Heading overseas? Compare international travel insurance policies covering important benefits such as medical expenses, cancellations, luggage, travel delays, and more.
the benefits
Falling ill or sustaining an injury overseas can result in bills that run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars; seriously, hospital treatment in the USA can cost upwards of $10,000 per day. International travel insurance covers all your medical expenses for injury or illness, including hospital stays, surgery, dental treatment, prescription medications, and doctor consultations.
Choose a policy that covers the cost of rearranging or cancelling your trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, injury, or extreme weather – with cover starting from the day you purchase your policy, not just from the day you start travelling. This means that even if something goes wrong before you leave home, you’re protected from the moment you buy.
Losing your luggage (or having it stolen or damaged) can be a frustrating and costly experience. When you're overseas, your travel insurance covers the cost of replacing or repairing your personal belongings, including cash and travel documents, giving you financial protection against one of the most common travel mishaps.
If your transport is delayed due to an unforeseen event, your international travel insurance covers your out-of-pocket accommodation, meals, and transport expenses until you’re back on track. Just be mindful that most policies require a minimum delay period – typically six hours or more – before this benefit applies.
If a close relative or travelling companion becomes seriously ill, injured, or passes away while you’re overseas, your policy covers your travel expenses back home. Conditions around the relative’s age, medical history, and location may apply though, so it’s worth checking the specific terms of your policy before purchasing.
If you are found legally liable for causing accidental injury to another person or damage to their property while travelling, personal liability cover protects you against the potentially significant financial consequences. This is included as standard in all comprehensive travel insurance policies.
key considerations
Comprehensive travel insurance is the highest level of cover available and is the most appropriate choice for the majority of travellers heading abroad. It is particularly well suited to those who have made significant pre-paid travel costs – including flights, accommodation, and tours – as well as those travelling with high-value belongings, travelling to high-cost medical destinations such as the USA or Japan, or those who have pre-existing medical conditions they wish to declare and cover. If your only concern is emergency medical cover, a basic or medical only policy may be a more cost-effective option.
Remember travel insurance does not cover everything. Common exclusions include pre-existing medical conditions that have not been declared, injuries sustained while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, deliberate or reckless behaviour, and high-risk activities (like skydiving). Natural disasters that were already publicly known at the time of purchase are generally excluded as well; they’re typically called “known events”. Always read the Policy Wording carefully to understand the full exclusions that apply to your policy.
Pre-existing medical conditions must be declared when purchasing international travel insurance. Some conditions may be covered automatically, while others may require a medical assessment or attract an additional premium. If cover for a condition is declined, you can usually still purchase a comprehensive policy that covers all other benefits, just not claims related to that specific condition. Never travel without declaring a relevant condition, as failure to disclose could result in a claim being rejected.
Some countries – including Cubaand Thailand – require travellers to hold valid travel insurance as a condition of entry. A comprehensive policy will satisfy these requirements in most cases, but it’s worth confirming the specific cover levels required by your destination before purchasing. Even for destinations that don’t require it, the financial risk of travelling without comprehensive cover can be significant.
Many high-risk activities and extreme sports are not automatically covered under standard policies. If your trip includes activities such as skiing, scuba diving, or adventure sports, check the specific activity inclusions of your policy and add any necessary optional extras before you travel. Some activities require a dedicated add-on pack to be covered, while others may be excluded entirely regardless of the level of cover purchased.
If your trip includes a cruise, check whether cruise cover is included automatically in your policy or whether it needs to be added as an optional extra. The same applies to other specialist cover types, including pregnancy cover, rental vehicle excess, and high-value item cover. Comprehensive travel insurance provides the broadest base of protection, but understanding which add-ons are relevant to your trip ensures you’re not left with unexpected gaps in your cover.
further reading
Expert guides to help you make an informed decision about your travel cover.
get answers
If you're travelling overseas, some sort of travel insurance protection is essential. It's not like falling sick, or getting injured at home. In many foriegn countries if you end up in hospital, they won't even treat you until they have payment guarantees, which is where travel insurance is vital. A simple visit to the doctors can cost hundreds in many countries. Internationl travel insurance covers you for emergency overseas medical expenses, trip cancellation and curtailment, lost or damaged luggage and personal belongings, travel delays, family emergencies, personal liability, and more.
It's easy to get confused when it comes to travel insurance. Standard policies, medical-only policies, multi-trip policies,...you'd be forgiven for being unsure about which one you needed. Remember every trip is different, and the level of cover may vary depending on your age and the things you plan on doing during your trip. When travelling internationally it's a wise choice to start with comprehensive cover and customise the levels of cover you need to suit your holiday.
The cost of cover really depends on many factors. Where you're going, how long you're travelling for, your age, pre-existing conditions, what activities you're planning. It's not purely based on the fact you're travelling overseas. Some policies can be quite cost-effective if you are cleaver with your customisation and only pay for the bits you need. Use our site to compare international travel insurance and use the filters to customise the cover to suit your trip.
Unlike overseas trips, domestic travel insurance policies do not include medical benefits, as New Zealand’s public health system covers medical treatment within New Zealand. However, domestic policies can still provide valuable cover for trip cancellations, lost luggage, rental vehicle excess, and travel delays. Some domestic policies offer cancellation cover of up to unlimited amounts and luggage cover up to $15,000, making them a worthwhile investment even for trips within New Zealand.
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