usa travel insurance from australia

The Best USA Travel Insurance for Australians

Travel to the United States of America is a dream for many but for the unlucky few who experience a medical emergency, it can quickly turn into a nightmare. Travel insurance can make it easier to bear challenges like overseas hospital stays and stolen luggage.

It’s not a question of whether you should get travel insurance for the USA but how much insurance you’ll need — and what the best travel insurance is to cover it.

Important: Travel insurance policies are always changing. Be sure to double-check all details and read the PDS before you take out a policy. While we’re unable to compare all travel insurance policies for Australians heading to the US, we do our best to cover as many as possible.

The Top Travel Insurance Policy for the USA coming from Australia

Fast cover international comprehensive, best features.

• Unlimited overseas medical cover (including for COVID-19)
• Unlimited cover for overseas emergency evacuations
• Automatic cover for 43 pre-existing medical conditions
• Unlimited trip cancellation cover
• Up to $50,000 for trip disruption
• Up to $5,000 for out-of-pocket non-medical expenses during a hospital stay

Fast Cover Comprehensive offers some of the best medical coverage of all the policies we compared for visitors to the US. Not only does it include unlimited medical cover, but it also automatically covers 43 pre-existing medical conditions, as well as a generous $50,000 in case of a permanent disability.

While the policy includes unlimited trip cancellation cover, the benefit for cancellations caused by COVID-19 is capped at $5,000 — still one of the more generous benefits for this item of all policies we compared.

You also have the option to add on cover if you’re planning to undertake more adventurous activities on your journey or you’re travelling by motorcycle. Just beware that if you’re planning to ski or do any other snow sports, you will need to buy a separate, dedicated snow sports policy.

Finally, Fast Cover Comprehensive is also one of the more affordable policies we compared, making it the best value travel insurance for single trips to the US on our list.

The Best Medical Insurance for USA Travel

Australia post international basic plan.

• Unlimited cover for medical emergency evacuation
• Unlimited cover for additional expenses if you’re unfit to continue travelling
• Up to $2,000 emergency dental cover
• Permanent disability and accidental death cover
• $5 million for personal liability cover
• Automatic cover for 37 pre-existing medical conditions
• $2,500 for additional expenses if you test positive for COVID-19 and need to self-isolate
• 24/7 Overseas medical and emergency assistance

If you’re looking to cut costs on your travel insurance, a medical plan may be the way to go. This covers you for most medical emergencies but not things like trip cancellations or stolen luggage.

Basic medical insurance for USA travel is almost identical across providers. There is usually unlimited cover for medical emergencies and evacuations.

However, Australia Post takes it a step further with $10,000 cover for permanent disability and accidental death — benefits that no other travel medical insurance we compared offered.

Cover is available for additional accommodation and transport expenses if you or your travelling companion are laid up because of a disabling injury or sickness (including COVID-19).

These additions make Australia Post the best travel health insurance for visitors to the USA that we’ve found in our comparison. However, there are a few things to watch out for.

A special excess of A$250 applies to any event caused by COVID-19, on top of the standard excess. For example, if your general policy excess is A$100, your total excess for a COVID-related event will be A$350.

If you want to cover snow sports, motorbike riding, or cruise trips, you will also need to specify this when you buy the policy or you won’t be insured if you are injured while undertaking these activities.

The Best Travel Insurance for the USA for Seniors

Qantas international comprehensive travel insurance.

• 40+ pre-existing medical conditions automatically covered
• Unlimited overseas emergency dental expenses
• Unlimited trip cancellation cover (and up to $2,500 for COVID-related trip cancellation or disruption)
• Qantas points can be earned on policy purchase

It can be hard to figure out the best travel insurance for seniors visiting the USA. With Qantas Comprehensive Travel Insurance, you will receive unlimited cover for medical emergencies and emergency dental expenses.

In addition, 43 pre-existing medical conditions are automatically covered, including hypertension, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, and osteopenia.

Generous benefits are provided for travel mishaps, with cover including up to A$15,000 for lost, stolen or damaged luggage, A$1,500 for travel delays, and A$500 for delayed luggage.

Terms and conditions apply and are different for those under 69 compared to those aged 70 and above so make sure you read the PDS fully to understand what you will be covered for.

The Best Travel Insurance for the USA for Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Nib comprehensive plan.

• Automatic cover for 40+ pre-existing medical conditions
• Apply for cover for any condition not automatically included
• Unlimited medical cover (including for COVID-19)
• Pregnancy included in standard medical cover
• Up to $10,000 for COVID-related travel costs

The NIB Comprehensive Plan automatically covers 43 existing medical conditions, including diabetes, epilepsy, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure — as long as you satisfy the criteria listed in the PDS.

If you’d like to be covered for an existing medical condition outside the automatic coverage list, you will need to complete medical screening when you buy your policy. You will likely need to pay an additional premium to insure the condition.

NIB doesn’t consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition so its comprehensive USA travel insurance covers pregnancy automatically. However, if you have a pregnancy-related illness or existing pregnancy-related medical condition when you buy the policy, you will need to mention it at the time of purchase.

With its extensive list of included conditions, its unlimited medical cover, and its whopping $10,000 cover for COVID-related travel costs (the best cover we found for this item), we consider NIB Comprehensive to be the best travel insurance for the USA for those with a pre-existing health condition.

What You Need to Know About Travel Insurance for the USA

Having travel insurance isn’t a mandatory requirement for entry into the United States but it is strongly recommended.

Medical costs — even for a simple GP visit — can be substantially higher in the US compared to Australia. In other countries, we have reciprocal health care agreements (which means you’re covered under Medicare) but there’s no such agreement in the US.

This means that while you don’t technically need to have travel insurance to visit the US, you may end up in serious trouble without it. It’s common practice for American medical facilities to require proof of insurance or the ability to pay for any treatment before you receive it. If you have neither, you could be denied medical care.

At a minimum, you will need basic medical insurance for the USA but it is best to look out for comprehensive travel insurance that includes unlimited medical cover, including for medical evacuations.

How much travel insurance you need for the USA depends entirely on you. You will need to make sure you’re covered for:

• Any medical emergency
• The activities you want to undertake
• Any pre-existing medical conditions
• The full duration of your stay

The best way to get travel insurance for the USA is to purchase it online directly from the provider you choose.

It’s hard to say how much your USA travel insurance will come to. It depends on a host of factors, including your age and health, the duration of the holiday, and the activities you have planned.

However, to give you a ballpark estimate, we compared a range of comprehensive travel insurance policies for a two-week trip to the States for a 35-year-old Australian traveller. The average cost of travel insurance for the USA with a $100 excess was about A$250 though premiums varied from just under A$200 to over A$400*.

*Based on a comparison of 17 policy quotes provided in April 2023.

Travel insurance to the United States of America has always been expensive. Policies that cover US travel are among the priciest in the market.

To make matters worse, the cost of travel insurance to the USA from Australia has more than doubled for many people since the start of the pandemic.

Let’s compare.

A two-week single trip to the UK for a 35-year-old woman with Fast Cover Comprehensive travel insurance costs A$162.99. The exact same policy for the US costs A$197.99. For Thailand, it's $141.99.

The main reason travel insurance in the USA is so expensive is that medical expenses in the States can be outrageously high. The average cost of a hospital visit is $2,873 per day , although it can be as high as $3,726 per day in California. Overnight stays average about $13,600.

While the choice is ultimately yours, it’s important to remember just how much medical costs can skyrocket in the US.

For this reason alone, it’s best to travel to the USA with comprehensive travel insurance that offers nothing less than unlimited medical cover.

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Travel Insurance for the USA

Travelling to america.

Travelling to the USA is really exciting – it’s a huge country with an enormous array of attractions, natural landscapes, cultures, climates and fascinating people. From the skyscrapers of New York City to the wilderness of Utah, the beaches of California to the many theme parks of Florida, there is so much to see and do!

When you’re planning your trip to the USA, think of how you want to get around. Will it be the fun and freedom of a road trip or will you be a jet-setter, going from one thrilling city to another? When considering travel insurance, keep your transportation methods and the weather in mind. You don’t want to be out of pocket for flights delayed by snowstorms or a costly excess on a rental vehicle.

Why choose us?

Thousands of satisfied customers, network of medical experts, emergency assistance available, we’re an established insurer, choose your plan.

Basic Travel Insurance

• Overseas Emergency Assistance 2
• Overseas Medical & Hospital Expenses 2
• Personal Liability 2

Comprehensive Travel Insurance

• Overseas emergency assistance, medical and hospital expenses 2
• Unexpected trip cancellation 2
• Loss of or damage to luggage and personal effects 2

Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

Health and safety when travelling in the usa.

Keeping safe

Keeping healthy, being prepared for adventures.

Road-tripping in the USA

Renting a car can be a great way to travel around the USA, but it can leave you with large out-of-pocket expenses if something goes wrong.

If your rental vehicle is involved in an accident while it’s being driven by you and you’re the nominated driver, or it’s damaged or stolen while in your custody, we’ll pay you the lesser of (up to your benefit limit) 2 :

• the amount specified that you’re liable to pay under the rental vehicle agreement, or
• the property damage for which you’re liable.

If you’re diagnosed by the treating medical adviser as unfit to return your rental vehicle to the nearest depot, we’ll pay the cost of returning the vehicle (up to the applicable benefit limit).

Note:  This cover only applies if:

• you hire a rental vehicle from a rental company or agency;
• you’re a nominated driver on the rental vehicle agreement; and
• the rental vehicle agreement specifies a maximum amount that you must pay if the rental vehicle is damaged or stolen. 

Optional snow, cruise and adventure packs

The possibilities are endless in the USA. You can ski, surf, hike, scuba dive, skateboard, cruise, kayak, camp, stay on a ranch, or gaze across a canyon. If you’re an adventurer, a keen skier or you live for cruising, consider buying an optional Snow Pack , Cruise Pack or Adventure Pack for an additional premium when buying an Allianz Comprehensive Travel Insurance policy. 2

Refer to the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)  for more information.

Ready to find your travel insurance for the USA?

Frequently asked questions.

The cost (also known as a premium) of your travel insurance policy will vary depending on a number of factors including:

• Your travel destination(s)
• The length of your journey
• The time between the date you buy your policy and the start date of your journey
• The number of people to be insured under the policy and their ages
• The plan you select (for example, Basic or Comprehensive)
• Any pre-existing medical conditions you have, which are only covered if you complete a medical assessment, and we agree to cover you

You can choose to adjust your excess amount or selectable cancellation amount on applicable plans, which will change your premium. Get your quote online today. 2

Refer to the “Your insurance premium” section of the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)  for more information.

Allianz Comprehensive Travel Insurance may cover you for theft, loss or damage to luggage, personal effects and valuables. The sub-limit for a camera, lenses, tripod and accessories is up to $3,000. The sub-limit for a mobile phone is $1,000. If your equipment is valued at more than that, consider buying Increased Item Limits for an additional premium when you buy your policy. 3

Refer to Increased Item Limits Cover section of the PDS for more information. 

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Give us a call, or send us a message, follow us on, *conditions apply.

• Policy terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and applicable sub-limits apply to particular types of losses, premium refunds (full or partial) or claims. This product has a general exclusion, with limited exceptions, against epidemics and pandemics. That means we don’t cover claims that arise from, or are related to, an epidemic or pandemic. However, you’re covered under selected benefits in this product if, during your period of cover, you’re positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19. Refer to the PDS to see which benefits offer cover in the event you contract a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, and the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that apply.
• Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and applicable sub-limits apply. Eligibility criteria may also apply. Refer to the PDS for full details.
• The maximum we’ll pay for all claims combined under the Luggage, Personal Effects & Valuables Benefit is the benefit limit shown in the Table of Benefits in the PDS for the plan you’ve selected, even if you’ve bought Increased Item Limits cover.
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Any advice here does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and applicable sub-limits apply. Before making a decision about this insurance, please consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Policy Wording and Supplementary PDS (if applicable). Where applicable, the PDS/Policy Wording, Supplementary PDS and Target Market Determination (TMD) for this insurance are available on this website.

Travel Insurance is issued and managed by AWP Australia Pty Ltd ABN 52 097 227 177 AFS Licence No. 245631, trading as Allianz Global Assistance (AGA) as agent of the insurer Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence No. 234708 (Allianz). Travel Insurance is underwritten by the insurer Allianz. Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and applicable sub-limits apply.

We don’t provide advice based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision, please consider the Product Disclosure Statement available on this website. If you purchase this insurance, AGA will receive a commission that is a percentage of the premium. Ask us for more details before we provide you with any services on this product.