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International Travel Insurance Policies with COVID Cover [2024]
In normal circumstances, almost no travel insurance policy covers any event related to a pandemic, epidemic, or any other outbreak.
But since early 2022, travel insurance providers have started introducing COVID-19 cover to provide a level of certainty — or at least protection — in these unpredictable times.
Virtually every international travel insurance policy in Australia with COVID cover protects you financially if you become sick or are hospitalised with COVID-19 while overseas.
However, the best travel insurance policies provide additional support if you have to cancel or amend your travel plans because of the spicy cough, or if you have to fork out extra because of unforeseen travel delays thanks to a positive test result.
In this article, we compare different international travel insurance with COVID cover and provide our pick of the best policy for Australians in 2024.
Before we begin:
With the unpredictability of the times, travel insurance policies are always changing. Be sure to check the latest PDS and study the terms and conditions before you take out a policy.
Also, while it’s impossible to provide a complete comparison of international travel insurance with COVID cover, we’ve done our best to cover all the most popular policies in Australia.
Best International Travel Insurance for COVID-19
NIB International Comprehensive Plan
Best Features
- Unlimited cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs
- Unparalleled cover for trip cancellation and amendment due to COVID-19
- Includes cover for the costs of compulsory quarantine, such as additional travel, meals, and accommodation
- Includes cover for childcare costs if you have COVID-19 and are unable to care for your dependents
- Includes cover for pet-sitting services in Australia if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and unable to travel home on schedule
- Same cover is available for Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip Plans
The NIB Comprehensive Travel Insurance plan is easily the best travel insurance for COVID-19 among the policies we compared. To begin with, it offers an unparalleled $10,000 in travel costs if your trip is affected by COVID-19.
This is already double any other policy benefit we compared for trip cancellations and amendments (with the exception, perhaps, of Allianz, as you will see). Yet it gets better. This benefit covers a wide range of circumstances overlooked by other policies. For example, you may be reimbursed if:
- A prepaid tour is cancelled because the tour guide gets COVID-19
- Your prepaid accommodation arrangements fall through from staff shortages caused by COVID-19 or for mandatory cleaning
- You are denied public transport because they suspect you have COVID-19
- A close relative or business partner in Australia is hospitalised or dies from COVID-19, cutting your trip short
If you’re forced to quarantine, you may receive generous cover for everything from the in-room entertainment at your accommodation to pet-sitting services if you can’t get back home on schedule.
Best Features
- Unlimited cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs
- Choose your level of trip cancellation and amendment cover
- Up to $50,000 for additional expenses if you or your travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19
- 24/7 overseas emergency assistance with access to registered nurses and doctors
- Available for Single Trip or Multi-Trip plans
- Full or partial premium refund if you cannot travel due to border closures, lockdowns, or other travel restrictions
Allianz has an interesting approach to its international travel insurance for COVID-19. Unlike most other travel insurance policies, Allianz includes COVID-19 in its existing list of benefits. The coronavirus isn’t treated as an exemption with its own special benefits and excess.
While Allianz generally excludes ‘epidemics and pandemics’ from its cover, it does provide ‘selected benefits’ if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19. This includes cover for trip cancellations, travel amendments, and overseas medical expenses.
Importantly, Allianz doesn’t distinguish between COVID-19 and other, more general reasons when it comes to claiming trip cancellations, amendments, or additional expenses. You’ll receive the same level of cover regardless.
This means that if you choose unlimited cover for cancellations and amendments, it will cover COVID-19-related costs as well. It also explains why you may claim up to $50,000 for additional expenses (far and away the best benefit we found for this policy item), although examples of these costs are not specified in the Product Disclosure Statement.
Compare the Best International Travel Insurance with COVID Cover for Australians in 2024
| Medical cover for COVID-19 | Cancellation or amendment costs due to COVID-19 | Additional expenses due to COVID-19 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIB Comprehensive | Unlimited | Up to $10,000 | Up to $10,000 |
| Allianz Comprehensive | Unlimited | Choose up to unlimited cover | Up to $50,000 |
| Fast Cover Comprehensive | Unlimited | Up to $5,000 per adult | Up to $5,000 |
| Cover-More Comprehensive | Unlimited | Up to $5,000 | Up to $2,500 |
| Medibank International Comprehensive | Unlimited | Up to $5,000 | Up to $2,500 |
| Southern Cross International Comprehensive | Unlimited | Up to $5,000 | Not covered |
| InsureandGo Gold | Unlimited | Up to $5,000 | Included in Cancellation cover |
| World2Cover Top Cover | Unlimited | Up to $3,500 | Included in Cancellation cover |
| Tick Travel Insurance Standard Cover | Unlimited | Up to $2,500 | Not specified |
| World Nomad Explorer Plan | Unlimited | Up to $2,500 per person ($5,000 policy limit) | Included in Cancellation cover |
| 1Cover Travel Insurance | Unlimited | Not covered | Not covered |
Cover-More International Comprehensive+
Best Features
- Unlimited cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs
- Up to $5,000 for trip cancellations and amendments due to COVID-19 (either pre-departure or mid-travel)
- Up to $2,500 for COVID-19-related additional expenses
- Special extra cover for international trips to New Zealand
- Additional COVID-19 excess applies in some circumstances
- Access to emergency assistance 24/7
Any Cover-More international travel insurance policy includes unlimited cover for medical costs related to COVID-19. However, the Comprehensive+ policy provides greater coverage for unforeseen events relating to COVID.
If you or your travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 while you’re away and you need to self-isolate, you can claim up to $5,000 for trip cancellation or amendment costs. However, a special excess of $500 applies on top of the standard policy excess.
If you incur additional transport or accommodation costs as a result of any self-isolation requirements, you may also claim up to $2,500. An additional $250 excess applies.
You can also make cancellation or amendment claims if your trip is disrupted before you’ve even left home because:
- You or your travelling companion have been diagnosed with COVID-19
- Your relative or business partner in Australia has been diagnosed with COVID-19
- You’re an essential healthcare worker and your leave is revoked
You also receive extra benefits for trips to New Zealand from Australia. For example, you can claim alternative accommodation costs if your accommodation arrangements fall through because of COVID-19 isolation or sanitation requirements.
Medibank International Comprehensive Plan
Best Features
- Unlimited cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs
- Up to $5,000 for trip cancellations and amendments due to COVID-19
- Up to $2,500 for additional expenses if you’re diagnosed with COVID and required to self-isolate
- Special extra cover for international trips to New Zealand
- Additional COVID-19 excess applies in some circumstances
Medibank international travel insurance provides a reasonable level of COVID-19 cover. Beyond unlimited medical and trip cancellation cover, there is also cover for additional expenses you may incur. This could include quarantine or isolation costs if you get COVID or the costs of extending your stay overseas because you got COVID.
If you’re travelling to New Zealand, you can also make claims for a range of other additional expenses, such as accommodation costs if your chosen option has to shut down because of COVID-19 or if your host gets COVID.
Pay attention to the extra $500 excess for trip cancellation and amendment claims due to COVID-19 and the $250 extra excess for additional COVID-19 expenses claims. That’s on top of the standard excess.
Southern Cross International Comprehensive
Best Features
- Unlimited cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs
- Up to $5,000 for trip cancellations and amendments due to COVID-19 (either pre-departure or mid-travel)
- Up to $5,000 cover to change travel plans if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19
- No cover is available if you are a close contact and need to self-isolate or quarantine
While Southern Cross provides stock-standard COVID-19 cover in its international comprehensive travel insurance, the policy is still worth considering for its generous cover for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage ($25,000 — better than almost any other policy in our international travel insurance comparison).
Beyond unlimited medical cover, you may claim up to $5,000 if you need to change your travel arrangements mid-journey because you’re diagnosed with COVID-19. However, this cover is reduced to $2,500 per person (up to $5,000 per journey) if you test positive before you travel and need to cancel or delay the trip.
InsureandGo Gold
Best Features
- Unlimited cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs
- Up to $5,000 for trip cancellations and amendments due to COVID-19
- Includes cover for additional costs to catch up to your original schedule
- No additional COVID-19 excess
InsureandGo Gold’s COVID-19 trip cancellation and disruption benefit is generous, covering everything from travel and accommodation to prepaid excursions, tours, and even meals. You’re also covered if you need to pay unexpected costs to catch up to your original schedule.
If you, your travelling companion, or a close relative back home is diagnosed with COVID-19, InsureandGo may cover up to $5,000 if you need to cancel or amend your trip.
The best bit? There’s no additional excess.
The InsureandGo Silver Plan is a more affordable alternative that still provides unlimited medical cover, as well as trip cancellation and disruption cover — albeit, at a reduced benefit of $2,500.
World2Cover Top Cover
Best Features
- Unlimited cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs
- Up to $3,500 for trip cancellations and amendments due to COVID-19
- Cancellation cover includes some additional expenses due to COVID-19
- Choose your excess
World2Cover provides generous cover for a range of circumstances resulting from COVID-19, including quarantine requirements, trip cancellations if a relative or business partner in Australia dies from COVID, and prepaid accommodation cancellations due to cleaning or an outbreak. However, there’s a catch: The cover is combined for all events and is capped at a low $3,500.
Tick Travel Insurance Standard Cover
Best Features
- Unlimited cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs
- Up to $2,500 for trip cancellations due to COVID-19
- Includes cover for additional costs to catch up to your original schedule
The Tick Travel Insurance Standard plan provides as much COVID-19 cover as its Top cover, making it great value for the benefits you receive.
You’re covered if you test positive for COVID, miss out on prepaid plans (including travel, accommodation, excursion, tour, and even meals), and can’t recoup the costs. You’re also covered for any unexpected expenses where you need to catch up to your original schedule.
World Nomads Explorer Plan
Best Features
- Unlimited cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs
- Up to $2,500 per person ($5,000 policy limit) for trip cancellations due to COVID-19
- Cancellation cover includes some additional expenses due to COVID-19
- Includes cover for childcare costs if you have COVID-19 and are unable to care for your dependents
- Includes cover for pet-sitting services in Australia if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and unable to travel home on schedule
- Low $100 excess
World Nomads COVID insurance covers a range of coronavirus-related trip cancellation or amendment scenarios that most insurance policies do not accept.
Cancellation cover applies if you, your travelling companion, or a close relative in Australia is diagnosed with COVID — whether or not you’ve left home yet. However, you may also be covered for:
- Travel and accommodation costs if your pre-booked accommodation has to close for cleaning
- Additional accommodation, meals, and transport costs if you can’t get on your scheduled transport because they think you might have COVID
- Travel, meals, and accommodation costs (including in-room entertainment!) if you have to quarantine because you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or are a confirmed close contact
- Trip cancellation if you’re an essential worker whose pre-arranged leave is cancelled
- Pet and childcare costs if you’re diagnosed with COVID and unable to care for your dependent children or return home to look after your pets.
Just be mindful that all claims sit under the umbrella benefit of $2,500 per person for cancellation and amendment cover. That’s not a lot if your trip is significantly disrupted because of COVID-19.
1Cover Travel Insurance
Best Features
- Unlimited cover for COVID-19 overseas medical costs
- Does not cover trip cancellation and amendment due to COVID-19
Of all the policies we compared, 1Cover was the only insurance provider that does not provide any kind of benefit if you need to cancel or amend your trip as a result of COVID-19. While treatment for coronavirus is included in the unlimited overseas medical cover, this is not the best international travel insurance to get for COVID-19 cover.
COVID Insurance FAQs
After comparing a huge range of international travel insurance policies in Australia, we have determined that NIB International Comprehensive travel insurance and Allianz International Comprehensive travel insurance provide the best COVID cover for Australians jet-setting overseas.
Both insurance policies provide unlimited medical cover for COVID-19 treatment, as well as generous terms for trip cancellations and amendments as a result of COVID-19.
Yes, most travel insurance policies provide COVID-19 cover, regardless of your vaccination status.
However, it’s also important to be aware of entry requirements for your destination. Some countries require proof of vaccination to visit and few insurance policies cover you if you’re denied entry.
It varies from one policy to the next. While most travel insurance policies offer COVID cover for medical expenses, not all policies cover extenuating circumstances that result from the pandemic, such as trip cancellations, delays, or amendments.
It’s important to always read the Product Disclosure Statement and be aware of the terms and conditions before you buy a policy.
Most international travel insurance policies cover any medical costs associated with the coronavirus.
In addition, some policies may reimburse you if you need to cancel or disrupt your trip because of COVID-19. But the circumstances upon which you can make a claim differ from one policy to the next. In some policies, you can only make a claim if you or your travel partner tests positive for COVID-19.
In other policies, you may be covered for a whole host of circumstances that arise from the pandemic, including accommodation closures, quarantine requirements, or trip cancellations to be with a close relative hospitalised with COVID.
Most travel insurance providers will not cover you if you have to cancel or amend your trip as a result of government border closures, lockdowns, or quarantines.
Nor will you find many insurance providers who will cover you if you are confined to your cabin on a cruise because of COVID-19.
Finally, no travel insurance company covers COVID-19 if you enter a country with an active ‘Do not travel’ warning from the Australian Government (these are updated daily on the Smartraveller website).
You don’t normally have to pay any additional premium to get COVID cover with your international travel insurance, although you may have to choose the top-tier policy to be covered for the coronavirus.
The cost of international travel insurance with COVID cover depends on a variety of factors, including:
- Your age
- Your health
- The duration of your trip
- Your destination
- The level of cover you choose
- Extra cover for certain activities
That said, many insurance policies add on a special COVID-19 excess in some claims. This means that you will have to pay the COVID-19 excess on top of the standard excess.
For example, let’s say your policy has a standard excess of $100 and a special COVID-19 excess of $500 for trip cancellations. If you claim trip cancellation costs because you tested positive for COVID-19 before your flight, a $600 excess applies.
It’s up to the travel insurance provider to decide what countries are included in European policies. Since it differs with policies, it’s best to check that all your destinations are covered before you buy.
In general, countries classed as Europe for the sake of travel insurance include all countries within the European Union, along with most other countries typically considered to be within Europe (including the UK).
Even countries as far afield as Turkey, Bahrain, Iceland, and Afghanistan are included in some travel insurance policies for Europe.
European travel insurance might also include any relevant stopovers on the way to Europe but it will not cover countries that the Australian Government lists on Smartraveller as ‘Do Not Travel’ (such as Ukraine and Russia at the moment).
The best and easiest way to get travel insurance for Europe is to compare travel insurance policies online and then directly visit the website of the insurance provider to buy your policy.
