1. If I have a Travelex insurance plan, can I cancel my trip due to coronavirus?
Generally speaking, travel insurance does not provide Trip Cancellation/Interruption coverage for fear of travel, travel advisories and destination being inaccessible due to an epidemic such as coronavirus.
To be eligible for Trip Cancellation/Interruption coverage one of the following must occur while your coverage is in effect:
- you or your Traveling Companion would need to be sick as diagnosed by a physician and unfit for travel (which could include contracting the coronavirus, and as a result being physically quarantined).
- your non-traveling Family Member is diagnosed with the coronavirus and is considered life-threatening or they require your immediate care. This must be certified by a physician.
- your Business Partner is diagnosed with the coronavirus and you must cancel or interrupt your trip to assume daily management of the business. This must be certified by a physician.
Coronavirus is being treated the same as any other illness. It is subject to pre-existing medical condition exclusions. An insured is eligible for Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical/Evacuation coverage if they contract the virus while on their trip.
3. Would I have to be quarantined in a hospital to be eligible for coverage?
There can be coverage if the insured is quarantined in either a hospital, hotel or vacation rental (i.e. Airbnb) while on a trip. A doctor would have to order the quarantine and this order would have to be submitted at the time of a claim. In this instance, an insured is eligible for Trip Interruption, or Trip Delay (including if they are quarantined). As described in answer #1 there may be coverage for Trip Cancellation.
4. Am I covered if I have Cancel for Any Reason coverage (CFAR)?
CFAR must have been purchased at the same time as your original Travelex plan. You may be eligible for a % of the covered trip cost, provided the trip was cancelled no less than 48 hours prior to the departure date and the full prepaid nonrefundable trip arrangements are insured under the policy. Please refer to your policy for all terms and conditions for CFAR. Be aware that the policy must have been purchased within 15-21 days of your initial trip payment (varies by plan).
5. Am I covered for Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption if my travel supplier cancels my trip due to coronavirus?
If your trip or flight to or from your destination is cancelled due to coronavirus there would be no coverage under the Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption terms of your Travelex plan. We encourage you to contact your travel supplier to seek a refund or make alternate arrangements. Travelex may allow the traveler to apply the policy to another trip at a later date. Please refer to question #9 below for information regarding a date transfer.
6. Am I covered for Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption if the government issues a travel warning or travel restrictions to or from my destination?
If an insured is unable to travel to their destination due to a government travel warning, restriction or ban, they would not be eligible for Trip Cancellation/Interruption coverage; however, Travelex may allow the traveler to apply the policy to another trip at a later date. Please refer to question #9 below for information regarding a date transfer.
7. If my employer enacts a travel restriction, can I cancel under the terms of Cancel for Business Reasons in the policy?
Cancel for Business Reasons can provide coverage if you are required to work during your scheduled trip, if you are involuntarily terminated through no fault of your own, and other reasons.
If a business imposes a restriction of business travel due to the coronavirus, an insured is not eligible for Trip Cancellation/Interruption coverage under the terms of the Cancel for Business Reason provision in the policy (see the applicable policy).
Furthermore, if the purpose of the trip is to attend a conference or a work event and that event is cancelled, an insured is not eligible for Trip Cancellation coverage under the terms of the Cancel for Business Reason provision of the policy.
8. If my physician advises me not to travel due to my age or underlying health conditions and there is a high risk of me contracting the coronavirus, am I eligible to cancel/interrupt my trip?
An insured would only be eligible for Trip Cancellation/Interruption coverage if they become ill while the policy is in place and the sickness is so disabling as to prevent them from taking or continuing the trip. Fear of contracting the coronavirus even with a certified physician notice, is not an eligible reason under the terms of the Trip Cancellation/Interruption coverage.
9. If I reschedule my original trip date for a future date, can I transfer my existing Travelex policy to the new trip dates?
Yes, Travelex is allowing a one-time date transfer if the new trip is within 12 months of the original departure date. If the new trip is more than 12 months from the original departure date, the date transfer may be approved if all of the following guidelines are met:
- Traveler must pay the rates in effect at the time the new trip is booked
- The new trip dates must be APPLIED to the policy within 12 months of the original departure date
- The new trip departure date is no greater than 24 months from when the new travel dates are applied to the policy
- Notify Travelex of request (email or phone) prior to original departure date
- Trip must be cancelled prior to original departure date
- There cannot be any claims filed against the original policy
- The traveler confirms they are waiving their right to claim against the original insured trip under the policy
- The date the new trip is confirmed with dates becomes the new ‘initial deposit date’ for, pre-existing condition exclusion waiver, financial default eligibility and cancel for business reasons, where applicable
- The policy is effective at 12:01am the day following contacting Travelex with the new trip dates
The coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve. These FAQ’s are accurate as of this publication. We will continually monitor this situation and provide you with updates as they become available. Please refer to your appropriate policy document for complete details regarding plan coverage.
The Coronavirus is being treated the same with our policies as any other unforeseen illness- if you or your traveling companion(s) were to contract the virus after the effective date of your policy and prior to departure, you would be eligible for Trip Cancellation coverage. Similarly, if you were to contract the virus during travel, you would be eligible for Trip Interruption coverage, as well as the Emergency Medical Expense and Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage offered by your policy. The policy also includes Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverage in the event you or your traveling companion(s) are quarantined.
Under our policies, travel arrangements cancelled by an airline, cruise line, or tour operator; as well as government regulations or prohibitions are exclusions from coverage under the Trip Cancellation or Interruption benefits.
So, basically, it sounds like if you get sick after purchasing the insurance, you're covered. But if you are not sick and you are afraid to go or you are not allowed to go, you're not covered. I would think that other insurance companies would have similar regulations, but I'm not sure. Companies are talking about things evolving as the problem goes along, so we'll see what happens.