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how australians can safeguard their first overseas trip

here at aweventurer we couldn’t be more excited about borders opening up and the possibility of overseas travel becoming a reality once more. from vaccine passports to rapid antigen testing, a slew of precautions have been put in place to ensure that overseas travellers stay safe and healthy. but what if you still get sick? it could happen, and in this post-covid world you’ll want to be prepared before you go.

the australian government has signed reciprocal agreements with 11 countries, allowing australian travellers to access “publically funded necessary care” for free when overseas. given the high cost of travel insurance premiums and accessing private healthcare systems in foreign countries, this could be a (literal) lifesaver.

you’ll need to prove your australian citizenship and present a valid medicare health card. the health services covered vary depending on where you’re going, all the way from dental to basic emergency services. brush up on the specific terms of the agreement here.

as australians begin making travel plans, it may be worth considering some of the countries on the list below:

new zealand

Italy

finland

norway

malta

slovenia

the republic of ireland

Belgium

the united kingdom

the netherlands