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Thousands of Australians have been looking at travel insurance more closely in recent months, as the coronavirus continues to disrupt plans around the world. This extra attention has exposed a common clause featured in many travel insurance policies, which excludes claims related to epidemics and pandemics.
As time has gone by, we've noticed that more and more travel insurers have changed their product disclosure statements (PDS) to now explicitly exclude claims related to epidemics and pandemics.
What is an epidemic or pandemic? Are they the same thing?
An epidemic is the rapid spread of an infectious disease to a large number of people in a given region, within a short period of time. A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease.
While epidemics and pandemics are considered two different things, they're usually treated in the same way by travel insurers. Often, your PDS will refer to both.
What do I need cover for?
Cancellation or change fees charged by the airline, hotel or travel company if your trip is affected
Medical expenses for doctors appointments, hospital visits and treatments
Expenses if you need medical evacuation to get you to a suitable medical facility
What won't I be covered for?
Travel expenses if the travel service provider offers you a reasonable alternative such as a credit voucher
Any expenses if you bought your policy after the pandemic becomes a known event
Any expenses if your policy doesn't include cover for epidemics and pandemics
Which travel insurance brands offer cover for COVID-related expenses?
The good news is, there are some brands that do provide at least a limited cover for COVID-19 claims. Every policy is different, however, so if you're concerned about being covered for future travel, you'll need to review the PDS carefully before purchasing. Here we've identified some providers who offer cover for COVID-related expenses.
Will I be covered for a future pandemic or epidemic?
Before the word "pandemic" became part of our everyday vernacular, thanks to COVID-19, most insurance providers were either very vague about if you'd be covered for pandemic-related expenses or excluded cover altogether. Going forward, we've seen more clarity in individual PDSs but there are still many insurance providers that have chosen to include pandemics and epidemics in its list of general exclusions.
Do I have to pay more to be covered for a pandemic?
Of the providers who include pandemic cover, some might charge a higher premium than before COVID-19 while others have chosen to offer it as an optional add-on which means you can choose whether you'd like to pay the additional premium.
What about Cancel for any Reason coverage?
Cancel for any Reason insurance is offered as a standalone policy or an optional add-on at the time of purchase that lets you can cancel your trip for any reason under the sun as long as you follow some purchase and cancel stipulations. Just as we were starting to see more insurance providers offer Cancel for any Reason coverage as an option, COVID-19 prompted most providers to pull this cover from their offering.
Do I need travel insurance to travel?
As countries slowly opened up for tourism after COVID-19, travellers started to notice many were after mandatory personal medical insurance along with the standard entry requirements. While this might be sufficient for some travellers, especially if you're looking to save some pennies, there will be some additional benefits that you will miss out on. Medical-only travel insurance covers you for just emergency medical treatment while overseas and sometimes personal liability cover. Comprehensive travel insurance is the highest level of cover on offer and usually includes a wide range of cover for common travel concerns including:
Thefts and losses
Cancellations
Medical expenses
Evacuations
24/7 emergency assistance
Tips for finding travel insurance for pandemics
Take the time to research. If you're looking for travel insurance cover for your holiday that includes pandemics, the best thing you can do is read the PDS in full and ensure it explicitly states cover for pandemics and epidemics. Remember: if it's not mentioned, then it's likely not covered.
Consider what cover you need. Once you've figured out if the policy does cover pandemics, you'll need to make sure it can cover you for everything else planned on your holiday. Do you want comprehensive cover or a cheaper, no-frills policy? Is the cover for your whole family or just for you? Do you want cover for one trip or for multiple trips?
Compare quotes for cover online. Once you've answered these questions you can start comparing insurers and their policies using finder.com.au's handy comparison tools. Get prices, compare coverage and make sure you consider policy features so ensure you're getting the best value. It's not always about price, especially when considering pandemic cover.
Cristal Dyer is a travel writer at Finder. She has been writing about travel for over five years and has visited over 40 countries around the world. Cristal currently travels full-time, writing about her favourite cities and food finds, and she is always on the lookout for amazing flight deals to share.
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