Yes, your policy can include cover for coronavirus-related claims, but only if you meet the vaccination and travel advice requirements in your policy.
When coronavirus cover applies
Coronavirus-related claims are only covered if both apply:
- You are up to date with coronavirus vaccinations as recommended by the UK NHS (if unsure, check with your medical practitioner), or you were medically unable to have them as evidenced by your medical records.
- You are travelling to a country or area where the FCDO/WHO are not advising against all travel, or all but essential travel, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
What may be covered (depending on your product and level of cover)
Cancellation:
- If your policy includes cancellation cover, you may be covered if you need to cancel because you (or a family member or travelling companion) are diagnosed with coronavirus within 14 days of departure, or are in quarantine on the date your trip is due to start (on a medical practitioner’s orders, in the circumstances set out in the policy).
- Gold and Gold Plus policies can be bought “excluding cancellation”, so cancellation cover may not apply. Please check your policy schedule.
- Silver does not include cancellation cover so you will not be covered.
Cutting your trip short:
- Gold, Gold Plus and Platinum: coronavirus cover for cutting your trip short is only for returning home early because an immediate relative is hospitalised or dies as a result of contracting coronavirus.
- Silver: coronavirus cover is limited to emergency medical expenses only (see below), so it does not include coronavirus cover for cutting your trip short.
Emergency medical expenses and extending your trip:
- If you contract coronavirus during your trip and need medical treatment, cover may apply under the relevant medical emergency section of your policy.
- If you have to extend your trip because you contract coronavirus or are quarantined on the orders of a medical practitioner, cover for additional travel and accommodation expenses is limited to £2,000.
What you may need for a claim:
If you make a coronavirus-related claim, you must provide the evidence set out in the policy, such as a positive test result (or a positive lateral flow test with adequate supporting evidence or independent certification), and written proof from a treating medical practitioner if your claim is related to quarantine on their orders.
What is not covered:
- Coronavirus-related claims are not covered if you do not meet the vaccination requirement, or if you travel to a destination where the FCDO/WHO advises against all travel, or all but essential travel, due to coronavirus.
- If you travel against that advice due to coronavirus, your policy will not cover any claims caused by or related to coronavirus.