Bali travel insurance

Why do I need travel insurance in Bali?

When thinking of a holiday to Bali, a few things come to mind; zipping around on a scooter, sipping cocktails by the pool, eating delicious meals and so on. While the plan is for this to be a fun-filled holiday, there are few things to beware of — like the safety of water from a tap or icecube and the drastic differences in the traffic conditions that can make your time on the road a little unsafe.

With travel insurance, you’ll be covered for numerous mishaps that can occur while you’re in Bali. These can include:

"Unfortunately my flight to Bali was cancelled by the airline the night before I was to depart, and I couldn’t get on another flight until 3 days later. This put me out of pocket for the accommodation that I had booked, totalling around $1,500 for those 3 nights. After I arrived back from my trip, I lodged a claim with Allianz who reimbursed me for those prepaid expenses (less a $300 excess). The claims process was super straightforward. I filled out an online form, uploaded my documentation like tax invoices and the cancellation email. Within 4 days, Allianz had approved my claim and I received the funds a week later. It was the best outcome from a bad situation."

Jessica Prasida

Publisher

Common travel insurance exclusions

Every travel insurance policy has things you won't be covered for. Common exclusions include:

• If you purchase cover after the incident has occurred. For example, if you take cover out after you've been injured and need medical attention.
• Pre-existing medical conditions. If you have any major medical conditions, make sure you let your insurer know before taking out a policy. Otherwise you won't be covered for claims related to that condition.
• You travel despite government travel advice. For example, if you travel to areas that have a warning from Smartraveller.
• Incidents that occur while you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For example, if you go out drinking in Seminyak, get injured and need medical attention — travel insurance won't cover you.
• Driving vehicles without a licence. You won't be covered for medical costs or personal liability expenses if you drive without a licence in Bali.

What add-ons should I look for?

This depends on your activities while you’re holidaying. Here’s some common optional extras you might like to consider for Bali:

• Scooter rental excess insurance
• Scuba diving
• Surfing

How can I find cheap travel insurance for Bali?

There are plenty of ways to find a cheaper travel insurance policy.

• Select a medical only policy. Medical only or basic policies will generally be the cheaper policies on the market.
• Look for promo deals. Use exclusive deals or promo codes to get a discount.
• Opt for a higher excess. This will make your policy cheaper but more expensive if you have to claim.
• Compare across a handful of travel insurers. Every policy is different so it’s worth comparing to see where you can get the best bang for buck.
• Buy your policy early. Get the most value by buying your policy early. It means you're covered for longer while paying the same price.

Our expert says

"When I travel, I don't want to fork out a lot for travel insurance. I always get something above the bare minimum though which usually only covers medical-only expenses. Flight disruptions and delayed luggage are really common, so look for a cheap policy that covers me for these things."

Gary Ross Hunter

Editor, Insurance

FAQs

• Will my travel insurance policy cover me for Bali belly?

  If you need emergency hospital care due to getting Bali belly then yes, you should be covered.

• Is the water safe to drink in Bali?

  No, it is recommended that you don’t drink the water in Bali. This extends to using tap water while brushing your teeth and being cautious not to swallow any while washing your face. Additionally, you should not consume drinks with icecubes or eat salads where water may have been used to rinse the salad leaves.

• Do you need vaccinations for Bali?

  Before travelling to Bali all travellers should make sure routine vaccinations are up to date and speak to a doctor about other travel vaccinations.

  Smartraveller.gov.au and a doctor can advise the risks of any other diseases/viruses, which can include:

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Rabies
  • Tetanus
  • Influenza

  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Measles
  • Malaria
  • Zika
  • Dengue fever

• Which travel insurance is good for Bali?

  The cheapest policy will usually only cover you for medical expenses. However, flight disruptions and petty crime are fairly common in Bali so it may be worth getting comprehensive travel insurance. This can cover you for medical expenses, trip rearrangement costs, theft, luggage delay and more.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Editor, Insurance

Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 644 Finder guides across topics including:

• Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
• Managing the cost of living

Co-written by

Peta Taylor

Publisher of Insurance

Peta Taylor is a publisher at Finder, working across all of insurance. She's been analysing product disclosure statements and publishing articles for over 2 years. Peta is passionate about demystifying complex insurance products to help users make well educated decisions with confidence. Peta is part of Finder's insurance awards team and works alongside editorial and insights experts to bring users the best insurance products every year. See full bio