- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2021
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Good question! The developing situation certainly is a factor in Camino planning at the moment...fortunately I haven't booked flights so I can defer the de Lana until the fall if need be. While 'Trip Cancellation' is an option offered under normal circumstances, I can see that the Insurance companies may want to weasel out of it in this case. Perhaps there is a difference between cancellation due to general uncertainty or cancellation due to lockdown in the area you are traveling to. I shall be watching this thread with interest.I know that most (if not all) travel insurance companies will not cover you if you catch the coronavirus while traveling. But, does anyone know of an insurance policy that will let you cancel the trip and get reimbursed if you decide not to travel to a country that has become a hot spot or the CDC declares it as a problem?
The scenario would be that I am about ready to leave and all of a sudden the cases spike in Salamanca and it's not a good idea to get there, so I would like to cancel.
From what I've seen I think the answer is no, since most policies have a single word that is not covered ("epidemic") No qualifications, no clarifications.
No, I don't belive that statement is true. They will cover you if you become sick and cannot travel, or if you need medical care while you are traveling.I know that most (if not all) travel insurance companies will not cover you if you catch the coronavirus while traveling
Not exactly true. You have to specifically ask for cancel for any reason insurance, and it won't refund 100%. Usually just 75%.My experience with travel insurance from the US is that if you buy the insurance within a specified amount of time after making an initial payment you are covered for "cancellation for any reason".
Sorry, I should have mentioned that I’m in the US.
I did get a quick response from Nationwide. Their approach is pretty good (but not the cheapest)
If you pay for the policy with 10-21 days of the first payment, all non-refundable fees are paid prior to departure and you cancel from 48-72 hours before departure and you have the cancel for any reason clause, you get 75% of your trip cost back.
So I see the risks as
1) having to cancel less than 48 hours (you have to make sure that doesn’t happen)
2) If you get sick in Europe, you have to make sure that your current coverage extends there - mine does but many don’t
Most of these policies seem to run about 15% of the insured amount. So, if you don’t use it it costs you about 15% of the trip. If you do use it, you get back 75%-15% of your money back. But in theory you have until 2 days before travel starts to make the go/no go decision.
It’s going to be a rough summer.
Thanks for all the advice.
If you purchase travel medical insurance they will cover you if you get sick, regardless of what the illness is.So I see the risks as
1) having to cancel less than 48 hours (you have to make sure that doesn’t happen)
2) If you get sick in Europe, you have to make sure that your current coverage extends there - mine does but many don’t
Most travel insurance will only cover cancellation for fixed reasons such as advice from your government not to travel to a nominated country or the death of a close relative etc. You need to study the policy first before deciding whether it is worth taking.
It is unlikely you will be able to find a policy which enables you to cancel because you have decided yourself you do not wish to travel.
Hi John, I had pretty much the same line of question. I asked my insurer, who is a large plan providing coverage to various unions and retired government employees. Here is the direct response from the company.I know that most (if not all) travel insurance companies will not cover you if you catch the coronavirus while traveling. But, does anyone know of an insurance policy that will let you cancel the trip and get reimbursed if you decide not to travel to a country that has become a hot spot or the CDC declares it as a problem?
The scenario would be that I am about ready to leave and all of a sudden the cases spike in Salamanca and it's not a good idea to get there, so I would like to cancel.
From what I've seen I think the answer is no, since most policies have a single word that is not covered ("epidemic") No qualifications, no clarifications.
I must say that, for me, the only useful information that has come out of all these posts related to the corona virus here and in other threads are those related to the clauses in contracts about trip cancellation and about medical coverage and other risk coverage during the trip. I had never really looked at all these clauses but I have now.No, I don't belive that statement is true. They will cover you if you become sick and cannot travel, or if you need medical care while you are traveling.
I bought travel insurance for an upcoming trip to Greece, and there is a specific exclusion for cancellation due to epidemics. I'd definitely read your policy and then check with the insurance company.I know that most (if not all) travel insurance companies will not cover you if you catch the coronavirus while traveling. But, does anyone know of an insurance policy that will let you cancel the trip and get reimbursed if you decide not to travel to a country that has become a hot spot or the CDC declares it as a problem?
The scenario would be that I am about ready to leave and all of a sudden the cases spike in Salamanca and it's not a good idea to get there, so I would like to cancel.
From what I've seen I think the answer is no, since most policies have a single word that is not covered ("epidemic") No qualifications, no clarifications.
As I understand it (which when it comes to insurances means very little), from what my travel insurance folks told me 3 days ago is no they don't cover it. If you have cancellation/delay in the policy, that would work only if your tour or flight was cancelled. So we are out of luck.I know that most (if not all) travel insurance companies will not cover you if you catch the coronavirus while traveling. But, does anyone know of an insurance policy that will let you cancel the trip and get reimbursed if you decide not to travel to a country that has become a hot spot or the CDC declares it as a problem?
The scenario would be that I am about ready to leave and all of a sudden the cases spike in Salamanca and it's not a good idea to get there, so I would like to cancel.
From what I've seen I think the answer is no, since most policies have a single word that is not covered ("epidemic") No qualifications, no clarifications.
Check with your insurance company and get it in writing. That said, there is a general trip cancellation benefit and a "Cancel for Any Reason" benefit. You will pay significantly more for the "Cancel for Any Reason" (this is true at any time, the additional cost has nothing to do with the virus). Even then, there may be some exceptions. Ex: I landed in Egypt at the start of the Arab Spring. The government wouldn't let us off the airport grounds, we had to leave. The insurance company would not reimburse any prepaid expenses because they do not cover civil unrest.My experience with travel insurance from the US is that if you buy the insurance within a specified amount of time after making an initial payment you are covered for "cancellation for any reason". Sometimes that coverage may not be offered on the least expensive levels of coverage offered, and the grace period for eligibility varies from company to company, but usually requires purchase within two weeks of the initial payment.
I would check directly with the company with specific questions about the coronavirus and whether simply buying an airline ticket is enough to qualify for the coverage. Although I've been covered for "any reason" many times, I have never had to make a claim on this clause so I don't have direct experience in how difficult or not getting reimbursed may be. So again, check directly and get answers in writing.
This referral was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for the tip!Squaremouth.com is a great site to shop for insurance and play with the various clauses/filters. One thing I noted last time I shopped is that after age 70, insurance either gets expensive or the caps are limited. And covering preexisting conditions is also expensive.
Since they ask age, country, travel, etc as data before presenting the options, it is a much better place to gather information about travel insurance than this forum.
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