COVID-19 Travel Insurance FAQs

If your travel started before 23:59 on Thursday 12^th March 2020 we want to make sure that you have peace of mind in light of the WHO declaring that Coronavirus is a pandemic and the FCO restriction.   We will not be enforcing the epidemic and pandemic exclusion or FCO restriction and you will be covered as per the usual terms of your travel insurance policy. Should you need to make a claim, please contact us directly to discuss your options.

Should you contract Coronavirus during travel, follow any advice given by the local authorities and contact your travel provider to notify them as soon as possible. If you are suffering with Coronavirus abroad, please contact our emergency 24-hour medical assistance line for advice. Provided that you have not travelled against FCO advice, especially after the FCO advice against non-essential international travel that was issued on 17th March 2020, you may be able to claim under the medical expenses section of your travel insurance policy for expenses incurred from receiving medical treatment. Please note that all claims relating to the Coronavirus will be handled on a case by case basis. If your trip needs to be extended as a result of your condition, please contact the customer service team using the contact details shown in your policy wording document to discuss your options.

If your airline cancels your flight as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, you should contact the airline directly for reimbursement. If your trip was booked as a package holiday, you should contact your tour operator to arrange alternative travel. Your travel insurance policy will not cover financial losses for cancelled flights if you are not reimbursed by the airline or travel provider. If your trip needs to be extended as a result of flight cancellation, please contact the customer service team using the contact details shown in your policy wording document to discuss your options in relation to extending your cover.

If you wish to return home early, in the first instance you should contact your airline and/or travel provider to discuss the possibility of changing your travel itinerary. If you are still overseas, please ensure you follow the FCO advice in regard to returning home as soon as possible. If you experience difficulty arranging transport back to the UK, please contact your nearest UK Consulate or Embassy for assistance. If your travel insurance policy includes cover for curtailing your trip due to a change in FCO advice, we will be able to consider a claim for unrecoverable costs.

We cannot provide cover for you not wanting to remain on your trip due to the change in status of the Coronavirus if you returned home prior to any change in FCO advice for your destination. Please be advised that exclusions apply to claims for loss of enjoyment of holiday, so financial losses as a result of an itinerary change are not covered under your travel insurance policy.

Most travel insurance policies will not provide cover for this circumstance. Please refer to the section of your policy wording relating to Emergency Medical Expenses for details of any cover that may be available.

Please follow the government advice on self-isolating when returning from destinations with outbreaks. If you have travelled to a destination against the FCO advice, especially after the FCO advice against non-essential international travel that was issued on 17th March 2020, you will not be covered under your travel insurance policy.

Yes this claim would be considered within the usual terms and conditions.

This claim would be considered in the following circumstances: If you are expected to declare pre-existing medical conditions under the terms and conditions of the policy and you have done this and these conditions are confirmed by your GP on a medical certificate detailing which conditions are relevant.  However, if you are expected to declare pre-existing medical conditions under the terms and conditions of the policy but have not done this or your policy excludes pre-existing conditions there will be no cover.

You will not be covered at all if you travel against FCO advice.

Whilst the policy terms and conditions may have changed for new and renewed policies, if the policy wording for your expiring policy does not include any exclusion relating to epidemics and pandemics, we will not apply this exclusion to any claims you may need to make for any trips you booked prior to your policy renewal date. Please be aware that all other terms and conditions will apply, including any exclusions relating to incidents or events you were aware of at the time you made your booking which could reasonably have been expected to lead to a claim.

In the first instance, you should contact the airline and/or travel provider to discuss your options for amending or cancelling your trip. Many travel providers are enabling customers to cancel or alter their booking free of charge. Not all travel insurance policies provide cover for cancellations due to a change in FCO advice. If your policy does include this cover, which will be shown under the Cancellation section of your policy wording, we will consider claims made in the event of cancellation if the FCO advised against travel to your destination after the time of booking or policy purchase (whichever was later).

Please note that if the FCO is not advising against travel to your destination at the time you are due to travel, you will not be covered for cancellation under your travel insurance policy.

If you are able to alter your booking with your airline or travel provider, you may be able to amend your Single Trip travel insurance policy to an alternative destination or change your dates of travel. Please note that if the changes to the policy are significantly different you may be required to pay an additional premium. If you are no longer travelling and do not need to make a claim under your Single Trip travel insurance policy, please contact us to discuss your options for cancelling or refunding your policy.

In the first instance, you should contact the airline and/or travel provider to discuss your options for amending or cancelling your trip. Many travel providers are enabling customers to cancel or alter their booking free of charge. Please note that if the FCO is not advising against travel to your destination at the time you are due to travel, you will not be covered for cancellation under your travel insurance policy. This is because of the exclusion that applies to claims arising from disinclination to travel.

If you are able to alter your booking with your airline or travel provider, you may be able to amend your Single Trip travel insurance policy with us to an alternative destination or change your dates of travel. Please note that if the changes to the policy are significantly different you may be required to pay an additional premium. If you are no longer travelling and do not need to make a claim under your Single Trip travel insurance policy, please contact us to discuss your options for cancelling or refunding your policy.

If your airline cancels your flight as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, you should contact the airline directly for reimbursement. Your travel insurance policy will not cover financial losses for cancelled flights / trip  if you are not reimbursed by the airline or travel provider. If you have booked independent accommodation at your destination, your accommodation costs will not be covered under your travel insurance policy. Please contact us to discuss potential reimbursement.

Should you contract Coronavirus during travel, even if you travelled before the FCO advice against all non-essential travel which was issued on 17th March 2020, you will not be covered for any medical expenses or financial losses under your travel insurance policy. This is due to our general exclusion for claims arising from or relating to any epidemic or pandemic.

Please contact your airline and/or travel provider to discuss the possibility of changing your travel itinerary. As your travel started or is due to start after the WHO declared that Coronavirus is a pandemic, you will not be covered for any financial losses that are incurred as a result of Coronavirus, even if you contract the virus.

Please contact your airline and/or travel provider to discuss the possibility of changing your travel itinerary. As your travel started or is due to start after the WHO declared that Coronavirus is a pandemic, under most travel insurance policies you will not be covered for any financial losses that are incurred as a result of Coronavirus, even if you contract the virus. The exclusion for claims arising from epidemics and pandemics will also apply to any additional cruise cover option (if available with your policy), so you will not be covered under your travel insurance policy in the event of quarantine on board where you are confined to your cabin.

Please follow the government advice on self-isolating when returning from destinations with outbreaks. For any financial losses that occur as a result of the Coronavirus, you will not be covered under your travel insurance policy.

If you or your travelling companion are suffering with Coronavirus and are declared unfit to travel by the treating doctor(s), you will not be covered under any travel insurance policy that includes the general exclusion for claims arising from or relating to any epidemic or pandemic.

You will be covered unless you have travelled after any FCO advice against travel to your destination had been issued, including the advice on 17th March 2020 against all non-essential international travel.

Our policies will not cover anyone that travels against the FCO advice.

You will not be covered as the FCO have advised UK nationals not to travel anywhere.  If you travel, your policy will be invalid as they have travelled against FCO advice relating to UK nationals.

If your policy includes cover for Cancellation due to a change in FCO advice, we may be able to consider a claim. If a change of FCO advice is not specifically stated as being covered in the Cancellation section of your policy wording document, we will not cover you for cancellations due to a change in FCO advice. Your policy wording document may also contain a General Exclusion  for claims arising from an epidemic or pandemic. If so, we will not meet any claims made for financial losses as a result of cancelled trips.

As the airline has offered for you to book at a later date, we will not cover cancellation in this instance.

You will not be covered at all if you travel against FCO advice.

You should first try to recover the costs from your debit or credit card provider. If your policy includes cover for Cancellation due to a change in FCO advice, we may be able to consider a claim for any unrecoverable costs. If cover for a change of FCO advice is not specifically stated as being covered in the Cancellation section of your policy wording document, we will not cover you for cancellation due to a change in FCO advice. Your policy wording document may also contain a General Exclusion for claims arising from an epidemic or pandemic. If so, we will not meet any claims made for financial losses as a result of cancelled trips.

You should firstly contact your travel provider and/or Airline to seek a refund of your flights and accommodation. Should be unsuccessful in obtaining a refund for all or any part of your booked holiday via the provider, you may be able to receive a refund via your credit or debit card provider. If your policy includes cover for Cancellation due to a change in FCO advice, we may be able to consider a claim for any unrecoverable costs if your travel date is within the current period of the FCO advice. If cover for a change of FCO advice is not specifically stated as being covered in the Cancellation section of your policy wording document or your travel dates are not within the period of the current FCO advice, we will not cover you for cancellation due to a change in FCO advice. Your policy wording document may also contain a General Exclusion for claims arising from an epidemic or pandemic. If so, we will not meet any claims made for financial losses as a result of cancelled trips.

You should also monitor official updates regarding the Coronavirus at the following sources:

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)

World Health Organisation (WHO) 

For tips and advice on minimising your risk of catching Coronavirus, please refer to the NHS guidelines