COVID 19 Travel Insurance

Be sure to add insurance for COVID-19 to your packing list

Key Sections

Key Benefits of Covid Coverage
Covid Travel Insurance Coverage for You
Covid-19 Travel Safety Tips
Covid Tips for International Travel
Covid-19 & Travel Insurance: FAQs

In 2024, although the threat of COVID-19 has significantly diminished, it's prudent to remain vigilant, especially for older individuals. ACIP recommended on February 28, 2024, that those aged 65 and above receive an additional dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine. While the global situation has improved, the possibility of encountering COVID-19 during international travel still exists.

As travel has resumed in full swing, certain COVID travel safety protocols have changed drastically. To ensure a smooth journey, it's advisable to stay updated on destination-specific requirements. While monitoring CDC guidelines is essential, complementing it with COVID-19 travel insurance adds an extra layer of protection. To keep up with the Covid requirement updates for your destination country, you can check out our destination pages.

If you're planning on traveling internationally during the Covid pandemic, it's important to have Covid travel insurance. Although monitoring the CDC for travel recommendations and restrictions is one way to be a smart traveler, itÃ¢ÂÂs not the only way. Getting Covid-19 travel insurance for your next trip is another smart move.

You may be wondering whether you can purchase travel medical insurance or trip insurance with specific Covid coverage? If youÃ¢ÂÂre a U.S. resident, you can do either. International travelers are only eligible for travel medical insurance. So how can trip insurance and medical travel insurance help if you contract Covid during your travels?

Travel medical insurance can help with medical costs if you contract Covid while traveling abroad.

Buying travel insurance for trips more than 50 miles from home can help you recoup some prepaid trip expenses in case you have to cancel or postpone your travel plans.

Students studying abroad during the pandemic have a number of plan options. Travel medical insurance and trip insurance are essential for your health and safety during these uncertain times.

If there is one thing frequent travelers know, itÃ¢ÂÂs to always plan ahead and expect the unexpected.

From inclement weather to illness, lost baggage to loss of a loved one, there are many reasons why a trip may need to be canceled or interrupted, and trip insurance helps to ensure that your trip investment and non-refundable expenses are protected.

Key Benefits of COVID-19 Coverage

Travel Medical Plans

Suffering an illness or injury while away from your home isn't on anyone's itinerary. Unfortunately, these situations happen.

Travel medical insurance plans can help cover costs associated with the following situations:

Hospitalization due to COVID-19
Medical treatment and care
Ongoing testing and medical supplies
Medical evacuation and repatriation
And much more

Learn More

Trip Plans

It can be hard to feel confident about your travel investment when COVID-19 cases are surging and new variants arise. As countries attempt to contain cases they may resort to travel bans. This, too, can add to travel anxiety. Trip insurance can help you recoup costs if your trip is impacted by Covid in many ways including:

Trip cancellation or postponement
Flight changes or delays
Covid-related itinerary changes
Coverage for baggage issues
And much more

Learn More

Covid Travel Insurance Coverage for You

Travel insurance is not a one-size-fits-all product. What may be right for the needs of one traveler may not fulfill all the needs of the next. ThatÃ¢ÂÂs why we offer customized travel insurance plans for specific types of travelers.

Travel Medical Plans

Suffering an illness or injury while away from your home isn't on anyone's itinerary. Unfortunately, these situations happen.

View Plans

Trip Plans

It can be hard to feel confident about your travel investment when COVID-19 cases are surging and new variants are spreading.

View Plans

Student Plans

International students, whether theyÃ¢ÂÂre coming to America to study or American students learning overseas, have specific needs and concerns. Here you can find Health insurance for international students that includes coverage for Covid.

View Plans

Green Card Plans

U.S. green card holders have a number of temporary health insurance plans that cover Covid. Here you can find and compare some of the best Covid coverage for green card holders on the market.

View Plans

Covid-19 Travel Safety Tips

While there is no foolproof way to avoid contracting Covid, there are ways you can reduce your risk. Travelers have a number of options to help them feel safer and protected against the disease. WeÃ¢ÂÂve compiled a list of safety precautions every traveler can take to reduce their chances of getting sick.

Covid Tips for International Travelers

As new Covid variants spread globally, international travel presents a host of new challenges. Here's a rundown of what international travelers should expect and how they can prepare for their travels abroad.

Check the travel alerts and the latest flight information on airline websites and authoritative country-and-state-specific sites based on the itinerary.
Keep the Proof of Vaccination card ready in case you need to show the airline, or local authorities.
Be prepared to present proof of a recent negative Covid test ( RT-PCR) taken within the specific window of time your airline or destination requires.
Have other country-specific documents such as a signed copy of self-declaration, ready.
Expect to take covid tests not only upon arrival at the destination, but also at other times throughout your trip and return home.
Adhere to all Covid protocols in place at your destinations and be aware that these may change.
Anticipate sudden changes to entry requirements.
Plan for flight delays, cancellations and schedule changes.
Be aware of airline covid requirements.
Keep digital and paper copies of all your important papers and records.
Carry some amount of currency from the destination country.

Contact VisitorsCoverage for your COVID-19 Travel Insurance

With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know which plan is right for you. If you have any questions or need help deciding, our Customer Success Team is happy to help.

Covid-19 & Travel Insurance: FAQs

Have questions about COVID-19 and how it can affect your travel plans and insurance needs? We've answered the most frequently asked questions so you can find out more about how travel insurance can help protect you and your loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic.

Both travel medical insurance and trip insurance offer specific Covid-related coverage and benefits. This includes coverage for the highly transmissible Omicron variant. If any strain of Covid is contracted after the policy effective date, then travel medical insurance can provide coverage. Similarly, if someone has to cancel their trip due to contracting Covid, trip insurance can cover some of the non-refundable costs. For the most up-to-date information on the Omicron variant or any other variant, please contact the WHO or the CDC.

There are plans that offer Covid coverage that will cover the cost of testing if the insured is having symptoms and the attending physician orders it for diagnostic grounds. Preventative Covid tests do not qualify for coverage.

Visitors to the United States, on the other hand, should choose CoverAmerica-Gold coverage, which includes a one-time Covid test as part of the Public Health Emergency Screening benefit. Even if the insured is not experiencing Covid-related symptoms, the Public Health Emergency Screening benefit can be used.

To be eligible for the Public Health Emergency Screening benefit, you must meet the following criteria:

Prior to leaving their home country, the insured must have obtained Cover America-Gold coverage.
To be eligible for Covid-19 benefits, the insured must purchase a least of 30 days of coverage.

Please read the CoverAmerica-Gold coverage description carefully for any limitations or exclusions.

Travel insurance does not cover the Covid vaccination, which means you'll need to pay for the Covid vaccine. If you're traveling to the United States, for example, make sure you do research on exactly which vaccines are acceptable. However, if the virus was contracted during the policy's coverage period, there are travel medical and trip cancellation insurance plans that can cover Covid treatment and services. With the introduction of new Covid variants, it is recommended that you obtain travel medical insurance coverage that includes Covid benefits so you can relax while traveling overseas.

Covid coverage and quarantine benefits are included in several travel medical and trip insurance plans. To use the quarantine benefits on their travel medical insurance plan, the policyholder must meet the following requirements:

Covid-19 and quarantine indemnity compensation must be covered by your travel medical insurance plan.
After the policy's effective date, the attending physician must diagnose Covid-19.
In order to be covered, services and treatments must be ordered by a medical doctor. This can entail things like diagnostics, treatment, medicine, and being placed in quarantine.

There are some travel medical and trip insurance plans that include Covid coverage and quarantine benefits.

In order for the policyholder to utilize the quarantine benefits on their travel medical insurance plan, they must meet the following requirements:

Your travel medical insurance plan must include coverage for Covid-19 and quarantine indemnity benefits.
The attending physician must diagnose the condition and determine that you have contracted Covid-19 after the policy effective date.
Services and treatment must be ordered by a medical physician in order for you to be covered. This includes tests, treatment, medication, as well as being ordered to quarantine.

For trip insurance plans, the following benefits will be triggered if the policyholder is ordered to quarantine by the attending physician due to Covid-19:

Trip Cancellation If a policyholder is ordered to quarantine due to contracting Covid-19 prior to the departure date, a cancellation can be requested for the non-refundable prepaid trip costs made. Please note that the cancellation request must be made at least 2 days prior to departure.
Trip Delay If a policyholder contracts Covid-19 during their travels and is ordered to quarantine and can not make it back home on their scheduled return, the trip delay benefit can be utilized. The benefit can offer coverage for lodging and accommodations while the policyholder is quarantining.

If you have travel medical insurance and need to cancel your trip due to Covid, you may cancel and obtain a refund before the effective date, depending on the plan you selected (date of departure). For any limitations or exclusions, please verify the cancellation terms and conditions for your specific plan.

A "free look back period" is a period during which a policyholder can cancel their trip insurance coverage and receive a full refund if they do so within a certain duration. The length of the free look back period varies by plan. If a policyholder needs to cancel a trip due to contracting Covid after the free look back time has elapsed, they can use the trip cancellation benefit on the policy. If an insured person has to cancel their trip due to Covid illness, they can claim the policy's trip cancellation benefit once the free review period has expired. This benefit can cover up to 100% of non-refundable prepaid travel expenses.

If the holder of a travel insurance policy needs to cancel for any other reason that is not covered, he/she should consider purchasing a plan that offers Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. CFAR is an optional benefit that policyholders can add to their standard coverage. With this benefit, you can cancel for any reason and the insurance company can reimburse the policyholder for up to 75% of the prepaid non-refundable travel expenses.

Travel insurance is designed to protect travelers when the unexpected happens. It doesnÃ¢ÂÂt cover preventative care, like physicals and vaccinations. Since the Covid vaccine is designed to prevent travelers from contracting the virus, itÃ¢ÂÂs not something travel insurance would cover.

Typically, your domestic health insurance covers immunizations, which does include the Covid vaccination. But travel insurance is shorter-term coverage and doesnÃ¢ÂÂt cover preventative care. This is a universal standard across the travel industry.

There are a number of travel insurance plans that cover travelers for Covid. If you need to buy a new plan, check out this list of plans that cover Covid.

If you already have an existing policy, you should carefully review the policy documents. Some policies include Covid coverage, while others donÃ¢ÂÂt. If you contract Covid after your policy begins and the policy does include Covid coverage, then your insurance policy may cover treatment and services like any new medical condition.

Vaccine passports are certificates, digital or otherwise, that offer border officials proof that the traveler has been vaccinated from Covid. Airlines might also require travelers to show proof of Covid vaccination before boarding their plans. If the Covid vaccine does become mandatory to visit a specific country, will travel insurance cover it? For the foreseeable future, the answer is no. Most vaccines are categorized as preventative care.

We know travel insurance coverage can be confusing. If you have any other questions on Covid coverage, or any other benefit, our Customer Success Team is here to help.

In the midst of the pandemic, many people who havenÃ¢ÂÂt been able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in their own country have turned to other countries. Vaccine tourism, as itÃ¢ÂÂs been called, refers to people traveling to foreign countries hoping to get vaccinated there. This has led many such travelers to ask if travel insurance covers Covid vaccination. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

While many travel insurance plans do offer Covid coverage, the Covid vaccine itself is not covered by travel insurance.

Visitors insurance will not cover any illness or condition that existed prior to the purchase of the insurance. This includes Covid. If you donÃ¢ÂÂt have the virus but want to purchase a visitors insurance plan as a precaution, then the insurance plan may cover you (though itÃ¢ÂÂs not guaranteed). Check policy documents carefully before purchasing.

Covid treatment and services may be covered if you extend your visitors insurance plan. There should be no lapse in coverage between extensions and the policyholder must not have contracted Covid prior to the policy start date. Here are some plans that cover Covid.

Pricing for visitors insurance has not increased due to the Covid pandemic. Pricing for travel insurance is regulated by the Department of Insurance.

Have a question that isnÃ¢ÂÂt listed here? We realize that this is a difficult time and want to do all we can to answer your questions. Check out more information on Covid or reach out to our Customer Success Team.

If youÃ¢ÂÂre visiting the U.S and looking for a comprehensive travel medical insurance plan with various Covid benefits, CoverAmerica-Gold is a great option.

CoverAmerica-Gold offers the following Covid related benefits:

Treatment and services related to Covid-19 if the virus was contracted after the policy effective date
One-time Covid-19 test under the Public Health Emergency Benefit (Review the description of coverage for any limits or exclusions)
Quarantine Indemnity benefit
Telehealth services

If youÃ¢ÂÂre a U.S. resident looking for a trip cancellation insurance plan with Covid benefits, Safe Travels Voyager is a great option.

Safe Travels Voyager offers the following Covid related benefits:

Treatment and services related to Covid-19 if the virus was contracted after the policy effective date
Travel Delay: Up to $2,000 (Quarantine and lodging coverage if Covid-19 was contracted within the policy effective period)
Optional: Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) benefit

With the vaccine rollout, many countries are allowing travel again. If you decide to travel, be sure to take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones from the virus. Some countries are now requiring all visitors to purchase travel insurance. Please refer to your local governmentÃ¢ÂÂs regulations and advisories.

Some travel medical and trip insurance plans do provide coverage for emergency medical evacuation. The coverage and limitations on the emergency medical evacuation will depend on the plan purchased. The evacuation will either be to the nearest hospital or back to the insuredÃ¢ÂÂs home country for additional treatment. Be sure to read the policy details carefully before purchasing.

Many people may not know that their domestic healthcare most likely will not provide coverage outside of their home country. This is why itÃ¢ÂÂs important to have a travel insurance plan while traveling abroad.

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) offers the most flexibility for cancellations. With CFAR coverage you can get reimbursed between 50% to 70% of the prepaid non-refundable trip costs.

It is important to note that it is an optional or an add-on coverage, so not all travelers will meet the eligibility requirements. We recommend talking to our Customer Success Team to understand the eligibility criteria and exclusions.

In these uncertain times, this is a very relevant question. Countries are constantly imposing travel restrictions and flight bans are regularly being implemented.

The travel insurance plans available on VisitorsCoverage are generally cancellable before the policy takes effect. However, most travel insurance plans are non-refundable after the review period listed on the policy. Refund and cancellation eligibility differ depending on the company and policy. Please read the policy document on cancellation before sending in the request.

Still have questions?

If you still have questions or want anything clarified further, please reach out to our customer service team. We know this can be a stressful time to be thinking about travel, but our team is here to help make the experience a little better.

COVID 19 Travel Insurance

Be sure to add insurance for COVID-19 to your packing list