Travel Insurance Direct (TID) Review

Want to know which TID policy is right for you? Compare cover and get peace of mind before you leave.

Travel Insurance Direct (TID) has been providing Aussie travellers peace of mind since 2002. In fact, since TID opened its doors it has helped over one million Australians travel safer.

TID's policies cover you for a range of eventualities from medical expenses to evacuation, in over 100 countries and with a 24/7 in-house support team, help at any time or place is just a phone call away.

TID policies are underwritten by Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s and (if it's important to you) Travel Insurance Direct is proudly Australian owned and operated out of its head office in Sydney. Keep reading to find out more about cover from TID or compare your options now.

Get quotes for Travel Insurance Direct policies

Brands	Product	Product Details	Apply
	The Works	Unlimited overseas medical expenses Unlimited overseas emergency medical assistance Unlimited cancellation fees and lost deposits $12,000 luggage and personal effects	Get quoteMore info
	The Basics	$5 million medical expenses incurred overseas cover $3,000 cancellation costs $3,000 luggage and personal effects cover $500,000 additional expenses / medical evacuation cover	Get quoteMore info
	Multi-Trip International	Unlimited medical expenses cover Unlimited overseas emergency medical assistance Unlimited cancellation and lost deposits $12,000 luggage and personal effects	Get quoteMore info
	Domestic	$10,000 cancellation fees and lost deposits $4,000 rental vehicle excess $4,000 luggage and personal effects $1,000,000 personal liability	Get quoteMore info
	Winter Sports Travel Insurance	Emergency evacuation from ski fields Cover for prepaid ski hire ski pass and ski equipment Cover for ski equipment hire Piste closure	Get quoteMore info

You can focus on the fun, because we provide the cover, the service and the know-how to truly protect you.

- Travel Insurance Direct

What policies does Travel Insurance Direct offer?

You can choose from four cover options:

• The Works. This is Travel Insurance Direct’s comprehensive policy and is designed for people who want the ultimate peace of mind. It provides unlimited cover for overseas medical expenses, additional expenses and cancellation costs, plus benefits for everything from luggage and personal effects to rental vehicle excess cover.
• Annual Multi-Trip. For frequent international travellers who also want a high level of cover, Travel Insurance Direct offers Annual Multi-Trip cover for all the journeys you take during a 12-month period (up to 38 days for each leisure trip and up to 90 days for each business trip). This is cheaper than purchasing a separate policy for each journey, and it offers all the same benefits as The Works policy. It also includes the option of adding business travel benefit to cover the loss, theft and damage of business equipment, plus the cost of hiring business equipment and re-creating business documents.
• The Basics. Designed for travellers on a budget, this policy features lower benefit limits and provides protection against a range of common risks. As well as $5 million overseas medical expenses cover, it also provides benefits for cancellation costs, additional expenses, personal accident, luggage and personal effects, and more.
• Domestic. Designed for travel within Australia, the Travel Insurance Direct Domestic policy covers cancellation costs, additional expenses, rental vehicle insurance excess, accidental death, luggage and personal effects, and personal liability.

What's covered?

Depending on the policy you choose, Travel Insurance Direct offers a wide range of benefits to Australian travellers, including:

• Medical expenses incurred overseas. Travel Insurance Direct will cover the cost of emergency medical, hospital, road ambulance or other treatment you receive overseas after suffering a sudden illness or serious injury.
• Cancellation costs. If unforeseen circumstances outside your control force you to cancel your trip, your policy will cover the cost of cancelling or rearranging your trip.
• Additional expenses / medical evacuation. If you’re unable to continue your trip due to specific circumstances beyond your control, such as the death of a relative or cancellation of your transport due to a natural disaster, Travel Insurance Direct can cover your additional travel and accommodation expenses. It also covers the cost of a close relative or friend travelling to you and remaining by your side when you are hospitalised overseas.
• Loss of income. If you suffer an injury during your trip and are unable to attend to your normal work or business when you return to Australia, your policy can pay a certain amount for up to six months to help replace your lost income.
• Out-of-pocket expenses. When you’re hospitalised overseas for more than 48 consecutive hours, your policy pays a daily benefit to cover your out-of-pocket hospital expenses.
• Travel delay. If your pre-paid scheduled transport is cancelled, rescheduled or delayed for a reason outside of your control, Travel Insurance Direct covers additional expenses for accommodation, meals and for transfers directly between transport terminals and accommodation. If you can’t reach your next destination on time as a result of the delay, you’re also covered for your unused travel costs (e.g. pre-paid accommodation and tours).
• Return airfare. If you suffer a sudden illness or serious injury and the treating medical practitioner decides that you need to return to Australia with a medical escort, this benefit covers the cost of your original airline ticket.
• Resumption of trip. If you have to cut your trip short to return home following the death or serious injury or illness of a close relative, you’re covered for the cost of resuming your trip at a later date.
• Special events. If unforeseeable circumstances outside of your control mean you will be unable to arrive on time at a pre-arranged event (wedding, conference, returning to work etc.), Travel Insurance Direct covers the additional cost of alternative public transport arrangements to get you there on time.
• Rental vehicle insurance excess. This benefit provides cover for the rental car insurance excess you’re liable to pay when your hire vehicle is damaged, stolen or involved in an accident.
• Withdrawal of services. This benefit covers you when certain services in your prepaid accommodation are unforeseeably withdrawn for 48 continuous hours. Services include your water and electrical facilities in your room, waiter service at meals, kitchen services so that no food is served and all chambermaid service.
• Accidental death. Your policy will pay a lump sum benefit if you die within 12 months as a result of an accidental injury sustained during your trip.
• Total permanent disability. This benefit is paid if you suffer an injury on your trip that results in your permanent total loss of sight in one or both eyes, or the permanent total loss of use of one or more limbs.
• Luggage and personal effects. You’ll be covered for the cost of repairing or replacing lost, stolen and damaged luggage and personal items.
• Personal liability. If your negligence results in damage to someone else’s property or causes them to suffer bodily injury or death, Travel Insurance Direct’s policies include cover for your personal liability.

How do the policies stack up?

To get an idea of what each policy covers, have a look at the table below:

• Single policy
• Family policy

_{The above benefits refer to policies for a single traveller. Information last checked December 2018. Always read the PDS before buying a policy.}

What additional options does TID offer?

Travel Insurance Direct lets you tailor your policy with a range of additional options. You can add the following options to your Travel Insurance Direct cover by paying an extra premium:

_{The above benefits refer to policies for a single traveller. Information last checked December 2018. Always read the PDS before buying a policy.}

What are the age limits for each policy type?

What isn't covered by TID policies?

TID will assess each domestic and international policy claim. But as with any travel insurance policy, there are some things that are generally excluded, such as:

Are pre-existing medical conditions covered?

Yes! Travel Insurance Direct covers 43 existing medical conditions as standard. Pre-existing medical conditions are broken into three categories:

• Conditions that are automatically included. This includes conditions such as high blood pressure (if you do not suffer any cardiovascular disease or diabetes).
• Conditions that are excluded. This includes conditions like ongoing treatments for heart problems and conditions where you have been hospitalised in the last 24 months.
• Conditions that can be covered under a special pre-existing medical conditions policy. This may include conditions that are not listed in the above categories, such as a cardiomyopathy.

How do I get a policy that covers my pre-existing condition?

You will need to inform TID of your condition. If TID agrees to insure your condition, you will generally need to pay an additional premium.

What conditions are covered as standard?

How can I contact TID in case of an emergency?

If you need urgent assistance during your trip, you can contact the worldwide emergency assistance line on +61 2 9234 3123 or +61 2 8256 1523. This line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is contactable worldwide.

If you’d like to contact Travel Insurance Direct to ask a question or discuss a claim, you can phone the insurer on 1300 843 843 from Australia or +61 2 8263 0483 from overseas. Contact hours are 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm Saturday.

What do I need to make a claim?

The easiest way to make a claim on your policy is online through the Travel Insurance Direct website. All you have to do is follow these steps:

1. Enter your email address and Travel Insurance Direct password to log in.
2. Select “Claims” from the menu and then click on “Make a new claim”.
3. Answer a few quick questions about what’s happened to let the insurer know the nature of your claim, then click on “Continue to the next step”.
4. Describe in as much detail as possible exactly what happened.
5. Answer a range of questions specifically related to your claim. As you do so, you’ll be advised what documents you will need to supply to support your claim.
6. List all the expenses you are claiming.
7. You’ll be emailed instructions for the next steps and a list of documents the insurer requires to process your claim.
8. Gather your documents and then upload and submit them via the Travel Insurance Direct claims portal.
9. You’ll receive a one-page summary of your claim. Review this to ensure that all details are correct before clicking “Submit”.

Once you’ve submitted your completed claim form and all the necessary documentation, your claim will be processed within ten working days

Why should I consider TID?

• Experience. Travel Insurance Direct is underwritten by Lloyd's, one of the world’s leading insurance brands. Over 1 million Australians have taken out travel cover with Travel Insurance Direct since 2002.
• Dedicated customer service. Travel Insurance Direct realises its success is dependent on not only its range of products but also the service it provides to customers. From the initial policy application process to dealing with policy owners in the event of a claim, Travel Insurance Direct has a dedicated team of consultants to provide support 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world.
• Giving back to the places you go. When you buy a policy, you can make a micro-donation to The Footprints Network, which helps you give back to destinations you travel to. Your donation goes towards community projects such as clean water in Cambodia or eye care for indigenous Australians.
• Money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the policy you have chosen with TID, you are entitled to a 14-day cooling off period during which you can cancel your policy and receive a full refund. This option is only available if the trip or policy has not already commenced and you have not made a claim.
• Kids go free. Dependent children under the age of 21 named on the policy can be covered free of charge.

Questions people have about Travel Insurance Direct

• Who can buy a Travel Insurance Direct policy?

  Travel Insurance Direct offers cover to Australian citizens and residents.

• Are there any age limits?

  Yes. The Works and Domestic insurance have a maximum age limit of 80, while The Basics and Annual Multi-Trip cover is only available to travellers 75 and under.

• Can I extend my policy while overseas?

  Yes, international policies can be extended an unlimited number of times to a maximum of 12 months. Domestic policies can be extended an unlimited number of times to a maximum of 6 months.

• Does Travel Insurance Direct cover cruise holidays?

  Yes. Cruise holidays are covered by your Travel Insurance Direct policy for no extra cost.

• What’s the maximum length of an individual trip that an Annual Multi-Trip policy will cover?

  You can purchase cover for trips up to a maximum duration of 38 days and up to 90 days for each business trip.

• Can I extend my single-trip policy after I have already purchased it?

  Yes. The Works and The Basics policies can be extended as many times as you like up to a maximum period of 12 months. Domestic policies can also be extended as many times as you like, but only up to a maximum of six months.

• What are the conditions for policy extensions?

  • Applicant must be under 81 years of age
  • Must not be covered for a pre-existing medical condition
  • There must not have been a change in health status or personal situation that may impact decision to continue to provide cover

• Do I get to choose my excess?

  Yes. You can choose from three excess amounts when you buy a policy: $0, $100 or $200.

• Is there a limit to the number of countries I can visit?

  No. You can purchase cover for as many destinations as you would like.

• Is there a cooling-off period if I want to cancel my policy?

  Yes. A 14-day cooling-off period begins as soon as you purchase cover. You’ll be entitled to a full refund if you cancel during this time.

• Does Travel Insurance Direct provide rental vehicle excess cover?

  Yes. $4,000 cover is provided on The Works, Annual Multi Trip and Domestic cover. This benefit is not covered on The Basics.

• Does Travel Insurance Direct cover natural disasters?

  Yes, you are covered for cancellations that occur due to natural disasters if your policy was bought before the natural disaster occurred.

• Are my kids covered?

  Yes. Travel Insurance Direct covers your dependent children and grandchildren for free when they travel with you for the majority of your trip.

Get a quote for a policy with TID

If you like the sound of the benefits offered by Travel Insurance Direct, use the finder.com.au quote engine at the top of this page to find out how much cover will cost. All you have to do is:

1. Select from Single Trip or Annual Multi-Trip cover
2. Enter your travel destination(s)
3. Enter your travel dates
4. Enter the ages of all travellers who will be included in cover
5. Click “Get quote now”

You’ll then be presented with one or more quotes depending on the details you have provided. After reviewing the cost of cover and the included benefits, click the green “Go to site” button if you’re interested in buying cover. You’ll be redirected to the Travel Insurance Direct website where you can download the PDS and apply for a policy.

Want save money on your Travel Insurance Direct travel insurance premium? Check out our selection of current Travel Insurance Direct promo codes to lower your premium or access special offers.

Compare Travel Insurance Direct policies today