Travel Insurance which covers COVID-19?

[MEL_Traveller]

And there we go:

Australia drops ‘do not travel’ warnings for UK, US, Singapore, Fiji

The revised safety ratings will make it much easier to get travel insurance and Covid cover.

www.executivetraveller.com

Details still TBA.

Perhaps that publication should have read AFF first! Along with the problem, provide the solution!

At least one of PinappleSkip's recommendations will provide covid cover to destinations - marked 'do not travel' solely due to covid - provided you have have the approved prophylaxis.

 

[Duncan]

American based travel insurance has the same loophole as Australian based travel insurance. " Do not travel or red zones" on is based on the CDC the other Smart Traveler and applies to RESIDENTS of the country of the insurer not the country of residence of the insured. That little exercise some 12 years ago cost me about 12,000USD.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

American based travel insurance has the same loophole as Australian based travel insurance. " Do not travel or red zones" on is based on the CDC the other Smart Traveler and applies to RESIDENTS of the country of the insurer not the country of residence of the insured. That little exercise some 12 years ago cost me about 12,000USD.

In the new 'living-with-covid' world there seems to be a distinction. There is 'do not travel' based on safety and security in a country... threat of war, civil unrest, etc. Then there is 'do not travel' for countries which are otherwise perfectly safe *but for* covid.

There are policies which appear to override the 'do-not-travel-due-to-covid', provided you have had the requisite vaccination.

For example the Heymondo policy's general exclusion states the following (my bolding):

[excluded is...] Any claim incident derived from a trip to a specific country or area where a relevant governmental body or authority in the country of origin and/or destination had advised against travel due to an epidemic or pandemic, without the preventive and/or mandatory measures designated for this purpose.

Would be worth checking to see how Australia's blanket bans apply, and how the underwriter for Heymondo treats those in light of covid (as clearly the vast proportion of 'do not travels' are due solely to covid.

 

[Mattg]

I just received this from Go Insurance.

A travel insurance policy that covers COVID-19? - Go Insurance

These policy updates mean you may be covered if you or your travelling companion contract COVID or are specifically quarantined due to exposure to COVID. No

www.goinsurance.com.au

 

[kpc]

This article summarises my current concenns about going OS from next month onwards when NSW (and now Vic i think) residents can go OS and return without quarantining. Do you guys have any similar concerns about catching Covid OS, or more specifically, return a +ve PCR test?

COVID-19 and travelling overseas from Australia: What happens if you catch the virus?

It would be bad enough to get sick with COVID-19 when you're home, but what if you're overseas?

www.traveller.com.au

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I just received this from Go Insurance.

A travel insurance policy that covers COVID-19? - Go Insurance

These policy updates mean you may be covered if you or your travelling companion contract COVID or are specifically quarantined due to exposure to COVID. No

www.goinsurance.com.au

And indeed the distinction around 'do not travel' is there!

A note on the government “do not travel” advice​

At the moment, the Australian federal government travel advice is “do not travel” for all international destinations because of COVID-19 risk.​

​

Most often, government “do not travel” advisories relate to criminal, social and political risks (eg terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping) or natural disasters etc.​

​

If you are travelling to a destination for which the Australian government has in place a “do not travel” or “reconsider your need to travel” advisory which relates to any reason other than COVID-19, you will not be covered for any losses which arise from you travelling to that destination.​

​

However, if the travel advice for your destination relates only to COVID-19 risk, you will be covered provided you are travelling legally. Travelling legally means you have secured an Australian government travel exemption or are otherwise able to depart/return to Australia without impediment.​

 

[kpc]

I just received this from Go Insurance.

A travel insurance policy that covers COVID-19? - Go Insurance

These policy updates mean you may be covered if you or your travelling companion contract COVID or are specifically quarantined due to exposure to COVID. No

www.goinsurance.com.au

The phrase "reasonable cost" worries me...what happens if you end up in ICU needing a ventilator for 1-2 weeks, esp in US?! Is that still "reasonable cost" ??

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The phrase "reasonable cost" worries me...what happens if you end up in ICU needing a ventilator for 1-2 weeks, esp in US?! Is that still "reasonable cost" ??

'Reasonable' means that if you have a choice, you should choose a provider that is not excessively expensive. You could for example see a regular doctor, or go to a consultant on Harley Street. Again, if you had a choice, you should probably present yourself to an emergency department at a general hospital rather than King Edward VII. If you were offered a shared ward but refuse and demand private, you should probably check with your insurer first whether they will cover it.

(But note that if you are in a developing country, going to a tourist-orientated private hospital would more than likely be considered 'reasonable'.)

 

[Brissy1]

This article summarises my current concenns about going OS from next month onwards when NSW (and now Vic i think) residents can go OS and return without quarantining. Do you guys have any similar concerns about catching Covid OS, or more specifically, return a +ve PCR test?

COVID-19 and travelling overseas from Australia: What happens if you catch the virus?

It would be bad enough to get sick with COVID-19 when you're home, but what if you're overseas?

www.traveller.com.au

Very interesting, particularly "...you might test positive for up to three months after recovery, and Australia requires returnees to show a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before the flight departs..." So will insurance cover costs of a 3 month extension to a 1 week holiday I wonder.

 

[robbo135]

Very interesting, particularly "...you might test positive for up to three months after recovery, and Australia requires returnees to show a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before the flight departs..." So will insurance cover costs of a 3 month extension to a 1 week holiday I wonder.

In the situation you caught COVID, recover with no further symptoms, you would then need a medical certificate certifying you have recovered from COVID and it has been 14 days since you first tested positive to COVID, notwithstanding the PCR test is still recording a positive result.

 

[Mattg]

The Australian government's "Do Not Travel" warning has been removed/revised for 162/177 countries.

Travel advice levels are changing

From 1 November, Australia’s international borders will progressively reopen, with fully vaccinated Australians able to depart Australia without applying for an exemption. In line with this reopening, we’ve removed our global ‘Do not travel’ advisory.

www.smartraveller.gov.au

 

[Batterytraveller]

Now that people are booking, travelling and buying insurance; which providers have you been selecting?

 

[N860CR]

Now that people are booking, travelling and buying insurance; which providers have you been selecting?

I took out a covermore annual policy. Seems to have sufficient covid coverage.

 

[GaryLG]

Looking for reasonable international travel insurance and I have questions.

1. Any idea when Qantas will offer theirs again?
2. Did Anyone else look at quotes on the worldtrips.com website and notice the eligibility -
The Atlas Series is not available to individuals who are physically located... ...in the countries of Canada or Australia at time of purchase.
3. Any other suggestions aside from Covermore and Heymondo?

Thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking for reasonable international travel insurance and I have questions.

1. Any idea when Qantas will offer theirs again?
2. Did Anyone else look at quotes on the worldtrips.com website and notice the eligibility -
The Atlas Series is not available to individuals who are physically located... ...in the countries of Canada or Australia at time of purchase.
3. Any other suggestions aside from Covermore and Heymondo?

Thanks

If you are looking for reasonable international insurance it's hard to go past Heymondo... did you have concerns with them? Their prices are about 1/3 the price of a similar policy from an Aussie provider.

Qantas insurance may give you a few points, but the last time I priced one of their policies they were not remotely competitive.

 

[GaryLG]

If you are looking for reasonable international insurance it's hard to go past Heymondo... did you have concerns with them? Their prices are about 1/3 the price of a similar policy from an Aussie provider.

Qantas insurance may give you a few points, but the last time I priced one of their policies they were not remotely competitive.

Definitely looking like a good deal though Cover-more seems similarly priced and better coverage for some things.

Anyone with recent claim experience of either of them?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Definitely looking like a good deal though Cover-more seems similarly priced and better coverage for some things.

Anyone with recent claim experience of either of them?

I priced out Covermore for a one-month policy taking in the USA and UK, cost was AUD409 for basic and AUD454 for comprehensive. Heymondo is AUD160 for the same period, or AUD193 for their premium policy. There are some differences, for example Heymondo tops out medical cover at USD3.5 million/10 million for their top and premium covers. But I suspect that might be enough to cover most things (and if not I'm probably not going to be alive to worry about it!)

 

[GaryLG]

I priced out Covermore for a one-month policy taking in the USA and UK, cost was AUD409 for basic and AUD454 for comprehensive. Heymondo is AUD160 for the same period, or AUD193 for their premium policy. There are some differences, for example Heymondo tops out medical cover at USD3.5 million/10 million for their top and premium covers. But I suspect that might be enough to cover most things (and if not I'm probably not going to be alive to worry about it!)

I must have stuffed the conversion last time. For my trip to Europe and Japan for 2 months Covermore were AUD396 and AUD440 with Heymondo on AUD270 and AUD327 thought I did add equipment cover for my mobile that made it AUD298 and AUD359.

So yes a lot cheaper.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I must have stuffed the conversion last time. For my trip to Europe and Japan for 2 months Covermore were AUD396 and AUD440 with Heymondo on AUD270 and AUD327 thought I did add equipment cover for my mobile that made it AUD298 and AUD359.

So yes a lot cheaper.

Due diligence will be key. I don't recall anyone on here making a claim with them, but there must be reviews somewhere on the web

 

[GaryLG]

Due diligence will be key. I don't recall anyone on here making a claim with them, but there must be reviews somewhere on the web

Of course there are plenty and generally very positive but always good to get some more personal assessment from people you "know".