Budget Direct Travel Insurance with COVID-19 Benefits
We provide travel insurance coverage for overseas medical expenses if you're diagnosed with COVID-19 during your trip overseas. We also cover additional expenses incurred due to COVID-19 up to the specified limits, no matter if you're travelling internationally or within Australia.
You can also upgrade your policy with optional COVID-19 Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover for trip rescheduling or cancellations if you're diagnosed with COVID-19 before your departure or on your trip.
Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from onset. Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply. Please check the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement for further details.
What’s Covered by COVID-19 Benefits
- COVID-19 overseas medical expenses during your trip overseas (excluding Domestic Travel Insurance). Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury.
- COVID-19 additional expenses incurred due to self-isolation if you are too sick to travel during your trip – Up to $2,500
What's Not Covered by COVID-19 Benefits
- Amendment or cancellation costs if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and cannot travel **^^
- Claims relating to government travel bans, “Do not travel” warnings; government directed border closure; or mandatory quarantine or self-isolation requirements related to cross area, border, region or territory travel.
- Cruise cabin confinement caused by COVID-19 (related to Additional Cruise Cover as applicable)
** Cover is available to buy via options to vary cover. Additional premium applies.
^^ A special excess applies.
Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from onset. Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply. Please check the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement for further details.
COVID-19 Benefits Included in Travel Insurance
COVID-19 Overseas Medical Expenses
We cover $unlimited overseas medical expenses if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 during your trip overseas when you have international travel insurance (Comprehensive, Essential or Basic plans). “$Unlimited” means no dollar capped sum insured. Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness.
COVID-19 Additional Expenses
Additional expenses up to $2,500 are also covered during your trip if you're diagnosed with COVID-19 and required to self-isolate and incur additional transport and accommodation expenses after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Cover is $unlimited in the case where you require hospitalisation (special excesses and benefit limits will apply). “$Unlimited” means no dollar capped sum insured. Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness.
Upgrade Your COVID-19 Benefits
COVID-19 Amendment or Cancellation Costs
You can purchase the optional COVID-19 Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover to be covered for costs associated with rescheduling your trip or the cancellation of your non-refundable, non-recoverable prepaid travel tickets, hotels, tours or other travel related expenses of up to $5,000 per policy on Comprehensive or Essential plans or up to $2,500 per policy on a Domestic plan:
- if you or your travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 before your trip and can't travel.
If you include the optional COVID-19 Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover on your policy and it is purchased within the 21 days before your scheduled trip departure date, we will only cover the travel costs that you paid for:
- in the 48 hour period before buying your policy; and
- after buying this policy.
(What that means is, for example, if you booked and paid for your trip in full 6 months ago and then bought this policy a week before your departure date, there will be no cover available if you cannot travel because you or your travelling companion are diagnosed in Australia with COVID-19.)
You’ll also receive Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover during your trip if you or your travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 and required to self-isolate or are hospitalised.
The following scenarios are also included:
- If Your non-travelling Relative or business partner residing in Australia or New Zealand becomes sick due to COVID-19 and the condition is life threatening.
- If you are a pharmacist, nurse, doctor, paramedic or other health care professional and your leave is revoked by your employer due to COVID-19 related reasons and that means you can’t go on your trip.
Choose Your Travel Insurance
You'll be covered by COVID-19 Travel Insurance Benefits with any of these Budget Direct Travel Insurance policies.
Comprehensive Travel Insurance
15%^ OFF
Our most extensive international travel insurance policy will provide cover for our full list of benefits and entitles you to our maximum benefit amounts.
- $Unlimited* overseas medical expenses benefit, including COVID-19 related medical expenses. Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury.
- Overseas dental expenses – Up to $2,000
- Amendment or cancellation costs due to COVID-19**^^
- Travel amendment or cancellation costs – Up to $10,000 (or the amount you choose) per policy
- Luggage and personal effects – Up to $10,000 (sub-limits apply)
* Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured.
** Cover is available to buy via options to vary cover. Additional premium applies.
^^ A special excess will apply.
Essential Travel Insurance
15%^ OFF
Our critical level of protection at a cheaper price will provide cover for essential benefits and entitles you to generous benefit amounts.
- $Unlimited* overseas medical expenses benefit, including COVID-19 related medical expenses. Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury.
- Overseas dental expenses – Up to $1,000
- Amendment or cancellation costs due to COVID-19**^^
- Travel amendment or cancellation costs – Up to $5,000 (or the amount you choose) per policy
- Luggage and personal effects – Up to $5,000 (sub-limits apply)
* Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured.
** Cover is available to buy via options to vary cover. Additional premium applies.
^^ A special excess will apply.
Basic Travel Insurance
15%^ OFF
Our basic level of cover at our cheapest price will provide cover for an $unlimited* amount of overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses.
- $Unlimited* overseas medical expenses benefit, including COVID-19 related medical expenses. Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury.
- Overseas dental expenses – Up to $500
- No cover for Travel amendment or cancellation costs.
- Luggage and personal effects – Up to $2,000 (sub-limits apply)
* Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured.
Domestic Travel Insurance
15%^ OFF
Our Domestic Travel Insurance policy covers you for your travel within Australia and includes cover for cancellation and amendment fees, and luggage and personal effects.
- Travel amendments and cancellation costs – Up to $10,000 (or the amount you choose) per policy
- Luggage and personal effects – Up to $5,000 (sub-limits apply)
- No cover for any medical, dental or hospital expenses, including COVID-19 related medical expenses, in Australia.
- Amendment or cancellation costs due to COVID-19**^^
** Cover is available to buy via options to vary cover. Additional premium applies.
^^ A special excess will apply.
Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from onset. Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply. Please check the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement for further details.
Find out more
The information on this page is a summary only. For more details about Budget Direct Travel Insurance, including the terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions that apply, please read the Combined FSG & PDS.
Travel Insurance FAQs
Is there any travel insurance that covers COVID-19?
Yes, our international travel insurance (Comprehensive, Essential and Basic) covers COVID-19 overseas medical expenses and some additional transport and accommodation expenses during your trip.
You'll also be covered for some COVID-19-related additional transport and accommodation expenses during your trip with our Domestic Travel Insurance. However, our travel insurance products do not cover any medical expenses in Australia, including medical expenses incurred in Australia due to COVID-19.
We also offer optional COVID-19 Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover for you to buy before departure if you want to protect your trip against cancellation due to you or your travelling companions being diagnosed with COVID-19 and you are not able to travel. Additional premium applies.
For claims related to COVID-19 for Amendment or Cancellation Costs and Additional Expenses, sub-limits and a special excess may apply.
Please note that COVID-19 Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover is NOT available under the Basic plan.
What is the COVID-19 special excess?
Special excess applicable to COVID-19 claims
In addition to your chosen excess on the International plans or the excess on the Domestic plan, a special excess will apply to:
- SECTION 2: Additional Expenses if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 on your trip: All plans – $250.
- SECTION 3: Amendment or Cancellation Costs if you or your travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 on your trip (and you have added the COVID-19 Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover to your policy): International Comprehensive or Essential plans – $500, Domestic plan – $250.
Does travel insurance cover cancellations due to COVID-19?
For an additional premium, you can upgrade your Travel Insurance policy to include the optional COVID-19 Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover to be covered for costs associated with rescheduling your trip or the cancellation of your non-refundable, non-recoverable prepaid travel tickets, hotels, tours or other travel related expenses if you or your traveling companions are diagnosed with COVID-19 and you are not able to travel. Limits and a special excess apply.
If you include the optional COVID-19 Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover on your policy and it is purchased within 21 days of your scheduled trip departure date, we will only cover the travel costs you paid for:
- in the 48 hours prior to buying the policy; and
- after buying this policy.
(What that means is, for example, if you booked and paid for your trip in full 6 months ago and then bought this policy a week before your departure date, there will be no cover available if you cannot travel because you or your travelling companion are diagnosed in Australia with COVID-19.)
You’ll also receive Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover during your trip in case you or your travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 and your trip is cancelled.
A COVID-19 special excess applies to the scenarios above only
The following scenarios are also included:
- If Your non-travelling Relative or business partner residing in Australia or New Zealand becomes sick due to COVID-19 and the condition is life threatening.
- If you are a pharmacist, nurse, doctor, paramedic or other health care professional and your leave is revoked by your employer due to COVID-19 related reasons and that means you can’t go on your trip.
Please note that COVID-19 Amendment or Cancellation Costs cover is NOT available under the Basic plan.
Can I get travel insurance if I have existing medical conditions?
You can still get cover for travel insurance, if you have an existing medical condition.
Budget Direct travel insurance covers a range of existing medical conditions automatically (subject to the criteria).
For others, you can complete a health assessment at the same time you get your quote. If approved, an additional premium may apply.
Check the Combined FGS/PDS for more information about existing medical conditions and what the policy covers.
