Simply, repatriation is returning you home. For travel insurance, it means getting someone home country after they have been injured or killed overseas. Repatriation insurance typically covers:
Yes, you really should get repatriation insurance when you travel. Medical repatriation can be crazy expensive, potentially into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you were to die overseas, that cost would be passed onto your family, as well as the effort of getting you home. Not a vibe.
The good news is that repatriation insurance is very easy to get. Adequate repat cover will come with most travel insurance policies with comprehensive medical cover. You can compare travel insurance products with the tool below.
| Brand | Conditions | Apply |
|---|---|---|
 | In all cases the cost of evacuation or to bring You back to Australia will only be met if Your claim is approved by Medibank and it was arranged by and deemed necessary by their emergency assistance network. | Bonus |
 | In all cases the cost of evacuation or to bring You back to Australia will only be met if Your claim is approved by ahm and it was arranged by and deemed necessary by their emergency assistance network. | Bonus |
 | In all cases the cost of evacuation or to bring You back to Australia will only be met if Your claim is approved by Freely and it was arranged by and deemed necessary by their emergency assistance network. | Bonus |
 | Depending on your specific needs, EUROP ASSISTANCE (emergency assistance provider for InsureandGo) can coordinate evacuation or repatriation where you are located to a suitable medical facility or back home to Australia, subject to assessment and approval. | Finder AwardBonus |
 | In all cases the cost of evacuation or to bring You back to Australia will only be met if Your claim is approved by Kogan and it was arranged by and deemed necessary by their emergency assistance network. | Bonus |
 | Wise and Silent will pay travelling costs to repatriate you to Australia where this is medically necessary. | Finder AwardBonus |
 | Travel Protect will pay travelling costs to repatriate you to Australia where this is medically necessary. | Get quote |
 | Depending on your specific needs, EUROP ASSISTANCE (emergency assistance provider for Tick) can coordinate evacuation or repatriation where you are located to a suitable medical facility or back home to Australia, subject to assessment and approval. | Finder AwardBonus |
 | You're covered for your medical transfer or evacuation if you must be transported to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment overseas, or be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision. | Get quote |
 | You're covered for your medical transfer or evacuation if you must be transported to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment overseas, or be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision. | Finder AwardBonus |
 | The expenses may include, but are not limited to, medical and hospital expenses, ambulance costs, evacuation, repatriation and other transport costs. | Get quote |
 | The expenses may include, but are not limited to, medical and hospital expenses, ambulance costs, evacuation, repatriation and other transport costs. | Get quote |
 | Only approved or arranged medical expenses or any evacuation/repatriation or airfares by World2Cover. | Get quote |
 | In all cases the cost of evacuation or to bring You back to Australia will only be met if Your claim is approved by Covermore and it was arranged by and deemed necessary by their emergency assistance network. | Bonus |
 | Cover for your actual and reasonable medical expenses if you need medical treatment because of an unexpected event during your journey. If SCTI have confirmed that your medical expenses are covered, and you are deemed medically fit to travel by Southern Cross Emergency Assistance, they wil pay to:
If you need medical evacuation, or repatriation to Australia, because of an unexpected event during your journey, they,ll cover:
| Finder Award |
 | We will cover you if you have to interrupt your trip after it has begun because you have suffered an illness or injury while you are on your trip, and based on the reasonable recommendation of a medical practitioner appointed by us, you need to be evacuated or repatriated. We will pay transport and accommodation expenses which we believe are reasonable and necessary to bring you back to your home in Australia, or to another destination of our choice. The decision to evacuate or repatriate you is ours, and we will not pay for any evacuation or repatriation expenses unless you have received our consent. Consider the PDS and TMD from TIS and if the product is right for you. | Get quote |
 | In all cases the cost of evacuation or to bring You back to Australia will only be met if Your claim is approved by Easy and it was arranged by and deemed necessary by their emergency assistance network. | Get quote |
 | Qantas will pay reasonable and necessary costs for transportation and medical support services incurred in evacuating or repatriating you, using the means that they and your treating medical practitioner agree is the most appropriate based on strict medical necessity and the medical constraints of your condition. | Bonus |
 | If You are advised that You need medical transfer or evacuation to Australia, You or a member of Your travelling party MUST contact First Assistance as soon as possible and obtain their prior approval for any expenses. | More info |
 | Cover for Repatriation/ Evacuation, cost of overseas emergency medical Treatment, emergency dental Treatment and reasonable extra accommodation costs in the event of a Medical Emergency whilst on Your Overseas Trip (except when You are in Australia) | More info |
 | You're covered for your medical transfer or evacuation if you must be transported to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment overseas, or be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision. | More info |
 | If Holiday Rescue determine that you should be moved to another hospital, or return to Australia (for treatment or because the risk of continuing on your holiday is too high), they’ll pay reasonable costs:
| More info |
 | In all cases the cost of evacuation or to bring You back to Australia will only be met if Your claim is approved by Webjet and it was arranged by and deemed necessary by their emergency assistance network. | More info |
 | If you are taken into hospital or you think that you may have to come home early (be repatriated) or extend your journey because of illness, the emergency assistance company must be told immediately. | Get quote |
 | Stella will pay travelling costs to repatriate you to Australia where this is medically necessary. | Get quote |
 | In all cases the cost of evacuation or to bring You back to Australia will only be met if Your claim is approved by Australia Post and it was arranged by and deemed necessary by their emergency assistance network. | Get quote |
 | You're covered for your medical transfer or evacuation if you must be transported to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment overseas, or be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision. | More info |
Note: This information was last updated August 2023
Repatriation cover is for serious and life-threatening illnesses and injuries, while emergency medical evacuation is for transporting you to the nearest suitable medical facility. Repatriation to your country of origin is reserved for situations where you are suffering from a long-term illness or injury and have been deemed unfit to travel by a doctor. Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance covers the cost of traveling for medical treatment if it is not available locally. Coverage and eligibility requirements for this benefit differ by policy. Here are some of the things repatriation travel insurance will and will not cover:
Cruising is a type of travel where repatriation cover is particularly important to have. Your cruise ship has only limited medical facilities onboard and the nearest hospital may be many hundreds of kilometres away. This means that if you have a heart attack or fall seriously ill, you will have to be airlifted to the nearest land hospital, and this can be an extremely costly service that isn’t covered by any kind of health insurance.
Having repatriation and medical evacuation cover will give you the peace of mind knowing that if something happens to you at sea, you’ll get the best attention in the fastest time and won’t be faced with a bill for tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars when you get back home.
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