With the coronavirus outbreak declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, travel insurance coverage for coronavirus is limited, according to comparison site Squaremouth.
As of Wednesday, three travel insurance providers on Squaremouth were still offering policies that may include cancellation coverage for travelers who contract the virus, or are quarantined, and unable to travel as planned, the company said. Those policies may also include interruption benefits for travelers who contract the virus while on a trip.
Also, as of Wednesday, four providers on Squaremouth were offering emergency medical and medical-evaluation benefits to travelers who contract the virus while traveling. These policies may cover medical expenses incurred if a traveler gets the virus on their trip, and may cover medical transportation back to the traveler’s home if necessary.
Squaremouth recommends that travelers purchase a “cancel for any reason” policy. “However, there are limitations,” Squaremouth said. “This time-sensitive upgrade must be purchased within 21 days of the first trip booking and typically costs 40% more than a standard policy.”
A “cancel for any reason” policy can reimburse travelers up to 75% of their trip cost if they cancel their trip for a reason not otherwise covered in the policy.
