What to do if you can’t travel because someone at home is sick or injured
- As featured in:
As featured in:
1. Rearrange or cancel your bookings
As soon as you know that you won’t be able to use any pre-booked or pre-paid accommodation, transport or tours, you must try to rearrange them, or if necessary, cancel.
Just remember, if you decide to rearrange, we’ll only pay up to the amount it would have cost you to cancel those arrangements. If you don’t rearrange or cancel straight away, we won’t cover any additional rearrangement or cancellation costs that arise as a result. But you should only cancel arrangements when it’s absolutely necessary. For example, if your doctor says you can’t fly for two days, but you cancel a three week trip, rather than putting it back by two days, we’ll only cover cancellation of two days’ worth of accommodation, not the entire booking.
2. Get it in writing
To support your claim, you’ll need to get the following:
- Doctor (or other medical practitioner)’s report, confirming what happened and the nature of the illness or injury.
- Hospital admission report (if the person was admitted to hospital)
- Ambulance report (if they were involved)
- Provide evidence confirming what has happened, such as a police report (if they were involved)
- Any other relevant documentation related to what happened.
3. Keep your itineraries and receipts
You’ll need to keep your receipts, itineraries and booking and cancellation confirmations, including details of any refunds received for any affected transport and accommodation.
Our suggestions should help you avoid unnecessary costs, gather the right evidence and help keep your claim hassle-free.
4. Am I covered if I need to cancel or interrupt my trip or if I need to return home unexpectedly due to COVID-19?
It depends. Some, but not all, of our policies include insured events coverage for cancellation, trip interruption and trip resumption. Please take the time to read your policy wording as there are limits on your coverage depending on your Country of Residence and on which plan you have purchased.
Additionally, exclusions will apply when travel warnings are issued for epidemics, pandemics or a World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of a public health emergency of international concern. These exclusions are outlined in specific sections of your policy wording.
Depending on your Country of Residence and the plan you have purchased, you may have some coverage for trip cancellation or resumption or interruption events out of your control caused by:
• You or a member of your traveling party being diagnosed with COVID-19.
• Your close relative in your Country of Residence being hospitalized or dying due to COVID-19.
• You or a member of your traveling party who are permanently employed as a healthcare worker, residential care worker or law enforcement officer having pre-approved leave cancelled due to COVID-19.
You can check out our What’s Covered for Coronavirus article, which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.
Our policies aren’t designed to cover everything, so take the time to read the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions in the policy wording for full details so that there are no surprises if you need to use it. If you’re not sure if something is covered, get in touch.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you*
Trip Cancellation
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We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
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Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
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Emergency Medical Transportation
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Evacuation and Repatriation
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- Medivac home?
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Protect your gear
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Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
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- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
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Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.