You never think you’ll need travel insurance… until you really, really do
TL;DR
Travel insurance is boring until you're waking up on the ground in Bali with a broken leg and a $48k bill. Here's what's worth knowing before your next trip.
So, you’re planning your next adventure. Maybe it’s island hopping in Southeast Asia, backpacking through Europe, or a quick city break. Passport? Check. Flights? Booked. Travel insurance? …eh, maybe later?
If you’re scrolling through r/travel or r/backpacking, you likely know the thrill of spontaneous trips and the joy of exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. But here’s the thing: travel insurance might not be the most exciting thing to book, but if something goes wrong, you’ll be so glad you sorted it.
Because – and let’s be honest – travel doesn’t always go to plan.
Take Jordon Hunt’s story.
The 23-year-old was riding a scooter through Bali when, without warning, a four-wheel drive came straight at her at 60 km/h. She was thrown to the ground, sustaining a tremendous injury to her right knee and femur.
And while she initially lost consciousness, Jordon remembers waking up on the ground in a panicked daze.
“The first thing I did was wiggle my toes, thinking to myself, if I can wiggle my toes, then I’m not paralysed.”
In the hospital, Jordon underwent emergency surgery and raked up more than $48,000 in medical costs. But luckily, she was covered by 1Cover. Meaning we footed the $48k bill while she only paid $70 for her travel insurance policy.
Watch Jordan’s full story here:
https://reddit.com/link/1t0i2gs/video/e0i4ffm208rf1/player
Scooter crashes like this are incredibly common, especially in Southeast Asia. Hundreds of Australians end up in hospital overseas every year, and if you're uninsured, you’re on your own financially.
So, what does 1Cover actually cover?
Roughly speaking, here’s how our cover tiers work (because not everyone needs the full kit):
Comprehensive Travel Insurance
Our most complete level of cover, designed to protect you across all stages of your trip. Medical expenses, hospital stays, surgery, repatriation, trip cancellations and delays, lost or stolen luggage, rental vehicle excess, emergency evacuation. If you want to travel and not think about ‘what ifs,” this is the coverage you need.
Medical Only
Covers your overseas medical costs without the extras like cancellations or lost luggage. A good option if you're travelling on a tight budget and just want a safety net for the big stuff.
Annual/Multi-Trip Cover
If you travel a few times a year, this covers all of them under one plan. Less admin, more adventures.
Add-ons
Not every trip is the same, so there are optional extras including cruise cover, winter sports, adventure and sports activities, and high-value item cover for things like cameras or laptops.
One thing worth saying clearly: like any insurer, there are exclusions, limits, and conditions – pre-existing medical conditions, leaving your gear unattended, certain high-risk activities, that sort of thing. Read the PDS (Product Disclosure Statement) before you buy so you know exactly what you're getting. You can find it and compare cover types at 1Cover.com.au.
Why choose 1Cover
We’ve been around for over 20 years and have provided travel insurance to millions of customers.
And we’ve picked up a solid number of independent awards along the way – in 2025 alone, we won Canstar’s Outstanding Value award for International Travel Insurance and Seniors Travel Insurance, Finder’s Highly Commended Comprehensive Travel Insurance award, WeMoney’s Travel Insurance award, and Mozo’s Experts Choice Award for Exceptional Value.
You can read more about all of our awards here.
Why not just get credit card travel insurance?
Some credit cards offer travel insurance as a perk, which can be a convenient option if your trip is fully covered. However, it’s important to know that credit card travel insurance may not include necessary benefits; there can be restrictions, limits, and exclusions depending on your card and the type of trip.
Always read the fine print carefully to understand what’s covered and where gaps might exist. If in doubt, getting dedicated travel insurance like 1Cover can help fill those gaps and give you peace of mind.
Ready to Go?
Head to 1Cover.com.au for a free quote – it only takes a few minutes.
Posted May 1, 2026, 3:39 AM UTC · locked