If you’ve got a holiday booked, it’s imperative, more so now than ever, to book your travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your trip. But travelling during a pandemic comes with more risks than usual so you’ll want to ensure you have a travel insurance policy in place that covers you for as many eventualities as possible during these uncertain times.
We’ve taken the top ten providers from our travel insurance comparison table and compared what cover they offer for coronavirus related issues. As you will see, the level of cover varies drastically and some providers offer far more comprehensive policies than others. Of course, the information listed on this table only applies to countries that are exempt from the FCDO’s all but essential travel advice. If the FCDO is advising that you do not enter a country but you travel there against this advice, you will not be covered even if you have a travel insurance policy in place. Visit the FCDO’s website to see an updated list of the countries that you can travel to.
Cover | Medical cover if you contract COVID-19 abroad | Repatriation back to the UK if you fall ill abroad with COVID-19 | Cancellation if you contract COVID-19 at home and cannot travel | Cancelling or cutting your trip short after a death in the family from COVID-19 | If the FCDO change their advice and you can no longer travel |
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Insurance provider | Staysure, AXA, Avanti, Coverwise, World First, Travel Insurance 4 Medical, CoverForYou, Holidaysafe, Alpha, multitrip | Staysure, AXA, Avanti, Coverwise, World First, Travel Insurance 4 Medical, CoverForYou, Holidaysafe, Alpha, multitrip | Staysure, AXA, Avanti, Coverwise, CoverForYou, Holidaysafe, Alpha, multitrip | Staysure, CoverForYou, multitrip | Staysure |
The information detailed above is accurate as of 11th August 2020 for new policies. If you have an existing policy with one of the insurers on our table that you purchased before 13th March 2020, your cover is likely to vary.
Things to consider when buying travel insurance
Travelling abroad in the midst of a pandemic won’t be risk free so it’s key to make sure you take out a travel insurance policy that’s as comprehensive as possible. Of course, insurance can’t protect you from all of the risks associated with travelling at this time but there are a few things we recommend you look out for when buying a policy.
- Excess – the amount of money you pay towards a claim.
- Scheduled airline failure insurance (SAFI) – cover for if your airline goes bust.
- Medical cover for COVID-19 – this means that you’re covered if you contract coronavirus abroad and is absolutely essential. There are still so many travel insurers that aren’t offering this level of cover so make sure it’s included in your policy.
- Travel disruption and cancellation cover – many providers aren’t currently offering this additional level of cover due to the pandemic. However, it’s important to look out for this in the future. It covers you if you need to cancel for a reason that is covered on the insurers qualifying list.
Top three travel insurance providers
Review Score
Single Trip Quote*
Medical Cover Limit***
Cancellation Cover Limit****
Review Score
Single Trip Quote*
Medical Cover Limit***
Cancellation Cover Limit****
Review Score
Single Trip Quote*
Medical Cover Limit***
Cancellation Cover Limit****
***This is the maximum amount of medical cover this provider offers.
****This is the maximum amount of cancellation cover this provider offers.