Don’t make these travel protection mistakes during the COVID outbreak

The latest wave of COVID is sending shockwaves through the travel industry, causing many people with vacation plans to have doubts.

The delta variant already affects air travel. Southwest Airlines and Frontier both revealed earlier that bookings had slowed due to the rise in infections. And travel sentiment is faltering, according to a new customer sentiment survey, slipping four percentage points to 61% this month.

“Traveling during the delta surge presents additional safety risks due to the increased transmissibility and travel uncertainties due to cancellations or travel delays,” said Rajeev Shrivastava, CEO of VisitorsCoverage.com, a market of assurance. “Either way, travel insurance can be your best protection.”

If you are one of those who have travel doubts, you might be wondering if there is a way to protect your next trip with travel insurance or travel protection. There are, but it’s a process that requires a bit of insider knowledge and the right timing.

You need travel insurance “now more than ever”

But first: if you travel, you almost have absoutely need some sort of travel protection.

“The delta variant made travel even more unpredictable,” says Daniel Durazo, spokesperson for Allianz Partners USA. “The uncertainty faced by travelers has made travel insurance even more important for families, especially those traveling with children too young to benefit from the vaccine.”

But not just any travel protection will do, experts say. It should protect you from COVID and other likely dangers.

“I always recommend purchasing comprehensive travel protection programs to insure yourself against unforeseen events,” says Karisa Cernera, senior director of travel services at Redpoint Travel Protection, which sells Ripcord, Cavalry and Harbor insurance products. . “But now more than ever.”

And the reason is simple: so much can go wrong when you’re on the road. That includes dangerous new variants, lockdowns and quarantines, as well as heat waves, wildfires, and whatever Mother Nature could throw at you.

And she can pack a punch these days.

Travel protection questions you absolutely must ask before you go

Experts say you should ask these questions about your travel protection or travel insurance policy for any trip you are planning. Failure to do so can cause you a lot of trouble – or worse.

Does your policy include losses from COVID-19?

This is absolutely essential if you are planning a trip during or after the surge. That’s the recommendation of Bailey Foster, vice president of trip cancellations at Trawick International. “Many travel insurance providers still don’t offer COVID-19 protection plans,” she warns. Trawick’s plans have never ruled out COVID-19 and have no exceptions for the delta and lambda variants, he adds.

Are the Delta and Lambda variants covered by your policy?

Usually they are. “If the policy has infectious disease coverage, then it could be covered,” says John Rose, Risk and Security Manager at ALTOUR. “You should read and understand the policy thoroughly. Some policies may not cover infectious disease, and even then, it is only for medical expenses and not for quarantine if someone is not hospitalized.”

I asked Sasha Gainullin, CEO of battleface, if travel insurance companies have started to treat new variants differently, for the sake of coverage. “We haven’t seen any company separate the coverage and benefits between the delta and lambda variants of Covid-19,” he said.

Did you read the policy before purchasing it?

You can’t skip this step, experts say. “Read the policy – and I mean cover to cover – before you go,” advises Laura Heidt, head of the insurance office at Brownell Travel. “To be very, very clearly what is, and more importantly, what is not covered. it has rules: the trip must be canceled no later than 48 hours before your departure date, and the policy must have been taken out no later than 21 days after you have made the initial deposit. Heidt also recommends a membership like MedjetAssist, which added global COVID transport coverage last month and covers all variants.

Have you considered a cancellation policy for any reason?

It’s expensive, but it provides the maximum coverage. “I would suggest you buy a plan that offers a ‘cancel for some reason’ benefit, often as an endorsement at an additional cost,” says Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance, which provides insurance to expats. , travelers from all over the world and digital nomads. . “As the reality of travel during COVID changes daily, being able to cancel for any reason is more valuable than ever.” But “cancel for any reason” coverage doesn’t come cheap. It costs between 9% and 12% of the cost of your trip, compared to 6% to 8% for a standard named risk policy. Additionally, some insurance companies exclude COVID as a reason for cancellation, so read your policy or rider. very carefully.

Did you pay attention to this?

There are three insurance benefits you should consider additional carefully. “When looking for a travel insurance policy that offers COVID protection, it is best to thoroughly examine the emergency medical benefits and the wording of the trip cancellation benefit, as well as the exclusions listed in the execution document, ”explains Renee Stecker, Product Development Manager. at AXA Assistance USA. This is where you’ll find key police language that will tell you if you’ll get the protection you need. Stecker says some travel insurance policies will provide coverage for COVID-19 treatment, as with any other eligible illness that occurs after the policy effective date and during your trip. But some don’t. If you don’t familiarize yourself with emergency medical benefits, trip cancellation benefits, and exclusions, you might be missing out. very important.

What if you fell ill before your trip?

There is a cover for that. For example, Allianz Partners’ new epidemic coverage rider adds coverage for certain losses related to COVID-19 and any future outbreaks. If you catch COVID before or during your trip, you can cancel your itinerary for a refund of your prepaid, non-refundable charges. Or you can interrupt your trip and be covered for additional accommodation, food, and transportation costs if you need to quarantine yourself. And Redpoint’s programs not only include trip cancellation and interruption coverage, but also medical evacuation services and medical expense coverage in the event of an unforeseen illness such as COVID-19.

Have you thought about the limits of your travel insurance?

Insurance doesn’t cover everything. I have often noted this in previous articles on this subject. There are significant limits to travel insurance. “The pandemic has raised awareness of the limits of traditional travel insurance and the value of a safety net for self-help medical assistance and evacuation,” notes Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, a service provider in the United States. medical evacuation and travel risk management. For example, rescue and emergency evacuation services are often essential, “whether due to a natural disaster, civil unrest, or simply needing emergency assistance while traveling.” , explains Richards.

If you want to avoid travel protection mistake, be careful

Making a smart decision about travel insurance is harder than ever. And mistakes are easy to make. You might not know whether or not you are covered at a time when travel protection and insurance is covered or not, when you need travel protection and insurance the most. More than ever, you need to think about travel insurance. But you should also read your policy carefully before you buy it – and understand what you need – and what you don’t need.

In other words, be careful there. And think carefully about your insurance needs.