Travel Insurance for China | Buying Guide
Are you an Australian travelling to China? Make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance so you can travel with peace of mind.
Why Australians need travel insurance for China
Overseas medical and evacuation costs can be substantial for foreigners. Despite China being relatively safe, unexpected events like natural disasters, flight cancellations, and medical emergencies can disrupt your travel plans and cost you thousands out of pocket.
According to 1 Cover insurance:
An air ambulance from China back to Australia will cost you $220,000
The average cost of a weekly hospital stay in China in ICU is $96,000
The cost of repatriation on a plane from China to Australia is $70,000
Almost 30% of Aussies think their government would cover their medical bills overseas. But if you have a medical emergency in China, you're the one that needs to pay. A comprehensive travel insurance policy can help mitigate financial risk.
Top Insurance Providers
It’s important to read and compare travel policies to find the right cover for you. To help, here are 3 reputable insurance providers in Australia that offer travel insurance for China.
Cover-MorE
Cover-more is Australia's leading travel insurer that offers comprehensive coverage with unlimited overseas medical expenses.
Cover-More have three levels of cover for international travel:
International Basic - Covers overseas emergency medical expenses, plus a few other essentials
International Comprehensive - Covers overseas emergency medical expenses, plus up to $15,000 luggage cover, rental car, and more…
International Comprehensive Plus - This top tier plan includes extra limits and benefits, along with cover for business items.
All policies offer optional cancellation coverage and on-trip cover if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19. Terms apply. Read more on the Cover-More website.
1Cover
1 Cover is a great choice for budget-conscious travellers offering flexible coverage options.
They offer three levels of cover:
Medical only - an affordable policy that only provides cover for any medical expenses and emergency assistance costs.
Comprehensive - highest level of cover, with optional add-ons for snow, cruise, extra rental vehicle excess, and high-value items.
Frequent traveller - Works just like the comprehensive cover, except you can take as many trips as you want in a year and you’ll still be covered.
Budget Direct
Budget Direct is a well-known and award-winning insurance company. Popular for their car insurance, they also offer international travel insurance.
They offer three levels of cover:
‘Basic’ coverage for medical, plus luggage and personal effects (limits apply)
‘Essential’ coverage, which includes extra cover for things like dental and rental car hire
‘Comprehensive’ cover, which as the name suggests, covers a range of benefits including travel amendment and cancellation cover.
Common Questions with travel insurance
Does travel insurance cover natural disasters?
Travel insurance typically provides cover for weather events as long as they are unforeseen. If you do get caught up in an unforeseen event and you are injured or your trip is interrupted, let your insurance company know straight away.
If I travel to China multiple times per year, should I get a multi-trip policy?
It can be more cost effective to get a multi-trip policy if you intend to travel to China more than once in a 12 month period.
How much does travel insurance cost to go to China?
Your policy will depend on a number of factors including: your age, the length of trip, the number and age of travelers, and any extra activities you may have planned - such as snow sports. On average, you can expect travel insurance to cost anywhere from 4% to 10% of the total cost of your trip. If you can’t afford the insurance, it could be a sign you can’t afford the trip!
What if I get sick before my trip?
Some policies will cover cancellation costs if you fall ill before your trip (e.g. COVID-19). It depends on when you bought your policy and which plan you purchased. Cover-More offers this benefit with their Comprehensive plan.
Travel Insurance Buying Tips
Consider your planned activities - are you skiing, hiking?
Review policy exclusions - read the comparison tables carefully!
Compare excess amounts - a higher excess can bring down your premium
Verify coverage for electronics and valuables - extra cover for electronics can increase your premium significantly
Important: Always read the product description and terms before purchasing a travel insurance. Check SmartTraveller for travel alerts on your destination before booking.
Travel insurance can't prevent things from happening. But when things do go wrong, you can rest assured, knowing you’ve got the backing of a policy that will help cover the needed expenses to get you home safe, sound, and hopefully in one piece!
For more tips, check out this insurance guide from CHOICE and SmartTraveller.gov.au
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