Travel Insurance for COVID-19

Yes, most travel insurance policies can cover you if you contract COVID-19 on your trip. These policies will typically offer comprehensive benefits that cover the most common pandemic-related concerns, including cancellations, medical emergencies, and travel delays related to COVID-19.

The best travel insurance for COVID-19 will include coverage for the two primary concerns travelers generally look for during a pandemic: cancellation coverage and medical coverage.

The Trip Cancellation benefit can provide reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you contract COVID and cannot travel as planned. The Emergency Medical benefit is designed to cover treatment expenses for travelers who unexpectedly contract an illness while traveling.

Because COVID-19 is considered a known event at this stage, some providers may exclude it from coverage. If you are nervous about contracting the virus during your trip, we recommend confirming protection with your provider before travel.

Cancel For Any Reason can provide cancellation coverage for most situations related to the virus that are not otherwise covered by a standard travel insurance policy, such as fear of traveling, border closures, and travel bans. This benefit provides the most possible flexibility when it comes to canceling a trip, but is a time-sensitive benefit that must be purchased within 14-21 days of the first trip booking, depending on the policy.

If your trip was canceled and you did not incur any penalties, please contact your travel insurance provider directly as soon as possible. Depending on their procedures, they may be able to issue you a voucher for your premium paid or apply your policy to a new trip.

If you choose to apply the policy to a new trip and it causes an increase in premium, the difference will be due upon booking. If the new premium is less expensive, you may receive a refund if you are within your plan’s Free Look Period.

All requests received are treated as exceptions, and a specific outcome can never be guaranteed, but all providers are doing what they can to assist where possible.

Most travel policies treat COVID-19 in the same way they treat other illnesses contracted while traveling. For that reason, the cost of COVID travel insurance is the same as a typical travel insurance policy, roughly 4-10% of the total trip cost. However, you can expect to pay 40-50% more if you decide to buy CFAR for the added flexibility.

The Medical Coverage for COVID-19 benefit can reimburse you for the medical costs incurred if you contract COVID-19 and need medical care during your trip.

Travel medical insurance is included within most policies under the Emergency Medical benefit. This benefit is designed to cover treatment specifically for travelers who unexpectedly contract COVID-19 while traveling. We recommend a policy with at least $50,000 in coverage for international travel, and at least $100,000 for cruises or travel to a remote location.

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Most policies include the Cancel for COVID-19 Sickness benefit, which reimburses you if you contract the virus for all of your prepaid and non-refundable trip costs. This benefit requires a notice from a licensed physician that proves a positive COVID-19 test. Other COVID-related cancellations that are not otherwise covered by Cancel for COVID-19 Sickness, such as border closures and travel bans, can be covered with a Cancel For Any Reason policy.

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Your coverage may extend if you are stuck overseas due to a positive COVID-19 test that prevents you from flying home. Typically, policies with this coverage can be extended anywhere from 5-10 days, or until you are cleared to return home, whichever takes place first.

The coverage that applies in this situation depends on whether or not you are hospitalized: * If you are hospitalized following a positive test, your policy’s Emergency Medical benefit may cover the cost of treatment, including hospital charges and medication expenses. This coverage may be extended after your departure date if you test positive while you are still traveling. * If you test positive but are not hospitalized, your policy’s Trip Delay benefit may apply. This benefit can cover the costs of meals and accommodations during the extension of your trip while you are in quarantine up to the maximum number of days listed on your policy.

In both scenarios, it’s important to contact your provider as soon as possible after a positive test to understand your specific policy’s coverage and claims process.

No, travel insurance does not cover canceling a trip because you are concerned about getting stuck overseas due to quarantine, negative test requirements, and other COVID restrictions. This is classified by providers as “fear of travel” and is generally excluded from most plans.

To cancel due to COVID concerns (that isn’t a qualifying cancellation event), you will need the CFAR upgrade. This add-on partially reimburses you, typically up to 75% of your insured trip cost, if you cancel for a reason not already covered by standard Trip Cancellation coverage.

Certain travel credit cards with built-in Trip Cancellation benefits may cover you to cancel if a physician advises that travel is not medically advisable. However, choosing not to travel due to general pandemic concerns or fear of contracting COVID-19 is not covered by credit cards.

Keep in mind that credit card travel benefits rarely include medical coverage. If you’re traveling and contract COVID, your credit card company will likely not reimburse any resulting medical expenses.