Before the pandemic, our travel adventures opened hearts, broadened our minds, and filled our lives with memories and stories to tell. But pandemic travel is more about weighing the risks against family or work obligations. And we can expect post-pandemic travel to be complicated. VisitorsCoverage will help you navigate these new complexities.
Top Travel Insurance Questions
Regardless of where and when you want to go, a travel insurance plan with COVID-19 coverage will help you enjoy your travels with a sense of serenity and security. Let’s look at some of the top questions you may have before diving into the popular travel insurance plans for Covid coverage.
What does travel insurance cover?
Situations commonly covered by comprehensive coverage plan are as follows:
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Trip interruption or cancellation
- Baggage delays
- Passport loss
- Terrorism & kidnapping
Many travel insurance companies have adapted to the pandemic. The additional coverages catering to travel during the pandemic include:
- Coronavirus screening benefit
- Quarantine coverage
- Cancellation due to Covid
- Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR)
Will my domestic health insurance plan cover me for Covid while traveling?
Domestic health insurance plans generally do not offer coverage outside the home country. You can buy travel insurance as an add-on from your insurance provider. Again, these add-ons may not cover medical costs, and even if they do, the network is limited and the claim process cumbersome.
The reason domestic health insurance companies do not specialize in travel insurance is because their network and internal processes are not designed to handle travel-related claims.
How much money can I save with Cancel For Any Reason?
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.
Can travel insurance be refunded if the flight is canceled by the airline?
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 VistorsCoverage 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.
Will the pre-existing conditions be covered by travel insurance?
Most travel insurance plans don't cover pre-existing conditions, which means that any medical condition, whether chronic or preventive, you've had before the trip will not be covered.
However, many insurance plans cover acute onset of a pre-existing condition, which is defined as a sudden and unexpected medical episode related to a pre-existing condition. A few popular plans that cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions are: CoverAmerica-Gold, Safe Travels International, Atlas America. Read the fine print or contact our Customer Success Team to clear any doubts you may have.
Best travel insurance with Covid coverage
Here are our top insurance companies and their travel insurance plans offering Covid coverage:
International Medical Group (IMG) Insurance
IMG offers family-friendly plans for both domestic and international destinations, including student plans that cover Covid. Most of their travel insurance plans, such as Patriot America Plus, cover Covid like any new illness for policies lasting 30 days or more.
Global Underwriters
Global underwriters providess medical coverage for families and individuals visiting the United States. Their Diplomat America travel insurance plan treats Covid like any other new illness. However, the insured person must not have contracted the virus before the policy purchase date.
WorldTrips
WorldTrips provides coverage for medical needs for all individuals visiting the United States. Their popular plans that cover Covid include Atlas America, Atlas International, VisitorSecure, and Student Secure.
Please note that the insured person must not have contracted Covid before the policy effective date.
Trawick International
Trawick offers multiple plans that cover Covid like any other illness for individuals traveling to the United States as long as the insured person contracted Covid after the policy effective date and was not in an incubation period. The popular ones are Safe Travels USA Comprehensive and Safe Travels International.
Seven Corners
Seven Corners offers a comprehensive visitors insurance plan through Seven Corners Travel Medical Plus - USA that's that's specifically designed to cover Covid benefits in addition to their medical and emergency coverage for individuals traveling during the pandemic.
VisitorsCoverage
VisitorsCoverage offers a comprehensive travel medical insurance plan specifically designed for travelers to the US. The plan is CoverAmerica-Gold, covers Covid testing and quarantine benefits, and is highly popular among visitors to the U.S.
When in doubt, compare!
We recommend at least $100,000 coverage for medical emergencies and medical evacuation for Covid-related medical care.
Sudden surges and new variants may force you to adapt to unexpected requirements. Get coverage that will cover or add a Cancel For Any Reason option to your existing plan. CFAR coverage gives you the option to recover some finances in the form of reimbursements no matter the reason for cancellation.
Check with the provider if they offer coverage for trip delays, missed connections, lost passport or baggage, trip cancellation due to natural calamities, or terrorism.
Compare travel insurance plans that cover Covid, select your requirements, such as pre-existing conditions, and pick a policy that suits your needs. If you need help understanding the policy, connect with our Customer Success Team for assistance.
