For anyone planning a holiday, getting sick either before you leave or while travelling, can disrupt your travel plans - particularly when it comes to COVID-19. When researching, you might question if travel insurance will include COVID-19 cover so you can be prepared should the unexpected happen.
What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance is a type of insurance that provides cover for unexpected events that can occur before and during a trip. It can cover overseas medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost or stolen luggage, emergency overseas medical evacuation, and other travel-related incidents. Travel insurance policies can vary in terms of cover, limits, and exclusions, so it's important to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) carefully before purchasing. The PDS sets out the terms of your insurance coverage.
Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?
Many travel insurance policies provide cover for COVID-19. The most common COVID-19 benefits that are included in travel insurance policies are:
Trip cancellation - Provides cover for non-refundable trip expenses if you have to cancel your plans because you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 by a licensed medical professional.
Trip interruption – Provides cover for additional expenses incurred for an early return home if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 by a licensed medical professional during your trip and need to cut your trip short.
For international travel insurance policies, you may be covered for overseas medical expenses if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a licensed medical professional during your trip.
Don’t forget - it’s important to read the policy carefully and understand what’s covered and what isn’t.
What are exclusions and limitations?
Like all insurance policies, travel insurance policies have exclusions and limitations. It is important to understand these before purchasing a policy.
For example, an exclusion that most travel insurance policies have is that there’s no coverage if you travel to, plan to travel to, or choose to stay in a country where there’s a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning from the Australian Government (check out www.smartraveller.gov.au for the complete list) for that country or region.
Another example is that travel insurance typically doesn’t cover expenses related to known events or conditions at the time of purchasing the policy. It is designed to cover unforeseen risks and events that occur after a policy is purchased. If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 before buying the policy, travel insurance is unlikely to cover any expenses related to that diagnosis, or any trip cancellations or interruptions resulting from that diagnosis. Remember to take out travel insurance as soon as you can, ideally right when you have started planning and booking your trip.
So, to sum up, when it comes to COVID-19 cover, it’s important to read the travel insurance policy carefully to understand what’s covered and what isn’t covered. By taking these steps, travellers can ensure they are protected and enjoy their trip with peace of mind.
Disclaimer
Qantas Travel Insurance is issued by AIG Australia Limited ABN 93 004 727 753, AFSL 381686 (“AIG”). Qantas Airways Limited is AIG’s authorised representative (AR 261363). This is general advice only and your objectives, financial situation or needs have not been taken into account. You should consider whether the advice is suitable for you and your personal circumstances. Before making any decision to buy the travel insurance, you should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Target Market Determination (TMD) and Financial Services Guide (FSG). All cover is subject to terms and conditions as detailed in the PDS.
