Updated 19 March 2020
The Australian Government on 18 March 2020 raised its travel advice to level 4: Do not travel overseas at this time.
The current situation around coronavirus may have raised some questions about what your travel insurance covers you for.
For the latest information and warnings visit smartraveller.gov.au.
Below we have answered some key questions you may have:
Cancellation costs
Does my policy cover costs associated with cancelling or amending my travel plans due to coronavirus?
If you have to cancel your trip, please contact your travel provider in the first instance as many major airlines, hotels and tour companies have recently changed their cancellation policies and are providing travel credit or full refunds.
If your travel provider is not providing travel credit or refunds, you should refer to your Policy Disclosure Statement to check your level of cover and see if your policy can cover the non-refundable costs associated with your travel plans.
Unfortunately, you will not be covered for cancellation costs if you have a Medical Only Plan.
It’s important to note that cover for cancellation costs will only be provided if your policy was issued at a time when the circumstances causing you to amend or cancel your trip were unforeseeable.
What do you mean by “at a time when the circumstances causing you to amend or cancel your trip were unforeseeable”?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared coronavirus a global emergency on 23 January 2020. This is an important date that impacts your travel insurance.
If you purchased travel insurance before 23 January 2020
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For |
Cover |
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China |
You will be covered for cancelling/amending your travel for travel before 23 May 2020 |
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Any other country |
If |
Then |
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The country is not on the Australian Government’s DO NOT TRAVEL list |
You will not be covered for cancelling/amending your travel |
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The country is on the Australian Government’s DO NOT TRAVEL list |
You will be covered for cancelling/amending your travel for travel before 1 April 2020 |
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If you purchased travel insurance after 23 January 2020
When the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared coronavirus a global emergency on 23 January 2020, this meant that the circumstances causing you to amend or cancel your trip as a result of coronavirus were reasonably foreseeable.
How this impacts you depends on a number of factors such as when you purchased your travel insurance, and where you were or are travelling to. The Australian Government’s announcement on 18 March 2020 to raise its travel advice to level 4: Do not travel overseas at this time, will also have an impact.
If you want further information please contact us on 1300 617 409.
If you were to travel to China after 23 May 2020 or to elsewhere in the world after 1 April 2020
Cover for cancellation and amendments will depend on a number of factors such as when you purchased your travel insurance, where you were or are travelling to. The Australian Government’s announcement on 18 March 2020 to raise its travel advice to level 4: Do not travel overseas at this time, will also have an impact.
If you want further information please contact us on 1300 617 409.
What if I have a Multi-Trip policy?
A Multi-Trip policy will take into account when the first part of your travel was booked.
Medical costs
Am I covered if I contract coronavirus while travelling and need medical treatment overseas?
ahm Travel Insurance policies cover you for ‘Overseas Medical and Hospital Expenses’ as well as ‘Additional Expenses If You Become Sick’.
It is a condition of your policy however that you take all reasonable steps to prevent or minimise a claim. Therefore, you may not be covered if you travel to a destination listed on DFAT’s Do Not Travel advice. Claims will be assessed in accordance with your policy and will take into account when you purchased your policy, where you travel and the dates of your trip.
We expect customers to stay updated on the Australian Government’s travel advice and warnings which you can view on smartraveller.gov.au
What if I’m quarantined overseas, am I covered for additional expenses?
If you contract coronavirus and are quarantined overseas
There is cover for your reasonable ‘Additional’ accommodation (room rate only) and transport expenses.
If you do not contract coronavirus and are quarantined overseas
You will be covered for reasonable ‘Additional’ accommodation costs and transport expenses.
As this situation is constantly changing, we recommend you visit the Australian Department of Health for up-to-date information regarding coronavirus.
We are constantly monitoring the situation ourselves and will continue to provide updated information regarding travel insurance.
If you do plan to travel, please stay informed with travel advice via smarttraveller.gov.au.
We also encourage you to contact your own airline or accommodation or tour operator to check what they can provide under these circumstances.