Best Travel Insurance For Australia Working Holiday Visa

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So why bother getting travel insurance for Australia? 

Well, here are just a few reasons to get travel insurance for an Australian working holiday:

Moving to Sydney? Be sure to join Irish Around Sydney

First of all, I am by no means trying to scare you into getting travel insurance. This is not my intention; I am only trying to make it clearer just why you need travel insurance on a working holiday visa.

• Medical Emergencies: Covers unexpected illness or injury. Aussie healthcare ain’t cheap for non-residents!
• Lost or Stolen Gear: Replace your essentials if your stuff gets nicked or goes walkabout.
• Trip Cancellations: Get your money back if plans change unexpectedly.
• Work-Related Injuries: Some policies cover accidents at your job, which is handy since you’re on a working holiday.
• Personal Liability: If you accidentally cause damage or injury to others, you’re covered.
• Adventure Activities: Planning to surf or trek? Insurance can cover these extra risks.
• Peace of Mind: Just knowing you’re covered can make your adventure down under less stressful.

So what travel insurance should I get? 😷👨‍⚕️

I explain what to look for in each travel insurance, but I have used, and others recommend the following:

1. True Traveller – True Traveller is a top pick for adventurers, offering flexible, comprehensive coverage tailored specifically to the needs of backpackers and working holidaymakers. I personally used this in OZ, Canada and Europe!
2. Safety Wing  –  SafetyWing offers affordable, global travel medical insurance, making it a go-to choice for digital nomads and long-term travellers seeking peace of mind on their journeys.
3. Go Insurance  –  Go Insurance caters excellently to non-residents, offering unique one-way and return travel insurance options, perfect for those who’ve been residents for at least three months and need reliable coverage. And get 10% off with Irish Around Oz here.

Great question! When it comes to choosing insurance for a working holiday, especially something like True Traveller, there are a few things to consider. I can’t give you a straight-up “yes” or “no” – it’s more about what suits your needs best.

Here’s what to think about for your :

1. Coverage Details: Make sure the policy covers what you need for your working holiday. Things like medical expenses, work-related incidents, and travel disruptions are key.
2. Reputation: Look at reviews and feedback from other travellers. A good reputation in customer service and claims handling is golden.
3. Price vs. Coverage: It’s about finding the right balance. Cheaper isn’t always better if it skimps on important coverage. I have seen some policies for as low as €120 for 12 months, but they are lacking a LOT of things.
4. Exclusions and Limits: Know what’s not covered and how much you can claim. You don’t want nasty surprises.
5. Personal Needs: Consider your specific plans in Australia – like if you’re going surfing, bushwalking, or working in certain jobs.

True Traveller has been popular among backpackers and working holiday folks(including me) for its flexibility and options tailored to travellers. But whether it’s the best for you depends on your personal circumstances and travel plans.

Do your homework, compare a few options, and pick what feels right. Insurance is a crucial part of your working holiday prep, so take the time to get it sorted properly. Safe travels!

Extra tip – if you are sending money from Ireland to Australia or the other way around, read this post.

Important things to know about the Reciprocal Health Agreement (RHA):

When it comes to the reciprocal health agreement (RHA) in Australia, there are a few key things you should keep in mind:

1. Eligibility: The RHA is only for citizens of certain countries, like the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, and some others. Make sure your home country is part of the agreement.
2. Coverage Limitations: It mainly covers essential medical treatments in public hospitals. It doesn’t include things like ambulance services, dental care, or private hospital stays.
3. Enrollment: You might need to enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system, to access these benefits.
4. Duration: The agreement covers you only for the duration of your approved stay in Australia. If you extend your stay, make sure you’re still covered.
5. Not a Replacement for Travel Insurance: The RHA isn’t comprehensive travel insurance. It doesn’t cover things like repatriation, ongoing treatments, or non-urgent medical care.
6. Prescriptions and Medicine: While some prescription costs might be covered, it’s not comprehensive, so expect to pay something out-of-pocket.
7. Visiting a GP: You can see a General Practitioner (GP) under the agreement, but there might be a fee, as not all GPs bulk bill.

You can read all the t’s and c’s on the Australian Gov website here.

Important: If you’re here on a student visa from Ireland, you’re not eligible for Medicare!

The above links will direct you to each page, and you can see if your country requires you to enrol in Medicare or not.

So, who should I choose for my travel insurance in Australia? 

I hope by now you realise that travel insurance is a must. The costs of getting travel insurance premiums for Australia have come way down over the past few years.

Before we get into that:

A word of warning for Irish people purchasing their travel insurance for Australia in Ireland

Yes, you can find cheap insurance for a year for €100 – €200, but ask yourself if they will really give you good enough coverage at that price. Originally, when I moved to Australia in 2013(yes, a lonnng time ago!), I went with 2-year worldwide travel insurance with Blue Insurance.

Happy out I was! Send me off to Oz, who cares about the terms and conditions. I only discovered recently that they only cover you as long as you don’t make more than two trips home and no longer than 21 days. Let me just let that sink in for a moment. Over two years, you cannot go back to Ireland for more than 21 days or two times!

To be honest, I was pretty mad when I heard that. Nobody told me when I was getting my quote, and thankfully, I didn’t need to make a claim. How will they know? Well, technically, you could come home for longer, and no one would know, but if something happened and you had to make a claim, things might not turn out so well for you.

Now, perhaps you used a company like USIT that offers packages including “12-month travel insurance for Australia”. What they often forget to mention is it only allows you to make a maximum of 3 trips home a year with a trip no longer than 20 days. This means that if you have to come home for 21 days, your entire premium becomes void and no longer active.

You don’t know what might happen over the 12 months in Australia, but you don’t want this hanging over your head.

The packages are great and probably the cheapest premiums you will find, but that is the reason for this.

If you break any of these terms, then your entire policy is void and cancelled! 

Again, I do apologise for all the exclamation marks. This is really important, and I think they do a terrible job of telling people. 

This is why I suggest True Traveller. As you will see below, they offer unlimited trips home for as long as you want!

Now, you might be saying, “Sure, I am never going back”, but keep in mind things happen over one or two years. One of my best friends passed away, and I had to fly home for the funeral. You don’t know what might happen.

Below are the companies I have used personally over the years:

1. True Traveller – True Traveller is a top pick for adventurers, offering flexible, comprehensive coverage tailored specifically to the needs of backpackers and working holidaymakers. I personally used this in OZ, Canada and Europe!
2. Safety Wing  –  SafetyWing offers affordable, global travel medical insurance, making it a go-to choice for digital nomads and long-term travellers seeking peace of mind on their journeys.
3. Go Insurance  –  Go Insurance caters excellently to non-residents, offering unique one-way and return travel insurance options, perfect for those who’ve been residents for at least three months and need reliable coverage. And get 10% off with Irish Around Oz here.

Your own country travel insurance for Australia – Blue Insurance, USIT, VHI or any familiar names from your own country. Please give them a call and ask what their policy is for returning back home. If it is limited, I would not bother. And remember, cheaper is not always better when it comes to travel insurance! 

The bottom line on travel insurance for Australia 😎🍻

I can go into all the details about which is the best travel insurance for Australia, but really, the best will be the one that fits your needs. It is well worth paying that extra bit for good cover. If you are planning on doing some travelling over one or two years, get worldwide cover.

Why is Travel Insurance Essential in Australia?

• Australia’s reciprocal healthcare agreements offer limited coverage, so it’s not a stand-in for comprehensive travel insurance.
• You’re responsible for costs like ambulance services and doctor visits.
• Travel insurance covers a range of situations, from medical emergencies to trip cancellations and work-related injuries, giving you peace of mind.

Important Points on the Reciprocal Health Agreement (RHA):

• It’s for citizens of specific countries, so check your eligibility.
• It covers basic medical treatments in public hospitals but not ambulance services, dental care, or private hospital stays.
• You might need to enrol in Medicare.
• The RHA is valid only during your approved stay in Australia.
• It’s not comprehensive travel insurance.

Word of Caution:

• If you’re purchasing insurance in Ireland, be wary of cheap policies with limited coverage, especially regarding trips back home.
• True Traveller is recommended for its unlimited trips home policy and flexibility.

Remember: Always read the terms and conditions carefully, and choose a policy that best suits your needs and travel plans. Safe travels!

Policies will change from time to time, so make sure not to take my word for it and double-check everything. This is just based on my own research and experiences.

Thanks for reading, and if you are in the process of researching your trip to Australia, be sure to read my tips for a working holiday visa here or 60 things you need to know before moving to Oz.

Lastly, here are some resources you might need for moving to Australia: 

• Currencyfair – My recommended money transfer company. I use them all the time! Get your first ten transfers for FREE(normally €3) with this link
• OFX(Previously OzForex) – A more personal touch with a dedicated broker. Great for larger transfers over €3000($5000). They have been around for years! We have an exclusive deal, and you can get free transfers over $1000 for life(yes, for life!) with this link.
• Wise – Used by so many people, it’s great! Save 80 – 90% on bank charges with Wise. A handy debit card that you can set up and even use as your main bank account. Get your first free transfer here.
• Doing another working holiday visa in Canada? Don’t forget travel insurance in Canada, too. 
• Sunset Travellers post on travel insurance
• The cheapest way to send money from Australia to Ireland

Thanks for reading, and I hope that you found some travel insurance for Australia on your working holiday visa.

Stephen

Ah go on, give it a share!