Travel Insurance NZ: Guide to Cover and NZ Insurers

MFAT's SafeTravel service is direct about it: don't travel outside New Zealand without insurance. Even minor medical treatment can be expensive, and the New Zealand Government will not pay these costs (SafeTravel (MFAT): Travel insurance). If you are sick or injured overseas without insurance, you pay for your own medical care (SafeTravel (MFAT): Health advice).

ACC. ACC covers injuries caused by accidents, not illness (ACC: Injuries we don't cover). For New Zealand residents injured overseas, it may help once you are home, but it does not cover overseas treatment costs, non-accident medical emergencies, disrupted travel plans and lost deposits, or emergency travel for a relative (ACC: If you're a New Zealander injured overseas).

Australia. Under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, New Zealand visitors can get medically necessary public hospital care as a public patient and some PBS medicines at the general rate — but not visits to medical practitioners outside hospital (Services Australia: Reciprocal Health Care Agreements – visiting from New Zealand). See our Australia guide.

Benefits differ by policy level. International policies commonly include some or all of:

• Overseas medical and hospital costs, 24-hour emergency assistance, evacuation and repatriation.
• Cancellation and curtailment for reasons the policy covers.
• Travel delays and missed connections.
• Luggage, personal effects and travel documents, usually with per-item limits.
• Rental vehicle excess.
• Personal liability.

Some medical limits are stated as a dollar figure and some as unlimited; sub-limits and exclusions still apply. Read the table of benefits in the policy wording rather than the headline summary.

• Region of cover, and the current SafeTravel advice for every destination.
• Pre-existing medical conditions: what is covered automatically, what needs assessment, what is excluded.
• Activities you plan, such as skiing, diving or riding a scooter — SafeTravel recommends a policy that covers them.
• Benefit limits, sub-limits and the excess — not just the premium.
• General exclusions, such as alcohol, unattended belongings and known events.
• Single-trip versus annual multi-trip, if you travel several times a year.

Activities source: SafeTravel (MFAT): Travel insurance. Destination guides: USA, Bali, cruises.

We publish an overview page for each of these insurers. For any policy you are considering, read the insurer's current policy wording before you buy.