Coronavirus Travel Insurance

If COVID-19 is still on your mind when planning a holiday, the good news is that it is no longer treated as a completely separate type of travel risk.

Depending on the insurer, COVID-19 may be mentioned by name or covered more generally as an infectious disease or unexpected illness. Many policies available through Direct Travel include some protection as standard, without the need to buy a separate COVID-19 or pandemic upgrade.

What cover is there for COVID-19?

Depending on your policy, you may be protected for:

Emergency medical treatment abroad if you become ill during your trip.

Repatriation if you need to return home for medical reasons.

Cancellation cover if illness means you cannot travel.

Cover for cutting your trip short if you need to come home early.

Individual quarantine or denied boarding cover under certain policies.

Hospital, Cruise or Winter Sports benefits where these are included in your cover.

You will usually need medical evidence to support a claim. Some insurers may ask for confirmation from a doctor or an official test result, so a home test on its own may not be enough.

What isn't usually covered?

Travel insurance can help when illness affects you personally, but it does not usually cover the wider disruption caused by an outbreak. This means you would not normally be covered for:

1. General lockdowns, border closures or regional quarantine.
2. Government restrictions or FCDO advice relating to an infectious disease.
3. Cancelling because you are worried about travelling but have not been diagnosed as unfit to travel.
4. Tests, vaccination certificates or other documents needed to enter a destination.
5. Events or circumstances that were already known when you booked your trip or bought your insurance.

Check your cover

COVID-19 and infectious disease cover varies between insurers, particularly when it comes to cancellation, quarantine, and the evidence needed for a claim.

Have a quick look at the relevant Policy Wording before you buy, so you know what is included in the cover you have chosen.

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