Travel insurance and COVID-19 cover

29 April, 2022   By: Susan Gough Henly

Finally, the WA’s skies are open and we can spread our wings again, connect with family and friends, discover new destinations and return to old favourites. However, travel planning is somewhat more complicated now.

The help guide you through some of the new rules and regulations, the Australian Government’s Smartraveller site offers a step-by-step guide. It is also recommended you Subscribe to the Smartraveller website for the latest travel updates.

Be aware that rules and regulations are constantly changing so it is essential you double check the latest government updates before you travel and while on the road. It is strongly advised you use the services of a travel agent, even if you normally make your own travel arrangements. They are at the front line of monitoring changing COVID travel rules and are your best ally when you have to amend your travel plans. They can also provide all the cancellation and rebooking details and help you with any travel insurance claims. It is also essential to have travel insurance with COVID-19 cover.

RELATED: Vaccinations requirements for overseas travel »

What does 'COVD-19 cover' in travel insurance actually cover?

It’s never been more important to secure travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage because the pandemic has the potential to disrupt travel in myriad ways. It’s also essential that you check the fine print, so you’re clear about what the policy covers and what it doesn’t cover. You should also check if your destination requires compulsory travel insurance cover.

The travel insurance offered by RAC is underwritten by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.

They tell us there has been a high demand for COVID-19 travel insurance since they began offering it in November 2021, with more than 92 per cent of travel insurance customers requesting COVID cover. The policy also covers any new variants of COVID as well as other epidemics or pandemics.

You must buy the insurance before you leave Australia. RAC offers three levels of travel insurance but only the most comprehensive option offers COVID coverage. Tokio Marine does not require vaccination; however, you must follow government and airline requirements for vaccination in order to make a claim.

Travel insurance with COVID cover generally covers medical, quarantine, rescheduling or cancellation costs if you or someone you’re travelling with (who is also on your policy) tests positive to COVID-19; if the accommodation you’ve booked must shut down because of COVID; if you can’t stay with someone because they have COVID; or if a flight is delayed because someone on the plane was diagnosed with COVID and deep cleaning is required. Overall, you must prove that the loss you incurred is related to COVID and the benefit is capped at $3500 per adult.

Bankruptcy of airlines, bus or cruise lines due to COVID is covered but not that of on-selling businesses such as travel agents or tour operators.

COVID travel insurance will not cover cancellations if you’re not able to travel due to lockdowns at home, or government travel bans or border closures at your planned destination, if they were already in place at the time you purchased your policy. 

How do make a travel insurance claim for COVID disruptions?

Once your COVID case has been established as coverable, Tokio Marine Insurance will cover the unlimited dollar value benefit of COVID medical coverage overseas, in addition to a 24-hour emergency assistance line with a case manager who will work with the overseas hospital and doctors. When you are fit enough to fly, the medical assistance team will monitor your care and organise repatriation, if required, as well as additional accommodation expenses if you get COVID before your booked return flight, or on the first leg of your return journey, and you cannot return to Australia as planned.

Once your COVID case has been established as coverable, Tokio Marine automatically extends your travel insurance at no cost until you can return and will cover quarantine, cancellation and rebooking costs. They will also cover the costs of amending or cancelling other parts of your journey. This is in addition to the other basic travel insurance coverage for lost or stolen luggage, travel delay or cancellation and more. Medical expenses are only covered for international travel. In Australia, only cancellation or amendment costs due to COVID are covered.

What is and isn’t covered by travel insurance with COVID cover?

If Smartraveller has a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning to a country and you ignored this advice and entered the country, your COVID insurance will not be valid as well as all benefits under the travel insurance policy you purchased. If the ‘Do Not Travel’ status is applied when you are already in the country, your COVID cover will be available. If a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning to a country is applied after you’ve bought your travel insurance but before you travel there, the insurance policy would cover your cancellation costs. If you decide to cancel your travel to a country because of other Smartraveller advice levels, such as ‘Reconsider Your Need to Travel’ or ‘Exercise a High Degree of Caution,’ this would be treated as a change of mind and cancellation coverage would not be available.

Some countries, such as Fiji, Thailand, and Singapore mandate COVID travel insurance for visitors. This is easily demonstrated with a copy of your RAC Travel insurance policy showing the unlimited dollar value benefit of COVID medical coverage overseas, which is uploaded as part of your visa entry.

While Medicare has reciprocal agreements in countries such as the United Kingdom, this is more of a safety net for basic public health care coverage. If you get COVID, you still need comprehensive international travel insurance for private hospitalisation as well as all the benefits listed above. Some tour operators and airlines are offering complimentary COVID insurance when you book through them, however their COVID insurance tends to be limited, may not cover other travel components and it might be issued by an overseas insurance company that is subject to the regulations of that country. Some credit card companies also offer complimentary travel insurance however this generally does not cover COVID.

Decide whether it’s safe to travel overseas

Read Smartraveller’s global COVID-19 health advisory and their travel advice for your destinations and transit locations and find out whether your destination and planned activities are covered by travel insurance.

You should understand the risks of contracting COVID-19 in your destination and find out what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 while travelling overseas and what the Australian re-entry and quarantine requirements are.

Check your airlines’ vaccination and testing policies before booking flights. If you're not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, understand that the risks might be different for you. Apply for an exemption to travel before you plan any further. You may face more difficulty finding flights. International passenger caps still apply to unvaccinated travellers. Airlines may have a vaccination policy that prevents you from flying with them.

Read Smartraveller’s general advice, get a health check from your GP and organise relevant travel vaccinations. Plan contingencies if you must stay overseas longer than expected due to travel restrictions, flight cancellations or testing positive for COVID-19.

Other documents you’ll need to travel overseas

If you’re vaccinated, download and print your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC). Organise other COVID 19-related documentation required by your destination, such as COVID-19 entry declarations.

If your airline or destination needs evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result, book the specific test type (PCR or RAT) within the required time frame, and carry several printed copies (they do not need to be notarised) of both your ICVC and negative PCR test results, since you can’t always rely on digital technology while you’re on the road.

Leaving through Australian border control

Many airlines and destinations still have mask mandates in place. At check in, present your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate and negative COVID-19 test results, if required by your airline or destination. If you’re not fully vaccinated, present your proof of exemption and negative COVID-19 test results, if required by your airline or destination.

While you’re away, stay current with updates and follow local COVID-19 related rules and restrictions. Know what to do and who to contact if COVID-19 impacts your travel.

Travellers returning to Australia

The Australian Government manages Australia’s international borders and requires all passengers arriving by air to submit a Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) within 72 hours before your departure for Australia. It includes your contact details, a legally binding declaration in relation to your vaccination status and COVID-19 test result, a declaration about your travel history in the last 14 days, and a declaration that you are aware of the quarantine and testing requirements for entering Australia as well as the state or territory where you are landing.

Check the exit requirements of your departure location, entry and exit requirements of your transit locations and entry requirements of the Australian state/territory you’ll be arriving in. The state/territory governments regulate quarantine and other inbound health-related requirements, and these may have changed while you were away.

A negative pre-departure test to enter Australia is no longer required by the Federal Government. 

Unvaccinated returning Australians to WA will be required to complete seven days of hotel quarantine at their own expense. 

Staying healthy when you travel during COVID times

Here are some recommendations for staying healthy while you’re travelling.

• See your GP at least six weeks in advance of travelling and get your COVID booster shots, including a second booster (now available for the immune-compromised as well as people over 65). Don’t forget to bring adequate (and extra) supplies of all your prescriptions and get your annual flu shot and other vaccinations specific to your destination and bring printed copies of your vaccination records. Remember that hospitals and other health settings are still overrun in many overseas countries so you may have difficulty getting access to medicines and medical facilities.
• Expand your travel health care pack and include an adequate number of surgical P2 respirator or N95 masks, RAT tests, hand gel and wipes, all required medications and insect repellent. Do not use cloth masks.
• Follow local mask wearing rules and err on the side of caution to wear masks in crowded places, even if it is not a requirement. Be aware of physically distancing and avoid shaking hands, kissing and hugging.
• Don’t forget all the other tricks for staying healthy while you’re away. Wash your hands frequently. Be aware of contaminated food and water.
• Get travel insurance with COVID cover. Lots of evidence supports the view that people tend to engage in riskier behaviours while travelling than at home. Young people often don’t buy travel insurance but during COVID times it is very unwise to travel without COVID travel insurance. Be mindful of the additional cost and stress of being stranded overseas due to COVID.