Essential Travel Insurance
If you want travel insurance that gives you peace of mind but don’t need all the bells and whistles, our Essential policy may be what you’re looking for.
It provides a critical level of protection at a lower price, including cover for the cancellation of or cutting short your trip, luggage and personal effects, and hire car insurance excess.
What’s covered
The following table is a summary of the policy’s benefits and sums insured:
| Benefit | Sum insured* |
|---|---|
| Cancellation and Amendment Fees Cover for the cost of prepaid travel, accommodation, meals, tours and activities, and visas if your trip is cancelled due to an insured unforeseeable event. |
$12,500 |
| Overseas Medical and Hospital Fees Cover for the cost of emergency medical, surgical and hospital treatment if you get sick or injured. |
Unlimited |
| Hospital Cash Allowance Cover for extra expenses such as taxi fares and phone calls if you’re admitted to a hospital overseas as an inpatient. |
$75 per completed 24 hours, up to $1,000 |
| Cutting Your Trip Short Cover for the cost of prepaid travel, accommodation, meals, tours and activities if you are too unwell to complete your journey or a relative in Australia is hospitalised or dies. |
$12,500 |
| Additional Expenses Cover for the cost of additional accommodation, meals and travelling expenses if your trip is disrupted or you are required to return home to Australia sooner than planned. |
$12,500 |
| Travel Delay Expenses Cover for expenses incurred if your return to Australia is delayed due to bad weather, a strike, industrial action or mechanical breakdown. |
$50 per completed 12 hours, up to $1,000 |
| Luggage and Personal Effects Cover for the cost of repairing, replacing or reimbursing you for the cost of your belongings if they are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip. |
$5,000† |
| Delayed Luggage Allowance Cover for cost of buying essential items if your baggage is delayed by an airline or transport company for more than 24 hours. |
$400 |
| Travel Documents, Credit Cards and Travellers’ Cheques Cover for the cost of replacing your passport, travel money cards, travellers’ cheques, visas and credit cards if they are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip. |
$2,500 |
| Theft of Cash Cover for the cost of replacing your passport, travel money cards, travellers’ cheques, visas and credit cards if they are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip. |
$250 |
| Personal Accident Payment for injuries that within 12 consecutive months results in you suffering permanent paraplegia or quadriplegia, or loss of, or loss of use of, one or more of your limbs or eyes. |
$30,000 |
| Personal Liability Payment if you become legally liable for accidentally injuring someone or damaging or losing someone else’s property. |
$2,000,000 |
| Rental Vehicle Insurance Excess Cover for any hire-car insurance excess you become liable to pay as a result of the car being damaged or stolen. |
$4,000 |
| Alternative Transport Expenses Cover for additional travel expenses to reach a planned event (e.g. a wedding or conference) you would otherwise miss as a result of your scheduled transport being cancelled, delayed, shortened or diverted. |
$2,500 |
† The following sub-limits apply:
- Laptops, tablets, cameras, mobile phones: $2,000
- Per item/pair or set of items: $500
- Valuables: $500
- Property (including specified items) lost or stolen from an unattended motor vehicle: $500.
Upgrade your cover
For a higher premium, you can customise your cover by adding one or both of these optional extras to your Essential travel insurance policy:
Snow Sports Cover
If you intend to ski, snowboard or ice skate on your trip, you may wish to add this cover. It insures you for snow sports equipment, lift passes, ski packs, piste closures and avalanches. Read more
Excess reduction or waiver
Halve your excess from the standard $200 to $100; or get it waived and pay no excess.
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 and exclusions that apply, please read the product disclosure statement (PDS).
Get a quote
Whether you’re after cheap travel insurance or a policy with all the bells and whistles, we’ve got a wide range of cover for you to choose from.
Get a travel insurance quote online in 30 seconds or call us on 1800 444 424.
How to make a claim
If your trip didn’t go entirely to plan and you have to make a claim, we’re here to help.
Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for Essential travel insurance cover?
75 years at the date of application.
How many people can be covered under one travel insurance policy?
Up to 10 adults and 20 dependent children. Dependent children and grandchildren under the age of 18 who are travelling with you and who will be under full adult supervision during the trip are covered for free.
Are claims for lost or stolen mobile phones covered?
Yes – provided you give us your phone’s international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number; and have asked your provider to block the IMEI number (rendering the phone useless).
