Travel Insurance for the United States
From the bustling cities of New York and Los Angeles to the dry desert in Arizona, there’s something for everyone in the United States.
Holidays can go wrong, though. This is why the Australian Government recommends travellers get travel insurance no matter where they are travelling, including the United States (it’s “as important as a passport”) to ensure you have overseas medical cover and more.
As well as getting cover, you might want to read our health and safety tips for Aussies travelling to the US.
What's covered by Travel Insurance USA?
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$Unlimited* overseas medical expenses benefit, including COVID-19 related medical expenses.
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Overseas dental expenses^
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Amendment or cancellation costs (such as non-refundable, prepaid travel or accommodation)^
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Luggage and personal effects (such as your clothes, suitcase, phone, smart watch or laptop)^
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Personal liability^
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Activities including surfing, bungee jumping and zip lining
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Some COVID-19 self-isolation expenses up to $5,000**
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Amendment or cancellation costs due to COVID-19**
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Optional cover variations such as Adventure Activities and Snow Sports**
What's not covered by Travel Insurance USA?
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Mandatory quarantine or isolation order related to cross area, border, region or territory travel
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Any medical, dental or hospital expenses in Australia
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Loss of luggage or personal effects left unattended in a public place
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Childbirth or costs relating to the health or care of a newborn child are not covered, irrespective of the stage of pregnancy when the child is born
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Errors or omissions in your travel bookings
*Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured.
**Cover is available to buy via Options to vary cover. An additional premium applies.
^Limits, sub-limits, conditions and exclusions apply.
Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from onset. Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply. Please check the Combined FSG/PDS for further details.
Choose Your USA Travel Insurance Policy
15%^ OFF
When you get a quote and buy a new policy online
Our most extensive international Travel Insurance policy can provide cover for our full list of benefits and entitles you to our maximum benefit limits.
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Luggage and personal effects – Up to $10,000 (sub-limits apply)
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$Unlimited* overseas medical expenses benefit, including COVID-19 related medical expenses.
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Overseas dental expenses – Up to $2,000
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Travel amendment or cancellation costs – Up to $10,000 (or the amount you choose) per policy
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Rental vehicle excess – Up to $10,000
15%^ OFF
When you get a quote and buy a new policy online
Our essential international travel policy provides cover for fundamental benefits and entitles you to generous benefit limits.
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Luggage and personal effects – Up to $5,000 (sub-limits apply)
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$Unlimited* overseas medical expenses benefit, including COVID-19 related medical expenses.
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Overseas dental expenses – Up to $1,000
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Travel amendment or cancellation costs – Up to $5,000 (or the amount you choose) per policy
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Rental vehicle excess – Up to $4,000
15%^ OFF
When you get a quote and buy a new policy online
Our basic level of cover for international travel provides cover for an $Unlimited* amount of overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses.
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Luggage and personal effects – Up to $2,000 (sub-limits apply)
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$Unlimited* overseas medical expenses benefit, including COVID-19 related medical expenses.
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Travel amendment or cancellation costs
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Rental vehicle excess
*Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured.
Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from onset. Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply. Please check the Combined FSG/PDS for further details.
Health and Safety Concerns for the USA
Following these precautions can help you stay safe and healthy on your trip to the US:
There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attacks and mass casualty violence in the US. While you should always exercise caution when travelling, it’s important to be extra alert in public places and at events.
When travelling through the US, remember that the legal drinking age across all states is 21.
Guns and violent crimes are more common in the US. It’s important to be aware and research your destination before travelling.
Keep up-to-date with weather reports and follow evacuation orders in the case of natural disasters including earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes and blizzards.
Emergency Medical Treatment
Medical treatment in the US can be very expensive compared to Australia. Because the Australian Government doesn't pay for overseas medical and hospital expenses, it recommends you consider 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, Australian travellers may be required to pay the medical costs upfront.
If you have Budget Direct Travel Insurance and need medical treatment in the US, you'll have $Unlimited cover (for up to 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury) for the cost of emergency overseas hospital and medical treatment for coverable conditions. “$Unlimited” means no dollar capped sum insured.
What To Do Before You Visit the USA
Reduce the risk of illness or financial loss by following these steps before you depart:
Make sure you're up to date with your routine vaccinations. Ask your doctor whether there are other diseases in the US you need to vaccinate yourself against.
Make sure your travel insurance policy is adequate and you're aware of the policy's limits and exclusions.
Compare Travel Insurance
Compare all Budget Direct Travel Insurance before you buy and get the cover you want.
Overseas Medical Expenses and Emergency Assistance
With Budget Direct Travel Insurance Cover, you have 24/7 access to a network of doctors, nurses, case managers and travel agents.
Depending on your needs, we can help you:
- Find a medical facility and monitor your medical care
- Pay medical bills (if your claim is approved)
- Keep travelling or get home
- Deal with lost passports, travel documents and credit cards
- Change your travel plans
Get a Quote Online and Save 15%^
Get a quote online – it’s quick and easy. If you get a quote and buy a new Budget Direct Travel Insurance policy online, you’ll receive a 15%^ discount
If your trip didn't go entirely to plan and you need to make a claim on your Budget Direct Travel Insurance, we're here to help. Having your details, receipts and documents from the trip on hand can also make it easier to claim.
With Budget Direct, you can conveniently make a claim online at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year.
Or you can call us at 1300 792 001 within Australia or +61 2 8907 5079 overseas.
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 for further details.
USA Travel Insurance FAQs
Yes, all of Budget Direct’s international Travel Insurance plans – Comprehensive, Essential and Basic – include an $Unlimited* cover amount (for up to 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury) for the cost of overseas medical expenses for coverable conditions including:
Emergency medical treatment
Ambulance transportation
Surgery and hospital costs
Emergency repatriation/evacuation
*Where ‘$Unlimited’ is used here, it means that there is no capped dollar sum insured. There is no cover for any medical, dental or hospital expenses in Australia.
Yes, you can still get Travel Insurance cover if you have an existing medical condition. Budget Direct Travel Insurance covers a range of existing medical conditions automatically (subject to the criteria).
For other existing medical conditions, you can complete a health assessment at the same time you get your quote. If approved, an additional premium may apply.
Check the Combined FSG/PDS for more information about existing medical conditions and what the policy covers.
Yes, all Budget Direct Travel Insurance policies include cover for mobile phones. We can cover the cost of repairing, helping replace or reimbursing you for your mobile phone if it’s lost, stolen or damaged during your period of insurance (conditions, limits and sub-limits apply). Depreciation only applies to items more than 2 years old.
For more details, including the terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions that apply, please read the Combined FSG/PDS.
Yes, all Budget Direct Travel Insurance policies except Basic can help cover any rental vehicle insurance excess you become liable to pay.
The rental vehicle excess is typically an amount you’re required to contribute towards any loss or damage to a rental vehicle while it’s in your possession. While it’s designed to limit your financial liability for the loss or damage, the rental vehicle excess can still be as much as several thousand dollars.
If you hire a car while you're travelling and it is damaged or stolen, you'll be covered for the lower of the rental vehicle excess or the repair costs for the vehicle, which you become liable to pay.
Even if you’re covered by us, you should still read your rental car agreement, so you’re aware of its terms and conditions and any exclusions.
It’s up to you exactly when to buy travel insurance. However, it should be purchased before your trip commences.
Otherwise, if you’ve left home and are already on your trip when buying the policy, your cover is subject to a 3-day no-cover period. This means the Period of Insurance will not commence until 3 days after the travel start date/policy issue date shown on your Certificate of Insurance.
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 non-refundable, non-recoverable prepaid travel tickets, hotels, tours or other travel-related expenses if you’re forced to cancel your trip due to an insured event such as an unforeseen illness or injury.
Note: Our Basic Travel Insurance plan does not include the Amendment or Cancellation Costs benefit.
