As a frequent traveler, travel insurance has always been a crucial part of trip preparation. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, people are now wondering if a travel insurance for Covid is essential.
Normally, travel insurance offers peace of mind, but now it’s an essential thing to have if you plan to travel in this ‘new normal.’ That being said, a basic, low-cost travel policy will no longer be sufficient in 2021.
Finding travel insurance that covers Covid is a vital task to complete before embarking on any trip. Here’s why Covid travel insurance is a must this year and where you can find it.
Why Every Traveler Needs Covid Travel Insurance
Covid has impacted traveling in different ways, and thankfully many of them are covered with insurance.
Whether you meet the common issue of canceled or delayed flights or find yourself needing insurance to enter a country, Covid travel insurance has you covered.
1. Covid Travel Insurance Covers All Medical Care Should You Contract The Virus While Away From Home
Suppose you are unfortunate enough to catch Covid while traveling or staying in another country.
Unfortunately, you won’t have the same health benefits and entitlements as you would in your home country. If you become so sick that you have to go to a hospital, things can get expensive very quickly without an insurance safety net.
An important thing to know when traveling in Covid times is that every country handles positive cases differently. While western countries like the US and UK advise you to only go to a hospital with Covid if you absolutely have to, this is not the case everywhere.
In some countries, authorities will hospitalize or quarantine anyone who tests positive as a way to isolate them. This is also the case even for those with no symptoms at all.
2. Covid Travel Insurance May Help You Get Refunds From Canceled Trips
With ever-changing travel restrictions and border closures, flights and trips now have a much higher chance of getting canceled.
If you don’t want to end up with out-of-pocket expenses, this is a risk that you should not ignore.
Although some airlines and trip companies may allow you to reschedule your trip or even refund you, this isn’t common.
Having travel insurance that covers Covid will undoubtedly help you claim back lost funds from a canceled trip.
3. Covid Travel Insurance Is A Mandatory Entry Requirement For Many Countries
Let’s face it, most countries now have much stricter entry requirements than before. While many ask for a negative Covid test, some also want to see proof of a travel insurance policy that covers Coronavirus.
If you don’t have Covid specific insurance, you could be refused entry.
For example, since the beginning of the pandemic, Thailand introduced a rule that anyone entering the country must have Covid travel insurance of up to $100,000 in medical care.
A year later, and this is still in place. Therefore, it appears that Thailand and many other countries will be keeping this requirement for a while.
Nomad Insurance By SafetyWing
So, now you know the benefits of getting insured, how do you find the best travel insurance for Covid?
Depending on your current situation, you may find your options are limited. For example, what if you are already overseas and need Covid insurance to travel back home or elsewhere?
As you may know, many insurance companies won’t insure you if you have already started your trip or are not in your home country. This is a problem many digital nomads, expats, and backpackers have experienced in the past.
Luckily, SafetyWing is one travel insurance company that caters to anyone already on the road. What’s more, SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance covers Covid too!
You can learn more by reading our Nomad Insurance review.
What Nomad Insurance Covers
Although SafetyWing covers Covid, this is simply to protect you if you contract the virus abroad, rather than save you money on tests and quarantines you need for travel purposes.
Here is a breakdown of the benefits and features that Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing covers.
Insurance Covers Covid Contracted During The Policy
In general, Covid coverage works the same as any other medical or illness cover. SafetyWing will payout as long as you did not contract the virus before you started your policy.
Only Required Testing Is Covered
Nomad Insurance will cover COVID-19 testing that a physician or medical staff deems necessary. Antibody tests or tests for travel purposes are not covered.
Unexpected Covid Quarantine Is Covered
Nomad Insurance is the first insurance for nomads to cover Covid quarantine. However, this does not include planned hotel quarantines that countries require as an entry requirement.
The quarantine cover is for any mandatory quarantine you are subjected to due to testing positive to COVID-19 or if you have symptoms and are awaiting your test results.
Therefore, if an authoritative figure such as the police tell you that you have to go into quarantine because you tested positive, SafetyWing will cover these costs for you.
Coverage For Covid Quarantine Is Limited
You can claim quarantine coverage of up to $50 a day for a maximum of 10 days. You can also only claim quarantine coverage one time a year.
Covid cover, including quarantine, is only valid outside your home country. You must have Nomad Insurance for no less than 28 days before making a claim.
No Additional Charges
Another reason we think Nomad Insurance is the best travel insurance for Covid is because they automatically add it to all policies.
They don’t offer it as an additional extra or charge more, unlike many other insurance providers. If you already have an active Nomad Insurance policy by SafetyWing, you are automatically covered too.
Get in touch with the customer service team to receive an updated policy wording.
No Extra Cost For A Child Under 10
If you are traveling with a child less than 10 years old, you can add them to your policy for no extra cost.
There is a limit of one child per adult, but if you apply for family cover with two adults included, you can add up to two children under 10 for free. This is an excellent perk for nomad families!
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re already abroad and without insurance, or you’re planning your first post-Covid trip, travel insurance that covers Covid is a must!
Thanks to SafetyWing, the best travel insurance for Covid doesn’t have to break the bank. That said, you can also buy this travel insurance after departure.
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