A March 2024 news report said two Australian friends injured in an attack in Kuta faced large surgery bills after travelling without travel insurance. The case is a reminder that Australians in Indonesia generally have to pay for medical care themselves: the Australian Government will not cover overseas medical treatment or evacuation costs.
What the March 2024 report said
PerthNow reported on 4 March 2024 that Scarlett Carruthers said her partner, Peter, and his friend Izeah were attacked by a group of men outside a Mini-Mart in Kuta on the last night of their trip. Carruthers said they had been stabbed more than 20 times and had not bought travel insurance. Those incident and injury details are attributed to Carruthers in the news report, not independently verified findings.
The report said Carruthers described minimum surgery bills of $50,000 for Peter and $15,000 for Izeah, and said doctors would not perform the procedures until payment was received. These were minimum amounts reported at the time, not independently audited final bills, confirmed amounts paid or current estimates of treatment costs in Bali. The account is a specific, dated case; it does not establish that travel insurance would necessarily have covered the injuries or costs.
Who pays for medical treatment in Indonesia?
Australia and Indonesia do not have an agreement that gives Australians free healthcare in Indonesia. Smartraveller says tourists must pay for medical care, including hospital treatment and evacuation, and that the Australian Government will not pay those costs. Read the Australian Government’s Indonesia Travel Advice & Safety guidance.
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Smartraveller says hospitals generally expect a deposit, confirmation of medical insurance and a written payment guarantee from a family member or friend. This describes general expectations, not a rule that every hospital applies identically.
What to check before buying travel insurance for Bali
Smartraveller recommends comprehensive travel insurance before departure, with cover for overseas medical costs and evacuation. A policy’s name or headline benefits are not enough: check its wording against the trip you are actually taking.
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- Destination and stopovers: Confirm Bali and every transit stop are covered. Some insurers classify Bali as Asia Pacific; others include it in Asia, so do not assume a region label includes your destinations. See the Smartraveller/CHOICE guide to buying travel insurance.
- Medical treatment and evacuation: Check the policy’s medical expense limits, what treatment is included and whether evacuation is covered.
- Activities: Confirm cover for the activities you plan. Smartraveller gives motorcycling, scuba diving, snow sports and bungee jumping as examples that may require extra cover.
- Health and personal circumstances: Review the terms for pre-existing conditions and disclosure, and consider age, trip duration and valuables when assessing whether the cover fits.
- Dates and exclusions: Confirm cover applies for the whole trip, including stopovers, and read the exclusions and definitions.
- Claims and emergency assistance: Check how to contact the insurer and what its claims process requires if you need help overseas.
Read the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before buying. Smartraveller’s general guide explains that policy terms differ and the PDS sets out inclusions, exclusions, definitions, claims processes and emergency support. Read Smartraveller’s travel insurance guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why insurance wording matters
Travel insurance is not a guarantee that every incident or bill will be covered. Whether a claim is covered depends on the policy terms and circumstances, including applicable exclusions and requirements. The March 2024 report does not identify a policy or claim decision for the two friends, so it cannot show what a particular policy would have paid.
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