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south america Travel Insurance

 

Travel Insurance for south america

Planning a trip to South America to explore ancient ruins, vibrant cities, or breathtaking natural wonders? Make sure you have the right South America travel insurance to keep your journey stress-free. With 1Cover Travel Insurance, you're protected when the unexpected happens — it's the One thing you need when One thing goes wrong.

Get comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, adventure activities, lost or stolen belongings, travel delays, and more with 1Cover. Discover our South America travel insurance options and get an instant quote today.

Medical Cover

Our South America policies offer unlimited medical benefits should you get sick or have an accident at your destination including 24-hour emergency medical assistance, ambulance fees and medical evacuations.

Luggage Cover

1Cover's South America travel insurance offers cover for luggage and personal effects stolen, lost or damaged during travel. 

rental vehicle excess Cover

Our insurance policies allow you to add cover for rental vehicle excess to make sure you don't get a nasty surprise if you have an accident on the South American roads.

Cancellation Cover

Choose your level of cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits for pre-paid travel arrangements due to unforeseen circumstances.

travel Documents

Receive comprehensive cover for the replacement cost of your travel documents including passports, travel documents or travellers cheques lost or stolen from you during your Journey.

Theft of Cash

  • Unlock cover for the following items stolen from your person; bank notes, cash, currency notes, postal orders and money orders. 

 

 

The one thing you need
when one thing goes wrong
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South America Travel Insurance FAQs

  • Will You Pay My Hospital Bills If I get Sick Or Injured In South America?
  • Please refer to the PDS and policy schedule and check if your sickness or injury is a claimable event and is covered. If you are hospitalised, or if you are treated as an outpatient, or if the total cost of the treatment will exceed $1000, please contact our emergency assistance service as soon as possible to obtain their prior approval.

    In circumstances where the claim is approved, we can then provide written guarantees of payment of reasonable expenses for emergency hospitalisation that may be required while you are in the South America.

  • Will You Fly Me Home If I Get Sick or Injured in South America?
  • If you have purchased Comprehensive, Medical Only, Frequent Traveller, or Already Overseas, cover is available for your medical transfer or evacuation if you must be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision.

    Cover is also available under these plans for the return to Australia of your dependants if they are left without supervision following your hospitalisation or evacuation.

    All expenses for medical evacuation must first be approved by 1Cover. 

    This only applies to the plans listed above, as there is no cover for medical/hospital expenses or repatriation under Domestic plans.

  • Will I Be Covered If I Ride A Scooter, Moped Or Motorcycle While In South America?
  • If you are in control of a motorcycle with an engine capacity greater than 125cc, you need to hold a current, valid Australian motorcycle license. 
    If you are in control of a moped or scooter with an engine capacity up to 125cc, you will need a current, valid Australian driving or motorcycle license

    You also need to be aware that cover will not be provided to you if you are a passenger on a moped, scooter or motorcycle, and the person in control does not have a valid motorcylce license for that country.  

    Please note that it’s compulsory to wear a helmet while riding a motorbike or scooter in many countries. Regardless of local requirements, 1Cover advises you to wear a motorcycle helmet whenever you are a rider or passenger on a scooter or motorbike. 

  • What Is A Dependant?
  • Dependants are your children or grandchildren not in full time employment, who are under the age of 19. In order to be classed as a dependant, the child must be travelling with their parent or grandparent at all times.

    If you have a child under 16 years of age that requires a single adult policy you will need to contact our customer service centre to discuss your options.

    Whether it’s two adults, multiple adults or just a single adult travelling, we allow for an unlimited amount of dependants to be added to a policy. 

  • Can I Apply To Extend My Travel Insurance Policy While I’m Away?
  • Yes, of course. If you want to extend your policy while you’re in South America region, the easiest way to do this is via the Policy Manager.

    You'll need your policy number (available in the email confirming your policy), and a few other simple details. Log-in and extend your trip, add destinations, or buy add ons/extras.

    Make sure you extend your policy before it expires (please keep in mind Australian AEST/AEDST).

    If you have trouble, you can email us at [email protected]

    Please note there may be instances where a policy extension is not available. 

  • What Happens If I Encounter Terrorism Or Political Unrest in South America?
  • In the event of a terrorist attack or political unrest, there is no cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits, disruption of journey or alternative transport expenses.

    However, if you do get caught up in an unforeseen event while you are in the South America region and you are injured, cover is available for all necessary medical/hospital expenses.

  • Can I Choose My Excess?
  • Sure. If you choose a lower excess, it means you'll pay less if you need to claim, but you'll pay a little bit more upfront. If you opt for a higher excess, it means you'll pay less now and a little bit more if you need to claim.

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  • I travel to South America a few times a year. What’s the best policy for me?
  • Our Frequent Traveller policy allows you to take as many trips to the South America and other destinations under the one policy for 12 months - and enjoy comprehensive cover on each one.

    Find out more about our annual travel insurance policies here.

  • Do you cover seniors travelling to the South America?
  • We can provide cover to people of all ages. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions we may require a little more information from you and some exclusions may apply. See here for more details.

  • Am I covered if i'm pregnant when i'm travelling to South America?
    • If you're travelling to the South America while pregnant, you are covered for single foetus pregnancies, up to, and inclusive of, the 24th week of gestation. For multiple pregnancies, you'll be covered up to and inclusive of the 19th week of gestation. If you have had complications fromyour pregnancy, you’ll need to complete a medical assessment.

      We will assess your application and decide whether and to what extent we can offer you insurance for your pregnancy and/or journey. If you have not told us about the circumstances of your pregnancy when you were required to do so, we may refuse your claim or reduce it to the amount we would have paid had you given us the required information.

      Please note: we will not pay any medical expenses for:
      a) Regular antenatal care;
      b) Childbirth at any gestation; or
      c) Care of the newborn child. 

      Find more here. 

  • Am I Covered For Travel Interruptions Caused By Cyclones And Other Natural Disasters?
  • Travel insurance provides cover for weather events as long as they are unforeseen. The most common types of natural disasters in the South America are cyclones, storms, and flooding. Our policies do not cover claims for losses caused by an event that you were aware of at the time of purchasing your policy.

    Once an event has become published in the mass media, it is expected that you have purchased your insurance with this knowledge in mind. 1Cover will, where possible, issue travel warnings in relation to such large scale events and the dates and times after which they are not seen as an unforeseen event.

  • Can I Get Extra Cover For My High-Value Items?
  • Laptop computers, cameras, mobile phones…they’re all things we need on at home and on holiday. That’s why you can choose a bit of extra protection for your can’t-live-withouts. All you need to do is include and specify certain high-value items that aren't automatically covered when you're buying your policy.

    Note: the items cannot be older than 12 month, and you can't specify items like jewellery, watches, bicycles and watercraft (apart from surfboards).

 

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    “We’ve been using 1Cover for more than 10 years and have been completely satisfied. 1Cover have always dealt with my claims in a professional manner. We have no hesitation in recommending 1Cover.”

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    “We will always use 1Cover from now on - outstanding service, great experience (apart from the torn ACL). Huge thanks to our emergency case manger. Outstanding!!” 
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    Thank you for making a horrendous time truly easy! The process, care and professionalism of our claim was the best. In our 72 years, we have never had a Travel Claim, We will be sure to recommend you to all our friends.

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    “1Cover would be void without their staff and all of you are amazing! Thank you for your individual support, I shall continue to recommend your company whenever the opportunity arises."  

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Why Buy Travel Insurance for south america​​​​​​

South America is vast, diverse, and full of unforgettable travel experiences, with so much adventure, having travel insurance is a smart move.

Unlike destinations with reciprocal health agreements, South America does not offer Australian travellers any government-backed medical coverage. That means if something goes wrong, you'll be responsible for all medical costs unless you're insured. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended to cover medical emergencies, cancellations, lost belongings, and more. Remember, the benefits and exclusions of your policy can vary depending on your provider, policy type, and personal circumstances.

  • Overseas Emergency Medical Assistance: Our South American travel insurance policy includes 24-hour emergency medical assistance, ambulance fees, medical evacuations, funeral arrangements, and messages to family and hospital guarantees. Make sure you declare your pre-existing medical conditions when purchasing to ensure you are fully covered. 

  • Overseas Emergency Medical And Hospital Expenses: Rest assured, you'll receive cover if you are injured or become sick overseas, including; medical, hospital, surgical and nursing expenses. 

  • Dental Expenses: Receive quick and comprehensive healthcare cover for your emergency dental treatment for the relief of sudden and acute pain to sound and natural teeth.

  • Additional Accommodation & Travel Expenses: Cover for additional travel expenses if you cannot travel because of an injury or sickness (whilst overseas). Our travel insurance policies give you peace of mind when you need it most.

  • Family Emergency: We provide cover for additional travel expenses if your travelling companion, or a Relative of either of yours, dies unexpectedly, is disabled by an injury or requires hospitalisation.

  • Emergency Companion Cover: Cover for additional travel and accommodation expenses if your travelling companion cannot continue their Journey because of an injury or sickness.

  • Resumption Of Journey: Cover for the cost of airfares for you to resume your journey if you return home because of the unexpected death or hospitalisation of a relative of yours.

  • Hospital Cash Allowance: Hospital Cash Allowance with 1Cover’s insurance policies is a fixed payment of $50 per day that allows you to pay for expenses within the hospital, like food, during your stay lasting more than 48 continuous hours. 

  • Permanent Disability: A permanent disability benefit is payable for total loss of sight in one or both eyes or loss of use of a hand or foot (for at least 12 months, and which will continue indefinitely) within 12 months of, and because of, an injury sustained during your journey.

  • Loss Of Income: A weekly loss of income benefit is payable if you become disabled within 30 days of an injury you sustained during your journey, and you are still unable to work more than 30 days after returning to Australia.

  • Credit Card Fraud & Replacement: Cover for the replacement cost of your credit cards lost or stolen from you during your journey, and loss resulting from fraudulent use.

  • Travel Documents & Traveller's Cheques: Cover for the replacement cost of your travel documents including passports, travel documents or travellers cheques lost or stolen from you during your Journey.

  • Theft Of Cash: Cover for the following items stolen from your person, including banknotes, cash, currency notes, postal orders and money orders. 

  • Luggage & Personal Effects: Cover for luggage and personal effects stolen, lost or damaged during travel. Some of the most common claims we deal with include luggage, personal effects, cameras, spectacles and a computer.

  • Luggage & Personal Effects Delay Expenses: Cover to purchase essential items of clothing and other personal items following Luggage delayed and Personal Effects being delayed, misdirected or misplaced by your carrier for more than 12 hours. 

  • Cancellation Fees And Lost Deposits: Covers cancellation fees and lost deposits for pre-paid travel arrangements due to unforeseen circumstances neither expected nor intended by you, and which are outside your control, such as; sickness, injuries, strikes, collisions, retrenchment and natural disasters.

  • Disruption Of Journey: Cover for additional meals and accommodation expenses, after an initial six-hour delay, if your Journey is disrupted due to circumstances beyond your control.

  • Alternative Transport Expenses: Cover for additional travel expenses following transport delays to reach events such as; a wedding, funeral, conference, sporting event and pre-paid travel/tour arrangements.

  • Personal Liability: Cover for legal liability including legal expenses for bodily injuries or damage to the property of other persons as a result of a claim made against you. 

  • Rental Vehicle Excess: Cover for the excess payable on your rental vehicle's motor vehicle insurance resulting from the rental vehicle being stolen, crashed or damaged and/or the cost of returning the rental vehicle due to you being unfit to do so.

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the best places to travel...

 

 

1Cover's curated the best places to travel to in South America. 

The cities of Brazil, the historic marvels of Peru, the scenic escapes of Chile and so much more.

Click here to read more. 

Do you need to Know about...

Cover for Activities

You wouldn’t be going to South America if you weren’t going to be doing some activities. Find out all about the activities we cover with our Adventure & Sports Pack. 

medical Questions

All sorts of medical issues could affect your travel in South America. Find out about pre-existing medical conditions, as well as pregnancy and emergencies

What Travel Insurance Covers

We always recommend you read the PDS, but this page will give you an overview of what travel insurance will cover in South America.

 

One Last Thing: Emergency Contacts & How To Claim

We hope nothing goes wrong on your trip to the South America. But if it does, the resources in this section can help you.


The Australian High Commission is located in Trinidad, Tobago, Brazil, and Buenos Aires. It is here you can gain assistance with consular, passport, visa and immigration, citizenship and cultural relations services and enquiries. Full location and contact information can be found here.

 

Be informed. Be prepared. If you're across The Australian Government's SmartTraveller website, you'll have all the latest information for your trip to South America. SmartTraveller is a trusted resource for Australian travellers and is updated regularly, so make sure you bookmark this handy resource.

 

 

 

 

 


If you need emergency assistance in South America, please call our 24/7 emergency medical assistance line  on (+) 61 2 8776 3010 or email [email protected]

For non-emergency assistance, you can message our Sydney-based support centre seven days a week


If something happens to you and it's not an emergency, you can start the claims process whenever it's convenient to you. Visit our online claims platform, and if you have all the necessary documentation, your claim will be processed in 10 business days.