Coronavirus travel insurance: how it could affect your holiday

FAQs

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Am I covered if I contract COVID whilst abroad?

Yes you will be covered for emergency medical treatment abroad as long as you have not travelled against the advice of the FCO.

I have been medically advised to self isolate, but my holiday has not been cancelled, am I able to claim on my insurance and if so, what supporting documents do I need?

There will be no cover for this. We would advise you to contact your travel agent or tour operator in this instance.

I am in the 'vulnerable' category eg. pregnant, but my holiday has not been cancelled, am I able to claim on my insurance and if so, what supporting documents do I need?

There will be no cover for this. We would advise you to contact your travel agent or tour operator in this instance.

Can I arrange insurance for a trip that I am due to take within the next 30 days?

From 1st July 2020, we will be able to offer quotes for trips starting after 15th July 2020.

Can I arrange insurance for my cruise if I am age 70 or over?

From the 01/07/20 we can offer quotes for trips starting after 15/07/20 as long as you are not travelling against the FCO's advice.


Can I arrange insurance for my cruise if I have pre-existing medical conditions?

From the 01/07/20 we can offer quotes for trips starting after 15/07/20 as long as you are not travelling against the FCO's advice.


My cruise/holiday has been amended to a new date, can I amend my insurance?

If you are offered an alternative destination and or dates from your travel provider, we are pleased to advise that we will shift your insurance policy to fit the new trip. We do not charge administration fees, however, there may be an additional premium charged.


What cover is available under my policy in relation to Coronavirus or FCO change in advice

From 17th March 2020, there is no cover under this policy for:

Cancellation, abandonment or curtailment claims if the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises you not to travel, for example where the FCO advise against all but essential travel to an area affected by Coronavirus, COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-COV-2) or any mutation of Coronavirus, COVID-19 or SARs-COV-2. Any claims as a result of Coronavirus, COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS- COV-2), any mutation of Coronavirus, COVID-19 or SARs-COV-2 or any pandemic or fear or threat of any the above. Except for the Emergency Medical Expenses section. This will only apply if you did not travel against the published advice of the FCO, any local government, local authority or WHO.

For policies purchased after 3rd August 2020, you are covered if you need to cancel your trip due to you or anyone insured on your policy contracts and receives a positive test for COVID-19 up to 14 days prior to travelling. This applies to certain levels of cover only.


Am I insured if I travel against the advice of the FCO?

Unfortunately none of our policies will provide cover if you decide to travel against the advice of the FCO (the Foreign & Commonwealth Office). It is your responsibility to monitor the FCO advice for the country, region or area you intend travelling to in order to understand if cover may become invalid through a change in FCO advice.


What is classed as 'essential travel' according to the FCO?

The FCO does not have a definition of what they class as 'essential travel'. The FCO website states: 'Whether travel is essential or not is your own decision. You may have urgent family or business commitments to attend to. Circumstances differ from person to person. Only you can make an informed decision based on the risks'. Holiday Extras will only cover a destination classified as 'all but essential travel' if customers have contacted us with their reasons for travel and cover has been agreed by our Underwriters (TIF - Travel Insurance Facilities), where possible prior to travelling.


If I travel, will I be covered for coronavirus under medical costs in my travel insurance policy?

If you catch coronavirus while on holiday and require medical treatment, then yes, cover will be in place for emergency and necessary treatment. Customers should be aware that our policies are travel insurance policies and not private medical insurance, meaning that there is no cover for any medical expenses incurred in private medical facilities if we have confirmed that medically capable public facilities are available.


Coronavirus and repatriation

Our policies will provide cover for repatriation (bringing you home) that is medically necessary. Our Assistance Team will liaise with your treating doctor(s) about your treatment plan and if required obtain a 'fit to fly' certificate. We also liaise with you and advise on, and put in place, suitable repatriation plans to get you home as soon as it is medically safe to do so in order to achieve your optimal recovery. Our team are unable to make arrangements to repatriate you where it is against local advice, where travel is restricted or where you would pose a risk to other passengers. Each and every 'assistance case' will be dealt with on it's own merits.


Coronavirus travel insurance: am I covered for cancellation?

This type of event is usually not covered across the travel insurance industry for cancellation. This is because most policies have specific reasons for cancellation and the "fear of an epidemic, pandemic, infection or allergic reaction" is not one of those reasons. We would advise travellers who have booked package holidays to a destination affected by the viral outbreak, and looking to cancel their trip or amend their travel plans, to contact their travel agent or tour operator in the first instance. If you have booked component parts of your holiday independently we suggest you contact each of these companies with whom you've made arrangements with to question your cancellation and refund rights.

If you purchased your insurance prior to the 3rd March and you are not able to amend your trip and have a medical justification and supporting documentation for having to cancel, we would be happy to discuss your situation on a case-by-case basis, as long as any relevant existing medical conditions have been declared and cover accepted by us.

Our policies do not cover any costs in respect of cancellation or curtailment of a trip due to the Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advising against all travel , or all but essential travel, due to a pandemic, epidemic or infectious disease, to the country or area you were planning on travelling to. In these circumstances you should contact your airline or tour operator to discuss your cancellation and refund rights or to make alternate arrangements.

Our policies also do not cover costs in respect of cancellation or curtailment due to Fear of infection or Pandemic in an area where you are still able to travel to.

For policies purchased after 3rd August 2020, you are covered if you need to cancel your trip if you or anyone insured on your policy contracts and receives a positive test for COVID-19 up to 14 days prior to travelling. This applies to certain levels of cover only.


If I am quarantined due to the coronavirus, what cover is in place?

If you are admitted to hospital your policy will usually provide assistance with returning home when you have been discharged. Please contact our Assistance Team if you are admitted to hospital.

If you are confined to your trip accommodation, there is no allowance for living expenses or additional accommodation costs, if quarantined overseas. You would need to contact your travel provider.


What happens if I arrive at my holiday destination and they refuse entry due to the virus?

If you travel to an area which the FCO advises against travel to, there would be no cover under our travel insurance policies as this would be considered as a known event (that is something that has happened before you have purchased your travel insurance or before booking your trip).

If you travel to an area and the FCO advice changes after leaving home, you should contact your travel agent or tour operator for information on availability of flights or refunds in the first instance.

If you are refused entry at passport/border control, you should contact your airline or transport provider to arrange changing your return ticket to allow you to come home early.


Will I be covered if I want to cut my trip short due to the coronavirus?

This type of event is usually not covered across the travel insurance industry for cutting short a trip and therefore not covered under our insurance policies. This is because most policies have specific reasons for cutting short your trip and the "fear of an epidemic, pandemic, infection or allergic reaction" is not one of those reasons.

We would advise travelers who have booked package holidays to a destination affected by the viral outbreak and looking to cut your trip short, they should contact their travel agent or tour operator for information on availability of flights in the first instance.

If you are travelling independently from a tour operator or travel agent, you should make your own arrangements to leave by either altering return tickets where possible, or booking onto an alternative commercial flight or mode of transport. Claims for independent traveler's additional expenses in returning home earlier than planned, where medically justified, will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Where your claim is for any other reason there is no cover under our policies.


Am I covered for travel disruption caused by the coronavirus?

There is no cover in respect to travel disruption under our policies . We would ask that you check your specific policy wording for more information on this.


If I go out on an excursion for the day and then am not allowed back to my travel accommodation (or cruise ship) due to quarantine, what cover do I have?

You should follow any instructions issued by the local authorities as it is more than likely that you will have to enter some form of quarantine. Traveler's should contact their travel agent or tour operator for assistance in the first instance.

If confined to your trip accommodation, or prohibited from re-entering your accommodation, there is no allowance for living expenses.


Can I cancel my current policy and take a new policy with an alternative provider, which has cover for change in FCO advice?

Yes, you can cancel your policy with us, subject to our terms and conditions, and then look to find a policy elsewhere with cover for changes to FCO advice. Depending on when you purchased your policy with us you may only receive a partial refund for your cancellation.


If I have a stop-over in an area which the FCO advises against travel to, am I still covered?

We would suggest that if you have not started that part of your journey you contact your airline to change your travel plans to move on to the next part of your itinerary. If you arrive at your stop-over airport and entry is denied due to the virus you should contact your airline to change your travel plans to move on to the next part of your itinerary.


Can my existing policy be changed to suit a 'new/different' holiday or trip?

If you are offered an alternative destination and or dates from your travel provider, we are pleased to advise that we will shift your insurance policy to fit the new trip. We do not charge administration fees, however, there may be an additional premium charged.


Where can I get more information about travel and the coronavirus?

Where can I get more information about travel and the coronavirus?