Medical claims, not theft, are the biggest risk for Bali travel insurance

While reports of phone and jewelry snatch-thefts in Bali's tourist areas are frequent, medical treatment and evacuation claims are the primary cost for travel insurers. According to Southern Cross Travel Insurance SCTI, Bali-linked claims rose 50% year over year in 2024, with gastrointestinal illness, reef-related injuries, and wildlife incidents being common. Gastroenteritis claims alone increased by 79% in January 2025 compared to the previous year. The average claim cost for Indonesia was slightly over $1,000, with some medical claims reaching $30,000. In contrast, lost or stolen phones constituted about 10% of SCTI's claims in 2023. 1Cover also reported a 40% year-over-year rise in claims related to Indonesian travel, mostly due to injury and illness. Snatch-thefts, often involving mopeds, occur in areas like Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, and Uluwatu. Kuta Police Chief Agus Riwayanto Diputro noted that many incidents involve distracted tourists using phones for navigation. Travel insurance policies often have single-item sub-limits of $750 to $1,000 for electronics, and items stolen while unattended or unsupervised may not be covered. Some snatch attempts have resulted in injuries or fatalities, shifting these events from property claims to more costly medical, personal accident, and repatriation claims. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority AFCA received 34,231 general insurance complaints in 2024-25, a 17% increase, with claim handling delays and exclusion-based denia