Travel Insurance for Long-term Holidays
Some travellers are all about mini-breaks, whereas others take extended trips that last for months, such as backpacking through a continent or embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. No two holidays are the same, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all insurance policy either. You need a special long-term travel insurance plan to ensure you’re covered for the duration of your trip.
Other trip types
Adventure sports
Backpacking
Cruising
Why Might I Need Long-term Travel Insurance?
Long-term travel insurance covers you for trips longer than a few weeks or months. It provides financial protection if you:
- need to cancel your trip
- encounter unexpected medical expenses
- face other unforeseen issues while travelling.
The longer you’re away, the higher the chances something could go wrong. That’s why it’s crucial to inform us if you plan to be abroad for an extended period. This way, you can choose a policy that covers your whole trip.
Things to Consider with Long-term Travel Insurance
WAS Travel Insurance offers various options to suit your travel and budgetary needs. Our long-term travel insurance policies can provide security for up to a year. Here are some further things to consider when looking for a quote:
- It’s a good idea to plan some elements of your itinerary so you can ensure appropriate coverage, even if you still want to be spontaneous. For example, if you’re planning to ski, you’ll need to buy the ski add-on to cover this activity.
- Ensure you understand the conditions, exclusions, limits, and sub-limits that are key elements of your policy. Transparency is important to us, so we want you to know exactly what’s covered. This understanding on your part also guards against any future surprises.
- Expect the unexpected. An unexpected circumstance can quickly burn through holiday savings. Opting for long-term cover can protect you and ensure your travels don’t end abruptly.
What’s Included in a Long-term Travel Insurance Policy?
WAS can offer coverage for up to one year, providing financial protection and travel assistance for various unexpected incidents. Our long-term policies can include benefits such as:
- Cover for necessary medical treatment and emergency medical treatment while abroad. This can include emergency dental costs (up to $2,000 per insured person).
- Cover for winter sports and adventure sports including things like snowboarding and scuba diving (as add-ons and with conditions)
- Cover for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage
- Personal liability that covers legal responsibilities for injuries or property damage
- Financial protection against trip cancellations and delays due to covered, unforeseen circumstances
Long-Term Travel Insurance FAQs
Browse answers to the most common questions we get asked about long-term travel insurance
WAS Travel Insurance offers coverage for trips up to one year. This can ensure continuous protection for extended travel.
Review the full details of the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), including the automatically covered conditions, to confirm you have appropriate coverage for your needs.
Yes, age limits may apply. Higher premiums or specific conditions may be in place for older travellers. WAS Travel Insurance insures travellers up to 99 years old - a significantly higher upper limit than most other insurance providers in Australia. You also need to be at least 18 years old as a policyholder. There may be limitations to permissible trip lengths for certain age segments. Check the policy documents for exact age limits and terms.
You should always read your policy documents to understand the general conditions and exclusions concerning unexpected medical expenses. Generally, the medical expenses benefit can provide financial help for things like emergency medical treatment, hospital treatment, and even medical evacuation if necessary. In each case, you’ll always need to provide evidence to support your claim. Please note that this benefit is only available for our international policies.
Our policies can cover trip cancellations due to overseas medical emergencies and other significant events like natural disasters or strikes. In these cases, you can receive some reimbursement for non-refundable expenses. This benefit can be immensely useful as you negotiate longer travel plans in which many things can go wrong.
Contact the emergency assistance team immediately. You should already be aware of your schedule of benefits and have a decent understanding of your insurance policy. However, in stressful situations, sometimes you need support. That’s why often the most important benefit you get with WAS is access to the travel assistance team. They can help coordinate the most appropriate care and help guide you through the claims process. Please note that this benefit is only available for our international policies.
Yes, exclusions include:
- pre-existing medical conditions not listed as automatically covered in the PDS
- high-risk activities as noted in the PDS
- travel to regions designated as Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ by the Australian government’s Smartraveller website
Review the PDS for a full list of exclusions.
Note: Not all benefits apply and will depend on whether you have selected them (and they are reflected on your Certificate of Insurance). Terms, conditions, exclusions, sub-limits, and limits apply. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for further details.