USA Travel Insurance Solved™ with Budget Direct
The United States is a country of captivating diversity, from the New England states to the dry desert of Arizona. Holidays can go wrong, though. Which is why the Australian Government recommends travellers get insurance (it’s “as important as a passport”).
As well as getting cover, you may wish to read our health and safety tips for Aussies travelling to the US (below).
Cancellations and delays
Cancellation fees and lost deposits on prepaid travel, accommodation, meals, etc.; and travel delay expenses.
(Excluding epidemics, pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks; and Last Minute policy.)
Overseas medical and hospital expenses*
Unlimited amount for emergency overseas medical and hospital expenses.
(Excluding pregnancy and childbirth.)
Pre-existing medical conditions
Cover for 27 pre-existing medical conditions.
Travel documents, credit cards and travellers cheques
Replacement passport, visas, travel money cards, travellers cheques and credit cards if they're lost, stolen or damaged.
(Comprehensive, Essential and Annual Multi-Trip policies only.)
Rental vehicle insurance excess
Any hire-car excess you become liable to pay as a result of the car being damaged or stolen.
(Excluding Last Minute policy.)
Luggage and personal effects*
Cost of repairing, replacing or reimbursing you for your belongings if they're lost, stolen or damaged.
Personal liability cover
Legal liability cover in case you accidentally injure someone else or damage or lose someone else's property during your trip.
Cruise cover
Our four international travel insurance policies cover cruises, including those within Australian waters.
(Our Domestic policy does not cover cruises.)
Not all benefits apply to all levels of cover.
Terms, conditions, limits, *sub-limits and exclusions apply.
For full details, please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
Health and safety concerns for the USA
Follow these precautions to stay safe and healthy on your trip to the US:
Emergency medical expenses
Medical treatment in the United States can be very expensive compared to Australia. Because the Australian Government doesn’t pay for overseas medical and hospital expenses, it recommends you get adequate travel insurance.
Before receiving any medical treatment in the US, you may be asked to prove you have travel insurance. If you can’t, you may be required to pay the treatment costs up front.
Do I need extra coverage for
snow sports?
Yes — to be covered for costly mishaps while skiing, snowboarding and/or ice-skating, you need to add optional Snow Sports Cover to your Budget Direct travel insurance policy.
What to do before you leave for the USA
Reduce the risk of illness, detention or financial loss by following these steps before you depart:
Get vaccinated
Make sure you’re up to date with your routine vaccinations. And ask your doctor whether there are other diseases in the US you need to vaccinate yourself against.
Locate the Australian embassy
Know how to contact the Australian Embassy in Washington DC, in case you end up in a sticky situation.
Ensure you're covered
Make sure your travel insurance is adequate and you’re aware of the policy’s limits and exclusions
Overseas medical and emergency assistance
With Budget Direct travel insurance, you get 24/7 access to a worldwide network of 75,000+ medical and emergency assistance providers.
These include multilingual medical and travel specialists, air ambulances and hospitals. Depending on your needs, we can:
- direct you to suitable medical facilities
- help coordinate your evacuation and repatriation
- provide assistance if your luggage, travel documents, credit cards or other valuables are lost or stolen.
Find out more
The information on this page is a summary only. For all the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions, please read the Product Disclosure Statement.
Frequently asked questions
Does travel insurance cover medical and hospital expenses?
All four of Budget Direct’s international travel insurance policies – Comprehensive, Essential, Last Minute, and Annual Multi-Trip – include an unlimited amount for overseas medical and hospital expenses, including:
- ambulance and emergency medical, surgical and hospital costs
- cost of your return to Australia earlier than planned if this is medically necessary and we authorise it
- if you cannot return to Australia as you originally planned and if it is medically necessary and we authorise it, we will pay for reasonable travel and accommodation expenses:
- to allow you to return to Australia, and
- for someone to stay with you and travel home with you, or
- for one relative or friend to travel from Australia to stay with you and travel home with you
- cost of returning your body or ashes to Australia (up to $20,000) or cost of a funeral and burial in the country in which you die (up to $10,000).
This cover excludes any claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions (other than the 27 we cover).
Note that, if you suffer an illness or injury that requires emergency transportation, hospitalisation or repatriation and/or is likely to cost more than A$500 to treat, you (or someone else on your behalf) must call us as soon as possible.
Our Domestic policy does not include cover for medical and hospital expenses, as these expenses are already claimable in Australia from Medicare and/or your private health fund.
Does travel insurance cover mobile phones?
Yes – all Budget Direct policies except Last Minute include cover for mobile phones.
For more details, including the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that apply, please see the ‘Luggage and Personal Effects’ section of the product disclosure statement.
Does travel insurance cover rental / hire cars?
Yes – all Budget Direct policies except Last Minute include cover for mobile phones.
For more details, including the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that apply, please see the ‘Luggage and Personal Effects’ section of the product disclosure statement.
When should I buy travel insurance?
It’s up to you exactly when to buy travel insurance, however it must be purchased before your trip commences.
By getting Budget Direct travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked and paid for some or all of your trip, you can be covered for things like your pre-paid travel and accommodation if you’re forced to cancel your trip due to an insured event (e.g. an unforeseen illness or injury).
(This is unless you have a Last Minute policy, which does not include cancellation cover.)
If you’re a frequent traveller with an Annual Multi-Trip policy, you’re covered for an unlimited number of up-to-30-days trips you take within 12 months to your chosen destination/s.
Before each trip, you won’t need to let us know where you’re going – unless your destination is not one you selected originally, in which case you will need to contact us or log into your online account and edit your policy.
Can travel insurance be extended?
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