Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) has revealed its 10 most expensive international travel claims made by Australian travellers in 2024. The list from one of Australia’s expert travel insurers includes everything from unexpected illnesses, to accidents while exploring on holiday, and even an unlucky slip by the pool.
At the top of the list is a claim for $672,630 which was paid to a 76-year-old woman who suffered a stroke while on holiday in Albania and needed an air ambulance back to Australia. The air ambulance alone cost over $500,000 of this total bill.
The next most expensive claim, at $362,034, was paid to an 80-year-old woman who became very ill in Thailand and suffered a collapsed lung, urinary tract infection and ruptured oesophagus while on holiday. She had to be air ambulanced back to Australia after spending nearly two months in hospital.
Several other high value claims on the list were due to injuries relating to slips and trips, seizures and a brain aneurysm, all of which occurred while travelling.
SCTI Chief Customer Officer, Jess Strange, said these unexpected and costly claims really highlight the need for travel insurance.
“Last year’s most expensive claim is 259% higher than our most expensive claim in 2023. Ongoing global medical cost inflation means we’re seeing claim costs increase, with our top five claims from 2024 costing more than the leading claim from 2023. It just goes to show why it is so important to make sure you’re covered for the unexpected, otherwise you could be left with a hefty medical bill” says Strange.
Other claims included a 44-year-old male customer who sustained a severe rib and head injury after slipping while walking by the side of the pool while on holiday in Indonesia. The traveller was hospitalised and required multiple surgeries before he was repatriated via air ambulance back to Australia. SCTI paid $187,867 towards medical expenses and an air ambulance to bring him home.
Another incident saw a 74-year-old man present to a local hospital with stomach pains while on holiday in Fiji. His condition quickly deteriorated due to an acute infection so he spent some time in Intensive Care before being air ambulanced back to Australia at a total cost of $119,000.
Strange says many people don’t realise how quickly costs can add up when you fall ill overseas. “It’s also important to remember that insurance doesn’t just protect people from the financial burden of medical expenses, it also provides a high-level of support for patients and families by ensuring people access the right level of medical care.”
“In some instances, family members are flown out to support customers who are receiving medical care on their own, and in other cases we fly our customer home with a medical team,” says Strange.
The top three claimed for destinations in 2024 were Indonesia (17.8%), Thailand (8%) and USA (7.6%), with Indonesia totalling the highest total cost of claims with a total of $1,868,124 in claims last year.
10 of SCTI’s most expensive international travel insurance claims paid in 2024:
- A 76-year-old female suffered a major stroke which caused severe neurological damage while on holiday in Albania. After spending 10 weeks in hospital she had to be air ambulanced home (claim paid – $672,630).
- An 80-year-old female suffered a collapsed lung which triggered a number of other medical complications while on holiday in Thailand. She spent almost two months in hospital and had to be air ambulanced home (claim paid – $362,034).
- A 78-year-old male slipped getting out of the pool while on holiday in Thailand. He required brain surgery and spent time in intensive care before being air ambulanced back home (claim paid – $282,754).
- An 18-year-old female suffered a seizure following a severe gastro illness while on holiday in Indonesia and had to be air ambulanced back to Australia (claim paid – $198,349).
- A 44-year-old male slipped on the ledge of the pool while on holiday in Indonesia. He landed on his right-hand side causing injuries to his head and ribs. He required multiple surgeries and was air ambulanced back home (claim paid – $187,868).
- A 57-year-old female suffered a brain aneurysm and underwent surgery while on holiday in Austria. She flew back home with a nurse escort (claim paid – $182,286).
- An 84-year-old female slipped while out at brunch in Indonesia and suffered a broken neck. She required spinal surgery and was air ambulanced back home (claim paid – $166,858).
- A 53-year-old female suffered a heart attack in Indonesia and had to be air ambulanced back to Australia (claim paid – $161,194).
- A 49-year-old female suffered a seizure and went to the local hospital while on holiday in USA. Doctors discovered she had a brain tumour and she underwent surgery (claim paid – $157,935).
- A 74-year-old male presented to a local hospital with stomach pains while on holiday in Fiji. His condition quickly deteriorated due to an acute infection and he had to spend some time in Intensive Care before being air ambulanced back to Australia (claim paid – $119,000).
