Am I covered by my New Zealand travel insurance?
The coronavirus has had an unprecedented impact on global travel over the last few years, and the answer to this still isn't as straightforward as one might think. When it comes to covering Coronavirus related expenses, not all insurers are made equal. We explore Coronavirus, what travel insurance covers covid-19 related expenses, and how you may be able to recover your costs should coronavirus disrupt your trip.
What is the coronavirus?
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses causing illnesses ranging from a common cold to more severe illness such as pneumonia and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The novel coronavirus (initially known as 2019-nCoV, now known as SARS-CoV-2) is a strain that had not been previously identified in humans, prior to 2020. The disease caused by the virus has been named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization. The best way to prevent illness is to keep on top of your vaccinations and maintain good hygiene.
There is a lot of information and resources in relation to the coronavirus, which includes a lot of false information which can spread faster than the virus. We recommend authoritative resources such as the World Health Organization (WHO), which provides advice to countries and individuals on measures to protect health and prevent the spread of this outbreak. They answer frequently asked questions about the coronavirus and bust many of the myths that can take hold. More resources for the New Zealand public, health professionals, and industry are available from the Ministry of Health.
My travel has been disrupted - am I covered?
Unsurprisingly, confusion on travel cover spread along with the coronavirus, and the answer to this question will vary by provider and policy. Insurers are catching up and more are covering at least the basic costs which may arise due to coronavirus.
Travel insurance may cover you for:
- Medical expenses related to the treatment of covid-19
- The cost of rearranging your trip if you, your travel companion or host contracts covid-19.
- The cost of extending your trip if you are diagnosed while away and can’t travel home.
- Evacuation or repatriation if you contract Covid-19.
- While a lot of policies will cover these basics (be sure to check your specific policy wording), some insurers will offer even more protection on their policies.
These extras can include cover if:
- Your accommodation is suddenly closed down
- You are hospitalised with covid-19 and have to cancel your trip as a result
- You are denied boarding onto your transport due to covid-19 symptoms
- A prepaid activity in Australia or New Zealand is canceled or shut down
- You incur extra child care costs due to being ill with covid-19
- Pet care costs rise due to extending your trip because of infection.
- Your close relative is hospitalised from or dies of covid during your trip and you have to return home.
Doing a quick online comparison with our easy tool will help you discover the best insurers, at the best price points for your needs.
What’s not covered?
The key point is to never travel when you know you have coronavirus, if you do this any claims you make will be rejected. Insurers all handle coronavirus slightly differently, and some will only provide very basic cover, however there are some things most insurers will not cover you for:
- Covid related claims too close to your travel date will not be accepted, for some insurers this is from 21 days before travel, for others 72 hours so be sure to buy your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip.
- Costs related to cancellation due to diagnosis with covid-19 prior to travel.
- Travelling against advice, be that of a doctor who deems you unfit to travel, or that of the New Zealand government. If your destination is deemed unsafe, levels 3 or 4, by Safe Travel, your cover will not be effective.
- The cost of PCR or antigen tests, where they are mandated in order to be eligible to travel.
- Costs related to a self isolation or quarantine period which you were aware of prior to travel.
- Cancellation costs due to a government enforced border closure or lockdown.
