Travel Insurance - Cancellation - Covid19

khublaikhan

Hi,

Couple of things: I took travel insurance out for my family trip to Pakistan a few weeks ago, due to travel next Friday 27th. I used a comparison site and selected the "Cancellation" option thinking this would cover the costs should the airline or national governments stop travel. Like an idiot I failed to check the terms and conditions and have found the policy does not cover these types of cancellations. Anyway, the policy does state we are covered if "you or a travelling companion is ill, quarantined, injured or dies before the trip starts".

Question 1) Are we not all quarantined? Does this apply to my policy if the Government is saying do not fly?

Secondly, the airline (PIA) is asking anyone boarding a flight in the UK to provide a Certificate showing they are free from Covid19. Obviously, even Doctors and Nurses here have not been getting a test for the virus, never-mind us mere mortals. I am wondering where in my Travel Insurance Policy I should look to see if I am covered for this eventuality, where if I don't produce the certificate I can't board?

Thanks in advance

moondawg

I have booked a flight for 2nd July 2020 returning on 7th August. However because my holiday is longer than 31days my Nationwide packaged annual insurance will not cover me and even if i upgrade my insurance to cover the full duration they will not cover me for coronavirus cancellation. is there no onus on these policies to at least cover me for the first 31days? 

misterspoon

You would need to contact your insurer to see if you are covered. Some do cover for the fco advice. Mine does. The problems is they want you to get  a refund first from the agent or airline and few are offering refunds at the moment, only vouchers. I'm still going back and forth between my travel agent and insurer as the clock is ticking closer to my departure date. 

khublaikhan

misterspoon said:

You would need to contact your insurer to see if you are covered. Some do cover for the fco advice. Mine does. The problems is they want you to get  a refund first from the agent or airline and few are offering refunds at the moment, only vouchers. I'm still going back and forth between my travel agent and insurer as the clock is ticking closer to my departure date. 

The Insurance Company isn't picking up the phone since couple of days, I have been put on hold 32 minutes at a time. Anyway, my flight company has said they will refund my money minus £140 admin fee but will have to wait 6 to 8 weeks for the money to come back to me. !!!!!!! With my job situation, the kids at home full-time I can't wait that long. These businesses are basically profiteering from the situation. Anyone I can complain or escalate to? Ridiculous!

TELLIT01

These posts reinforce the need to check closely what is and is not covered by individual insurers.  There is no such thing as 'standard' when it comes to insurance cover.  My annual insurance only covered FCO 'don't travel' advice in the event of fire, flood, earthquake or hurricane, so wouldn't pay out in the current situation.  Fortunately for me, that policy was coming to an end and I changed insurer to one which provided blanket cover for FCO advice.

Regarding the time to get a refund, companies are being inundated with claims, and are probably short staffed as well.  They are not profiteering, just struggling with the workload.  Complaining or escalating at this time is pointless.

daveturkey

have travel insurance with planetearth insurance have contacted them ,thay keep putting me back to my holiday provider ,now planetearth have blocked me contacting them , should have been flying to mexico today , also loveholidays are ignoreing us as well