Travel alert

Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.

How travel insurance can help when travelling with someone with health issues

Illness shouldn’t stop you from travelling the world, but it might mean you need a little more care and support.

15% off travel insurance for nib Health members*

Whether you’re travelling with an elderly relative, a friend recovering from an illness or injury, or a partner with a chronic condition, travel insurance for existing medical conditions may provide support before and during your journey, if you're insured on the same policy, just in case the unexpected happens.

Travelling with a sick relative?

If you’re travelling with someone who has an existing medical condition, it's important to have the right travel insurance in case your travel buddy needs treatment overseas or if the trip has to be cancelled due to illness. nib travel insurance can help cover the costs and ease the stress.

With travel insurance for sick or elderly travellers or those with health concerns, nib offers:

✔ Coverage for medical emergencies abroad

✔ Support if a trip is delayed or cancelled due to illness

✔ Access to 24/7 Worldwide Emergency Assistance

✔ Medical travel insurance coverage that includes many common existing medical conditions.

Some examples of existing conditions that may be covered (if disclosed and accepted) include:

  • Controlled high blood pressure or cholesterol

  • Asthma without recent hospitalisation

  • Diabetes (Type 2) with no complications.

Conditions that may not be covered without additional approval include:

  • Recent heart conditions or surgery

  • Terminal illness

  • Mental health conditions requiring recent treatment.

Learn about our medical screening process. If we accept cover for Existing Medical Conditions that aren't Automatically Covered, cover only applies to those on the same travel insurance policy, as named on the Certificate of Insurance.

What we cover in case of a medical emergency – pre-trip and on-trip

Pre-trip, if you or your travel friend are injured or are too unwell to travel before departure

nib may cover*:

  • Non-refundable trip costs, such as flights and accommodation

  • Additional expenses due to rescheduling

  • Accommodation and transport if you need to stay longer overseas.

While overseas, if your travelling companion on the same policy has a medical emergency overseas, nib travel insurance medical coverage can help with:

  • Hospitalisation and medical treatment costs

  • Emergency evacuations and repatriation

  • Assistance with prescriptions, follow-up treatment and new travel plans

Plus, the unexpected hospitalisation of a family member back home, requiring an early return.

Our travel insurance for medical emergencies is backed by a 24/7 Emergency Assistance team that can help coordinate care, no matter where you are in the world, and help with claims.

*The features and benefits described are a summary of cover only. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions outlined in the combined Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Financial Services Guide(FSG).

A couple hugging and walking through a European street

How does nib help in case of a family medical emergency?

The medical screening helps determine if existing medical conditions can be covered. It’s a simple process:

Get a travel insurance quote

Disclose your companion’s or your own existing medical conditions during the quote process

Complete the medical assessment if prompted. This must only be done by an authorized person, for example, the person with the conditions or another who they authorize. Learn about our medical screening process.

If approved, your policy will include cover for listed conditions

If something goes wrong on your trip, contact the Emergency Assistance (EA) team immediately. Their contact details are on your Certificate of Insurance, in the PDS/FSG, or get the answers you need in our Help Centre.

A group of women walking in the ocean

Travel tips for people travelling with a sick or elderly relative

  • Consider buying travel insurance when you book your trip – buying early may cover unexpected cancellations before departure

  • Disclose all medical conditions that aren't automatically covered – make sure everything is declared upfront for accurate coverage

  • Travel with medical documents – include prescriptions, doctors’ letters, and a medication list

  • Know local healthcare options – research hospitals or clinics at your destination

  • Stick to a manageable itinerary – allow for plenty of rest and avoid over-scheduling.

Two people sitting in a window of a house in Japan, with a view of Mt Fuji in the background

Get a travel insurance quote in minutes

Protect yourself with travel insurance before you leave or while you're already on the move. Get a quote online now.

What's not covered for family emergencies

While nib travel insurance may cover you for many events, there are some limitations and events we won’t cover, some of these include:

  • We won’t cover undeclared existing medical conditions unless they are automatically covered and meet all criteria

  • Travel against medical advice is excluded

  • Routine treatments or check-ups overseas aren’t included

  • Expenses resulting from known terminal illnesses may not be covered

  • Non-immediate family emergencies (like friends or extended relatives not listed on your policy) may not be covered for cancellation claims. Please note you are not covered for claims related to existing medical conditions of people who are not on your Certificate of Insurance.

Need to know more?

If you find yourself abroad and have a medical emergency, it’s important you get in contact with our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team – that way, we can support and guide you through difficult times.

Get more information in our travel insurance help centre.

The above features and benefits are a summary of cover only. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions outlined in the combined PDS/FSG.

nib Travel Insurance Distribution Pty Limited, ABN 40 129 262 175, AR 336467 is an authorised representative of nib Travel Services (Australia) Pty Ltd (nib), ABN 81 115 932 173, AFSL 308461 and act as nib's agent and not as your agent. This is general advice only. Before you buy, you should consider your needs, the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Financial Services Guide (FSG) and Target Market Determination (TMD) available from us. This insurance is underwritten by Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd, ABN 83 169 311 193.

We are a signatory to the General Insurance Code of Practice developed by the Insurance Council of Australia and enforced by the Code Governance Committee, an independent body whose purpose is to drive better Code compliance and help the insurance industry improve its service to consumers. The Code is designed to promote good relations and insurance practice between insurers, authorised representatives and consumers. The Code sets out what we must do when dealing with you. You can obtain a copy of the Code from codeofpractice.com.au.

*The discount applies to the total nib travel insurance premium and is for customers that currently hold an Australian health insurance product, or an Overseas Student Health Cover product with nib. The discount is not available to customers who hold an Overseas Visitors Health Cover product. Discounts do not apply to the rate of GST and stamp duty or any changes you make to the policy. nib has the discretion to withdraw or amend this discount offer at any time. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer or discount.