CAN I INSURE COVID-19 WILL NOT WRECK MY HOLIDAY?
in the future, no travel insurance cover will apply while you are away.
WILL MY CURRENT TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICY INCLUDE COVER FOR CORONAVIRUS?
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).
WOULD MY TRAVEL INSURANCE COVER ME IF I FELL ILL ABROAD?
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.
WHAT ABOUT IF I HAVE TO CANCEL MY HOLIDAY DUE TO CORONAVIRUS?
SOME polices may cover cancellation due to coronavirus, while some 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, offer flexible cancellation cover if you fall ill with coronavirus prior to departure.
IN ADDITION TO COVER FOR CORONAVIRUS, WHAT ELSE SHOULD I THINK ABOUT WHEN SORTING TRAVEL COVER?
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 are no surprises in the exclusions, such as the value of the benefits or the size of an excess.