Worldcare Travel Insurance Review

Learn more about Worldcare's travel insurance policies to find out about their coverage and fees and compare them with other insurers today. 

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, updated on June 26th, 2023       

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Founded in the 1980s by a Queensland doctor who faced an uphill battle to bring his sick child home from overseas, Worldcare has become one of the most identifiable travel insurance names in the country. Although Allianz Global Assistance bought the company in 2011, the Worldcare name still lives on.

If you want to see how Worldcare’s policies stack up against some of its competitors, comparing with Savvy will do the trick. You’ll be able to do a side-by-side comparison of travel insurance policies to see which one gives you the best coverage at the right price.

Find out more about Worldcare’s travel insurance policies and get a quote when you compare with Savvy today.

*Please note that Savvy doesn’t represent Worldcare for its travel insurance products.

More about Worldcare travel insurance

What travel insurance policies does Worldcare offer?

Worldcare’s headline travel insurance options include:

  • Comprehensive: by taking out a comprehensive plan with Worldcare for an international holiday, you’re purchasing coverage which offers protection for overseas medical treatment, cancellation or travel delays, lost or damaged luggage and personal liability.
  • Essentials: this discount travel insurance option covers you for the bare essentials on your holiday, meaning you’re covered for medical expenses, travel delays or personal liability, but not for theft of money, loss of travel documents, accidental death or permanent disability. While Worldcare allows senior travellers of any age to purchase comprehensive or domestic policies, you must be 75 or under to purchase this no-frills plan.
  • Domestic: if you’re taking a trip within Australia, this policy provides you cover for cancellation, the loss or damage of your luggage, personal liability and expenses relating to travel delays.
  • Multi-Trip: if you’re sticking a little closer to home on your next holiday, Chubb offers you a type of domestic travel insurance which covers you for cancellation, trip delays and the loss, theft or damage to your luggage. You’re also covered for personal liability in the event you’re found to be legally responsible for the injury of another person or damage to another person’s property. To take out a multi-trip policy, you must be under 75 years old.
  • Non-Medical: non-medical travel insurance essentially covers the same ground as a comprehensive policy, except you’re unable to claim for any emergency medical or hospital expenses.
Comprehensive Essentials Domestic Non-Medical
Overseas medical expenses
Unlimited
Unlimited
N/A
N/A
Overseas medical emergencies
Unlimited
Unlimited
N/A
N/A
Cancellation
Chosen limit
Chosen limit
Chosen limit
Chosen limit
Travel delays
$2,000
$2,000
$2,000
$2,000
Luggage and personal items
$10,000
$5,000
$10,000
$10,000
Delayed luggage
$500
$250
$500
$500
Personal liability
$5 million
$5 million
$5 million
$5 million
Accidental death
$25,000
N/A
$25,000
$25,000
Rental vehicle excess
$6,000
$3,000
$6,000
$6,000

So long as you’re a permanent resident of Australia or a non-resident on a visa, you can purchase a policy. These policies can be adapted for couples and families and you can include your children or grandchildren in your policy for free as long as they are under 25. Visitors to Australia cannot purchase a policy through Worldcare.

Whether you’re travelling within Australia or taking a trip to Peru, however, it pays to compare your options with Savvy to find a policy which suits you.

What optional extras are available through Worldcare?

Worldcare offers a few optional extras that you can purchase on top of its standalone travel insurance policies. These include:

  1. Adventure pack: by paying a higher premium, this optional travel insurance policy covers you when you’re taking part in those high-risk activities such as abseiling, trekking, outdoor rock climbing, moving target shooting and tandem sky diving. You’ll also be covered for riding a motorcycle or moped provided you adhere to some rules such as wearing a helmet, having an appropriate licence and not participating in racing.
  2. Cruise pack: Worldcare’s cruise pack covers you for any medical treatment onboard your cruise liner, cabin confinement, evacuation cover and cancellation of any pre-paid shore excursions due to a covered reason. You’re also able to claim up to $1, 000 if your formal wear is delayed, damaged or lost. You only need to purchase this cruise cover if you’re taking a river cruise or travelling on a vessel without onboard sleeping quarters.
  3. Snow pack: this optional policy covers you if you’re skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling on your holiday. It covers you for any emergency medical expenses, replacement of your own or the hire of temporary equipment, piste closure and bad weather such as avalanches. This add-on isn’t available on domestic policies or for seniors over 75 years old.
  4. Increased items limits cover: if you’re taking some valuable items on holiday with you, such as a laptop, mobile phone or expensive camera, you can increase the claimable limits on these items by paying a higher excess. You’re able to increase the limits on these personal items up to $7, 000.
  5. Varying the base excess: Worldcare gives you the option of choosing from a $100, $200 or $500 excess. By opting to pay a higher excess, you can reduce the price of your premium considerably.

What exclusions should I be aware of when buying travel insurance through Worldcare?

The following are some examples of general exclusions on Worldcare’s travel insurance products:

  1. Travelling for elective surgery
  2. Being admitted to a hospital or clinic for addiction
  3. Knowingly flying to a country against the advice of the Australian government
  4. Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions
  5. Goods confiscated by the Australian or a foreign government
  6. Loss of enjoyment
  7. Breaking the law
  8. Not wearing protective clothing or headgear during appropriate activities

Also, unlike a few travel insurance companies who offer promo codes and discounts on their policies, Worldcare doesn’t offer any such deals.

If you’ve found a travel insurance policy that draws your eye, make sure you review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before you set your decision in stone.

What we think of Worldcare travel insurance

What we like

Around-the-clock support

Because Worldcare is owned by Allianz, you’re able to phone them 24/7 to clarify parts of your policy or make an urgent claim, such as if you need to pay for medical treatment.

Pick your cancellation cover

Worldcare allows you to tailor your cancellation coverage to suit the needs of your trip. You’re able to choose a claim limit anywhere between $1, 000 and an unlimited amount, which many other providers don’t offer.

Choose your doctor

Worldcare allows you to choose your own doctor unless you’re in a country with a reciprocal healthcare agreement, such as if you’re travelling to the United Kingdom.

What we don't like

No one-way policies

Worldcare doesn’t sell one-way travel insurance policies that allow you to get coverage if you don’t have a return airline ticket.

Limited pregnancy coverage

Some providers allow pregnant travellers to be covered up to their 30th week of gestation. However, Worldcare won’t cover you past the 24th week.

Lack of cover for pre-existing conditions

Worldcare’s policies don’t automatically cover you for pre-existing conditions. Instead, you must declare any ongoing illness which may involve doing a medical examination.

Types of travel insurance

Why compare travel insurance with Savvy?

Why compare hotels with Savvy?

Frequently asked questions about Worldcare travel insurance 

How do I make a claim through Worldcare?

You can lodge a claim online with Allianz, the underwriter of Worldcare’s policies. Allianz allows you to lodge your claim online 24 hours a day and suggest you submit it as soon as the incident takes place. The claims process includes:

  • Complete the claims form with plenty of detail. Allianz may request additional information or clarification which can hold up the process, so it’s best to be thorough.
  • Attach any supporting documents such as medical or police reports, receipts and proof of purchase documents.

 
Worldcare’s PDS says Allianz consider claims within ten working days. If the process is going to drag out, Allianz will send you written communication advising you of a delay. If your claim is approved, your funds will be paid out in Australian dollars.

How much will my Worldcare travel insurance cost?

How much you’ll pay for your travel insurance policy comes down to a set of individual variables which can include:

  • Age (often coverage is more expensive if you’re a senior traveller)
  • Destination
  • Level of coverage
  • Any optional extras
  • Chosen policy excess
  • Type of insurer and insurance policy you purchase
Does Worldcare’s travel insurance policies cover COVID-19-related costs?

Yes – Worldcare covers the cost of medical treatment and additional hospital expenses if you contract COVID-19 while on holiday overseas. They’ll also cover you if you test positive before you depart and need to cancel or reschedule your trip. Additionally, they offer protection if a government border closure leaves you unable to travel, a benefit not all travel insurers include in their policies.

What’s the difference between single-trip, annual and one-way travel insurance policies?

While an annual multi-trip policy covers you for an unlimited number of holidays taken over 12 months, single-trip policies cover just one holiday. On the flip side, one-way travel insurance policies cover you if you don’t yet have a return ticket booked. In most cases, travel insurance companies will allow you to extend your one-way travel policy by an extra 12 months.

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Disclaimer:
We do not compare all travel insurance brands currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and does not consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.

Savvy earns a commission from our partners each time a customer buys a travel insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via their websites.

Before purchasing your policy, we recommend you refer to the provider’s PDS for any further information on the terms, inclusions and exclusions.