider if your travel insurance can provide cover for some of your reasonable additional expenses incurred as a result of travel delays.
Lost, stolen or damaged luggage can turn a dream overseas holiday into a traveller’s nightmare! Consider if your travel insurance can provide cover for lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal belongings.
No moisturiser or pyjamas because your luggage was sent to the wrong destination by the airline? Consider if your travel insurance can provide some cover for the necessary expenses you incur if your luggage and personal effects are delayed, misdirected or misplaced.
Unfortunately, some travellers experience theft of cash while overseas. Consider if your travel insurance is able to reimburse you for cash that is stolen from you while overseas. Consider the situations in which cover would apply.
It’s important to keep travel documents safe throughout your travels to avoid issues at borders. Consider if your travel insurance can reimburse you for expenses you incur to replace your travel documents on your overseas trip.
If you are hiring a rental vehicle on your travels, taking out cover for rental vehicle insurance excess will cover the excess portion of your rental car insurance if you damage the rental car in an accident.
Got tickets to a special event? If your scheduled transport is cancelled or delayed, consider if your travel insurance can cover you for reasonable additional travel expenses to help you to get to your special event on time whether it’s a wedding, concert or game day, so you don’t miss the moments that matter.
Consider if your travel insurance can provide cover for your personal liability if you are legally required to pay compensation in respect of someone else’s death or injury, and/or the physical loss of, or damage to, someone else’s property.
For travellers heading to the snow, travel insurance may include unique benefits which can provide cover for costs associated with ski and snow sports, as defined under the PDS. If you’re heading to the snow, consider if your travel insurance provides snow-related benefits.
Are you travelling with your own snow equipment? Consider if your travel insurance can provide some cover if your own snow equipment is permanently lost, stolen or accidentally damaged.
Snow equipment delayed, misdirected, stolen or accidentally damaged? Consider if your travel insurance can provide some cover for hiring replacement snow equipment.
Consider if your travel insurance can provide cover for the unused portion of your pre-booked and pre-paid snow sports expenses such as lift-passes, snow sports equipment hire and lessons.
Despite all your preparation, not everything may go to plan. So, if there’s too much snow, not enough snow, the weather makes it impossible to ski or there’s a power failure, you may be able to claim for the cost of travelling to another resort, and also the cost of the lift passes there.
Covid-19 may still affect travel plans so you may wish to consider if your travel insurance can provide cover for situations impacted by Covid-19.
Consider if your travel insurance can provide some cover for overseas medical expenses and medical support services if you experience a medical emergency due to contracting Covid-19 while overseas.
Consider if your travel insurance can provide cover for trip cancellation and disruption related to you contracting Covid-19 and other circumstances as explained in the policy.
Many travel insurers offer optional add-ons that may allow you to customise your travel insurance policy so you can include cover for a range of activities and adventures to fit you and your travel plans. Keep in mind that specific eligibility criteria, policy terms and conditions, and exclusions will likely apply to different activities and may differ from the standard policy terms and conditions. Consider if your travel insurance provides cover for these activities and adventures:
Some activities such as adventure activities may require you to take out additional cover for an additional premium. Conditions of cover for activities will vary between insurers so always check the insurers PDS to understand which activities are automatically covered and which activities require additional cover.
If you're planning on riding a moped, scooter or motorcycle overseas consider whether your travel insurance is able to provide cover in case you're injured in an accident.
Embarking on a cruise? Consider if your travel insurance is able to provide cover in case of unexpected emergencies on-board the cruise ship and during onshore excursions where no support or reimbursement is provided by the cruise company for these emergencies.
Planning to participate in snow sports? Before you book your trip to the snow, consider taking out travel insurance with cover for snow sports and check whether the policy provides cover for all the snow sports and activities you want to do during your trip. A list of covered snow sports will likely be defined in the ‘words with special meaning’ section of the PDS.
Taking your own bike on your holiday? Consider if your travel insurer can provide cover if your own bike is permanently lost, stolen or accidentally damaged and the conditions of cover that may apply.
Travel insurance can cover you for many of the potential risks you can experience as a traveller. Even if you’re a seasoned globetrotter, you can never be sure nothing will go wrong on your next trip overseas or even on your domestic travel within Australia. While it seems that the only thing you get for paying your premium is a reference number and a Certificate of Insurance with emergency contact numbers on it, some people consider peace of mind a great value. Also there are two key things that may prove immensely valuable in an emergency situation including:
Your travel insurance may be able to connect you with a 24-hour emergency assistance team who can provide travel advice and help in many different situations. For example, an Emergency Assistance team may be able to:
If you’re seriously ill or injured on your trip overseas, travel insurance can provide cover in some emergency medical situations. Your travel insurer may also:
Discover some useful travel insurance tips from travel insurance expert, Fast Cover’s CEO Dean Van Es.
“Our job is to get you back to Australia, to your family, safe and sound as soon as possible. Firstly, to get you healthy and stable, and then to get you home as soon as possible and there’s a whole team that works behind the scenes to do that.”
Travel insurance isn’t just about money; it’s about having a reliable team with real emergency support and a trusted network of hospitals and doctors to help in a crisis. Fast Cover’s Aussie based Emergency Assistance team is available 24/7.
“If you get injured, you need help, and you need it quick. You need the right help and someone like us to guide you through that.”
"Which hospital are you going to go to in Bangladesh? That’s a really good question. We know."
In a foreign country, it’s hard to know who to call, where to go, or who to trust. With Fast Cover’s International travel insurance policies, you get access to experienced teams who can guide you to the right care quickly. When you're injured overseas, speed and local knowledge can make all the difference.
"We have values, the first one is help first, that’s why we exist, and it all flows from there.”
Buying travel insurance should never be about just ticking a box. From your first quote to your final claim, Fast Cover focuses on making your experience smooth, supportive, and human. It's not just what’s covered, it’s how you're looked after when things go wrong.
While it may be tempting to simply buy the cheapest travel insurance policy you can find, it’s important to consider what the policy includes and what you are and are not covered for. Here are some tips you may wish to consider when comparing travel insurance policies to find the best policy for you and your individual circumstances and travel needs:
Discover some useful tips on comparing travel insurance from travel insurance expert, Fast Cover’s COO Kanika Puri.
Many travellers assume that most travel insurance policies offer similar coverage - but in practice, the differences between providers can be substantial and, in some cases, critical. While most policies include common benefits like emergency medical cover or reimbursement for lost or delayed baggage, the specific terms - such as coverage limits, eligibility criteria, conditions, and exclusions - can vary widely. These details can determine whether a claim is approved and how much is actually paid out.
Because no two policies are exactly alike, it’s essential to take the time to compare options carefully and ensure the cover aligns with your travel plans, risk tolerance, and personal and financial circumstances. A policy that looks suitable on the surface may fall short when it matters most - particularly in complex situations or emergencies abroad.
Please note that the above is general information only and doesn’t take into account your individual objectives, financial situation, or needs. You should always refer to the insurer’s Product Disclosure Statement or full policy wording to understand the specific terms, conditions, and exclusions before making a decision.
Depending on the level of cover you take out with your travel insurance policy, Fast Cover can provide you with different benefits to suit your travel plans, helping you to better prepare for and deal with unexpected medical and financial circumstances. Compare our international travel insurance policies below.
Please note: This is only a summary of benefits. Policy terms, conditions, limits, sub limits and exclusions apply to each cover type. Benefit limits shown are for Single and Duo (per person) policies. Pooled Benefits mean that Family policy benefit limits apply for the whole family and are double the corresponding benefit limit under a Single policy, except for certain benefits - please refer to the Product Disclosure Statement for full details. ^Cover under these Benefits are excluded while travelling within Australia.
Medical Benefits |
Basics | Domestic Plus | Standard Saver | Comprehensive | Snow Sports Plus | Frequent Traveller Saver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overseas 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance^ sub-limits: |
Unlimited | ––– | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
|
Funeral/cremation Overseas and/or bringing your remains back to Australia (per person) |
$20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | |
|
Repatriation of your mortal remains from a Schengen listed country back to Australia (only if you have an approved and valid Schengen visa)(per person) |
$60,000 | ––– | $60,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 |
|
Overseas Emergency Medical & Hospital Expenses^ |
Unlimited | ––– | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
|
Overseas Emergency Dental |
$500 | ––– | $750 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
|
Overseas Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation |
Unlimited | ––– | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
|
Overseas Hospital Cash Payment^ sub-limits: |
––– | ––– | ––– | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
|
Daily Limit (per person) |
$50 | $50 | $50 | |||
|
Accidental Death Travellers Aged 80 to 89: |
––– | $25,000 $20,000 |
––– | $25,000 $20,000 |
$25,000 $20,000 |
$25,000 $20,000 |
|
Accidental Death for travellers up to age 79 |
$25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
|
Accidental Death for travellers aged 80 - 89 |
$20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | ||
|
Accidental Death of a Dependant (per Dependant) |
$5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
|
Permanent Disability^ Travellers Aged 80 to 89: |
––– | ––– | ––– | $50,000 $20,000 |
$50,000 $20,000 |
$25,000 $20,000 |
|
Permanent Disability for travellers up to age 79 |
$50,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | |||
|
Permanent Disability for travellers aged 80 - 89 |
$20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | |||
|
Permanent Disability of a Dependant (per Dependant) |
$5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | |||
|
Loss of Income^ sub-limits: |
––– | ––– | ––– | $10,400 | $10,400 | $10,400 |
|
Weekly Limit (per person) - up to 26 weeks |
$400 | $400 | $400 |
Financial Benefits |
Basics | Domestic Plus | Standard Saver | Comprehensive | Snow Sports Plus | Frequent Traveller Saver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Trip Cancellation Expenses sub-limits: |
––– | Unlimited | $25,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
|
Travel Agents Cancellation Fees |
$1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
|
Close Relatives that do not meet Close relative conditions |
$2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | |
|
Personal Liability |
$1,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $2,500,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
|
Trip Disruption Expenses sub-limits: |
––– | $50,000 | $30,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
|
Close Relatives with a Pre-existing Medical Condition |
$2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | |
|
Trip Resumption Expenses |
––– | $3,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
|
Luggage & Personal Effects sub-limits: |
Optional up to $2,000 |
$7,500 | $5,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 |
|
Stand-alone personal computers, cameras and video recorders (excluding devices with integrated cameras or recording functions, such as mobile phones, Drones or similar devices) (per item) |
$3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
|
Mobile phones (per item) |
$1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
|
Tablets (per item) |
$1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
|
All other unspecified items (per item) |
$750 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 |
|
Luggage and Personal Effects stolen from a Locked Storage Compartment of an unattended vehicle during daylight hours. We will pay up to $200 for each item and $2,000 in total for all stolen items. |
$2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
|
Passports, Credit Cards & Credit Card Fraud^ |
––– | ––– | $2,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
|
Special Event Transport Expenses |
––– | $5,000 | ––– | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
|
Rental Vehicle Excess sub-limits: |
––– | $5,000 | Optional up to $8,000 |
Optional up to $8,000 |
Optional | Optional |
|
Return of Rental Vehicle |
$500 | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 | |
|
Travel Delay Expenses sub-limits: |
––– | $2,000 | ––– | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
|
Daily Limit (per person) (we will pay up to $200 for each full 24 hours beyond the initial 6 hour delay) |
$200 | $200 | $200 | $200 | ||
|
Delay of Luggage and Personal Effects^ |
––– | ––– | ––– | $750 | $750 | $750 |
|
Theft of Cash^ |
––– | ––– | ––– | $250 | $250 | $250 |
Snow Sports Benefits |
Basics | Domestic Plus | Standard Saver | Comprehensive | Snow Sports Plus | Frequent Traveller Saver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Snow Sport Equipment |
––– | $1,500 | ––– | ––– | $1,500 | ––– |
|
Snow Equipment Replacement Hire |
––– | $1,500 | ––– | ––– | $1,500 | ––– |
|
Snow Prepaid Expenses |
––– | $750 | ––– | ––– | $750 | ––– |
|
Snow Resort Closure sub-limits: |
––– | $1,000 | ––– | ––– | $1,000 | ––– |
|
Daily Limit (per person) |
$100 | $100 |
COVID-19 Benefits |
Basics | Domestic Plus | Standard Saver | Comprehensive | Snow Sports Plus | Frequent Traveller Saver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
COVID-19 Overseas Emergency Medical, Hospital & Medical Evacuation Expenses |
Unlimited | ––– | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
|
Funeral/cremation Overseas and/or bringing your remains back to Australia (per person) |
$20,000 | ––– | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 |
|
Repatriation of your mortal remains from a Schengen listed country back to Australia (only if you have an approved and valid Schengen visa)(per person) |
$60,000 | ––– | $60,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 |
|
COVID-19 Trip Cancellation & Disruption |
––– | $3,500 | $3,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
The Fast Cover team always strives to deliver the best travel insurance we can for all our travellers. We're very thankful for the Travel Insurance Awards we've received recognising our efforts.
2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 ProductReview.com.au Travel Insurance Award†
2024 Finder Customer Service Satisfaction Awards†
2023 WeMoney Awards†
Now that you’ve researched and compared policies, it’s time to get a quote for your travel insurance. To get an accurate quote you’ll need to know some key information that you will need to enter online into the quote box of your travel insurers website or over share with your travel insurers customer service team over the phone.
Here are some of the things you’ll need to know:
Planning a trip overseas or within Australia? Get a travel insurance quote for your destinations and compare the benefits for your next holiday.
You might want to consider purchasing travel insurance online as soon as you book or pay for your flights, accommodation and tours. If the policy you choose has cover for trip cancellation expenses, this benefit kicks in as soon as you have purchased it. If you need to cancel your trip before you’ve purchased a policy, you won’t be able to claim for any lost payments for hotels, flights or tours.
However, it’s never too late to buy - you can buy a policy right up until you board the plane. And if you’re already en route to your destination and forgot to buy, some travel insurers like Fast Cover also provide the option to purchase an Already Overseas policy. However, a waiting period may apply before you can access some benefits and before you are able to make a claim.
Here are some frequently asked questions about when to buy travel insurance:
Generally, the earlier you buy your travel insurance policy the better, for two main reasons:
At Fast Cover, you can buy travel insurance up to 12 months prior to your departure date, including before you’ve purchased flights or booked your accommodation. Fast Cover’s Standard Saver, Comprehensive, Domestic Plus and Snow Sports Plus policies may provide cover for trip cancellation expenses and this cover commences from the date of policy issue. Fast Cover’s Frequent Traveller saver policy may provide cover for trip cancellation expenses which commence from the policy start date selected by the customer.
If you buy a policy that includes cover for trip cancellation expenses, keep in mind you won’t have cover for deposits you haven’t made yet (for example, flights you haven’t booked). As soon as you do make these deposits, the travel insurance policy you’ve taken out will provide cover for them under the terms and conditions of your policy. Please refer to Fast Cover’s PDS for the terms and conditions which apply to the cancellation of cover. Each insurer may have different terms and conditions for cancellation cover so it is important to read the PDS to understand how cancellation cover may apply to your policy.
Age is one factor that contributes to the cost of travel insurance. The price of travel insurance is calculated on the age you are when you buy the policy, not the age you are when you travel. Compare prices with your age today and your age after your birthday and you might find it’s cheaper to buy a policy before your next birthday!
Most travel insurance companies can provide you with a policy up until you board your flight, cruise ship or begin your road trip. So, if you are at the airport and remember you need insurance, you can always jump on your mobile and buy last-minute travel insurance. Also remember the later you leave purchasing your policy the longer you risk not having cancellation cover.
There are a variety of places to get travel insurance such as:
While ticking a box when purchasing flights may seem convenient, you may wish to consider if taken all of your personal circumstances and travel needs into account and whether you understand what you are covered for. The most important thing you should do is your research, read the PDS and ensure that the policy you are buying will cover you for the type of holiday you’re going on.
Travel insurance is more than just a reference number. Once you’ve purchased your travel insurance policy, you may have a waiting period for some benefits, where there might be NO cover during the waiting period, after which you will be able to make claims under the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy benefits. Here's some information about what happens after you purchase travel insurance.
Your travel insurer will issue you with a Certificate of Insurance that outlines your policy details and lists what you are covered for. Your policy is a legally binding document that tells you exactly what you’re covered for, who is covered in the policy and who you should call if you have an emergency overseas.
Travel insurance companies issue alerts which may affect the cover your policy may provide. You also should be aware of Smartraveller Travel Advisories which are a rating system with four levels of caution, to represent the potential dangers of travelling to a country. These travel advisories can affect whether your policy will cover you if you travel to that country or region.
Once you have purchased your policy, you may be able to make changes due to any mistakes made when purchasing your policy or because your holiday plans have changed.
What you should do when something happens while you are travelling, depends on whether it’s an emergency situation or not. If in doubt, contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team if your policy provides for it and they will be able to advise you on the best course of action to take for your specific situation.
The process to make a claim may differ between travel insurance providers. Below is a general summary of some key steps to making a claim under your travel insurance policy, should a claimable event happen.
Remember to keep all of the relevant documentation to make the claims process as fast and simple as possible. Some of the relevant documentation could include:
You may be able to lodge a claim online with your travel insurance provider by downloading a copy of the claim form and emailing or posting the form with your supporting documentation.
Alternatively, you may be able to lodge a claim over the phone with the support of the claims team. Refer to your PDS for more information on how to make a claim.
Once you have lodged your claim, the claims team will assess your claim on a case by case basis and contact you with the outcome of your claim. If the claims team require more information from you, they will let you know.
To ensure your claim is processed in a timely manner, it’s your responsibility to be truthful and that you provide all the required documentation to back up your claim.
After your claim has been processed by a travel insurance provider, they will contact you to advise you of the outcome of your claim. If you dispute the outcome of the claim, you have the right to escalate the matter to the insurer’s Internal Dispute Resolution Committee. If you dispute the Committees findings, you can then lodge a dispute with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
You may not always agree with the outcome of your claim, or you may not be satisfied with the product or service your travel insurer has provided. While the dispute resolution process may differ between insurers, below is a general summary of some key steps to engaging in dispute resolution.
You may contact your travel insurance provider by email or phone to notify them of any complaints. You may request for your complaint to be escalated to:
If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of your claim, we have an Internal Dispute Resolution process which you have access to for reconsideration of your claim.
The team is typically made up of underwriter representatives who review your claim, all supporting documentation and the ruling made by the claims team. If they find in your favour, the claim denial will be overturned, and your claim will be paid. If they uphold the decision of the claims team, the claim denial will stand.
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority is a free and independent ombudsman service that resolves complaints by consumers and small businesses about financial firms. They are a free, fair and independent dispute resolution scheme.
Their role is to assist consumers and small businesses to reach agreements with financial firms about how to resolve their complaints. They do not act for either party to advocate their position. If a complaint is not resolved between the parties, they will decide an appropriate outcome.
Fast Cover’s Aussie based emergency assistance team are available to provide support when you need it, wherever you are. ^
Emergency Assistance Team: +61 2 8320 7999
While travel insurance may not be necessary for travel, unforeseen and unexpected incidents happen to ordinary travellers every day - from cancelled holidays and lost luggage to serious injuries from falls or major illness. These situations can affect travellers of all ages, from all walks of life, regardless of the type of holiday they take. If it does happen to you, and if you do need to make a claim, having travel insurance can save you thousands of dollars and help travellers better prepare to deal with unexpected and unforeseen situations and circumstances that could arise before they leave for their trip or while they are travelling, should the unexpected happen.
Some countries may require travellers to show proof of health insurance or travel insurance with medical cover before they can enter the country.
For example, Australians aged 18-35 who travel to Canada under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program must take out health insurance for the duration of their stay in Canada as one of the key entry requirements of the IEC program and may be refused entry if they do not have cover for the entire time they will be in Canada. Please note that Fast Cover does not determine if your travel insurance policy meets IEC health insurance requirements. As IEC entry requirements may change over time, it is your responsibility to verify whether the medical coverage on your chosen travel insurance policy meets the IEC health insurance requirement. It is recommended to consult the IRCC or Canadian embassy for specific details.
Discover more travel insurance guides to help you prepare for your next trip
Discover helpful information about travel insurance from Fast Cover’s CEO, Dean Van Es. ~
Learn more about travel insurance in the age of terrorism and how conflicts may affect your travel insurance policy. ~
Learn more about how natural disasters may impact your travel insurance policy. ~
^ Price as at 27/10/2024 compared to the price calculated today for this policy.
* See Product Disclosure Statement for full terms and conditions and exclusions and limits that apply.
# We offer a money back guarantee up to 25 days if you have not started your trip and have not used any of your rights under the Policy (e.g. you have not made a claim or used your policy to obtain a visa). You have a full 25 days from the purchase date of the Policy (as set out in the Certificate of insurance) to make sure you are happy with every aspect of your Fast Cover Travel Insurance Policy and in accordance with our regulatory obligations. This is known as the “cooling off” period. During this time, you may cancel the Policy simply by contacting us and we will give you a full refund. If you decide to cancel your policy outside of this cooling off period, you may be eligible for a partial refund as described in PDS.
† Fast Cover has a referral arrangement with this company. Awards are only one factor to be taken into account when deciding whether this product is right for you. The awards are accurate as at 21/08/25. Check Product Review, Finder and WeMoney for current awards.
° Ratings are only one factor to be taken into account when deciding whether this product is right for you. The star rating is accurate as of 13/08/25. Check Product Review and Google for current ratings.
~ These are only some of the resources, please do your own research to find out more information as per your specific needs and circumstances and to confirm whether the information provided in these resources is correct and current.
†