Travel Insurance Renewal and Future Travel already booked

dcook

I have flights booked to NZ in October this year.
When I booked them they were covered by Saga travel insurance.
I had to renew my travel insurance this month and found out Saga will not cover any claims relating to Covid.
In October it is likely that restrictions will be lifted and I can travel to NZ.
BUT, I asked Saga what would happen if restrictions were lifted but caught Covid whist in NZ and needed hospital treatment there.
I was told that I would not be covered after renewal for Covid, even though I had insurance with Saga at the time of booking last year.
If all Travel Insurance companies are doing this it means that nobody will be able to travel in the future (assuming restrictions are lifted) without risk to themselves both for health and financially.
If people cancel travel in the future, when restrictions are lifted, insurance companies will not pay out because its the person cancelling and not due to and restrictions.
I don't understand how Saga can be allowed not to cover people when travelling if they catch Covid whist abroad surely this is the whole idea of insurance.
So basically people can only travel if they are prepared to take the risk.
Be interested if anybody else has encountered this and if Saga are the same as other companies.
Thanks

Browntoa

It's the same across the industry.

Nobody will cover you in the future unless there is a vaccine or perhaps a clear covid test prior to flying .

They are not going to cover people when there is still much to be known about it , can you catch it twice , does it give you long term health issues if you have had it already etc 

dcook

Thanks for the reply. I get nobody will currently cover for Covid.
But, If restrictions are lifted and I choose not to travel due to not wanting to take the Covid risk, then I will loose all my money for a flight booked well before there was any Covid issue.
So will everybody else who have future trips (well in advance) booked.
I am only asking about if somebody gets Covid when abroad and has travelled when no restrictions are in place.
Basically people will lose all money for holidays booked well in the future if they don't travel.

Nebulous2

I think it’s very unlikely you will be going to New Zealand in October. They are talking about locking their borders to most countries except Australia until there is a vaccine. 

Aylesbury_Duck

I agree, I think it highly unlikely you'll be travelling in October.  If you are allowed to travel, you will do so at your own risk, covid-wise.

Thrugelmir

dcook said:

I don't understand how Saga can be allowed not to cover people when travelling if they catch Covid whist abroad surely this is the whole idea of insurance.

Insurance is priced on risk. At a basic level premiums paid in need to cover the claims paid out. If you were offered cover in the current circumstances.  I suspect that you would find the cost prohibitive to pay on a global travel policy.  Solutions are a long way off to this crisis. 

cieslar

I have an annual Travel insurance which is due for renewal in June 2020, We have three holidays booked for this year that were booked long before the lock down one of which is in June that has been cancelled by the travel company so that's OK. but we have two cruises booked one for September and one for November my question is although we were insured when we booked these holidays will i need to renew the annual travel  insurance to cover the two cruises ?

Sea_Shell

I would expect all renewals to now exclude Covid19.  It's basically a new annual contract each time, so terms can and will change.

This is going to further cripple the tourism industry, if you cannot get insurance.

tutandenid

We booked a holiday to Lanzarote in Febuary with Hays Travel. We paid a small deposit and as we  were offered Direct Debit facilites we agreed to pay by this means. The first payment was on the 24 Febuary 2020 for £404.75. There have been 2 further payments for March and April. To add to the problem we go on the 12th November and our insurance needs  renewing on the 11th! At the time of booking there would have been no problem renewing our insurance. I have two questions really, firstly should I keep up the Direct Debits or cancel before I spend anymore money. Secondly if the tour company cancels there should be no problem with a refund but if not are they going to wait for me to cancel because i will not get insurance with Covid 19. I have tried to contact Hays to no avail.

dcook

Sea_Shell said:

I would expect all renewals to now exclude Covid19.  It's basically a new annual contract each time, so terms can and will change.

This is going to further cripple the tourism industry, if you cannot get insurance.

That is exactly my point. Nobody will travel if Covid is still around but travel restrictions are lifted.
I cant believe Insurance companies are allowed to do this as its the whole idea of insurance.
What would happen if somebody was hospitalised whist on holiday due to common Flu, would they say we are not insured. This is what they are doing with Covid.

suemhawkins

I bought my travel insurance beginning of March for a cruise in June 2020 which has now been cancelled. I am not claiming on the policy but have been told that they can only extend the policy until the end of August and there is no refund where do I stand?