CAN I INSURE COVID-19 WON’T WRECK MY HOLIDAY?

With the travel industry reopening for business and the Government relaxing quarantine restrictions on 59 destinations, many holidaymakers will be wondering where they stand with travel insurance and Covid-19.

Kevin McMullan of Saga Health and Travel Insurance said his firm was ready for a surge in sales on policies for summer holidays, plus autumn and winter travel.

But he said though Covid-19 had the potential to ruin a holiday – due to falling ill, or suffering a lockdown or cancellation – not all insurers’ policies are providing specific protection against effects of the disease.

He said: “Some insurers are starting to offer Covid-19 cover now, but not everyone.

“We’d recommend having a good look at policies and what they offer – especially on areas such as medical expenses abroad if you catch coronavirus.

“It’s important to arrange insurance at the same time as you book. If you’re planning a break, ensuring you are well protected is part of being able to enjoy that long anticipated holiday.”

Here, Kevin answers the key questions being asked around travel insurance:

Some insurers are beginning to introduce specific cover for coronavirus. This typically covers medical expenses and return flights to the UK if you catch the virus while on holiday.

Currently, insurers are not offering cover should your trip be cancelled due to the virus. That said, some travel companies, including Saga, do have some protections in place for this.

Remember, while the Foreign Office has begun to lift its travel restrictions to allow people to travel internationally under the new traffic light system, these rules are subject to the severity of the virus in the UK and abroad.

If the FCO changes its guidance in the future, no travel insurance cover will apply while you are away.

That will depend on when the insurance was purchased, people will have differing levels of cover for coronavirus. However, cover isn’t standard, so before travelling spend 15 minutes checking the terms and conditions of your policy. Contact your insurer directly if you’re not sure and look at alternative cover if you need to.

Remember to also check you’ve got cover for any pre-existing medical conditions at the same time too. This is all especially important for people who get travel insurance included with their bank’s current account. In many cases this cover will not accept a claim related to coronavirus or a pre-existing medical condition (without having contacted the provider to discuss your personal circumstances).

While coronavirus is understandably front of mind, overall peace of mind that comes with cover for all medical conditions is important too. Cover will depend on your policy terms and conditions. When it comes to coronavirus, some providers – including Saga, Staysure and the Post Office – now offer cover for medical expenses and to get you back to the UK if you fall ill while on holiday. This is to help customers feel more comfortable travelling. It’s especially important for travellers with underlying health conditions or who may be in an at-risk age group to ensure their policy provides sufficient cover.

Some polices may cover cancellation due to coronavirus. Some policies may also cover you for cancellation if you or a family member get coronavirus before you’re supposed to travel.

However, this is only likely to apply if you purchased your policy and booked your holiday before the pandemic began in March.

Most new policies, renewals and bookings currently do not offer cover for cancellation around coronavirus. There may however be some flexibility as part of the booking conditions for your trip – some providers, including Saga Holidays and Saga Cruises, are offering flexible cancellation cover if you fall ill with coronavirus prior to departure.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is an alternative to travel insurance. You need both.

Secondly, you will be offered the option of covering a single trip or buying annual protection. Think about annual cover if you are planning to take multiple trips over the next 12 months.

Also, consider if you want to add your family or other travelling companions to the cover. If you do, carefully check the information you need to provide about medical conditions, so everyone is properly protected.

Finally, and most importantly, check the cover meets your needs and there’s no surprises in the exclusions, such as the value of the benefits or the size of an excess.

Most new policies don’t offer cover for cancellation around coronavirus