Southern Cross Travel Insurance
Travel insurance issued by Southern Cross Benefits Limited, trading as Southern Cross Travel Insurance.
Who provides this policy
Read from the insurer's own website and the Financial Service Providers Register on 30 September 2026.
- Issuer and underwriter
“Issued and underwritten by Southern Cross Benefits Limited trading as Southern Cross Travel Insurance.”
source: scti.co.nz- FSP registration
- FSP164764 — Southern Cross Benefits Limited source: fsp-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz
- Official website
- scti.co.nz
- Phone
- 0800 800 571 (+64 9 979 6593 from overseas)source: scti.co.nz
- Policy wording
- Comprehensive plan policy wording (each plan has its own wording page)
Policy facts (from the Southern Cross Travel Insurance International Comprehensive – Single Trip wording)
Read from the published policy wording; each row quotes the wording and links to the page. Other plans have their own wordings and limits. The wording and your certificate of insurance decide what is covered.
| Feature | What the wording says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas medical and evacuation | Unlimited maximum cover. Lower sub-limits apply to some items, such as emergency dental treatment (see the wording).“D.1 Medical and evacuation Maximum cover Unlimited” | Wording effective 12 July 2025, p.9 |
| Cancelling or changing your journey | Standard cover is $2,500 for each person; you can pay extra for $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited cover.“Standard cover is $2,500 for each person, and you can pay extra for $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited cover.” | Wording effective 12 July 2025, p.41 |
| Baggage and personal items | Up to $25,000 for each person; an excess is subtracted.“The maximum amount we pay for cover under this section is $25,000 for each person.” | Wording effective 12 July 2025, p.58 |
| Rental vehicle excess | $10,000 for each person.“$10,000 for each person” | Wording effective 12 July 2025, p.11 |
| Pre-existing medical conditions | Not automatically covered. Cover may be offered after a medical assessment; undiagnosed pre-existing conditions are not covered.“The policy doesn’t automatically cover your pre-existing medical conditions. However, if you complete a medical assessment, we may be able to offer you cover for your pre-existing medical conditions.” | Wording effective 12 July 2025, p.27 |
| COVID-19 | Covered for unexpected events relating to COVID-19, within the relevant benefits and sub-limits.“This policy includes cover for unexpected events relating to COVID-19.” | Wording effective 12 July 2025, p.8 |
| Skiing and snowboarding | Not automatically covered; can be added when you apply. Existing benefit limits still apply.“This policy does not automatically cover you for skiing or snowboarding. However, you can add cover to the existing policy benefits when you apply.” | Wording effective 12 July 2025, p.13 |
| Cruises | Not automatically covered; can be added when you apply. Existing benefit limits still apply.“This policy does not automatically cover you for any costs related to cruises. However, you can add cover to the existing policy benefits when you apply.” | Wording effective 12 July 2025, p.14 |
| Excess | You choose whether to have an excess; the premium may be higher with no excess. One excess per unexpected event.“When you apply for your policy, you can choose whether to have an excess. Your premium may be higher if you choose to not have an excess.” | Wording effective 12 July 2025, p.14 |
| SafeTravel advisories | Cover may be affected where SafeTravel advises "Do not travel" or "Avoid non-essential travel"; check when buying, before leaving, and before each new destination.“Your policy may be affected if the travel advisory on the SafeTravel website is ‘Do not travel’ or ‘Avoid non-essential travel’.” | Wording effective 12 July 2025, p.24 |
What to check in the Southern Cross Travel Insurance wording
SafeTravel, the Government's travel advice service, recommends checking that a policy covers the activities you have planned, your destinations and the needs of everyone travelling (SafeTravel — Travel insurance). These are the points worth comparing between any two policies:
| Feature to check | Where to find it in the wording | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas medical and evacuation | Table of benefits; the overseas medical and emergency expenses section | Treatment and evacuation overseas can be expensive, and the New Zealand Government will not pay these costs (SafeTravel). Check whether the limit is stated as a dollar amount or unlimited, and any sub-limits. |
| Pre-existing medical conditions | Pre-existing conditions section, and the insurer's medical assessment process | Some conditions may be covered automatically, some need an assessment and some are excluded. An undeclared condition can put a claim at risk. |
| Cancellation and amendment | Cancellation section and the list of covered reasons | Only the reasons listed are covered, usually only for events after you bought the policy. Check the limit against what you have prepaid. |
| Excess | Schedule / certificate of insurance and the excess clause | The amount you pay towards each claim. A higher excess usually lowers the premium, and some sections may carry their own excess. |
| Luggage and personal items | Luggage section; item and category limits in the table of benefits | Per-item limits are often much lower than the section total. Phones, cameras and jewellery may have their own limits or conditions. |
| Activities and sports | Activities list, general exclusions, and any add-on options | SafeTravel advises buying a policy that covers the activities you have planned. Skiing, diving, scooter or motorbike riding and cruises often have conditions or need an add-on. |
| Destinations and travel advisories | Region definitions on the schedule; general exclusions | Many policies will not cover travel to countries or regions SafeTravel advises against visiting. The region on your quote must match your trip. |
| Age and trip-length limits | Eligibility section; annual multi-trip conditions | Insurers set their own maximum ages and trip lengths, which can differ by plan. |
| Rental vehicle excess | Rental vehicle section (sometimes an option) | Covers the excess charged by a rental company after damage or theft, within the policy's conditions. |
| General exclusions | General exclusions section | Applies across the whole policy — for example alcohol or drug-related events, unlicensed driving, or known events at the time you bought cover. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues and underwrites Southern Cross Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance issued by Southern Cross Benefits Limited, trading as Southern Cross Travel Insurance. The insurer's own website states: "Issued and underwritten by Southern Cross Benefits Limited trading as Southern Cross Travel Insurance."
Where can I read the Southern Cross Travel Insurance policy wording?
The insurer publishes it at https://scti.co.nz/our-policies/comprehensive/policy-wording. The policy wording, together with your certificate of insurance, sets out exactly what is covered, the limits and excesses, and the exclusions. Read it before you buy, and check that the version matches the date you are buying.
How do I contact Southern Cross Travel Insurance?
The insurer's website lists 0800 800 571 (+64 9 979 6593 from overseas). Its website is https://scti.co.nz/. For emergencies while travelling, use the emergency assistance number printed in your policy documents.
Is this page a recommendation of Southern Cross Travel Insurance?
No. This page is general information about who provides the policy and where to read its wording. To request a quote through this site, use the quote form: your details go to Evolve Group Limited (FSP711891), who will contact you.
Request a quote
This page is general information about who provides Southern Cross Travel Insurance; it is not a recommendation. To request a quote, send your trip details through the quote form; they go to Evolve Group Limited (FSP711891), who will contact you.