Travel Insurance: What It Covers, What It Doesn't, and Why You Need It
By Launceston Travel & Cruise Centre
Travel insurance is one of those things that feels unnecessary right up until the moment you desperately need it. A medical emergency in the United States, a cancelled cruise departure, luggage lost somewhere between Launceston and London — without the right cover, any of these can turn into a financial disaster.
We arrange travel insurance for every client we book. Here's what you need to know.
Why Travel Insurance Matters
Australia has reciprocal healthcare agreements with a handful of countries — New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Belgium, Slovenia, Malta, and Norway. In those countries, you can access some public hospital treatment.
Everywhere else, you're on your own. Medical care in the United States, Japan, or even much of Europe can cost tens of thousands of dollars for a single hospital stay. Emergency evacuation — being flown home if you're seriously ill — can run into six figures.
Travel insurance is not an optional extra. It's a fundamental part of planning any trip.
What Our Travel Insurance Covers
The travel insurance we arrange for clients provides three levels of international cover — Basic, Comprehensive, and Comprehensive+ — so you can match the level of protection to your trip. Here's what's included:
Medical and Emergency Expenses
All plans include overseas medical expenses and emergency dental cover. If you're hospitalised overseas, your treatment is covered. If you need emergency evacuation back to Australia, that's covered too.
This is the single most important part of any travel insurance policy. Don't travel without it.
Over the years, our team has assisted clients and their families through some of the most difficult situations imaginable — helping to liaise with overseas hospitals, foreign authorities, embassies, and insurance providers when clients have been severely injured, hospitalised abroad, or tragically passed away while travelling. Getting someone home in those circumstances involves navigating complex international processes that no family should have to face alone, in a foreign language, from the other side of the world. Having a travel agent who knows your booking, knows who to call, and can advocate on your behalf makes an enormous difference at the most difficult of times.
Cancellation Cover
If you need to cancel your trip before departure due to illness, injury, a family emergency, or other covered reasons, your non-refundable costs can be claimed. The cancellation cover amount is chosen when you take out the policy — we'll help you set it at the right level to cover your flights, accommodation, and any prepaid tours or cruises.
Luggage and Travel Documents
All plans include luggage and travel document cover, with higher limits available on Comprehensive and Comprehensive+ plans. Individual item limits apply for phones, cameras, laptops, and jewellery — check the PDS for current details.
Travel Delays and Missed Connections
The Comprehensive and Comprehensive+ plans include cover for travel delays and missed connections. If a delay causes you to miss a connection or incur additional accommodation costs, you're covered.
Personal Liability
If you accidentally injure someone or damage property while travelling, personal liability cover protects you. Cover limits vary by plan — see the PDS for current amounts.
Cruise Cover
If you're travelling on a cruise, standard travel insurance isn't always enough. Our cruise-specific cover adds:
On-board medical and dental cover
Ship to shore medical cover
Sea sickness cover
Cabin confinement cover
Missed port (embarkation) cover
Missed shore excursions cover
If you're booking a cruise through us, we'll always make sure your insurance includes cruise cover.
Optional Add-Ons
Depending on your trip, you may want to add:
Snow sports cover — for skiing and snowboarding holidays Adventure activities cover — for activities beyond the standard inclusions Motorcycle and moped cover — if you're planning to ride overseas
Existing Medical Conditions
This is one of the most misunderstood areas of travel insurance. Many existing medical conditions are automatically covered — provided you meet the criteria in the Product Disclosure Statement. If you have a pre-existing condition that needs to be declared, we'll help you work through the process correctly so you're properly covered before you travel.
Annual Multi-Trip Cover
If you travel more than once a year, an Annual Multi-Trip policy is usually better value than buying a new policy for each trip. Comprehensive and Comprehensive+ plans are available on annual multi-trip policies — ask us about this option when booking.
Domestic Travel Insurance
Travelling within Australia? You might think insurance isn't necessary, but it covers trip cancellation, luggage, travel delays, and rental vehicle excess — all things that can catch domestic travellers off guard. Comprehensive domestic plans are available through us as well.
The Most Important Rule: Buy Early
Buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip — not the week before you travel.
Here's why: if you're diagnosed with an illness after you book but before you travel, and you don't yet have insurance, that condition may be classified as pre-existing when you do eventually buy a policy, limiting your cover.
If you buy insurance immediately after booking, you're also covered for cancellation from that point forward — including if something happens to you, a travel companion, or a close family member before you even depart.
The 21-day cooling-off period means that if your plans change shortly after purchase, you can cancel the policy for a full refund provided you haven't departed or made a claim.
What Travel Insurance Doesn't Cover
It's important to understand the exclusions. Travel insurance generally does not cover:
Claims arising from alcohol or drug impairment
Travel to destinations with an Australian Government "Do Not Travel" advisory (Level 4 on Smartraveller)
Incidents that occur during certain high-risk activities not covered under your plan
Pre-existing conditions not declared or assessed prior to travel
Pandemic-related cancellations in some circumstances — check the current COVID-19 cover details
Always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before purchasing. We'll walk you through it.
We Offer Insurance With Every Booking
When you book a trip through us, we'll offer travel insurance as part of the process — making sure the cover level is right for your destination, your activities, and the total value of your trip. We'll flag any pre-existing conditions that need to be addressed and make sure you travel with confidence.
If you need to make a claim after your trip, we can also help you understand what documentation you'll need and assist you in pulling everything together — receipts, reports, medical records, and correspondence. While we're unable to complete or lodge claims on your behalf for legal reasons, we'll make sure you have what you need to submit a claim with confidence.
It's one more thing you don't have to worry about.
📞 Call us on 03 6332 1222 Open Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm. Located at Holyman House, 54 Brisbane Street, Launceston.
Or book an appointment online.
Any advice on this page is general advice only. Please read the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement carefully and consider your personal circumstances before purchasing travel insurance.
Launceston Travel & Cruise Centre — Northern Tasmania's longest-running locally owned travel agency, since 1989.