Travel Insurance Underwriters

When you buy travel insurance, the brand you purchase your policy from isn't always the same company that underwrites the policy. In Australia, a number of travel insurance brands operate under the backing of a smaller group of insurance companies.

The underwriter is the insurer that ultimately takes on the financial risk associated with the policy and is responsible for paying eligible claims in accordance with the policy terms.

Why does the underwriter matter?

IThe underwriter behind a policy can be important when you're comparing travel insurance, particularly if you have specific cover requirements.

Different underwriters may have different approaches to pre-existing medical conditions, exclusions, eligibility criteria and claims, so two policies that appear similar may not provide the same level of cover.

If you're looking for cover for a particular circumstance, comparing policies backed by different underwriters may give you more options than simply comparing several brands backed by the same insurer.

Let someone else handle the risk

When you take out a policy, you're paying the insurance company and the underwriters a fee to cover your risk. If something goes wrong, you could end up in a world of pain if your policy isn't backed by a reputable underwriter with an experienced claims team. Fortunately, all brands listed on our site are underwritten by reputable insurers. All brands listed offer 24/7 emergency assistance to help you in your time of need. We do our best not to list riff raff!!

Who underwrites who?

We've put together a list of travel insurance brands and the companies that underwrite their policies. The list isn't exhaustive, as the market includes a range of brands and products.

When comparing policies, looking at the underwriter can help you understand who is ultimately behind the insurance product, rather than simply comparing the brand names displayed on the policy.

General Advice Warning: The contents of this article were accurate at the time of writing. The insurers included in this article are not a complete list of all companies offering travel insurance in Australia . Insurers change their policies and underwriters from time to time, so some information may have changed. You should always read the Product Disclosure Statement of your chosen insurer to understand what is covered and what isn't. The information provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account any personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision, you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your personal circumstances.