Coronavirus & Travel Insurance

We’re having lots of enquiries about travel insurance and the Coronvirus in the office this week. Here is some information and some answers for people who have or are looking to obtain travel insurance:

What is Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases. The official name for this new strain not previously seen in humans is Covid-19. It was first identified in Wuhan City in the Hubei province of China.

Symptoms include respiratory symptoms, breathing difficulties/shortness of breath, cough and fever. More severe cases tend to be found in people with weakened immune systems, older people and those with pre-existing health conditions.

Will I be covered if I contract Coronavirus and need to cancel my trip?
Yes, providing you have cancellation cover on your travel insurance you are covered for unforeseen cancellation of your trip. For a valid claim to be processed you will require a medical certificate from a doctor confirming that you were not well enough to travel.

I don’t want to travel due to Coronavirus, can I cancel my holiday and claim on my Travel Insurance?
No, disinclination to travel is not covered as an insured peril.
In the first instance you should contact your tour operator or transport and accommodation provider to request a refund of the costs or to change the dates of your trip.

Some of our insurance providers will allow us to amend the dates or destination on your policy provided an alternative trip is booked/confirmed (terms may apply).
If your trip has been cancelled due to Coronavirus insurers may offer a part of full refund of the policy.

If I contract Coronavirus when I’m on holiday will I be covered on my Travel Insurance for medical treatment?
Yes, unforeseen medical expenses and repatriation cover is included on our policies provided a full and accurate declaration was made at the time of purchase.

Can I still choose to travel if the FCO advises against it?
No, none of our policies cover customers under any section if they decide to travel against the advice of the FCO. You can stay up to date with the latest travel advice here.

Am I covered if I want to cut my trip short due to Coronavirus fears?
No, in the first instance you should contact your tour operator or transport and accommodation for their advice. If you are in a destination which is impacted by the virus you should follow advice of the local authorities.

Please note that we are continuing to monitor the ever-evolving situation and the above advice is correct at the time of publishing, however it is subject to change.

You can use the following link to stay up-to-date with the latest Coronavirus developments.

Give Hodgson Insurance Services a call on 01288 353999 should you wish to discuss travel insurance cover and the Cornonavirus further.