How does Coronavirus affect my cover?
Your travel insurance policy has a general exclusion for Covid-19 and anticipated events. We’ll provide cover for Emergency Medical and Repatriation if you test positive for Covid-19 provided you aren’t travelling against FCDO advice and Cancelling or Cutting short your trip for the reasons specifically listed under 'Section 3’ of your policy wording. Please refer to your policy documents for full terms and conditions.
Anticipated event: that which you knew could happen, or could reasonably have expected to happen, and you were aware of it when your insurance started, or the date you booked your trip, whichever is later.
Am I covered for cancelling or cutting short my trip if the FCDO advisory against travel remains in place or the FCDO changes its advice to against 'all' or 'all but essential travel' for my destination?
There is no cover under any section of your policy if you travel against FCDO advice, even if the trip is deemed essential. There is also no cover for cancelling or cutting short your trip if the FCDO advises against 'all' or 'all but essential' travel due to Covid-19 before or during your trip (for example, the FCDO advises that travellers abroad MUST return home).
You should speak with your travel agent, airline, hotel or accommodation provider as you may be able to reschedule your trip or get a refund. If you’re on your trip, as long as the FCDO hasn’t advised travellers at your destination to come home, you’ll still be covered as per your policy terms and conditions while you finish your trip. It is your responsibility to monitor the FCDO advice for any changes.
Please refer to your policy terms and conditions.
I was diagnosed with Covid-19 before my trip and must self-isolate/quarantine. Am I covered for cancellation?
If you test positive for Covid-19 within 14 days of your trip departure date and you’re required to quarantine or self-isolate, you can make a claim for cancelling your trip provided it was not an anticipated event. (For example, you had no reason to believe you may have Covid-19 or needed to take a test or self-isolate at the time of booking your trip, buying your policy or extending your cover.)
You can register a claim online. You’ll need to provide proof of a positive Covid-19 test as certified by a registered medical practitioner, a registered lateral flow test or if the lateral flow test can’t be registered, an acceptable letter from the NHS confirming the positive Covid-19 result. Photographs of a lateral flow test are not acceptable evidence. Please refer to your policy documents for full terms and conditions.
Am I covered for cancellation if my close relative, travel companion or close business associate contracts Covid-19 before my trip?
There’s no cover if your close relative, travel companion or close business associate contracts Covid-19 before your trip if they’re not named on your policy.
We’ll cover cancellation costs if your close relative (as defined in our policy wording) is hospitalised or dies within the 14 days prior to your trip departure date as a result of contracting Covid-19, provided it was not an anticipated event. (For example, you had no reason to believe they may have Covid-19 or they were not diagnosed with Covid-19 at the time of booking your trip, buying your policy or extending your cover).
Please refer to your policy terms and conditions for full details.
I have been denied boarding on my prebooked outbound travel due to symptoms of Covid-19 or testing positive for Covid-19. Am I covered?
If you have symptoms of Covid-19 or you test positive for Covid-19 and this was the confirmed reason for being denied boarding, you will be covered for cutting short your trip, provided it was not an anticipated event.
Anticipated event: that which you knew could happen, or could reasonably have expected to happen, and you were aware of it when your insurance started, or the date you booked your trip, whichever is later. (For example, you had no reason to believe you may have Covid-19 or needed to take a test or self-isolate).
You can register a claim online. You’ll need to provide proof of a positive test from a registered medical practitioner. Please refer to your policy documents for full terms and conditions.
Am I covered for cancellation if I need to self-isolate as a result of potential exposure to Covid-19 (e.g. NHS track and trace)?
There’s no cover for cancelling your trip because you choose to or were recommended to self-isolate due to potential exposure to Covid-19 (e.g. NHS track and trace), unless you need to self-isolate because one of your named travel companions has tested positive within the 14 days prior to their trip departure.
What happens if I get Covid-19 (Coronavirus) while abroad?
You’re covered for emergency medical treatment under Section 1 Emergency Medical Treatment and Repatriation up to your selected policy limits as long as you didn’t travel against FCDO advice, and it wasn't an anticipated event. For example, you had no reason to believe you had Covid-19 when travelling or you didn't travel against the your GP's advice.
You're also covered up to £1,000 per person for any additional travel and/or accommodation costs if you need to quarantine or self-isolate on your trip. However, you must contact our Emergency Medical Assistance team on +44 292 010 7777 as soon as you become unwell, so they can get you the help you need.
If I contract Covid-19 and am unable to come back to UK on my planned return date or am quarantined on my return to the UK, am I covered?
General quarantine requirements imposed on a population or area are not covered. If you’re unable to finish your trip as planned due to contracting Covid-19 and need to quarantine abroad, your cover will be automatically extended for you at no extra cost and we will provide cover as stated under Section 1: Emergency Medical and Repatriation until you can reasonably be expected to return home.
The cover will only apply if you did not travel against FCDO advice and the need to quarantine was not anticipated. (For example, it was not publicised before you travel, you had no reason to believe you had Covid-19 when travelling and you did not travel against medical advice.)
You should contact our Emergency Medical Assistance team on +44 292 010 7777 as soon as possible if you're put into quarantine or isolation so assistance can be offered if necessary.
Any additional accommodation or food costs should be covered by the authority that issued the quarantine, along with any reasonable out of pocket expenses that you incur. You should speak to your tour operator or resort manager to arrange this. However, if this is not the case you can submit a claim for consideration.
Associated costs such as loss of earnings due to your isolation are not covered.
If I’m unable to return home on my planned return date due to Covid-19 related travel disruption, travel restrictions or quarantine rules, am I covered?
There’s no cover for additional costs incurred due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions, travel disruption or quarantine rules imposed by any government or local authority on a population or area in any country. However, if you are unable to finish your trip as planned due to a delay that can’t be avoided, which includes flight cancellation, your cover will be automatically extended for you at no extra cost until you can reasonably be expected to return home.
If your original return journey is delayed or cancelled, your travel agent or airline should help you find alternative transport, accommodation or arrange a refund. You may have to book another plane, train, coach or boat yourself.
The FCDO has advised against travel to my destination due to Covid-19 but my travel provider has advised my trip is going ahead. Am I covered for cancellation?
It’s highly unlikely that travel providers would arrange a trip against FCDO advice. There’s no cover under any section of your policy if you travel against FCDO advice, even if the trip is deemed essential.
If the flight is operating but you follow FCDO advice and do not travel, there is no cover for cancellation under your policy as per our Coronavirus general exclusion. You should contact your travel provider for a refund or to reschedule your trip.
My airline/travel/accommodation provider has cancelled my booking due to Covid-19. Am I covered?
There is no cover for this scenario. If your booking has been cancelled by the company organising your transport or accommodation due to Covid-19, you should be offered an alternative booking, credit voucher or a full refund.
Am I covered for costs incurred as a result of being quarantined on my return from a red list country?
There is no cover for costs as a result of needing to quarantine upon return.
