Mental health travel insurance

How do travel insurance brands treat mental health?

Brand	Conditions	Apply
	Claims which in any way relate to, or are exacerbated by, an Existing Medical Condition or related new infections are specifically excluded from this policy unless Your Existing Medical Condition is approved by Us.	Bonus Get quote
	Existing Medical Conditions We automatically include: Anxiety and Depression	Bonus Get quote
	To the extent permitted by law we will not pay under any circumstance if: Your claim arises from, is related to or associated with any Pre-Existing Medical Condition, except as provided under the section titled Pre-existing Medical Conditions.	Get quote
	We will not pay As a result of mental illness (including depression, anxiety, stress, mental or nervous conditions) suffered by you, a close relative or another person unless: a mental illness diagnosis has been made by a psychiatrist or psychologist that is a registered and certified mental health professional; and the registered psychiatrist or psychologist certifies that the mental illness prevents you from starting or finishing your trip; and the mental illness has first occurred or first manifested during your Period of Insurance	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
	We are not liable for any claim arising out of or related to: Anxiety, depression, mental illness or stress suffered by you, a relative or another person unless referred to and diagnosed by a registered psychiatrist or psychologist as a new condition.	Get quote
	We are not liable for any claim arising out of or related to: Anxiety, depression, mental Illness or stress suffered by You, a Relative or another person or referred to and diagnosed by a registered psychiatrist or psychologist as a new condition.	Get quote
	What you are not covered for: You, or any insured person on your policy, has, in the 5 years prior to the policy issue date, suffered from or received medical advice, treatment or medication for:any psychiatric or psychological condition (including anxiety or depression).	Bonus Get quote
	Any claim arising from any of the following: (This is unless you have told Tick Travel Insurance about your condition and we have accepted it.) You, or any insured person on your policy, has, in the 5 years prior to the policy issue date, suffered from or received medical advice, treatment or medication for:- any psychiatric or psychological condition (including anxiety or depression);	Finder AwardBonus Get quote
	We will not cover any claim arising from or related to the following: Any medical condition related to or associated with any Pre-Existing Medical Conditions, except as provided for under the section "Pre-Existing Medical Conditions".	Get quote
	Claims which in any way relate to, or are exacerbated by, an Existing Medical Condition or related new infections are specifically excluded from this policy unless Your Existing Medical Condition is approved by Us.	Bonus Get quote
	We won't cover any claims, costs or losses or liabilities directly or indirectly arising from, related to or associated with the following: Any pre-existing medical condition, whether it's diagnosed or undiagnosed.	Finder Award Get quote
	Existing Medical Conditions We automatically include: Anxiety and Depression	Get quote
	Existing Medical Conditions We automatically include: Anxiety and Depression	Get quote
	We do not offer cover for the following Pre-Existing Medical Conditions if You: have a mental illness as defined by DSM-IV including: dementia, depression, anxiety, stress or other nervous condition; or behavioural diagnoses such as but not limited to autism; or a therapeutic or illicit drug or alcohol addiction.	More info
	We do not offer cover for the following Pre-Existing Medical Conditions if You: have a mental illness as defined by DSM-IV including: dementia, depression, anxiety, stress or other nervous condition; or behavioural diagnoses such as but not limited to autism; or a therapeutic or illicit drug or alcohol addiction.	More info
	We will not cover any of the following: A loss arising from any existing medical condition of you, a member of the travelling party, a non-travelling close relative or business partner. This exclusion will not apply to your specified medical condition(s) or to your Automatically covered conditions.	Get quote
	Claims which in any way relate to, or are exacerbated by, an Existing Medical Condition or related new infections are specifically excluded from this policy unless Your Existing Medical Condition is approved by Us.	Get quote
	To the extent permissible by law, We will not pay if: Your claim Arises from, is related to or associated with any Pre Existing Medical Condition(s), except as provided under the Pre Existing Medical Condition(s) section	More info
	We will not cover losses, pay or reimburse any costs, under any section of this Policy which are recoverable from any other source, or arising from: any Pre-existing Medical Conditions	More info
	Claims which in any way relate to, or are exacerbated by, an Existing Medical Condition or related new infections are specifically excluded from this policy unless Your Existing Medical Condition is approved by Us.	More info
	What we don't cover unless your policy specifically allows it: Your claim arises from a pre-existing medical condition of you, or your travel companion, or a relative.	More info

^{Note: This information was last updated September 2023}

Finder survey: Which pre-existing medical conditions do Australians have?

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

A pre-existing medical condition is usually any medical condition that you're aware of, take medication for, or have taken medication for in the past.

How to apply for cover

If you're looking for travel insurance for mental health, one of the first places you might check is the product disclosure statement (PDS) of different products or insurers, where the conditions relating to pre-existing medical conditions can often be found.

While many pre-existing mental health conditions are not covered under any circumstances, some can be, such as anxiety and depression. They often require further assessment prior to the issue of a policy. This usually means you can get cover by undergoing an assessment and paying an additional premium.

If there is no mention of your condition in the PDS, you still need to disclose it to the insurer. They may agree to cover you but not for claims related to your condition. In some rarer cases, they may refuse to cover you at all.

How much does it cost?

Those insurers who do cover mental health will typically charge a higher premium, due to the higher perceived risk. But no two premiums are the same and how much you might pay can depend on the insurer, the type and severity of your mental illness and the usual factors that determine the cost of travel insurance which include:

• The level of cover you choose (benefit amounts etc)
• The options you select
• The destination you are travelling to
• Your age and general health

What does travel insurance cover?

24/7 medical assistance

Most comprehensive travel insurance policies cover you for unlimited medical expenses and 24/7 medical care, including repatriation.

Delays and cancellations

Comprehensive travel insurance can cover you for cancelled or delayed flights. This is the most common reason for claims. According to Finder research, 29% of Australians, equivalent to around 5.8 million people, have had their flight delayed or cancelled in the last 12 months.

COVID-19 expenses

Comprehensive travel insurance policies now cover COVID. This includes medical expenses, cancellations and rearrangement costs.

Luggage and personal belongings

Unlike a basic policy, comprehensive policies typically cover lost and delayed luggage and personal items. They also come with high limits so it can cover all of your expenses.

• Full list of what travel insurance can cover

  • Accidental death
  • Overseas emergency dental expenses
  • Hospital cash allowance
  • Loss of income
  • Overseas emergency assistance
  • Unlimited medical and hospital expenses
  • Permanent disability
  • Resumption of journey
  • Alternative transport for special events
  • Cancellation and amendment fees
  • Travel delay expenses
  • Daily delayed luggage allowance
  • Lost or stolen luggage and personal belongings
  • Theft of cash
  • Personal liability
  • Rental car excess insurance
  • COVID-19 medical expenses
  • Rearrangement costs if you get COVID-19

Frequently asked questions about annual travel insurance

• Is mental health covered in travel insurance?

  Yes. You can get travel insurance but it will typically cost you more to be covered for mental health conditions. In some cases, your condition won't be covered at all but you can still purchase travel insurance.

• Can I get travel insurance if I have depression?

  Yes. We found over 7 travel insurers that can cover you if you suffer from depression. You will need to declare that you have depression on your policy to ensure that you're fully covered when you travel.

• Can you get travel insurance with anxiety?

  Yes. We found over 7 travel insurers that can cover you if you suffer from anxiety. You will need to declare that you have anxiety when you get a quote to ensure that you're fully covered when you travel.

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 648 Finder guides across topics including:

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