About Freely Travel Insurance

Established in 2020, Freely is a travel insurance provider owned by Australian insurer Cover-More and underwritten by global insurance leader Zurich. While it provides coverage for travelers up to 99 years old, its user-friendly travel app and pay-per-day model for activities make it particularly appealing to younger adventurers.

Unlike many insurers that offer separate basic and comprehensive plans for international travel, Freely provides a single bundled policy known as the Explorer Plan. This plan can be customized with ‘daily boosts’ or ‘trip extras,’ which can be added either before departure or while traveling.

Coverage

Freely’s Explorer Plan includes unlimited coverage for overseas medical and dental expenses as a standard feature. Travelers up to 99 years old also receive personal liability protection of up to $3 million. Additionally, the plan provides accidental death and disability coverage, each capped at $25,000.

Trip Cancellation

Freely’s Explorer Plan provides trip cancellation coverage of up to $5,000 for unforeseen events, which is a solid amount, though some insurers include unlimited cancellation in their comprehensive policies. Travelers who need additional coverage can increase their cancellation limit in $1,000 increments as a ‘trip extra.’

Trip Delay

For travel delays exceeding six hours due to unforeseen circumstances—including cyber events—Freely offers $300 in coverage. If delays persist, travelers receive an additional $300 for every full 24-hour period, up to a total of $2,000.

Lost or Stolen Baggage

If your baggage or travel documents are lost, damaged, or stolen during your trip, Freely provides reimbursement with a per-item cap of $750. The total coverage for lost luggage is up to $10,000, while replacement costs for travel documents, such as passports, are covered up to $1,000.

For luggage delays exceeding 12 hours, travelers can be reimbursed up to $300 per item, with a maximum of $900, for essential purchases like non-prescription medication, clothing, a bag, or a change of shoes. Additionally, you may receive up to $100 for transportation expenses incurred while retrieving your delayed baggage.

Medical and Dental

Freely provides automatic coverage for various pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma, high blood pressure, depression, migraines, plantar fasciitis, epilepsy, and incontinence, provided they are disclosed during the insurance application. Coverage for additional pre-existing conditions may be available, depending on responses to a brief health questionnaire.

Unlike many international travel insurance plans that cap dental coverage at $500 or $1,000, Freely includes dental care as part of its unlimited medical coverage, offering more comprehensive protection for travelers.

Sports and Activities

Freely’s Explorer Plan automatically includes coverage for a diverse range of activities, such as:

• Adventure sports: Abseiling, jet-skiing, archery, kayaking, ballooning, paragliding, and bungee jumping.
• Water activities: Parasailing, flying fox, snorkeling, jet boating, banana boating, surfing, sailboarding, and white-water rafting.
• Land-based activities: Horse riding, mountain biking (excluding BMX racing), organized safari tours, and off-road or 4WD driving (as part of an organized tour).
• Scuba diving: Covered up to 30 meters when diving with a certified instructor or recognized diving school.

For thrill-seekers looking to participate in higher-risk activities—such as skydiving, outdoor rock climbing, or deep-water scuba diving—additional coverage can be obtained through Daily Boosts.

Daily Boosts

Daily boosts provide additional coverage for specific activities and situations, including:

• Adventure activities such as outdoor paragliding, rock climbing, and abseiling
• Cruises
• Motorcycle or moped riding
• Rental vehicle hire (with excess coverage up to $10,000)
• Snow sports

These optional add-ons allow travelers to customize their coverage based on their itinerary, ensuring protection for high-risk activities when needed.

Pricing

We evaluated Freely by obtaining a quote for a 30-year-old female traveler planning a one-week trip to Bali next month, with no pre-existing medical conditions. To compare, we analyzed quotes from three other top providers—Allianz, Travel Insurance Direct, and InsureandGo—focusing on their comprehensive coverage options.

Customer Support

You can reach Freely’s customer support team by calling 1300 772 183 if you’re in Australia or +61 2 8907 5085 when dialing from overseas. For email inquiries, contact team@gofreely.help.

Conclusion

Freely’s International Explorer Plan is a highly flexible policy designed to accommodate a wide range of travelers, from those with packed itineraries to budget-conscious backpackers seeking only essential coverage. While many insurers allow some level of customization, Freely stands out for its ability to adjust coverage in real time.

However, the Explorer Plan is most cost-effective in its standard form, as adding multiple Daily Boosts can significantly increase the overall price. Because of this, budget travelers and backpackers without high-value gear or extra coverage needs are likely to find the best value in this plan.

We also appreciated Freely’s user-friendly app, which provides real-time destination updates, including travel alerts, 24/7 emergency assistance, and a convenient claims processing portal. Additionally, if your travel plans change, the app makes it easy to adjust your coverage while you’re on the go.