Santa Clara, Calif. (March 3, 2020) -- The coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing disruptions and cancellations in the travel industry as spring break and the summer travel season near. The virus is the first respiratory pathogen capable of community transmission and stakeholders across the travel insurance industry are launching information campaigns and disseminating specialized coronavirus resources as confusion over travel insurance coverage grows.
There are existing travel medical insurance policies that may cover coronavirus, but every policy comes with restrictions and exclusions, says Rajeev Shrivastava, CEO and founder of VisitorsCoverage, a Silicon Valley insurtech that provides travel insurance to a global base.
If you miss a flight or are delayed due to quarantine, your policy should cover you, Shrivastava explains. If you become sick from coronavirus many policies may cover your treatment and pay for repatriation. Not all travel insurance policies are the same, anyone planning to travel must review their policies carefully and ask questions specific to coronavirus and related benefits.
Our customer service center has seen a significant rise in call volume and the number of inbound queries relating to the coronavirus, Shrivastava continues. People want to know if it's safe to travel, what travel insurance will cover, and what it won't cover. They are hungry for accurate information and look to our industry to provide that.
Shrivastava was surprised at the number of calls from people who had no upcoming travel plans but wanted assurance should they need to travel during the outbreak. Mainstream media coverage of travel insurance due to coronavirus is like never before. This presents a base of new customers for the industry to build awareness with, and for gaining the trust of travelers who previously may not have known or thought about travel insurance.
About VisitorsCoverage Inc.:
An insurtech company located in the heart of Silicon Valley, VisitorsCoverage Inc. is disrupting the global travel insurance industry by leveraging technology to redefine the way travelers purchase and manage travel insurance.
For media inquiries, email us at news@visitorscoverage.com.