Does travel insurance cover coronavirus? Your rights as a traveller explained

AS more and more people catch the coronavirus around the globe, you may wish to cancel your holiday and stay at home instead.

But are you able to claim on your travel insurance for any losses? Here we explain your rights.

The deadly coronavirus has quickly spread across the globe, currently with over reported 80,000 cases so far.

A few schools across the UK were also placed on lockdown today after pupils returned with “flu-like symptons” from Lombardy in Italy, where hundreds of residents have been infected.

Below we explain what to do if you’re keen to cancel your holiday due to the outbreak.

Can I get a refund if I cancel or rearrange my holiday due to the coronavirus?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has so far only advised against all essential travel to mainland and to parts of South Korea.

So if you wanted to cancel a trip elsewhere, you may find it difficult to get a refund.

This is because travel insurance isn’t designed to cover “disinclination to travel” where the FCO advice hasn’t changed to advise against travel, said the Association of British Insurers.

In fact, just 9 per cent of travel insurance policies will pay out if trips are scrapped over coronavirus fears, according to comparison site TravelInsurance.com, reports The Telegraph.

This is because most policies only pay out for a specific list of reasons, and the coronavirus is unlikely to be part of them.

The only deals that will help must include “cancel for any reason” clauses, said the site.

If you’re planning a trip to China

If you’d planned a trip to mainland China, you should get a full refund from your airline or travel company.

But you won’t be entitled to any compensation, such as flight delay compensation under EU rules, as a disease outbreak is considered an extraordinary circumstance.

If you were set to travel through China on a connecting flight, contact your airline or travel agent to be rerouted at no extra cost.

It’s important not to ignore travel advice by the FCO, or you risk invalidating your insurance policy.

If you’re planning a trip to Italy

The FCO is not yet advising against travel to any region of Italy, so trips are currently unaffected unless you were planning to visit the 12 towns on lockdown.

If so, you’ll need to look at making alternative arrangements, Stuart Lloyd, travel insurance expert at Columbus Direct, told The Sun.

Your first point of contact should be the holiday company as your travel insurance cover will vary between providers.

If the plan was to attend events that have now been cancelled, contact the event organisers or your insurance provider as some policies may provide cover for event cancellation, Mr Lloyd added.

What happens if I don’t have any travel insurance?

If your travel insurance doesn’t cover coronavirus cancellations, or you don’t have any travel insurance, it’s worth getting in touch with your travel operator.

You’re not guaranteed any help, but it might arrange an alternative holiday or allow you to rebook at a later date.

Even if you’ve booked through an ATOL-protected tour operator you’re not guaranteed free cancellations.

This is because it relates to the failure of the providers of package holidays, and not for a major medical outbreak like the coronavirus.

Some travel companies are still offering worried holidaymakers help where possible.

For example, Greek airline Aegean Airlines is not cancelling flights to Italy, but will allow passengers full refunds if they no longer want to fly.

If you’ve booked flights and accommodation separately, ask the airlines and hotels if they can help.

What happens if I get ill while on holiday?

Your travel insurance will pay for the medical costs of being treated for coronavirus, but generally not if you get ill in a country the FCO has advised against travelling to.

Most travel insurers offer a 24-hour emergency medical advice hotline, so if you feel unwell contact your provider straight away.

The symptoms are similar to a common cold, and include a runny nose, headache, cough, fever, shortness of breath, chills and body aches.

But if a coronavirus infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract (your windpipe and your lungs), it can cause pneumonia.

EasyJet and Ryanair passengers have slammed the airlines for refusing to refund flights amid the Italy coronavirus outbreak.

Meanwhile, the US government has urged tourists to “reconsider” cruises to Asia.

England’s Six Nations rugby trip to Italy could also be cancelled after the coronavirus outbreak.