The best travel insurance with covid cover

If you are thinking of booking a holiday in the coming months, travel insurance should be an essential addition to your trip as it can provide cover for the cost of any unexpected expenses that may arise whilst you are away. With travel affected in recent years due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is worth checking your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for coronavirus-related claims.

In this article, we take a look at whether travel insurance covers covid-19 and some of the best covid travel insurance providers.

Does travel insurance cover covid?

Most travel insurance providers now offer some form of coronavirus cover as standard. Any travel insurance company registered with The Association of British Insurers (ABI) includes emergency medical and repatriation cover as standard if you fall ill with covid-19 whilst abroad. Despite this, it is unlikely that you will be covered for cancellation due to a change in government restrictions or Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice. It is therefore important that you check the policy documents and travel insurance terms and conditions thoroughly before purchasing any travel insurance policy.

For more information on whether travel insurance covers coronavirus, read our article, 'Does travel insurance cover Covid?'

It is also important to note that travel insurance is designed to cover irrecoverable costs. This means that claiming on travel insurance is usually a last resort and you will be expected to contact your tour operator or airline to try to recover costs or move your trip first. Some providers will also insist that you contact your credit or debit card provider to attempt to recover any costs before contacting the travel provider to make a claim.

If you need to make a coronavirus-related claim you may be required to provide medical certificates or proof of a positive covid-19 test.

Coronavirus-related claims that are not usually covered on a travel insurance policy

Whilst it is possible to get cover for some coronavirus-related claims, it is also worth noting that you may not be covered for the following:

• The cost of staying in quarantine in a hotel upon your return to the UK
• If you wish to cancel your trip due to having to self-isolate or quarantine when you return to the UK
• If you are refused entry to your destination because you don't have the relevant documentation
• Cancellation claims because you don't want to quarantine upon returning to the UK
• You wish to cancel your trip due to covid-19 cases in the area you are travelling to
• Claims in relation to covid-19 where you have travelled against FCDO advice

Some providers may also not cover you for the following:

• If you are unable to travel due to current government restrictions such as local lockdowns
• If you have been notified to self-isolate by NHS track and trace and can no longer travel

It is important to check your travel insurance documents carefully so that you know exactly what you are and are not covered for.

Best travel insurance providers that cover covid-19

In the comparison table below, we compare some of the best travel insurance providers to see how their coronavirus cover stacks up. As this is not a comparison of every provider on the market you may be able to get similar cover with another provider elsewhere. You may also wish to compare the cost of travel insurance providers with a comparison site such as Quotezone* or MoneySuperMarket* to find the best price and cover for your trip. Not all comparison sites are whole of market though so you may not be getting the best deal.

Travel insurance providers that cover covid - a comparison

	Emergency medical and repatriation cover for covid-19	Cancellation if you test positive for covid-19 and cannot travel	Cancellation due to notification to self-isolate and you cannot travel	Cancellation due to government restrictions (lockdown) or FCDO advice change
AA
Admiral
Churchill
Coverwise
CoverForYou
Direct Line
LV=
Staysure*

 

AA travel insurance - good for AA member benefits

AA travel insurance offers the following coronavirus cover:

Emergency medical treatment cover

• You're covered for emergency medical treatment if you test positive for covid-19 whilst away

Cancellation and curtailment cover 

• AA travel insurance includes cover for cancellation if you or a member of your household cannot travel due to falling ill with covid-19 or if you have to self-isolate
• If a family member that you are due to stay with tests positive for covid-19 or has to self-isolate and you can no longer travel as you have nowhere else to stay
• You can claim if your trip is cut short due to government restrictions being introduced whilst you are away that advise you must return to your country of residence, as long as these restrictions were not in place when the trip was booked or the travel insurance policy was bought
• If you're denied boarding at the airport due to covid-19 symptoms

More information on AA travel insurance can be found in our AA travel insurance review.

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Admiral travel insurance - good for over 60s

Admiral travel insurance offers the following coronavirus cover:

Emergency medical treatment cover

• If you fall ill with covid-19 whilst away you are covered for emergency medical and repatriation costs

Cancellation and curtailment cover

• If you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to a positive covid-19 test before your trip is due to start
• If you need to cancel or cut short your trip as a close relative is hospitalised or dies due to covid-19 before your trip is due to start
• If you're denied boarding due to testing positive for covid-19

More information on Admiral travel insurance can be found in our Admiral travel insurance review.

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Churchill travel insurance - good for discounted annual travel insurance

Churchill travel insurance will cover the following coronavirus-related claims:

Emergency medical treatment cover

• If you need to receive medical treatment related to covid-19 whilst you are away you can receive the same protection as with any other illness

Cancellation and curtailment cover

• If you, a close relative or travel companion tests positive for covid-19 before you are due to travel you can claim cancellation costs
• If you need to cancel your trip as you, a travel companion or someone you were staying with on your trip has been advised to self-isolate or quarantine in the UK or abroad
• You are covered if you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to a change in FCDO advice within 28 days of travel (as long as the restrictions were not in place when you booked your trip)
• If you need to cancel your trip as your pre-booked accommodation is no longer available due to covid-19

More information on Churchill travel insurance can be found in our Churchill travel insurance review.

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Coverwise travel insurance - good for pre-existing conditions

Coverwise travel insurance covers the following coronavirus-related claims:

Emergency medical treatment cover

• Emergency medical claims related to covid-19 as long as you are not travelling against FCDO advice

Cancellation and curtailment cover

• If you need to cancel your trip due to testing positive for covid-19 or because you need to self-isolate (proof of a positive test, medical certification or isolation will be required)
• If you need to return home early due to a close relative becoming ill with covid-19 whilst you are away
• You need to return home early as a local authority recommends you leave the country and the advice came into force whilst you were away
• Cutting your trip short if you are denied boarding at the UK airport due to covid-19

Additional expense cover

• Claims for additional transport and accommodation expenses if you are required to stay beyond your original return date as you have tested positive for covid-19 and are required to self-isolate or quarantine at your destination

More information on Coverwise travel insurance can be found in our Coverwise travel insurance review.

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CoverForYou travel insurance - good for no policy excess

CoverForYou travel insurance covers the following coronavirus-related claims:

Emergency medical treatment cover

• You are covered for coronavirus-related claims and repatriation if you require emergency medical treatment for covid-19 whilst abroad

Cancellation and curtailment cover

• Cancellation costs if you are unable to travel because you tested positive for covid-19
• Cancellation if you or a member of your household has been asked to self-isolate (e.g by NHS track and trace) and therefore unable to travel
• You have been denied boarding due to a positive covid-19 test or symptoms of covid
• Cover if your trip is cut short as restrictions related to covid-19 are enforced asking you to return to your country of residence
• Cover if you need to cut your trip short because a close relative has passed away from covid-19

Additional expenses

• Cover for a trip extension if you fall ill with covid-19 and need to extend your stay due to illness or self-isolation
• Cover for any cancelled excursions as a result of covid-19 self-isolation whilst you are away

More information on CoverForYou travel insurance can be found in our CoverForYou travel insurance review.

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Direct Line travel insurance - good for families

Direct Line travel insurance will cover the following coronavirus-related claims. You are also covered to travel to destinations where the FCDO has advised against all but essential travel:

Emergency medical treatment cover

• You can make a claim if you have had to seek emergency medical treatment for covid-19 whilst you are away

Cancellation and curtailment cover

• Cancellation if you or a close relative are diagnosed with covid-19 before you go and cannot travel
• Cancellation if you or a close relative have to self-isolate due to covid-19 and you are unable to travel
• Cancellation if the FCDO advice changes after your trip has been booked
• Cover if your trip is cut short due to a change of FCDO advice whilst you are away

Additional cost cover

• You can claim for additional costs such as transport and accommodation incurred as a result of covid-19 quarantine

Find out more about Direct Line travel insurance in our Direct Line travel insurance review.

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LV= travel insurance - good for group insurance

LV= travel insurance offers the following coronavirus related cover:

Emergency medical treatment cover

• You are covered for emergency medical and repatriation costs related to covid-19

Cancellation and Curtailment cover

• Cancellation costs if you are unable to travel because you or a travel companion has been diagnosed with covid-19
• Cancellation if you or a travel companion are unable to travel due to potential exposure to covid-19 and you are required to self-isolate

Additional cost cover

• You are covered for additional accommodation and transport costs if you are required to quarantine in your destination in relation to covid-19
• Cover for any excursion costs that you were unable to attend due to self-isolation for covid-19 or a positive covid-19 test

More information on LV= travel insurance can be found in our LV= travel insurance review.

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Staysure travel insurance - good for unlimited emergency medical care

Staysure travel insurance* will cover the following coronavirus-related claims:

Emergency medical treatment cover

• You can claim for emergency medical expenses and repatriation related to covid-19 when you are away

Cancellation and Curtailment cover

• Cancellation cover if you, a travelling companion or household member tests positive for covid-19 within 14 days of travelling
• Cancellation if you are unable to complete your vaccine course due to another illness or you have had a reaction to the vaccine which stops you from travelling
• You are denied boarding due to a positive covid-19 test or a high temperature
• Cancellation or cutting your trip short due to the death or hospitalisation of a close relative or household member due to covid-19

Additional cost cover

• Cover for additional transport and accommodation costs if you are unable to travel home due to covid-19
• European FCDO travel advice extension allows travel to Europe even if the FCDO advises against all but essential travel

Staysure's covid-19 cover applies to all new policies as long as you have had your recommended covid-19 vaccinations

Find out more about Staysure's travel insurance policy in our Staysure travel insurance review.

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Things to consider when buying travel insurance to cover covid

Before booking your holiday abroad you should consider the following:

1 - Have you got the right travel insurance policy?

Having the right travel insurance is key to ensuring that you are correctly covered for your trip. For example, if you are planning to take part in winter sports such as skiing, you will need to check if your policy covers this as a winter sports add-on may be required. It is also possible to purchase different types of travel insurance such as single or annual multi-trip travel insurance policies. If you are travelling as a family or a couple one of these policies may also benefit you. Shopping around will help you to tailor the policy to suit your trip and could save you money.

2 - What is the FCDO advice?

Before you travel you will need to check the FCDO advice and this applies to every trip, even outside of a global pandemic. The FCDO will advise of any potential reasons why it is unsafe to travel. If you travel against FCDO advice you are likely to invalidate your travel insurance.

3 - Does your travel insurance policy cover coronavirus?

A key thing to check before rushing to buy your travel insurance policy is whether you are covered for any coronavirus-related claims. All insurers registered with the ABI offer emergency medical cover and repatriation for covid-19 as standard but are you covered if you need to cancel your holiday due to covid or if you are notified to self-isolate?

4 - Have you got an EHIC/GHIC?

It is a common misconception if you are travelling to Europe that you don't need travel insurance if you have an EHIC/GHIC but this is not the case. Whilst an EHIC/GHIC can help you to seek medical treatment it does not provide cover for cancellation or lost or stolen items.

 

 

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