Travel Insurance and Coronavirus

The severity of infection ranges from very mild to extremely severe, sometimes fatal. Symptoms include: fever, shortness of breath, chills, headache, cough, chest pain and more. The symptoms can vary from person to person; people with comorbidities should take extra precautions and proper medical help if they suspect an infection.

Thanks to the scientific prowess, global vaccination programs started in 2021 and many people are now vaccinated against the virus. Covaxin, Covishield, and Sputnik-V have been available to Indian adults aged 18 years and above since 2021.

The pandemic saw many countries undergoing lockdown. Among all this uncertainty, many people turned to travel insurance that covers coronavirus disease and related emergencies.

Under this coronavirus travel insurance available, people were again able to travel with a safety net especially when it came to COVID-19-related emergencies including cancelled trips, flight cancellations due to COVID-19 infections, and coronavirus treatment costs and more.

Many travel insurance plans in India include coverage for medical expenses due to COVID-19, quarantine expenses, testing costs and a lot more. You can easily browse these plans on Policybazaar.com to check the ones that work best for your upcoming trip.

As of now, most travel insurance companies in India offer COVID-19 coverage. However, additional benefits like trip interruption, baggage cover, passport loss and personal accident are also available.

After 2 years of absolute unpredictability, the insurance sector, including travel, was quick to adapt itself to the need of the hour. They started offering benefits for trip cancellations, quarantine costs and more to improve the scope of their coverage. While the pandemic seems to be in its last stages, people aren’t likely to leave anything to chance and prefer insuring their trips.

Even after travelling far to reach a destination, people faced a lot of uncertainties due to change in entry requirements, surge in cases, etc. Top them with inflexible rules imposed by tour operators, hotels etc. and planning a trip was a gamble not everyone could afford. Travel insurance can protect people from many such uncertainties, increasing its awareness.

Earlier, only Schengen and a handful of countries had compulsory travel medical insurance. Without Schengen travel insurance, entry to these countries was not possible. After the pandemic, many governments mandated travel health insurance to support those foreign nationals who would test positive on their shores.

Coronavirus travel insurance will cover emergency hospitalization and medical treatment expenses incurred on the treatment of COVID-19 during the trip. Whether it’s a domestic travel insurance policy or an international travel insurance plan, emergency medical expenses will be covered as long as the policy was purchased before the government had imposed travel restrictions due to coronavirus disease. However, for clarity, insured travellers should check with their travel insurance company to know about the cover for quarantine.

If an advisory is issued for a country the insured traveller is travelling to and they still go ahead with their trip, then any COVID-19 related emergency they face won’t be covered under the coronavirus travel insurance.

Reason being, one of the insurance companies will cover the insured taking an intentional risk and thus, they would be responsible for any monetary losses incurred as an outcome.

It is advisable to strictly follow COVID-19 protocols and keep yourself safe while travelling, abroad or in India. Especially with holiday season and festivals, it is important to take extra precautions. Below are some basic steps to take while travelling:

Maintain Hygiene

It is utterly important to practice hygienic habits while travelling. Even small habits like washing your hands properly, trimming long nails, and covering your nose & mouth while sneezing or coughing can make a big difference in keeping you safe.

Practice Social Distancing in Public Places

The coronavirus spreads through an infected person, usually, when they breathe, talk, coughs, or sneezes. Also, infected people may not show symptoms of this disease initially. Therefore, it is advisable to keep at least 6 feet distance from other people when travelling in public places, especially for people who have low immunity or pre-existing medical conditions. While the cases have reduced and the symptoms have become milder, social distancing is one of the best way to avoid getting any infections.

Get Yourself Vaccinated

Almost all countries now need foreign travellers to be vaccinated. Get yourself fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 4 weeks before planning a trip. Vaccination protects you against COVID-19 and reduces the chances of contracting the coronavirus. Therefore, get the required doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as early as possible to travel stress-free.

Make sure to get the required booster dose incase a country requires it. Moreover, to avoid paying for any medical emergency in a foreign land, buy travel medical insurance, which also covers the COVID-19 disease.

Carry Your Essentials While Travelling

Other than taking precautions, it is important to carry your essentials during the pandemic. You should carry essentials, like a couple of face masks, hand sanitizer, alcohol-based tissue wipes, phone sanitizer, essential gadgets such as a power bank, laptop, tablet, charger, and smart toiletries like toothbrush, towel, & pair of slippers, etc.

Stay Healthy

Stay physically active, eat healthy food and keep yourself hydrated during the pandemic. Do 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity daily and 15-20 minutes of a brisk walk. Also, drink adequate water instead of added-sugar beverages and alcohol. Eat a balanced diet full of healthy calories, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients.

Prevention is better than cure, and there is a lot we can do to ensure there are no re-infections or health complications because of carelessness:

Avoid Touching Your Face

Most people have a habit of touching their faces often. Research has shown that we are particularly prone to get infected from COVID-19 by touching our mouth, nose, and eyes. That is why avoid touching your face unnecessarily to reduce getting infected with the novel coronavirus.

Avoid Stepping Out Without a Face Mask

Wearing face masks is advised as part of personal hygiene and as a public health measure to control the spread of coronavirus disease. Wear a well-fitted N95 or surgical mask to avoid coming in direct contact with the virus. Also, clean your hands regularly, maintain social distancing and cover your face with a handkerchief while sneezing and coughing.

Do Not Ignore Government Guidelines for the Public

Adhere to government health and safety regulations regarding COVID-19. Read the government guidelines carefully before leaving your country. Moreover, if you are travelling abroad, rely on the official sources for information instead of believing everything you read on social media or forwarded messages.

Avoid Touching Open Surfaces in Public Places

You have now understood the basics like wearing your mask, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands properly. But when you travel, avoid touching potentially contaminated surfaces like elevator buttons, public taps, railings, doorknobs, billing counters, shopping carts, etc. In case you touch it, sanitize your hands properly.

Do Not Assume That You Are Immune to COVID-19

There is currently no evidence that someone who has recovered from COVID-19 or is fully vaccinated will not get infected again. So, do not assume that you are immune to COVID-19 in either case.

If you fall sick in another city, seek medical help and quarantine yourself when you test positive. It is also advisable to buy travel medical insurance to cover all your incurred medical expenses in case you are hospitalized due to COVID-19 in a foreign land.