Kiwis keep crossing borders without steady travel insurance safety net

In the US, AA pointed to estimates that a single emergency room visit can range between $2,500 and $5,000 before diagnostic testing or follow-up treatment. Costs for hospital stays, surgery, or medical evacuation can be materially higher. Claims experience supports the view that health issues overseas occur regularly. Over the 12 months to Feb. 28, 2026, one in five claims handled by Cover-More New Zealand related to medical or dental treatment, alongside trip cancellation and additional expenses as leading claim categories. “Travellers often assume they’ll be treated the same way they are in New Zealand, but overseas healthcare systems operate very differently. Without insurance, costs can escalate quickly,” Rose said.