Be sure to add insurance for COVID-19 to your packing list
Buy Covid PlansIn 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, it’s 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 you’re 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, it’s 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
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
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. That’s why we offer customized travel insurance plans for specific types of travelers.
Suffering an illness or injury while away from your home isn't on anyone's itinerary. Unfortunately, these situations happen.
It can be hard to feel confident about your travel investment when COVID-19 cases are surging and new variants are spreading.
International students, whether they’re 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.
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.
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. We’ve 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.
