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⭐ In-Depth Review | Updated September 2026

1Cover Travel Insurance Reviews

1Cover is an online travel insurance brand founded in 2003, issued in New Zealand by 1Cover NZ Limited and underwritten by HDI Global Specialty SE. It has more reviews than most NZ travel brands and won two Canstar Outstanding Value awards for 2025. Here is what customers and the plan documents show.

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Last reviewed: 28 September 2026 • Sources: Trustpilot, Compare Travel Insurance, Canstar, 1Cover plan documents
4.4/5
Poor Average Excellent
1,424+
total reviews
"Buying the policy was quick and easy, and the price was competitive."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★★
"Our flights were cancelled and 1Cover refunded us with only a small deduction."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★★
"Clear instructions for declaring pre-existing conditions, and the quote showed exactly what I was paying for."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★★
"The medical questions cannot tell the difference between a new diagnosis and a stable condition I have had for years."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★☆☆
"A $25 claim turned into a long back-and-forth over documents. Far too pedantic for such a small amount."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★☆☆☆☆
"After a flight cancellation, my claim for lost accommodation was declined even though I had bought comprehensive cover."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★☆☆☆☆
89%
Positive
2%
Mixed
9%
Negative

In This Review

Company Overview Ratings Breakdown Customer Review Highlights Products Offered Pricing Deep-Dive Pros & Cons How 1Cover Compares Alternatives to 1Cover Who Is 1Cover Best For? Our Verdict Frequently Asked Questions Our Methodology

Company Overview

What is 1Cover and who is behind it?

1Cover is a specialist online travel insurance brand founded in 2003 that operates in Australia and New Zealand. NZ policies are issued and managed by 1Cover NZ Limited (company number 1588084, FSP472306), which arranges cover as an appointed representative of Coffre-Fort Pty Ltd, according to 1Cover and Compare Travel Insurance.

The insurer is HDI Global Specialty SE - New Zealand (FSP 774050), the New Zealand branch of a German insurer in the Talanx Group, rated A+ (Strong) by S&P. The same insurer and underwriting agent sit behind Zoom and TINZ, and 1Cover's chief operating officer, Natalie Ball, is also a director of The Insurance Geeks Limited, the company that runs those two brands.

1Cover won two Canstar Outstanding Value awards for 2025, for International and Seniors travel insurance, from 34 products assessed across 18 providers. It also lists LMI Claims Service Ratings for 2024 and 2025 and a Finder 2025 Highly Commended badge. 1Cover offers:

Pre-existing conditions are handled through an online medical assessment, and cover is only confirmed once it appears on your certificate of insurance. Claims are lodged online, and 1Cover says it allows up to 10 business days to make a decision. See the plan comparison for full benefit limits.

Ratings Breakdown

How customers rate 1Cover across review platforms

Compare Travel Insurance
4.4
★★★★☆
1,304 reviews
Trustpilot
4.4
★★★★☆
120 reviews
CTI claims experience
2.3
★★☆☆☆
Sub-score of the 1,304 reviews
Weakest category
Canstar
Outstanding Value
★★★★★
2025 International & Seniors

Note on rating differences: 1Cover scores 4.4/5 on both Compare Travel Insurance (1,304 reviews) and Trustpilot (120 reviews), where 79% of reviews are five-star and 8% are one-star. Most praise focuses on buying the policy, while nearly all recent one-star reviews concern claims, and the claims experience sub-score on Compare Travel Insurance is 2.3/5. The 8.4/10 from 1,275 reviews on the 1Cover website comes from the same Compare Travel Insurance data, so we have not counted it twice. We weight ratings by review volume and consider all available data sources. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.

What Customers Are Saying

Common themes from 1,424+ reviews on Compare Travel Insurance and Trustpilot

Straightforward site that made it easy to find the right cover for a group tour.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★☆

Needed a change to my policy and the online support team did it straight away.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★★

Asked a question about my policy and got a prompt, clear answer from the customer team.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★★

My quote for osteoporosis cover jumped from $86 to $214 without a clear explanation.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★☆☆☆☆

Claiming after a family emergency meant sending far more airline refund paperwork than expected, and the final payout was small.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★☆☆☆☆

Hard to reach NZ-based staff about my claim, with repeated requests for information and little guidance.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★☆☆☆☆
89%
Rate 1Cover 4 or 5 stars on Trustpilot
9%
Rate 1Cover 1 or 2 stars on Trustpilot
4.4/5
Value for money score on Compare Travel Insurance
2.3/5
Claims experience score on Compare Travel Insurance

Reviews are paraphrased summaries of real customer feedback, not direct quotes. Percentages are taken from 1Cover's Trustpilot star distribution (120 reviews) and category scores from Compare Travel Insurance (1,304 reviews), both as viewed in September 2026.

Products Offered

1Cover sells travel insurance only, with plans for single trips, frequent travellers and those already overseas

✈️ 1Cover Comprehensive

Available

1Cover's main overseas plan, which Canstar rated Outstanding Value for International and Seniors travel in 2025. There is no upper age limit, but travellers 80 and over are limited to 6-month trips and a higher medical excess applies. Limits are from the plan comparison and Canstar.

Unlimited overseas medical
Cancellation up to your chosen limit
$15,000 luggage & personal effects
$2,000 travel delay
$5M personal liability
$50,000 emergency accommodation & travel
Quote-based pricing
Visit Website Compare Travel Insurance

🩺 1Cover Medical Only

Available

A cheaper overseas plan that keeps medical and liability cover but drops cancellation, luggage and delay cover. Available to travellers aged 69 or under.

Unlimited overseas medical
$5M personal liability
No cancellation or luggage cover
Age 69 or under
Quote-based pricing
Visit Website Compare Travel Insurance

🔁 1Cover Frequent Traveller

Available

Twelve months of cover for multiple trips, available as an overseas or a domestic version, with a maximum length for each trip.

Overseas or domestic versions
Unlimited overseas medical (overseas version)
Multiple trips in 12 months
Per-trip length limits apply
Quote-based pricing
Visit Website Compare Travel Insurance

🏞️ 1Cover Domestic & Already Overseas

Available

Domestic cover for trips within NZ of up to 93 days, and Already Overseas cover for NZ residents aged 69 or under who left without insurance.

Domestic trips up to 93 days
Already Overseas for ages 69 or under
Rental vehicle excess options
Cruise, ski and adventure add-ons
Quote-based pricing
Visit Website Compare Travel Insurance

❤️ 1Cover Health Insurance

Not Offered

1Cover sells travel insurance only. For private health cover, compare providers such as Southern Cross and nib.

Not available from 1Cover
N/A
Visit Website Compare Health Insurance

🏠 1Cover Car, House & Contents Insurance

Not Offered

1Cover does not sell car, house or contents insurance. For those, consider AA Insurance, Tower, or the insurance brand Cove for car cover.

Not available from 1Cover
N/A
Visit Website Compare Car Insurance

Pros & Cons

The good and the not-so-good based on customer reviews and our analysis

👍 Pros

  • Large review base (1,400+ reviews) averaging 4.4/5 on both Compare Travel Insurance and Trustpilot
  • Two Canstar Outstanding Value awards for 2025 (International and Seniors)
  • Unlimited overseas medical on Comprehensive and Medical Only plans
  • $15,000 luggage limit on Comprehensive, above Zoom's $10,000
  • No upper age limit on Comprehensive cover
  • Over 20 years in travel insurance, underwritten by A+ rated HDI Global Specialty SE

👎 Cons

  • Claims experience scores only 2.3/5 on Compare Travel Insurance
  • Recent one-star reviews describe repeated document requests and declined disruption claims
  • Premiums for declared medical conditions can rise sharply, according to reviewers
  • Travellers 80 and over face 6-month trip limits and a higher medical excess
  • Medical Only and Already Overseas plans stop at age 69
  • Claims are handled through an Australian underwriting agent rather than a NZ-based insurer

Pricing Deep-Dive

How much does 1Cover cost? Indicative market ranges

1Cover does not publish example premiums, so the figures below are the indicative market ranges from our travel insurance cost guide, not 1Cover quotes. Canstar's 2025 Outstanding Value awards suggest its price for the cover offered was competitive, and our travel page lists 1Cover among the budget options. Your premium depends on destination, age, trip length, excess and any declared conditions.

🏖️

Short Trip - Comprehensive

One adult, 35
One week in Australia or the Pacific
Comprehensive plan
$60-120
/trip (market range)
Basic cover from ~$30-50/trip for the same week
Market range, not a 1Cover quote
🌍

Frequent Traveller

One adult, 45
Several overseas trips in 12 months
Overseas Frequent Traveller plan
$200-500
/year (market range)
Per-trip length limits apply
Market range, not a 1Cover quote
👵

Senior Traveller

One adult, 75
Three weeks in Europe
Comprehensive with one declared condition
Quote only
Declared conditions can raise the price
Canstar 2025 Outstanding Value, Seniors

Disclaimer: These are indicative market ranges from our cost guide, not official 1Cover quotes. Your actual premium will vary with destination, age, trip length, excess and medical conditions. Get an accurate quote at 1cover.co.nz. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.

What Affects Your 1Cover Premium?

🗺️

Destination

Where you travel has a large effect on price. Cover that includes the USA usually costs the most because of medical costs there.

🎂

Age

Comprehensive has no upper age limit, but trips are capped at 6 months from age 80 and a higher medical excess applies. Medical Only is for ages 69 or under.

🩺

Pre-existing Conditions

Declared conditions go through an online assessment and can add to the premium. One 2026 reviewer saw an osteoporosis surcharge rise from $86 to $214.

💵

Excess & Cancellation Limit

You choose your excess and your cancellation limit when you buy, and both change the premium.

🚙

Rental Vehicle Excess

Rental vehicle excess cover can be increased (up to $10,000) for an extra cost.

🏂

Add-ons

Cruise, winter sports and adventure activity cover cost extra. Winter sports claims carry a double excess.

How 1Cover Compares

1Cover vs. other NZ travel insurance options

Feature 1Cover Zoom TINZ Southern Cross
Overall Rating 4.4/5 1,424+ reviews 4.1/5 4.4/5 3.9/5
Insurer HDI Global Specialty SE HDI Global Specialty SE HDI Global Specialty SE Southern Cross Benefits Ltd
Operator 1Cover NZ Ltd The Insurance Geeks Ltd The Insurance Geeks Ltd Southern Cross group
Overseas Medical Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited (Comprehensive)
Top Luggage Limit $15,000 $10,000 $25,000 (Comp Plus) See policy wording
Canstar 2025 Intl, Seniors Intl, Cruise, Seniors Not awarded All 4 categories
Trustpilot 4.4/5 (120) 3.9/5 (43) No profile 4.5/5 travel (per our review)

Disclaimer: Ratings are taken from Trustpilot, Compare Travel Insurance, Canstar and each brand's plan documents as viewed in September 2026. Features may change, so verify directly with the insurer. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.

Alternatives to 1Cover

Other NZ travel insurance options worth considering, depending on your priorities

Southern Cross logoSouthern Cross
★★★★★

Southern Cross Travel Insurance is issued by Southern Cross Benefits Limited, part of the not-for-profit Southern Cross group. It won all four Canstar Outstanding Value travel categories for 2025 and may suit travellers who want a large NZ-based insurer.

Canstar 2025 clean sweep
Unlimited overseas medical (Comprehensive)
NZ-owned insurer
Annual multi-trip option
Get Quote Read Full Review
Zoom Travel Insurance
★★★★★

Sister brand of TINZ, also run by The Insurance Geeks Limited and underwritten by HDI Global Specialty SE. Won three Canstar Outstanding Value awards for 2025 (International, Cruise and Seniors).

Unlimited overseas medical
Comprehensive up to age 85
Canstar 2025 x3
Rental vehicle excess add-on
Get Quote Read Full Review
TINZ
★★★★★

Travel Insurance NZ, a business name of The Insurance Geeks Limited and underwritten by HDI Global Specialty SE. Its policy wording lists pre-existing conditions that are covered automatically, and overseas trips can run up to 18 months.

Some conditions covered automatically
Trips up to 18 months
Comprehensive Plus tier
4.4/5 from 380 reviews
Get Quote Read Full Review
AA Insurance logoAA Insurance
★★★★★

AA sells travel insurance in three levels (Essential, Comprehensive and Frequent Traveller) alongside car and home cover, so it may suit people who want several policies with one familiar NZ brand.

Essential & Comprehensive levels
Frequent Traveller option
Also sells car & home cover
Well-known NZ brand
Get Quote Read Full Review
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Who Is 1Cover Best For?

1Cover may suit some travellers more than others

💰

Value-Focused Travellers

Travellers who want unlimited overseas medical and a high luggage limit from a brand that won Canstar Outstanding Value for International travel in 2025.

👵

Older Travellers

Travellers of any age on the Comprehensive plan, within the 6-month trip limit from age 80. Canstar rated 1Cover Outstanding Value for seniors in 2025.

📱

Online Buyers

People who like to buy and manage cover online. Reviewers regularly praise how quick the purchase and policy changes are.

⚠️

Not Best For

Travellers who want a NZ-based insurer handling claims, or who dislike long document requests. Compare Southern Cross if claims handling matters most.

Our Verdict

Compare.org.nz's editorial assessment of 1Cover

7.6
out of 10
Very Good
Our editorial score for cover, price and claims. It is separate from the customer rating.

1Cover combines strong cover limits and a large, positive review base, with claims as the weak spot.

1Cover has one of the largest review bases among NZ travel insurance brands, and it holds up. It scores 4.4/5 across 1,304 reviews on Compare Travel Insurance and 120 on Trustpilot. The Comprehensive plan pairs unlimited overseas medical cover with a $15,000 luggage limit and $5M liability, and Canstar rated it Outstanding Value for International and Seniors travel in 2025.

Claims are where the reviews turn. The claims experience sub-score on Compare Travel Insurance is 2.3/5, and nearly all of 1Cover's recent one-star Trustpilot reviews involve claims, with repeated document requests, slow progress and declined disruption claims coming up most often. Customers with declared conditions also report steep surcharges.

1Cover may suit travellers who want broad cover at a competitive price and are happy to keep good records for any claim. Since 1Cover shares its insurer with Zoom and TINZ, comparing Southern Cross as well gives a genuinely different option.

Brand Trust
7.5
Product Range
8.0
Claims Process
5.5
Pricing
8.0
Customer Service
8.0
Digital Experience
8.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about 1Cover

1Cover NZ policies are insured by HDI Global Specialty SE - New Zealand (FSP 774050), part of the Talanx Group. They are issued and managed by 1Cover NZ Limited, which acts as an appointed representative of Coffre-Fort Pty Ltd. See the 1Cover company information for details.
1Cover NZ Limited is a New Zealand company (number 1588084) registered as a financial service provider (FSP472306). The wider 1Cover business, founded in 2003, also operates in Australia, and the underwriting agent, Coffre-Fort Pty Ltd, is Australian.
Yes, if you declare them and they are accepted. You complete an online medical assessment when you buy, and cover for a condition is only confirmed once it appears on your certificate of insurance. An extra premium may apply, and undeclared conditions can lead to a reduced or declined claim.
The Comprehensive plan has no upper age limit, but travellers aged 80 and over are limited to trips of up to 6 months and a higher excess applies to medical claims. Medical Only and Already Overseas cover are for travellers aged 69 or under.
1Cover does not publish example prices. Across the market, a week of comprehensive cover is typically $60-$120 and annual multi-trip cover $200-$500 a year, according to our travel insurance cost guide. Get an exact quote at 1cover.co.nz.
1Cover says it allows up to 10 business days to decide a claim once it has what it needs. Reviews vary. Some customers describe payment within days, while others report weeks of document requests. If you disagree with a decision you can escalate it with 1Cover and then go to the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman.

Our Review Methodology

How we research and rate insurance companies

Data Sources

This review is based on data collected from the following sources, last verified in September 2026:

How We Calculate Scores

Our editorial scores (out of 10) are calculated using a weighted methodology that considers:

  • Customer ratings (40%): aggregated scores from review platforms, weighted by review volume. Platforms with fewer than 50 reviews are given reduced weighting.
  • Product features (25%): benefit limits, plan range, age limits, pre-existing condition handling and optional extras, taken from the current policy wording.
  • Pricing competitiveness (20%): award results from Canstar and how the brand sits against the indicative ranges in our travel insurance cost guide.
  • Claims experience (15%): claims-specific review scores, the themes in negative reviews, and IFSO dispute information where available.

Disclaimer: Nothing on this page constitutes financial advice. Scores are editorial opinion based on publicly available data. Always verify details directly with 1Cover and read the policy wording before you buy. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.

Get a Quote from 1Cover

Go straight to 1Cover to get a travel insurance quote, or compare them against other NZ providers first.

Get a Quote from 1Cover