What does budget travel insurance cover?
While the exact level of cover depends on the policy type you choose, here are examples of benefits that may be included in a budget travel insurance policy.
This is a summary only. Terms, conditions, exclusions and limits apply. Not all benefits apply to all policies. Read the PDS and TMD before buying.
When you’re travelling on a budget, every dollar counts, so it’s important to cover what you’ve already paid for. Flights, accommodation, and tours can be expensive to replace if your trip is cancelled unexpectedly.
If you or anyone on your policy become unexpectedly ill, injured, or experience another event covered under your policy that forces you to cancel your trip, Fast Cover’s Trip Cancellation Expenses benefit may reimburse the non-refundable pre-paid trip bookings you’ve already paid.*
You can buy travel insurance up to 12 months before you leave for your trip when you purchase our Standard Saver, Comprehensive, Domestic Plus, or Snow Sports Plus policies. Please note this benefit is not available with our Basics policy.
Even budget trips can come with big surprises. If you become seriously ill or injured overseas, Fast Cover’s Australian-based Emergency Assistance team is available 24/7 to help when you need it most.*
Depending on your situation, our Emergency Medical Assistance team may be able to assist you during unexpected medical emergencies overseas by:
Locating and arranging overseas medical treatment or hospital admission.
Coordinating approved medical evacuation or repatriation.
Providing guidance on local medical services and next steps.*
Travellers covered under the policy can contact our Emergency Assistance team directly any time they need urgent help overseas.*
Medical care overseas can be costly, and in some destinations, even a short hospital visit can result in large bills. Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance, both our Basics and Standard Saver policies may be able to provide cover for overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses if you become unexpectedly ill or injured while on your trip.*
Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance is designed to help with the financial impact of unexpected illness or injury while overseas. This may include reasonable medical treatment, hospitalisation costs, or related medical expenses covered under your policy that you incur during your trip and are not reimbursed elsewhere.*
If you experience a serious medical emergency while travelling, you might need to be medically transported or evacuated to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment or even be repatriated back to Australia for treatment with appropriate medical supervision.*
Even our budget travel insurance options such as the Basics and Standard Saver policies may be able to provide cover for the reasonable additional accommodation and travel expenses, cost of medical transfer, evacuation or repatriation when these services are approved under your policy. All medical evacuations and repatriations must be arranged and approved by Fast Cover before they take place.
Losing your luggage or having personal items stolen can hit your travel budget hard. Budget travel insurance may include cover for your luggage and personal items such as laptops, cameras, and phones if they are lost, stolen or accidentally damaged in situations covered under your policy.*
This benefit is automatically included with our Standard Saver policy up to a limit of $5000 but is an optional extra (up to $2000) under our Basics policy for travellers on a tighter budget who might be travelling light and not require cover for luggage and personal items.
Benefit limits and sub-limits apply to how much can be claimed for each item, and conditions set out when and how cover applies. For full details, it’s important to read the PDS to understand your entitlements and any exclusions that may apply.*
Sometimes, even after your trip begins, unexpected events like natural disaster and strikes can result in cancelled or diverted transport and disrupt your trip.
Fast Cover’s Trip Disruption Expenses benefit is available with our Standard Saver policy and may cover reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses you incur while you’re still on your trip if the disruption occurs for reasons covered under your policy. The cost must be unrecoverable from any other source.*
What does budget travel insurance cover?
While the exact level of cover depends on the policy type you choose, here are examples of benefits that may be included in a budget travel insurance policy.
This is a summary only. Terms, conditions, exclusions and limits apply. Not all benefits apply to all policies. Read the PDS and TMD before buying.
When you’re travelling on a budget, every dollar counts, so it’s important to cover what you’ve already paid for. Flights, accommodation, and tours can be expensive to replace if your trip is cancelled unexpectedly.
If you or anyone on your policy become unexpectedly ill, injured, or experience another event covered under your policy that forces you to cancel your trip, Fast Cover’s Trip Cancellation Expenses benefit may reimburse the non-refundable pre-paid trip bookings you’ve already paid.*
You can buy travel insurance up to 12 months before you leave for your trip when you purchase our Standard Saver, Comprehensive, Domestic Plus, or Snow Sports Plus policies. Please note this benefit is not available with our Basics policy.
Even budget trips can come with big surprises. If you become seriously ill or injured overseas, Fast Cover’s Australian-based Emergency Assistance team is available 24/7 to help when you need it most.*
Depending on your situation, our Emergency Medical Assistance team may be able to assist you during unexpected medical emergencies overseas by:
Locating and arranging overseas medical treatment or hospital admission.
Coordinating approved medical evacuation or repatriation.
Providing guidance on local medical services and next steps.*
Travellers covered under the policy can contact our Emergency Assistance team directly any time they need urgent help overseas.*
Medical care overseas can be costly, and in some destinations, even a short hospital visit can result in large bills. Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance, both our Basics and Standard Saver policies may be able to provide cover for overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses if you become unexpectedly ill or injured while on your trip.*
Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance is designed to help with the financial impact of unexpected illness or injury while overseas. This may include reasonable medical treatment, hospitalisation costs, or related medical expenses covered under your policy that you incur during your trip and are not reimbursed elsewhere.*
If you experience a serious medical emergency while travelling, you might need to be medically transported or evacuated to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment or even be repatriated back to Australia for treatment with appropriate medical supervision.*
Even our budget travel insurance options such as the Basics and Standard Saver policies may be able to provide cover for the reasonable additional accommodation and travel expenses, cost of medical transfer, evacuation or repatriation when these services are approved under your policy. All medical evacuations and repatriations must be arranged and approved by Fast Cover before they take place.
Losing your luggage or having personal items stolen can hit your travel budget hard. Budget travel insurance may include cover for your luggage and personal items such as laptops, cameras, and phones if they are lost, stolen or accidentally damaged in situations covered under your policy.*
This benefit is automatically included with our Standard Saver policy up to a limit of $5000 but is an optional extra (up to $2000) under our Basics policy for travellers on a tighter budget who might be travelling light and not require cover for luggage and personal items.
Benefit limits and sub-limits apply to how much can be claimed for each item, and conditions set out when and how cover applies. For full details, it’s important to read the PDS to understand your entitlements and any exclusions that may apply.*
Sometimes, even after your trip begins, unexpected events like natural disaster and strikes can result in cancelled or diverted transport and disrupt your trip.
Fast Cover’s Trip Disruption Expenses benefit is available with our Standard Saver policy and may cover reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses you incur while you’re still on your trip if the disruption occurs for reasons covered under your policy. The cost must be unrecoverable from any other source.*
Optional extras for budget travel insurance
Travelling on a budget doesn’t mean settling for one-size-fits-all cover. Fast Cover’s travel insurance policies can be customised with optional add-ons that let you choose extra protection for the parts of your trip that matter most.
Whether you’re hiring a car, taking a cruise, or planning some adventure activities, these extras can help you include cover for situations or experiences that may not be automatically included in your chosen policy. This flexibility means you only pay for what you need, keeping your insurance affordable while still providing valuable cover.* Depending on the policy type you choose, the following optional add-ons may be available with your low-cost holiday insurance:
Exploring a destination on two wheels is often one of the most affordable ways Australians travel, from weaving through Vietnam’s Ha Giang Loop on a motorcycle, to riding a scooter in Thailand, or cruising the coastal roads of Bali on a moped.
Fast Cover’s Motorcycle Pack is an optional extra that you can add to your budget travel insurance that may provide cover to you for being the rider or passenger on a:
Motorcycle
Moped
Scooter.*
The Motorcycle Pack is available at an additional premium for Aussie travellers aged 74 years and under at the date of policy issue when they purchase an international travel insurance policy.*
For more details visit our page on travel insurance for riding a motorcycle overseas and read our PDS for terms and conditions of cover for the Motorcycle Pack.
Travelling on a budget doesn't mean skipping adventure. Fast Cover’s Adventure Pack gives you the option to include an extra list of adrenaline-pumping activities to help you tick off your bucket list.*
Examples of some activities that require the Adventure Pack include:
Abseiling
Outdoor rock climbing
Quad biking
Tandem parachuting and tandem skydiving
Sailing from 10 -15 nautical miles off any land mass
Scuba diving up to a depth of 30 m
Water skiing, jet skiing, and speedboating
Conditions apply for activities under our Adventure Pack so make sure to read the PDS for full T&Cs.
The Adventure Pack is available at an additional premium as an optional cover for Aussie travellers aged 74 and under (at the date of policy issue) when they purchase a Comprehensive, Standard Saver, Snow Sports Plus, Domestic Plus or Frequent Traveller Saver policy.*
For more details, visit our page on travel insurance for adventure activities.
Hiring a rental vehicle is a popular way to travel on a budget, but rental vehicles often come with a high insurance excess if something goes wrong.
If your rental vehicle is in an accident, damaged or stolen during your trip overseas, Fast Cover can, depending on the policy chosen, and on payment of additional premium provide reasonable additional cover of up to $8,000 for the rental vehicle excess component of your rental vehicle insurance with your car hire company overseas.*
The rental vehicle excess benefit applies to a:
Sedan, hatchback, or station wagon
Four-wheel drive or minibus/people mover
Campervan or motorhome (up to 4.5 tonnes)
rented from a licensed motor vehicle rental company (including vehicles rented from peer-to-peer carsharing platforms).*
Please note this benefit is not available on our Basics policy.
For more details visit our page on rental vehicle excess cover and read our PDS for terms and conditions of cover for rental vehicle excess.
Pairing a winter holiday with snow sports? Unexpected events at the snow can snowball into costly expenses. If you’re planning to ski or snowboard overseas, answer yes to ‘Will you be doing any snowsports?' during your quote application. This will give you the option to purchase a “Snow Sports Plus” policy which can provide cover for costs associated with ski and snow sports.*
Below are some examples of things that may be covered in your snow sports benefits:
loss or theft of, or accidental damage to snow sports equipment
for hiring replacement snow sports equipment that is necessary to continue with your original itinerary if snow sports equipment owned by you has been misdirected or delayed for a period of more than 24-hours, or has been accidentally damaged, lost or stolen during your trip
if you are injured or become sick during your trip and are unable to utilise the full duration of your pre-booked and pre-paid lift passes, snow sports equipment hire, or lessons, we will reimburse you the percentage amount of the unused portion for each insured person
the cost of transport and lift passes at an alternate ski resort
in conditions and circumstances covered under your policy and as per limits and sub limits set out in our PDS.*
The Snow Sports Plus policy is available at an additional premium for Aussie travellers aged 69 and under at the date of policy issue, when they purchase an international travel insurance policy.*
For more details visit our page on travel insurance for skiing and snowboarding and read our PDS for terms and conditions of cover for Snow Sports.
Cruising can be an affordable way to see multiple destinations in one trip, but it’s important to make sure you’re covered both on board and on shore.
You can choose to add cruise cover to your budget travel insurance for additional cover in case of unexpected emergencies on-board the cruise ship and during onshore excursions where no support or reimbursement is provided by the cruise company for these emergencies.*
If you are travelling on a cruise ship and wish to be covered for it, you must specify cruise cover at the time of purchase based on your destination and length of your cruise trip:
If you are travelling within Australian waters, the New Zealand or the South Pacific region for 1 night or more
If you are travelling on a cruise within Asia, Europe or Worldwide regions for 4 nights or more
By adding this option, your existing international travel insurance benefits will extend to when you’re on a cruise. This may provide cover for unexpected emergencies on-board the cruise ship where no support or reimbursement is provided by the cruise company.*
For more details, visit our page on travel insurance for cruises and read our PDS for terms and conditions of cover for travelling on cruise ship.
Optional extras for budget travel insurance
Travelling on a budget doesn’t mean settling for one-size-fits-all cover. Fast Cover’s travel insurance policies can be customised with optional add-ons that let you choose extra protection for the parts of your trip that matter most.
Whether you’re hiring a car, taking a cruise, or planning some adventure activities, these extras can help you include cover for situations or experiences that may not be automatically included in your chosen policy. This flexibility means you only pay for what you need, keeping your insurance affordable while still providing valuable cover.* Depending on the policy type you choose, the following optional add-ons may be available with your low-cost holiday insurance:
Exploring a destination on two wheels is often one of the most affordable ways Australians travel, from weaving through Vietnam’s Ha Giang Loop on a motorcycle, to riding a scooter in Thailand, or cruising the coastal roads of Bali on a moped.
Fast Cover’s Motorcycle Pack is an optional extra that you can add to your budget travel insurance that may provide cover to you for being the rider or passenger on a:
Motorcycle
Moped
Scooter.*
The Motorcycle Pack is available at an additional premium for Aussie travellers aged 74 years and under at the date of policy issue when they purchase an international travel insurance policy.*
For more details visit our page on travel insurance for riding a motorcycle overseas and read our PDS for terms and conditions of cover for the Motorcycle Pack.
Travelling on a budget doesn't mean skipping adventure. Fast Cover’s Adventure Pack gives you the option to include an extra list of adrenaline-pumping activities to help you tick off your bucket list.*
Examples of some activities that require the Adventure Pack include:
Abseiling
Outdoor rock climbing
Quad biking
Tandem parachuting and tandem skydiving
Sailing from 10 -15 nautical miles off any land mass
Scuba diving up to a depth of 30 m
Water skiing, jet skiing, and speedboating
Conditions apply for activities under our Adventure Pack so make sure to read the PDS for full T&Cs.
The Adventure Pack is available at an additional premium as an optional cover for Aussie travellers aged 74 and under (at the date of policy issue) when they purchase a Comprehensive, Standard Saver, Snow Sports Plus, Domestic Plus or Frequent Traveller Saver policy.*
For more details, visit our page on travel insurance for adventure activities.
Hiring a rental vehicle is a popular way to travel on a budget, but rental vehicles often come with a high insurance excess if something goes wrong.
If your rental vehicle is in an accident, damaged or stolen during your trip overseas, Fast Cover can, depending on the policy chosen, and on payment of additional premium provide reasonable additional cover of up to $8,000 for the rental vehicle excess component of your rental vehicle insurance with your car hire company overseas.*
The rental vehicle excess benefit applies to a:
Sedan, hatchback, or station wagon
Four-wheel drive or minibus/people mover
Campervan or motorhome (up to 4.5 tonnes)
rented from a licensed motor vehicle rental company (including vehicles rented from peer-to-peer carsharing platforms).*
Please note this benefit is not available on our Basics policy.
For more details visit our page on rental vehicle excess cover and read our PDS for terms and conditions of cover for rental vehicle excess.
Pairing a winter holiday with snow sports? Unexpected events at the snow can snowball into costly expenses. If you’re planning to ski or snowboard overseas, answer yes to ‘Will you be doing any snowsports?' during your quote application. This will give you the option to purchase a “Snow Sports Plus” policy which can provide cover for costs associated with ski and snow sports.*
Below are some examples of things that may be covered in your snow sports benefits:
loss or theft of, or accidental damage to snow sports equipment
for hiring replacement snow sports equipment that is necessary to continue with your original itinerary if snow sports equipment owned by you has been misdirected or delayed for a period of more than 24-hours, or has been accidentally damaged, lost or stolen during your trip
if you are injured or become sick during your trip and are unable to utilise the full duration of your pre-booked and pre-paid lift passes, snow sports equipment hire, or lessons, we will reimburse you the percentage amount of the unused portion for each insured person
the cost of transport and lift passes at an alternate ski resort
in conditions and circumstances covered under your policy and as per limits and sub limits set out in our PDS.*
The Snow Sports Plus policy is available at an additional premium for Aussie travellers aged 69 and under at the date of policy issue, when they purchase an international travel insurance policy.*
For more details visit our page on travel insurance for skiing and snowboarding and read our PDS for terms and conditions of cover for Snow Sports.
Cruising can be an affordable way to see multiple destinations in one trip, but it’s important to make sure you’re covered both on board and on shore.
You can choose to add cruise cover to your budget travel insurance for additional cover in case of unexpected emergencies on-board the cruise ship and during onshore excursions where no support or reimbursement is provided by the cruise company for these emergencies.*
If you are travelling on a cruise ship and wish to be covered for it, you must specify cruise cover at the time of purchase based on your destination and length of your cruise trip:
If you are travelling within Australian waters, the New Zealand or the South Pacific region for 1 night or more
If you are travelling on a cruise within Asia, Europe or Worldwide regions for 4 nights or more
By adding this option, your existing international travel insurance benefits will extend to when you’re on a cruise. This may provide cover for unexpected emergencies on-board the cruise ship where no support or reimbursement is provided by the cruise company.*
For more details, visit our page on travel insurance for cruises and read our PDS for terms and conditions of cover for travelling on cruise ship.
Medical conditions cover for budget travel insurance
Having an existing medical condition doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get travel insurance. With Fast Cover, you may be able to obtain budget travel insurance that includes cover for an existing medical condition under the applicable policy benefits.
To find out if we can provide cover for your condition, you’ll need to complete a medical screening during your quote journey where you tell us about:
Any medical or pregnancy conditions you or any insured family member have, or have had, in the 3 years prior to your policy issue date
Any new medical or pregnancy conditions that develop, or changes to your health, after your policy issue date and before you depart on your trip.
It’s important that you declare all relevant medical or pregnancy conditions for each insured traveller when applying for a quote. If a condition is approved through the medical screening process, it will be listed on your Certificate of Insurance and will then be included under your cover. Any relevant medical or pregnancy condition that is not declared or not listed on your Certificate of Insurance will not be covered.
Please keep in mind that some existing medical conditions may require you to pay an additional cost for them to be included under your cover. You have the choice to either pay for this additional cost or not. If you choose to pay, the condition will be added to your policy and shown on your Certificate of Insurance. If you choose not to pay, that condition will not be covered.
Medical conditions cover for budget travel insurance
Having an existing medical condition doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get travel insurance. With Fast Cover, you may be able to obtain budget travel insurance that includes cover for an existing medical condition under the applicable policy benefits.
To find out if we can provide cover for your condition, you’ll need to complete a medical screening during your quote journey where you tell us about:
Any medical or pregnancy conditions you or any insured family member have, or have had, in the 3 years prior to your policy issue date
Any new medical or pregnancy conditions that develop, or changes to your health, after your policy issue date and before you depart on your trip.
It’s important that you declare all relevant medical or pregnancy conditions for each insured traveller when applying for a quote. If a condition is approved through the medical screening process, it will be listed on your Certificate of Insurance and will then be included under your cover. Any relevant medical or pregnancy condition that is not declared or not listed on your Certificate of Insurance will not be covered.
Please keep in mind that some existing medical conditions may require you to pay an additional cost for them to be included under your cover. You have the choice to either pay for this additional cost or not. If you choose to pay, the condition will be added to your policy and shown on your Certificate of Insurance. If you choose not to pay, that condition will not be covered.
Cover for existing medical conditions
If you have any existing medical conditions, you may be able to apply to include cover for them. Our simple medical screening process can be completed online or over the phone to help you find out if your condition can be covered.
Select who needs cover
Once you've added all travellers, to your policy, you can select those who wish to add cover for any existing medical conditions.
Take a medical screening
Answer a few questions online or over the phone about your health history. This helps us determine if your condition can be covered.
Choose to add cover
We'll let you know if we can provide cover for any existing medical conditions. You can then choose to add it to your policy.
Insurance cover options
At Fast Cover, we have a range of coverage options available for your overseas trip. The options below are a summary of some of the benefits available under the various policies, please see the PDS for full details.
The Standard Saver travel insurance policy provides mid-level cover, such as benefits relating to your health as well as many similar benefits with lower limits like trip cancellation, trip disruption and luggage and personal effects when you travel.*
Our Basics travel insurance policy type is a simple way of taking steps to obtain cover for one of the most important things in life - your health. You can also apply to customise your policy and include cover under the luggage and personal effects benefit up to $2000.*
Insurance cover options
At Fast Cover, we have a range of coverage options available for your overseas trip. The options below are a summary of some of the benefits available under the various policies, please see the PDS for full details.
Standard Saver
The Standard Saver travel insurance policy provides mid-level cover, such as benefits relating to your health as well as many similar benefits with lower limits like trip cancellation, trip disruption and luggage and personal effects when you travel.*
Basics (medical only)
Our Basics travel insurance policy type is a simple way of taking steps to obtain cover for one of the most important things in life - your health. You can also apply to customise your policy and include cover under the luggage and personal effects benefit up to $2000.*
Do I need budget travel insurance?
When you’re planning a trip on a budget, it’s easy to focus on keeping costs low. Flights, accommodation, activities, and meals all add up quickly. But unexpected events can be even more expensive than the trip itself. Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance is designed to help cover you from the unexpected costs that can come with travelling, giving you support for many common travel disruptions.*
Here are some situations to consider when deciding whether you need budget travel insurance:
When you’re travelling on a limited budget, every dollar counts. Even small, unexpected expenses can have a big impact on your trip savings. Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance options including our Basics and Standard Saver policies are designed to help you manage the financial risks that can arise while travelling without paying for benefits you may not need.*
This type of cover is ideal for travellers who want cover for the essentials like overseas medical emergencies but still want to keep overall trip costs low. Choosing budget travel insurance means you can stay within your budget while reducing the risk of large, unexpected bills if something goes wrong.
One of the biggest concerns for travellers is what would happen if they became unexpectedly ill or injured overseas. Medical and hospital expenses can be very costly, and in some countries, even basic care requires upfront payment.
If one of your main concerns is how you would manage unexpected healthcare costs abroad, Fast Cover's budget travel insurance options including our Basics and Standard Saver policies include a number of overseas medical benefits that provide cover for overseas a number of medical benefits. Always check your Certificate of Insurance and the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand exactly what is and isn’t included.*
Travellers looking to save money often book early or take advantage of non-refundable deals. While these can reduce costs upfront, they can also leave you out of pocket if something unexpected happen. For instance, if you become unexpectedly ill or injured and must cancel your plans, you could lose a significant amount of money.
Our Standard Saver policy is a budget travel insurance option that provides cover for eligible Trip Cancellation Expenses, helping to reimburse your non-refundable pre-paid trip bookings so you don’t have to absorb the financial loss yourself.*
When you are travelling on a budget, lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal items could leave you with out-of-pocket expenses to replace your personal items like your laptop, camera, or favourite travel gear.
Fast Cover’s Standard Saver policy includes the Luggage and Personal Effects benefit, available to provide cover for the loss, theft, or accidental damage to your luggage and personal belongings during your trip subject to limits and sub-limits. Our Basics policy includes this benefit as optional cover, allowing travellers to purchase a cheaper travel insurance option and add on this cover if they decide it fits their needs.*
Travelling often means extended travel with flexible plans. You might start in one country and end up exploring many more along the way.
Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance can provide cover for trips lasting up to 24 months, giving you flexibility to visit as many countries as your itinerary allows within your chosen region.*
This can be helpful if you want to stay longer in one place, take spontaneous detours, or explore multiple regions without needing separate policies. Choosing the right regional cover at the time of purchase ensures you are protected across all the destinations included in your policy.
Do I need budget travel insurance?
When you’re planning a trip on a budget, it’s easy to focus on keeping costs low. Flights, accommodation, activities, and meals all add up quickly. But unexpected events can be even more expensive than the trip itself. Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance is designed to help cover you from the unexpected costs that can come with travelling, giving you support for many common travel disruptions.*
Here are some situations to consider when deciding whether you need budget travel insurance:
When you’re travelling on a limited budget, every dollar counts. Even small, unexpected expenses can have a big impact on your trip savings. Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance options including our Basics and Standard Saver policies are designed to help you manage the financial risks that can arise while travelling without paying for benefits you may not need.*
This type of cover is ideal for travellers who want cover for the essentials like overseas medical emergencies but still want to keep overall trip costs low. Choosing budget travel insurance means you can stay within your budget while reducing the risk of large, unexpected bills if something goes wrong.
One of the biggest concerns for travellers is what would happen if they became unexpectedly ill or injured overseas. Medical and hospital expenses can be very costly, and in some countries, even basic care requires upfront payment.
If one of your main concerns is how you would manage unexpected healthcare costs abroad, Fast Cover's budget travel insurance options including our Basics and Standard Saver policies include a number of overseas medical benefits that provide cover for overseas a number of medical benefits. Always check your Certificate of Insurance and the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand exactly what is and isn’t included.*
Travellers looking to save money often book early or take advantage of non-refundable deals. While these can reduce costs upfront, they can also leave you out of pocket if something unexpected happen. For instance, if you become unexpectedly ill or injured and must cancel your plans, you could lose a significant amount of money.
Our Standard Saver policy is a budget travel insurance option that provides cover for eligible Trip Cancellation Expenses, helping to reimburse your non-refundable pre-paid trip bookings so you don’t have to absorb the financial loss yourself.*
When you are travelling on a budget, lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal items could leave you with out-of-pocket expenses to replace your personal items like your laptop, camera, or favourite travel gear.
Fast Cover’s Standard Saver policy includes the Luggage and Personal Effects benefit, available to provide cover for the loss, theft, or accidental damage to your luggage and personal belongings during your trip subject to limits and sub-limits. Our Basics policy includes this benefit as optional cover, allowing travellers to purchase a cheaper travel insurance option and add on this cover if they decide it fits their needs.*
Travelling often means extended travel with flexible plans. You might start in one country and end up exploring many more along the way.
Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance can provide cover for trips lasting up to 24 months, giving you flexibility to visit as many countries as your itinerary allows within your chosen region.*
This can be helpful if you want to stay longer in one place, take spontaneous detours, or explore multiple regions without needing separate policies. Choosing the right regional cover at the time of purchase ensures you are protected across all the destinations included in your policy.
What is the best budget travel insurance?
The best budget travel insurance isn’t just the cheapest travel insurance option; it’s the one that gives you the right balance between cost and cover. For some travellers, that means a basic policy with essential protection. For others, it’s a plan that still includes extras like cancellation cover or luggage protection.
The best cheap travel insurance for you is the one that fits your trip, your budget, and what matters most to you. Here are some key things to consider when comparing budget travel insurance options and choosing the level of cover that’s right for your journey:
When you’re travelling on a budget, it’s tempting to choose the cheapest travel insurance policy available. But the best budget travel insurance isn’t always the lowest price, it’s the one that provides the right balance between affordability and cover for your trip.
Fast Cover offers several cover levels so you can choose the one that best suits your journey, from essential medical-only cover with our Basics policy, to mid-level cover under our Standard Saver policy, and our Comprehensive policy which includes a wider range of benefits to help more unexpected situations.
When comparing options, always read the PDS, check what’s included and what the benefit limits are for each policy. Understanding the scope of cover can help you find the best cheap travel insurance for your needs.
Budget trips don’t always follow a fixed plan. You might decide to extend your stay, visit another country, or change your return date.
Some travel insurance policies can be restrictive once purchased, leaving you uncovered if your plans change, Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance gives you flexibility, you can extend your policy for up to 24 months or adjust your departure date before you leave Australia. If you add new destinations, you may also be able to extend your regional cover for an additional cost.*
When comparing policies, check whether you can extend or adjust your cover mid-trip. Choosing a policy that adapts to your plans helps you stay protected without the cost or hassle of starting a new policy each time your itinerary changes.
Budget travellers often look for affordable ways to explore multiple destinations in one trip. But not every travel insurance policy automatically covers multiple countries, and buying a new policy each time can quickly add up.
Fast Cover offers six regional options: Worldwide, Europe, Asia, South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia so you can select the one that best matches your route.
When comparing travel insurance options, look for policies that offer regional flexibility and allow you to travel freely within your chosen region, ideal for budget travellers with flexible or evolving itineraries.*
Travelling on a budget doesn’t mean missing out on adventure. Whether it’s high-altitude hiking, quad biking or renting a scooter to explore a new city, it’s important to know if your travel insurance covers these activities.
Many budget travel insurance policies may not automatically provide cover for adventure or motorbike-related activities, which could leave you paying out of pocket if something goes wrong.
When comparing policies, check if they already cover these activities or have the option to add extra cover for them.
Fast Cover’s Standard Saver policy is considered a budget option that offers optional extras such as the Adventure Pack and Motorcycle Pack, so you can tailor your cover and only add extras when you need them.*
Getting sick or injured while travelling can be stressful and costly especially when you’re on a tight budget. Even a short hospital visit or doctor’s consultation overseas can add up quickly, and in some countries, you may need to pay in full before receiving treatment.
When comparing budget travel insurance, look at the medical benefits included, their limits, and whether 24/7 emergency medical assistance is included. Choosing a policy that offers reliable medical help when you need it most can save you both money and stress during your trip.
Both of Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance options including the Basics medical-only policy and Standard Saver policy provides unlimited cover for:
overseas 24/7 emergency medical assistance
overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses
overseas emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
in circumstances covered under the policy.*
What is the best budget travel insurance?
The best budget travel insurance isn’t just the cheapest travel insurance option; it’s the one that gives you the right balance between cost and cover. For some travellers, that means a basic policy with essential protection. For others, it’s a plan that still includes extras like cancellation cover or luggage protection.
The best cheap travel insurance for you is the one that fits your trip, your budget, and what matters most to you. Here are some key things to consider when comparing budget travel insurance options and choosing the level of cover that’s right for your journey:
When you’re travelling on a budget, it’s tempting to choose the cheapest travel insurance policy available. But the best budget travel insurance isn’t always the lowest price, it’s the one that provides the right balance between affordability and cover for your trip.
Fast Cover offers several cover levels so you can choose the one that best suits your journey, from essential medical-only cover with our Basics policy, to mid-level cover under our Standard Saver policy, and our Comprehensive policy which includes a wider range of benefits to help more unexpected situations.
When comparing options, always read the PDS, check what’s included and what the benefit limits are for each policy. Understanding the scope of cover can help you find the best cheap travel insurance for your needs.
Budget trips don’t always follow a fixed plan. You might decide to extend your stay, visit another country, or change your return date.
Some travel insurance policies can be restrictive once purchased, leaving you uncovered if your plans change, Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance gives you flexibility, you can extend your policy for up to 24 months or adjust your departure date before you leave Australia. If you add new destinations, you may also be able to extend your regional cover for an additional cost.*
When comparing policies, check whether you can extend or adjust your cover mid-trip. Choosing a policy that adapts to your plans helps you stay protected without the cost or hassle of starting a new policy each time your itinerary changes.
Budget travellers often look for affordable ways to explore multiple destinations in one trip. But not every travel insurance policy automatically covers multiple countries, and buying a new policy each time can quickly add up.
Fast Cover offers six regional options: Worldwide, Europe, Asia, South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia so you can select the one that best matches your route.
When comparing travel insurance options, look for policies that offer regional flexibility and allow you to travel freely within your chosen region, ideal for budget travellers with flexible or evolving itineraries.*
Travelling on a budget doesn’t mean missing out on adventure. Whether it’s high-altitude hiking, quad biking or renting a scooter to explore a new city, it’s important to know if your travel insurance covers these activities.
Many budget travel insurance policies may not automatically provide cover for adventure or motorbike-related activities, which could leave you paying out of pocket if something goes wrong.
When comparing policies, check if they already cover these activities or have the option to add extra cover for them.
Fast Cover’s Standard Saver policy is considered a budget option that offers optional extras such as the Adventure Pack and Motorcycle Pack, so you can tailor your cover and only add extras when you need them.*
Getting sick or injured while travelling can be stressful and costly especially when you’re on a tight budget. Even a short hospital visit or doctor’s consultation overseas can add up quickly, and in some countries, you may need to pay in full before receiving treatment.
When comparing budget travel insurance, look at the medical benefits included, their limits, and whether 24/7 emergency medical assistance is included. Choosing a policy that offers reliable medical help when you need it most can save you both money and stress during your trip.
Both of Fast Cover’s budget travel insurance options including the Basics medical-only policy and Standard Saver policy provides unlimited cover for:
overseas 24/7 emergency medical assistance
overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses
overseas emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
in circumstances covered under the policy.*
What is not covered in our budget travel insurance?
It’s important to understand not only what our budget travel insurance covers, but also what it doesn’t, so you can choose the right policy for your needs. As with all policies, many situations and activities will have terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub limits that you need to be aware of and consider before buying travel insurance.
These are examples only. Read the PDS and TMD before buying. Claims are assessed individually in accordance with your policy, PDS and Certificate of Insurance.
If you are injured while breaking the law overseas, your travel insurance policy is unlikely to cover the incident. For example, this may include situations such as riding a motorcycle without the required licence or helmet, driving without the correct permit, or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while operating a vehicle.
Laws vary significantly between countries. What may be legal in Australia could be restricted or prohibited elsewhere. For example, in some destinations, riding a scooter without the correct international licence may result in fines or loss of insurance cover. Always check local laws before your trip, especially if your family plans to hire vehicles overseas.
If you are injured in an accident while, for example, riding a motorcycle, and you didn’t add the Motorcycle Pack to your travel insurance policy, you may be responsible for paying your medical and hospital expenses because you did not choose to include cover for that under your policy.
It is important to think about what activities your family will be participating in so that you have the right cover for the activities you plan to do overseas.
If your belongings are stolen while unattended or unsupervised, you may not be able to claim for the stolen item. For example: If you leave your bag with your wallet and passport inside it on the beach while you go for a swim, this may be considered leaving your belongings unattended, in which case you may not be covered.
Make sure you keep your belongings with you at all times or keep them in a secure location or take reasonable measures to secure them at all times and at all places.
Budget travel insurance doesn’t cover routine check-ups, dental cleanings, or repeat prescriptions that could have been arranged before leaving Australia. If you take medication for asthma, allergies, or other regular treatments, bring enough for the whole trip. Only unexpected medical emergencies may be covered, depending on your policy.*
Should the Australian Government release a warning on official government Smartraveller website that certain areas overseas are no longer safe to travel to and you still choose to travel there anyway, there may be exclusions that will apply such as if you do not follow advice in the mass media where a travel advisory risk rating of Do Not Travel was issued after policy purchase.
Note: We are unable to offer travel insurance to international destinations that have a Do Not Travel warning on official government Smartraveller website. To check which countries we may cover, enter your destination country in the quote box on our website.
Known events are considered as serious situations, from natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, to disease outbreaks, which can affect your holiday plans and also the cover on your overseas travel insurance policy.
If you buy your budget travel insurance after an event is a known event, the cover on your policy may be affected. You should check for any Travel Alerts that may have been issued for your overseas travel destination as well as information on the official government Smartraveller website so you know where you stand with regards to the cover that you will have on your international travel insurance policy.
Perhaps the weather was bad, the tourist attractions were too crowded, or your accommodation didn’t live up to the pictures online. Whatever the reason you’re unhappy with how your budget trip has shaped up, your travel insurance policy is not intended to compensate you because you didn’t enjoy your time there.
As each individual’s circumstances are different, we will assess each claim on a case by case basis and in accordance with your specific circumstances, policy terms and Certificate of Insurance.
What is not covered in our budget travel insurance?
It’s important to understand not only what our budget travel insurance covers, but also what it doesn’t, so you can choose the right policy for your needs. As with all policies, many situations and activities will have terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub limits that you need to be aware of and consider before buying travel insurance.
These are examples only. Read the PDS and TMD before buying. Claims are assessed individually in accordance with your policy, PDS and Certificate of Insurance.
If you are injured while breaking the law overseas, your travel insurance policy is unlikely to cover the incident. For example, this may include situations such as riding a motorcycle without the required licence or helmet, driving without the correct permit, or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while operating a vehicle.
Laws vary significantly between countries. What may be legal in Australia could be restricted or prohibited elsewhere. For example, in some destinations, riding a scooter without the correct international licence may result in fines or loss of insurance cover. Always check local laws before your trip, especially if your family plans to hire vehicles overseas.
If you are injured in an accident while, for example, riding a motorcycle, and you didn’t add the Motorcycle Pack to your travel insurance policy, you may be responsible for paying your medical and hospital expenses because you did not choose to include cover for that under your policy.
It is important to think about what activities your family will be participating in so that you have the right cover for the activities you plan to do overseas.
If your belongings are stolen while unattended or unsupervised, you may not be able to claim for the stolen item. For example: If you leave your bag with your wallet and passport inside it on the beach while you go for a swim, this may be considered leaving your belongings unattended, in which case you may not be covered.
Make sure you keep your belongings with you at all times or keep them in a secure location or take reasonable measures to secure them at all times and at all places.
Budget travel insurance doesn’t cover routine check-ups, dental cleanings, or repeat prescriptions that could have been arranged before leaving Australia. If you take medication for asthma, allergies, or other regular treatments, bring enough for the whole trip. Only unexpected medical emergencies may be covered, depending on your policy.*
Should the Australian Government release a warning on official government Smartraveller website that certain areas overseas are no longer safe to travel to and you still choose to travel there anyway, there may be exclusions that will apply such as if you do not follow advice in the mass media where a travel advisory risk rating of Do Not Travel was issued after policy purchase.
Note: We are unable to offer travel insurance to international destinations that have a Do Not Travel warning on official government Smartraveller website. To check which countries we may cover, enter your destination country in the quote box on our website.
Known events are considered as serious situations, from natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, to disease outbreaks, which can affect your holiday plans and also the cover on your overseas travel insurance policy.
If you buy your budget travel insurance after an event is a known event, the cover on your policy may be affected. You should check for any Travel Alerts that may have been issued for your overseas travel destination as well as information on the official government Smartraveller website so you know where you stand with regards to the cover that you will have on your international travel insurance policy.
Perhaps the weather was bad, the tourist attractions were too crowded, or your accommodation didn’t live up to the pictures online. Whatever the reason you’re unhappy with how your budget trip has shaped up, your travel insurance policy is not intended to compensate you because you didn’t enjoy your time there.
As each individual’s circumstances are different, we will assess each claim on a case by case basis and in accordance with your specific circumstances, policy terms and Certificate of Insurance.








