Coronavirus Covid-19

The current outbreak of coronavirus Covid-19 is causing concern for travellers.

If you have already made travel plans, you may be feeling anxious about your safety, so staying up to date with the latest developments is paramount. Doing so from reputable sources is just as important.

We always recommend checking Foreign Office advice for travel to any potential trouble spots and suggest you click this link www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice then choose your destination from the country list to get the latest information.

There is an IOM Government page here, and also a page detailing the UK Government's response with some useful links embedded here.

In addition, the World Health Organisation has published detailed information and a very useful Q&A for travellers on its website which can be accessed by clicking here.

We hope that these links are helpful and urge all our clients to travel safely.

FAQs from insurers

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS


Am I insured if I travel against the advice of the British Foreign Commonwealth
Office (FCO)?
o The Travel Insurance will continue to provide cover if you decide to travel against
the advice of the British FCO. However, the cover will exclude any claims arising
out of or in connection with the reasons for which the FCO are advising against
travel.


Will my policy cover medical treatment for the Coronavirus, and will
repatriation be covered?
o If you are diagnosed with the Coronavirus or require medical treatment, then yes
cover will be in place for receipted emergency and necessary medical and
associated treatment. Clients should be aware that travel insurance policies are
not private medical health insurance policies meaning that there is generally no
cover for any medical expenses incurred in private medical unless specifically
agreed by the Insurer’s Medical Emergency Assistance Company.
Please contact The Medical Emergency Assistance Company if you require
medical treatment.
o Our policy will provide cover for emergency repatriation (bringing you home) that
is deemed medically necessary. The Medical Emergency Assistance Company
will liaise with your treating doctor(s) about your treatment plan and if required
obtain a ‘fit to fly’ certificate. They will also liaise with you 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. The Medical Emergency
Assistance team are unable to make arrangements to repatriate you where it
would be against local authority advice, where travel is restricted or where you
would pose a risk to other passengers.


Am I covered for cancellation due to the Coronavirus?
o 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.
o 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.
o If you are not able to amend your trip and have a medical justification for having
to cancel, the appointed claims handlers would be happy to review your situation
on a case-by-case basis.


If I am quarantined due to the Coronavirus, what cover is in place?
o If you are admitted to hospital your policy will provide assistance with returning
home when you have been discharged – subject to local advice and the advice
of the UK Government


If I am stuck abroad due to the Coronavirus and cannot come home on my
planned return date, will my travel insurance be extended to cover me until I
can get home?
o Cover may be extended for up to 31 days free of charge on a day by day basis
as a result of the following reasons:
o If you are hospitalised, require medical treatment and are unable to fly.
o If your transport is disrupted or delayed.
o If you cannot return home for any reason beyond your control.
Please contact the Medical Emergency Assistance company if you are
admitted to hospital.
o If you are confined to your trip accommodation Insurers may contribute towards
the cost of additional accommodation, if your return is later than planned due to
a diagnosed medical reason.


What happens if I arrive at my holiday destination and they refuse entry due to
the virus?
o 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.
o 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?
o This type of event is usually not covered across the travel insurance industry for
cutting short a trip. 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.
o We would advise travellers who have booked package holidays to a destination
affected by the viral outbreak and looking to cut their trip short they should
contact their travel agent or tour operator for information on availability of flights
in the first instance.
o 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 traveller’s additional expenses in returning
home earlier than planned, where medically justified, will be assessed on a caseby-
case basis.


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


What can I do with my policy if I am no longer travelling and have received a
refund for my holiday?
o In the event that you are unable to move the trip to an alternative destination and
are offered a refund from your travel agent or tour operator, we are happy to
offer a full refund of premium on the understanding that no claim is to be made
against the policy. This does not apply to Annual policies.


Can my policy be changed to suit a ‘new/different’ holiday or trip?
o If you are offered an alternative destination and or dates from your travel agent,
we are pleased to advise that we will amend your insurance policy to fit the new
trip without any administration charges. There may, however, be an additional
premium to pay if the duration is longer or you are travelling to a higher rated
area.


Where can I get more information about travel and the Coronavirus?
o https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
o https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/travel-advice
o https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/499/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-generaladvice-
for-travellers
o https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2018/9780111168479/contentsv.3.3.20