But there are still a few key reasons to consider domestic travel insurance. Most of us already have medical cover at home, be it Medicare or private health insurance or both. *To protect privacy we have changed names and some details Do you need domestic travel insurance? Marco’s family had to pay thousands of dollars for his treatment. Hospitals in the UAE won’t admit you unless you have insurance or can pay an upfront fee. Marco* had breathing difficulties on his way home from Europe, causing his flight to be diverted to the UAE. You’ll need it, along with your passport, to prove you’re eligible for reciprocal health care. Remember to take your Medicare card with you. Travel insurance can cover you for cancellations, delays, stolen items and more.For example, in New Zealand reciprocal health care doesn’t cover you for free or subsidised care by a general practitioner or ambulance. You still may have to pay fees for treatment and medication.If you’re very ill, travel insurance can pay for a medical escort to bring you home to Australia. You’re usually only covered for urgent care that can’t wait until you get home.The answer is yes, for the following reasons. If you have Medicare, you can get subsidised treatment for essential services only in these countries, which often leads people to ask whether they still need travel insurance. What are the main reasons Australians are travelling?Īustralia has reciprocal healthcare agreements with several countries: Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Read the Smartraveller travel advice for information about your destination. Not to mention all 26 European countries in the Schengen Area if you’re applying for a visa to visit. Singapore and the UAE require you to have travel insurance. Some countries won’t let you in if you don’t have insurance. If you’re really unlucky, that could cost you or your family hundreds of thousands of dollars.Ħ8% of travellers mistakenly believe the Australian Government would ensure they get medical treatment if they need it overseas, and 43% believe the government would pay their medical bills. If you end up injured or sick while overseas, you’ll be footing the hospital bill and the cost of flying home. The Consular Services Charter describes what the government can and can’t do to help Australians overseas. In an emergency, the Australian Government can only help so much. The Australian Government won’t pay your medical bills. If you end up out of pocket because of these things, insurance can make up for that. Medical expenses are the number one reason to get insurance, but sometimes other things can go wrong, such as trip cancellations, delays, lost luggage or even the big stuff like natural disasters and pandemics. If you’re leaving Australia, travel insurance is just as essential as a passport.
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