The 2025 Travel Insurance Survey, carried out for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Insurance Council of Australia, delves into the travel safety practices of Australians. The survey, which gathered responses from 1,001 Australian travelers, seeks to shed light on the prevalence of travel insurance usage.

The findings reveal that among young travelers aged 18 to 25, a significant 10% embarked on their adventures without insurance, primarily due to financial constraints.

Additionally, the survey highlights that individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are more inclined to forgo insurance. Notably, 23% of participants who were born overseas admitted to traveling uninsured on their latest international journey.

Further insights indicate that over a quarter of respondents (27%) perceived travel insurance as not worth the investment, while nearly 24% confessed that the idea of getting insured simply didn’t occur to them.

Other reasons for skipping insurance included uncertainty about its necessity (22%), confidence in handling emergency expenses independently (22%), and the brevity of their trips (20%).

A spokesperson emphasized the importance of financial preparedness while traveling, stating, “It is crucial for travelers to take responsibility for their financial matters abroad. Consular services should not be viewed as a fallback option for financial mishaps. We urge all Australians embarking on international trips to secure adequate travel insurance.”

Other reasons included not being sure if it was needed (22 per cent), being confident they could cover any emergency costs out-of-pocket (22 per cent), and going on a very short trip (20 per cent).

Do you need to buy travel insurance?

“You must take responsibility for your situation when you travel. This includes your finances. Consular services are not a ‘backup plan’ if things go wrong and you need money. We expect all Australians travelling overseas to take out appropriate insurance for their trip.”

What else did the survey find?

Forty-six per cent of travellers said they either had or would personally consider travelling overseas for a medical procedure, most commonly dental care (30 per cent). Nearly seven in 10 of those who said they would consider it nominated lower cost of treatment as a motivation.