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Tropical Bali has long been a beloved destination for Australians, who account for a quarter of all tourist arrivals to the Indonesian island. From its striking beaches and beautiful family villas to Ubud’s Monkey Forest, Bali’s beauty has already attracted more than 350,000 Australian holidaymakers in the first four months of this year.
Travelling to Bali, however, comes with its fair share of risks—from travel disruption to natural disasters to theft. Indonesia is also not part of the list of 11 countries with whom Australia shares reciprocal health arrangements, so flying home in case of any unfortunate medical emergencies can turn out to be very expensive. In fact, media reports surface periodically of people who have fallen ill in Bali and needed to be medically evacuated—at great expense.
Since reopening to international tourists in February 2022, tourist numbers to Bali have rebounded, with around 117,508 Australians visiting the island of the Gods in April 2024, according to Bali Central Bureau Statistics.
“Indonesia and Bali are very popular and currently rank number one for Fast Cover, recently overtaking the USA as the most popular destination,” says Fast Cover Travel Insurance chief operating officer Craig Morison.
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What Type of Insurance Do You Need for Bali?
Like other international travel insurance, cover for travel to Bali is generally available in two main tiers:
Basic travel insurance. The basic tier is broadly focused on medical cover but includes insurance for unlimited overseas emergency medical expenses, luggage, personal liability and other essential benefits. It is usually the cheapest option available and is suitable for those travelling on a budget or for single trips.
Comprehensive travel insurance. This type of insurance typically includes higher amounts of cover for the essentials benefits such as medical expenses, luggage, personal liability, etc. In addition, it includes cover for travel delays, rental vehicle excess, loss of passports and credit cards, hijacking, disability, accidental death, and so on.
Some insurers offer variations of the comprehensive policy that are suitable for multiple trips to Bali within a 12-month period.
Optional add-on policies. International travel insurance policies generally don’t provide automatic coverage for things like motorcycle driving or several sports and leisure activities. Hence, most insurers have come up with add-on policies specifically tailored for the variety of adventure sports and transport options available in Bali.
For example, travellers can add a motorcycle option to their policy for an additional premium, which will provide cover in case they are injured while riding a scooter, moped or motorcycle—a not uncommon event among tourists in Bali.
Similarly, most comprehensive policies will cover popular sporting and leisure activities such as hiking, surfing, kayaking, jet-skiing, and so on. However, more extreme activities such as skydiving, scuba diving below 30 metres, outdoor rock climbing or horse riding will require an additional adventure sports cover at extra cost.
“Costs for Bali travel insurance can vary greatly depending on various factors including but not limited to, trip duration, departure date, age, number of travellers, what activities you’ll be doing and policy excess amount,” says Morison.
“The easiest way to find out the cost is to use an online quote.”
Related: How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?
Health and Safety in Bali
One of the most common health issues faced by Australian tourists visiting Bali is ‘traveller’s diarrhoea’, also known as “Bali belly”. Traveller’s diarrhoea can occur after eating food that you are not used to, or drinking contaminated water, or picking up germs in an unclean environment.
Other health risks in the region include contracting COVID-19, rabies from local animals, and mosquito-borne diseases. Generally, being careful about where you eat, drinking bottled water, ensuring your surroundings are clean, and using mosquito repellant can significantly reduce the chances of suffering from a health issue.
Overall, Bali is generally considered a safe place for travellers, which in part accounts for its popularity with Australians. However, while violent crime is low in the region, tourists can be attractive targets for petty crime like pickpocketing, ATM and internet fraud, assaults, and vehicle theft.
Bali is also susceptible to natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods. Travellers have been known to be stranded in Bali for days, sometimes weeks, due to the eruption of Mount Agung which has caused the cancellation of flights, so may wish to ensure your insurance covers you for such delays.
All of these are difficult to predict, but travellers can enhance their safety by being aware of their surroundings, staying alert on public transport, leaving valuable belongings at home and avoiding desolate areas at night.
Visitors are also urged to respect local customs and culture and heed local laws. Before travelling to Indonesia, it is also important to keep track of weather related events, as well as any travel alerts issued by the Australian government’s Smartraveller.
What Travel Insurance Won’t Cover in Bali
Most travel insurance policies generally will not provide cover in the following cases:
- Breaking the law. If you are injured while breaking the law, for example while riding a motorcycle without the required helmet, you may not be covered for the hospital and medical expenses.
- Drunken/drug fuelled behaviour. Insurance cover is specifically void if you cause a disturbance through drunken behaviour or under the influence of drugs, which are illegal in Bali. A number of Australians have been jailed or deported in recent years for drunken behaviour or for being in illegal possession of drugs.
- Ignoring travel advice. If travellers visit certain areas that have been notified as not safe to travel, their travel insurance cover may be void.
- Not following local regulations. If tourists disregard guidelines issued by local authorities, such as not climbing sacred trees, littering, behaving aggressively, or taking indecent photos, their personal liability cover will not be valid.
- Pre-existing medical conditions. Insurers can avoid claims for any major medical conditions, if they have not been made aware of these before taking out a policy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much is travel insurance to Bali?
Travel insurance can vary greatly depending on trip duration, age, number of travellers, activities covered and policy excess amount. For instance, a four-day trip for a single traveller in their 30s can range from $52 for the basic cover to $250 for a comprehensive policy that includes cruise cover.
What are the travel insurance requirements in Bali?
While travel insurance is not mandatory for entry into Indonesia, the Australian government strongly recommends comprehensive travel insurance before you leave, to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation.
Who offers the best travel insurance to Bali?
Most travel insurers in Australia offer insurance policies for travel to Bali. What policy suits you best will depend on your requirements including duration, age, and any activities that you plan to undertake.
Can I use Medicare in Bali?
No, Medicare will not cover you in Bali as there is no reciprocal health arrangement with Indonesia. Instead, it is recommended you take out comprehensive insurance with generous medical coverage.
