Holiday insurance with COVID-19 cover

You can cancel, but your travel insurance won’t necessarily pay out. It depends on the reason for cancellation. For example, if you become ill with COVID-19 and have to cancel then you should be covered, provided you’ve opted for a policy with coronavirus cover. 

On the other hand, if the FCDO’s advice is that travel to a particular place is safe but you decide you don’t want to risk going there, your decision would likely be classed as “disinclination to travel”. It’s likely that you wouldn’t be covered by insurance.

Yes, they should offer you a full refund or the chance to arrange an alternative flight to the same destination, but you may not be entitled to any other compensation.

Of course, you may have paid out for other things, like hotels, which you might be able to claim for on your travel insurance.

This varies among insurance providers. Some policies will cover you if your travel home is delayed for reasons out of your control, such as testing positive for COVID-19. Some, but not all, will cover you for being refused boarding on a plane. Others might not cover any additional costs at all. You’ll also need to check with your provider to see whether your policy will be automatically extended if you need to stay longer.

When you compare policies with us, tick the box for “forced extended stay” and check the details from the providers you’re considering.

Before you book a holiday, check the holiday provider or airline’s cancellation and refund policy.

Booking using a credit card can give you the chance of getting your money back with credit card purchase protection if your trip is cancelled. But this isn’t automatic. It depends on the terms and conditions of your card provider.

Get travel insurance as soon as you book the trip, to be covered from then on.

Comprehensive travel insurance should be a key consideration when planning a future holiday. Look for a policy that offers cover for COVID-19-related disruption to reimburse costs associated with cancellations, and to protect you if you become unwell and need medical treatment for coronavirus while you’re away.

You may be able to buy travel insurance if you’ve left home but haven’t yet left the UK. It depends on the provider. If you’re already abroad you’ll need specialist insurance and there may be a waiting period to prevent you from making an immediate claim.

Comparethemarket doesn’t compare this type of insurance cover.

If you’re having a wonderful time and want to stay longer at your holiday destination, contact your policy provider and ask to extend the policy. You need to do this before your policy expires. You’ll obviously be charged to extend your cover for longer.

If you’ve been forced to stay for longer, for example because you’ve tested positive for COVID-19, ask your insurance provider what you need to do. Some policies will automatically extend if you’re unwell, but check what applies to you.

Having annual travel insurance can work out cheaper if you take more than one trip a year. It also saves you from having to buy a new policy each time you go away. If you choose an annual policy that includes COVID-19 cover, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing you’ll be covered for COVID-related disruption for all your trips.