Travel Insurance which covers COVID-19?

[nerdinary]

I ended up with my go to policy Worldcare which is capped at $250/night

I can't really find this in the PDS anywhere. Could you point out where you might have read this?

Currenly tossing up between covermore / worldcare / world2cover

 

[serfty]

While scouting around for options, I found there's a Partnership between Velocity and Covermore which may provide for a more cheaper policy than directly with Covermore. COVID is specifically referenced in detail with a special section of the PDS.

Virgin Australia

covermore.virginaustralia.com

PDS

 

[Must...Fly!]

I have been hunting around for some quotes, I can get a worldwide 12 month comprehensive multi-trip with Medibank ($250 excess, trips up to 30 days) for just over $300 (get a discount as I have a health policy).

Been through the PDS, doesn't seem to be any red flags. Anyone looked in to their policy and found a concern?

 

[encryptededdy]

I have been hunting around for some quotes, I can get a worldwide 12 month comprehensive multi-trip with Medibank ($250 excess, trips up to 30 days) for just over $300 (get a discount as I have a health policy).

Been through the PDS, doesn't seem to be any red flags. Anyone looked in to their policy and found a concern?

I've also been considering them and I think they have one of the better policies since the COVID additional expenses cover is unlimited.

I did read this anecdotal report of a user on Reddit with Medibank who got covid in Mexico; they reported a good experience:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CoronavirusDownunder/comments/se8vy2

 

[Must...Fly!]

I've also been considering them and I think they have one of the better policies since the COVID additional expenses cover is unlimited.

I did read this anecdotal report of a user on Reddit with Medibank who got covid in Mexico; they reported a good experience:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CoronavirusDownunder/comments/se8vy2

That's great feedback, thank you. I'll do a little more research but probably just buy that Medibank policy tonight, the price is excellent. And I'll probably hire a car in the UK next month so the rental excess will help too.

 

[pn1]

I have both Amex and ANZ credit cards that have travel insurance as part of the deal. Until November 2019, I relied on either of those. However, in the different times of 2022 and with some overseas travel planned, should I be looking at different options? My domestic partner, who I will be travelling with, does not have credit card travel insurance and she has always purchased her own annual travel insurance. For "peace of mind", she's keen to get a new travel insurance policy that would cover both of us but I wonder if anyone on here could share some thoughts? I am 71 and she is 66. We are experieneced travellers and in generally good health. But the world is different in these unforseen and unexpected times?

 

[VPS]

I have both Amex and ANZ credit cards that have travel insurance as part of the deal. Until November 2019, I relied on either of those. However, in the different times of 2022 and with some overseas travel planned, should I be looking at different options? My domestic partner, who I will be travelling with, does not have credit card travel insurance and she has always purchased her own annual travel insurance. For "peace of mind", she's keen to get a new travel insurance policy that would cover both of us but I wonder if anyone on here could share some thoughts? I am 71 and she is 66. We are experieneced travellers and in generally good health. But the world is different in these unforseen and unexpected times?

personally I would ,for peace of mind, purchase travel insurance for you both. That few hundred dollars will be nothing if something goes wrong

 

[Port Power]

I have both Amex and ANZ credit cards that have travel insurance as part of the deal. Until November 2019, I relied on either of those. However, in the different times of 2022 and with some overseas travel planned, should I be looking at different options? My domestic partner, who I will be travelling with, does not have credit card travel insurance and she has always purchased her own annual travel insurance. For "peace of mind", she's keen to get a new travel insurance policy that would cover both of us but I wonder if anyone on here could share some thoughts? I am 71 and she is 66. We are experieneced travellers and in generally good health. But the world is different in these unforseen and unexpected times?

My credit card travel insurance has always been sufficient. Allianz (for ANZ) was also very helpful in liaising and communication. They paid the total claim in full. I wouldn't feel the need to buy another policy EXCEPT....check very carefully what is now covered by your particular credit card. Confirm if there is cover if you or your travel companion test positive and have to isolate in a hotel and then have to change flight bookings, etc. As mentioned previously, CC cover is not necessarily the same as cover with the insurer directly. If the cover is there, stick to the CC insurance.

EDIT: ANZ card did cover cardholder (moi) and spouse, travelling together.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I think there is some variation in the travel insurances AMEX provides, which depends on the card issued. Up to now I understood AMEX travel insurances still don't cover anything covid related. However had a quick look and they have created this update page about various changes;this doesn't take effect until March. I'd have a look at what it says for your card, including the new T&C

I have generally not relied on the AMEX travel insurance I have, given its cover limitations, and taken a separate policy as for work trips the cover usually didn't cover stuff I was contractually bound to get cover for, and for leisure trips it's been easier to take out a couples policy covering moi and Mrs Pineapple - and my AMEX didn't cover additional cardholders. However I'd need to read it again as I see there are some additional coverages coming in, including medical costs for additional cardholders, which is quite a bonus. In the case of my policy it only applies to bookings made after 15 March 2022 and the T&Cs, previously card specific but now "tier 1"generic, have doubled in length. I wish I could bill them for reading time.

Can't comment on ANZ, haven't ever been there.

Cheers skip

 

[frodo]

I think there is some variation in the travel insurances AMEX provides, which depends on the card issued. Up to now I understood AMEX travel insurances still don't cover anything covid related. However had a quick look and they have created this update page about various changes;this doesn't take effect until March. I'd have a look at what it says for your card, including the new T&C

Thanks for this, I may be able to cancel the insurance policy which I bought separately (it is still within the 14 day cooling off period) and instead rely on the free insurance provided by Amex. A quick glance at the T&Cs looks good but I will need to check it more closely.

 

[blackcat20]

We purchased the Medibank annual policy, it was much better in terms of covid cover than anything else I looked at.

 

[Lynda2475]

My amex card PDS doesnt mention Cvid or Pandemic at all so I assume useless, Ive never relied on it before as medical is not unlimited: https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/au/pdfs/credit-cards/pds_ultimatecard.pdf

The Medibank policy coverage is good, but it is expensive ($150 for a 6 day trip to Fiji) and must be taken out more than 21 days before departure. A multi-trip policy may prove better value but it doesnt let you enter dates of known trips that I can see. If you put in 12 months duration cost is astronomical, if only enter dates for first or last trip not sure will be accurate, a confusing poorly designed site. Other companies annual multi-trip policies start from date of purchas or first depature and then gp for 12 months, simples.

Has anyone looked at World2Cover ? For $60 for a 6 day trip to Fiji, their PDS indicates that coverage for additional accomodation if you have to quarrantine if you contract covid while travelling is unlimited:

"We will cover Your Additional Accommodation Meal and Travelling Expenses which are of a reasonable nature and equivalent standard to Your pre-booked arrangements for any Insured Event which We have accepted cover under section 21A. We will also cover if Your Trip is disrupted because of:
• You are quarantined due to close contact of a COVID-19 case; or Your Travelling Companion is diagnosed with COVID-19"

Plus additional cover for up to $3.5k for non-refundable covid expenses, which would seem adequate for a short trip.

https://dmwp034i1ogee.cloudfront.net/prod/PDS/W2C/17112021_World2Cover_PDS.pdf

 

[Lynda2475]

Choice has published this list here:



will need to read through those with cancellation coverage and unlminted medical. Zurich seem to be a common under writer for many.

 

[Lynda2475]

I think that Go Insurance might be a winner, their go plus policy seems to offer equivalent (if not better in parts) coverage than Medibank policy at lower cost (underwritten by Lloyds of London), and their multi-trip is straight forward to select and book.

PDS: https://quote.goinsurance.com.au/as...l_PDS_YCGO_V1_1RET_inc_Endorsement_092021.pdf

Also doesnt need 21 days notice, so useful for any short notice trips.

I did observer that a number of insurers on the choice list have suspended sale of multi trip policies.

 

[frodo]

My amex card PDS doesnt mention Cvid or Pandemic at all so I assume useless, Ive never relied on it before as medical is not unlimited: https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/au/pdfs/credit-cards/pds_ultimatecard.pdf

Up until now that has been the case, but if you check PineappleSkip's link a few posts up, it will be changing on 15 March 2022. See Changes to your Card Insurance | American Express AU

As far as I can tell, for my card (Qantas Ultimate), although the majority of the covid coverage looks comparable to the coverage I would be getting by purchasing travel insurance separately (e.g medical expenses), there seems to be a catch in the amended T&Cs, in that the additional transportation and accommodation sub-limit is quite low, at $3,000 (Schedule of Benefits, Section A).

That is probably insufficient to cover the cost of an additional hotel stay and re-booked flights should I contract covid and am unable to board the original flight back to Australia.

If anyone else has looked at the updated PDS, is my interpretation correct? Contracting covid (unless it is a severe case that requires hospitalisation) would not be considered as a medical emergency under the definitions and therefore as far as I can tell, if I needed to isolate for an additional amount of time overseas, this would only be covered under 'additional transportation and accommodation'.

 

[Lynda2475]

Ive always treated the Amex Ultimate insurance as bonus (i.e would try using it if my purchased policy didnt pay out) but would never rely on it for international travel.

I have two international trips booked so far (well flights, am still deciding on hotels etc) 6 days (Fiji) and 30 days (UK, USA with likely side trip to somewhere in Western EU maybe France or Portugal), two separate policies looks to be cheaper than a multi trip, but if i add something overseas for xmas then multi trip will win out depending on if i do Hawaii or something closer to home.

More reviewing tonight i guess before I start booking land components (although will be seeking fully refundable where available).

 

[blackcat20]

The Medibank policy was well priced, $500 for four of us. And we were able to enter the dates of our primary trip.

 

[mrsterryn]

How are people going with insurance that covers covid and have pre existing conditions? I have a six day trip to Hawaii happening in a few months . Concerned about the current re entry requirements for Aust

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I priced out medibank - I'm not a member and the annual policy for me was around $500 (includes trips longer than 30 days, but maybe that's not needed during covid?). I will look at the go insurance mentioned above.

The thing that still concerns me is that many of the insurance policies will only cover additional accommodation if required or ordered by a doctor.

So that could be useful in the Fiji example, but what about the UK or USA? You might test positive but will you get a doctor's 'orders'?

Or another example, you may be required to isolate in a country for 3 or 5 days on testing positive due to government rules (might be covered by insurance) but then have to wait another 11 days for a negative test or 'cleared to fly'. There is no mandate to be in isolation during that time and I wonder if hotel costs will be covered by insurance? Somewhere like London could be very expensive in that scenario.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Many of those scenarios are covered by the Medibank policy, some are subject to a limit, however some are not.

See the Medibank PDS Section 18 on COVID-19. http://policy.travelinsurancepartners.com.au/partners/medibank/files/documents/PDS_MBC.pdf