COVID-19
Questions about COVID-19 and travel insurance? Get clear guidance on cover, cancellations, claims, and travel disruption.
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COVID-19 Testing
Your claim would be assessed on a case-by-case basis. A decision to offer cover would depend on your individual circumstance i.e. if the children were travelling with another non-infected adult, and whether they would be able to take care of the children on your behalf.
Cancellations
If, as a result of COVID-19, your travel company has cancelled your trip, it will usually be their responsibility to offer you an alternative holiday.
If you rebook a holiday, we can:
- Change your travel dates on your single trip travel insurance policy. Everyone can move their holiday dates at least 18 months on from the date they bought their policy. There may be an additional charge if there are any significant changes, such as changing your destination.
- Also change your holiday destination to any other country that is safe to travel to, as long as there is no increase in cost. If there is an increased premium, you’d need to pay the price difference to change your cover.
If you need to make changes to your Single Trip Travel Insurance policy, you’ll need to do so before you were originally due to travel.
You can make either of these changes to your policy online using My Staysure to avoid administration charges when calling to make amendments.
If your trip can’t go ahead, you’ll need to contact your holiday provider. You should be offered either a refund or alternative dates by your provider.
If you rebook a holiday, we can:
- Change your travel dates on your single trip travel insurance policy. Everyone can move their holiday dates at least 18 months on from the date they bought their policy. There may be an additional charge if there are any significant changes, such as changing your destination.
- Also change your holiday destination to any other country that is safe to travel to, as long as there is no increase in cost. If there is an increased premium, you’d need to pay the price difference to change your cover.
If you need to make changes to your Single Trip Travel Insurance policy, please do so before you were originally due to travel.
You can make changes to your policy online using My Staysure to avoid administration charges when calling to make amendments.
If you decide to travel during a travel ban or against FCDO advice, your travel insurance will be invalidated.
Claims
If you are unable to travel due to COVID-19, you will need to speak to your travel provider first as they may be able to change the dates of your trip.
If you can rearrange your holiday, you’ll need to update your travel insurance policy with the new travel dates.
If you rebook a holiday, we can:
- Change your travel dates on your single trip travel insurance policy. Everyone can move their holiday dates at least 18 months on from the date they bought their policy. There may be an additional charge if there are any significant changes, such as changing your destination.
- Also change your holiday destination to any other country that is safe to travel to, as long as there is no increase in cost. If there is an increased premium, you’d need to pay the price difference to change your cover.
If you need to make changes to your Single Trip Travel Insurance policy, you’ll need to do so before you were originally due to travel.
You can make either of these changes to your policy online using My Staysure to avoid administration charges when calling to make amendments.
If you are not able to rearrange your trip, you can make a claim on your travel insurance policy.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 when abroad, and the FCDO has not advised against all, or all but essential travel to your holiday destination, you can be covered for:
- Medical expenses (including transportation to the nearest suitable hospital) for the immediate
needs of an unforeseen medical emergency, when deemed necessary by a recognised Doctor and agreed by our Medical Officer. - Additional travelling costs to repatriate you home when recommended by our Medical Officer.
- Additional travel and accommodation costs as authorised by our Assistance Company up until our Medical Officer advises that you can be repatriated home
- Medical expenses (including transportation to the nearest suitable hospital) for the immediate
Yes, everyone named on your travel insurance is covered for Covid-related claims, including children of all ages.
To be covered by our policy, your child will need to be up to date with any Covid-19 vaccines offered to them. If your child is medically exempt from taking the vaccine we can still cover them.
Find out more about COVID-19 cover for children in our blog post.The level of cover you have in place will depend on when you bought your policy.
If you’re unsure, it’s best to check your policy documents.
All new single trip and annual travel insurance policies with us include COVID-19 cover at no extra cost. We even cover most pre-existing medical conditions, and there’s no upper age limit.
So, you can enjoy your holiday with peace of mind.
Cancellation cover before you go
Cancellation cover protects you:
- If you have COVID-19 within 14 days of travelling*
- If you can’t complete your vaccine course due to other illnesses, or you have an allergic reaction to the vaccine that would stop you travelling
- If your travelling companion(s), people you live with, or people you’re staying with on holiday are diagnosed with COVID-19 within 14 days of travel**
- If you’re denied boarding with a positive test for COVID-19 or have a confirmed temperature above 38 degrees Celsius
- If there is a hospitalisation or death of a close relative or member of your household from COVID-19
Cover during your holiday
- Emergency medical expenses cover when abroad^
- Repatriation cover to help you get back home^
- Cover for additional accommodation and transport, if deemed necessary by our medical officer
- Additional daily benefit if you are ordered to self-isolate in your holiday accommodation if you have COVID-19
- Cover for cutting your trip short after hospitalisation or death of a close relative or member of your household from COVID-19
You can be covered for COVID as long as you’ve declared your pre-existing medical conditions and have had your recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.
* Subject to medical certification / test result. No cover if symptoms or diagnosis occurred prior to your policy purchase.
** No cover if your relative was already hospitalised before you left on your trip.
^ Cover only applies for newly diagnosed cases while travelling.- For more information on the terms & conditions, please visit the policy wording booklet available HERE
FCDO Guidance
Your policy does not cover you for claims against changing travel advice or entry requirements.
If you are unable to travel to your destination, you’ll need to contact your travel provider to make alternative arrangements.We can help you to change the destination or travel dates on your travel insurance policy.
If you wish to see further detail on the level of cover for your policy then you'll need to check the relevant policy wording.
To reduce the potential risk of passing on infections to others on board an aircraft, you should delay travel if you are feeling unwell, especially if you have a fever or have tested positive for COVID-19. An airline can deny boarding of any passenger who looks unwell, especially if they suspect the passenger might be infectious.
If you have recently recovered from an infectious disease, but are still showing physical signs of being unwell (e.g. crusted spots following chicken pox), you may need to carry a letter from a GP confirming that you are no longer infectious.
If you are unsure if you are okay to travel, Please speak with your GP and they will let you know if you are fit to fly.
We can't cover countries or parts of countries where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), or World Health Organisation (WHO) have advised against all, or all but essential travel.
If you are due to travel to an area where the FCDO have advised against all, or all but essential travel, contact your airline or travel provider. They will let you know if you can rearrange your trip or they may offer you a refund.
If you rearrange your trip, you can update the dates on your Single Trip policy. If you’re a Staysure customer, you can log in to your My Staysure account to make the changes yourself. You can only make changes to your policy before you’re meant to travel.
It is important to check FCDO travel advice of the country you are visiting before you travel.Devolved governments will have to set out their own rules for travel – this means they can choose to follow England’s rules, or create their own.
You will have to follow the guidelines for the country you live in – regardless of whether you’re travelling from an airport in England.
You can find the latest UK travel advice for each government below:
- Travel advice for England
- Travel advice for Scotland
- Travel advice for Wales
- Travel advice for Northern Ireland
Vaccination Guidance
To be eligible for cover under our policy, you must have received all of the COVID-19 vaccinations recommended to you, including any booster shots that may have been offered.
If you are unable to receive the vaccine or booster due to a medical exemption, you may still be eligible for cover.
If you have declined any doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, you will not be covered for any claims related to COVID-19.
You can also be covered if you can’t have the vaccine due to a medical exemption.
If your child can’t have the vaccine due to a medical exemption, any claim relating to COVID-19 will be reviewed on an individual basis.
Any child must have received all COVID-19 vaccines recommended to them. This may be one jab or two, depending on their age.
Both children and adults may also be covered for COVID-related claims if they are medically exempt from taking the vaccine.
If you have refused any doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or any booster jab, that has been offered to you, then you won’t be covered for COVID-19 related claims. This applies to both adults and children.