Coronavirus and Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is something many people take for granted but since Covid 19 Corona Virus became a global pandemic you may not get the cover you would expect. With millions of confirmed cases around the globe this virus has devastated the travel industry. Airlines and travel operators alike are laying off staff and warning of further cuts and in some cases the possibility of administration and bankruptcy. Here are some basic points to watch out for with your travel insurance.
Should I Travel?
Many insurance providers restrict cover for any travel policies purchased before 11th March 2020 when the World Health Organization declared Covid 19 Corona Virus a pandemic. Before you can consider travelling anywhere you must first check the Foreign Commonwealth Office website to see what advice they are giving. If you choose to travel against the advice of the FCO your travel insurance is automatically invalid meaning you cannot make a claim should anything go wrong.
Post Covid 19 it is vital that you check the FCO website before you even book your holiday as this is an ever changing situation and very few countries throughout the world remain unaffected. It can’t be any clearer. Step one of any travel plans for the foreseeable future is check the FCO website before you do anything else.
Annual Policies
If you have an annual travel insurance policy then any trips you book after the FCO has advised against travel will not be covered. If you have booked before the FCO advice changed then you should be able to make a claim for cancellation. Always always check your individual insurers terms and conditions prior to cancellation. They all vary. And the cancellation may have to come from your travel operator before you can make a successful claim. If you decide that your trip is too risky for your own reasons but the FCO advice says it’s okay to go then you won’t be able to claim for any monies you may lose. Insurers call this disinclination to travel and you won’t be covered.
Policy Refunds
Many people with annual travel insurance policies want to know if they can get a refund for the remaining months before expiry. The answer is maybe. Once again they are all different so check with your policy provider. Some of the big names like Churchill, Axa and Direct Line are giving pro rata refunds. Providing you haven’t already made a claim on that policy. Others such as Treatufair will not give any refund. Don’t consider cancelling your insurance until you know if you are likely to travel as soon as restrictions are lifted..
Already Booked Ahead
People often book their holiday well in advance of the travel date. In the months ahead it is vital to keep checking the FCO website. Originally the FCO were advising against travel for 30 days. This made it clearer for tour operators and customers alike when it came to cancellation. In early April 2020 the advice was extended to “indefinitely”. With no clear end date in sight travellers will have to wait and see if the advice changes as their holiday gets closer. Be sure to check with the FCO and your airline or travel operator to see if they cancel your journey. If so you should get a full refund from them. Once you are within 28 days of your due travel date and the advice is still not to travel you can contact your insurance company and begin your claim.
WARNING: Some airlines are offering you vouchers. If your airline cancels on you then you’re entitled to a full refund. Take the refund rather than the voucher because if the airline fails then your voucher will be worthless. If you’re a fan of collecting airline points (Click here to read our article on BA versus Virgin points) ask the airline to return the points to your account or you may lose them.
Protect Yourself
At the time of writing many UK Travel Insurance companies aren’t even quoting for policies. So if you have insurance already it may be worth keeping it going. Travel policies are going to get trickier in the future. As the advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office changes you must remember insurance companies are risk averse so premiums are bound to go up. When that time comes be sure to take out a policy that includes disruption cover. You will then be eligible for reimbursement of costs associated with delays. If you’re unfortunate enough to end up in quarantine this will also be covered.
Covid 19 and SARS
One very important fact to check when buying travel insurance after Covid 19 is whether or not you are covered for the Corona Virus or and SARS like infection. Many insurance companies have withdrawn this type of cover due to the global pandemic. You cannot afford the risk of travelling without it. Even if you think your policy is okay, check. Because terms and conditions continually change. The travel industry will recover from this but it will likely be a long and slow return. Make sure you’re fully protected when you can travel again.
Keep Safe !
For more posts about travelling with health conditions click here for arthritis and here for fibromyalgia.
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