Travel Insurance COVID-19

Many countries won’t grant you entry if you’re unvaccinated and can’t produce proof of vaccination. If you're travelling to the United States, Canada, New Zealand France and Italy, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated upon entry. However, there are still parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom, Thailand, Mexico, Ireland and India which will allow unvaccinated travellers entry. While being unvaccinated won’t directly affect your premium, you may not be covered if you don’t follow government advice at your chosen destination.

Yes – you can get basic travel insurance which includes coverage for medical treatment overseas. This is a popular policy for backpackers or those travelling on a budget who don’t necessarily need all the bells and whistles that come with comprehensive insurance. Basic coverage could be handy if you only want coverage for COVID-19, but you’ll have to make sure that a medical-only policy covers you in this area also.

Some providers may allow you to extend the length of your coverage if you fall ill due to COVID and need to pay for additional transport and accommodation. However, this isn’t the case for all providers, which is why it’s handy to double-check with your insurer to make sure you’re covered.

Yes – some travel insurance providers can offer you COVID-19 coverage if you’re over 65. However, this isn’t the case for all insurance providers so it’s important to check it’s included before purchasing. Providers have various age limits in place which mean you’ll likely pay higher premiums or could be cut off from certain types of coverage over a certain age. For example, some companies won’t let those over 70 or 80 purchase annual travel insurance or winter sports coverage. Others may insist you take out comprehensive travel insurance while you’re overseas.

Most travel insurance policies cover death in the event you die abroad, including if you die from COVID-19. If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 overseas and pass away, your insurance will help cover the cost of repatriating your body or ashes and your funeral depending on the coverage you have. They’ll also likely cover the cost of any cancellation or booking amendment fees.

There are a few providers who offer coverage for COVID-19-related expenses onboard a cruise ship sailing through international waters. However, not all cruise insurance policies offer this protection, so it’s important to compare to ensure you get the coverage you need while sailing the high seas. Medical expenses can be covered through Medicare if you’re on a domestic cruise ship (provided the doctor is registered with Medicare), but being treated for COVID-19 on international waters can be costly depending on the part of the world you’re in. If you need to be evacuated via helicopter, it could cost you $100,000 if you’re not insured.