The U.S. State Department has issued an alert recommending that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico at this time due to a recent outbreak of swine flu. While the details of this global health concern continue to evolve, InsureMyTrip.com is reminding travelers of the benefits of investing in travel insurance. "Right now, we are monitoring the swine flu situation in real time and its impact on travelers and travel insurance," said Jim Grace, president and CEO of InsureMyTrip.com, the travel insurance comparison website. "There is coverage for swine flu on travel insurance policies and InsureMyTrip.com is the absolute best resource for this information."
As of April 24, 2009, the swine flu outbreak was considered a known event due to its widespread media attention. Any Mondial Assistance or Access America policies sold on or after April 24 will not provide coverage for any claims related directly or indirectly to the outbreak of the flu in Mexico, or any other area, as this is considered a known event. All other coverage remains in place. Additionally, our products may exclude coverage under the general exclusions for claims arising directly or indirectly from epidemics or pandemics.
With American Express coverage, trip cancellations, trip interruptions or medical evacuations and expenses due to the covered person's contraction of the swine flu may be covered (one particular exception would be the policy's pre-existing condition clause). However, there will generally not be coverage for cancellation or interruptions due to the outbreak unless the covered person is inflicted with the virus. Note trip cancellation or interruption exclusions, including any prohibition by or regulation of the government, or an event which happens prior to the coverage effective date.
CSA policies offer coverage if a covered individual, their traveling companions or their family members need to cancel or interrupt their trip due to a covered sickness, injury or death. Covered individuals may have coverage for illnesses arising from this event as described in their certificate of insurance or insurance policy.
Global Alert's plan covers trip cancellation and trip interruption (and travel delay in case of the travelers own sickness) due to a specified person contracting swine flu, which has occurred during the coverage period. However, there is no coverage for the possibility of a sickness which may or may not occur at some future time. Cancellation, interruption or delay of a trip due to concerns about swine flu is not covered, either as a sickness or as a covered event. Note that the plan excludes loss due to epidemic or pandemic. At this point, the situation is neither an epidemic nor a pandemic, but be aware of this exclusion as the situation could change. If the insured purchased "cancel for any reason" benefit, he or she will be covered if all of the requirements are met.
Individuals purchasing International Medical Group plans have coverage for claims resulting from swine flu. However, an individual who decides to cancel a trip because he or she is afraid of contracting swine flu would not be an eligible expense. Even though this is a known event, there is still coverage regardless of when the plan was purchased.
With MH Ross, there is coverage for an insured to cancel/interrupt their trip if they (or their family members/traveling companion) become ill with swine flu or if they are quarantined due to swine flu. In either case, the policy must have been purchased prior to contracting or being quarantined for the flu, and the appropriate medical documentation would need to be submitted to support the sickness and/or quarantine. There is no coverage under trip cancellation or interruption to cancel or interrupt a trip due to fear of contracting swine flu. Medical expenses incurred if an insured requires medical treatment for swine flu while on a covered trip are covered.
Under RBC Travel Protection, the swing flu outbreak is not a covered event unless the insured or insured's family member actually gets sick. Coverage is afforded as long as the illness was not pre-existing. If the insured changes his/her destination or travel period, we will also change the travel dates on the original policy if so desired. The dollar amount insured may also need to be adjusted to match the new travel period. If the insured decides to cancel his/her trip altogether, we will offer a full refund of their policy including the processing fee. However, fear of traveling is not a covered risk for claim purposes.
With Seven Corners, covered individuals diagnosed with swine flu by a treating physician are covered for trip cancellation, interruption and medical (standard coverage terms and exclusions apply). However, cancellation due to fear of getting swine flu is not covered unless the insured has "cancel for any reason" optional coverage.
With Travel Guard, the insured is covered if he/she contracts swine flu and needs to cancel or interrupt the trip due to the illness. The insured would also be covered if he/she incurs medical expenses on a trip due to contracting swine flu and purchased their insurance prior to becoming infected with the flu. Travel Guard would only cover trip cancellation due to fear of contracting swine flu (including a planned trip to Mexico) if the insured purchased the "cancel for any reason" optional coverage.
Under Travel Insured International, trip cancellation/interruption is covered for specific events listed in the description of coverage. Swine flu is not one of those events and it is not a reason supported by trip cancellation/trip interruption coverage, unless the insured purchased the optional "cancel for any reason" benefit. Emergency sickness medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation for all necessary medical events, including those resulting from an insured traveler's contraction of swine flu, would be covered. If an insured is subjected to an imposed quarantine as the result of swine flu, trip delay benefits will apply as normally specified in each plan's description of coverage.
The Travel Safe plan covers trip cancellation and trip interruption (and travel delay in case of the travelers own sickness) due to a specified person contracting swine flu, which has occurred during the coverage period. However, there is no coverage for the possibility of a sickness which may or may not occur at some future time. Cancellation, interruption or delay of a trip due to concerns about swine flu is not covered, either as a sickness or as a covered event. Note that the plan excludes loss due to epidemic or pandemic. At this point, the situation is neither an epidemic nor a pandemic, but be aware of this exclusion as the situation could change. If the insured purchased the "cancel for any reason" benefit, he/she will be covered if all of the requirements are met.
Under TruTravel Insurance coverage, swine flu is treated as any other illness. You cannot cancel or interrupt for fear of swine flu. You can however cancel or interrupt if you become ill with swine flu. Coverage is afforded as long as the illness was not pre-existing. For more information, visit www.insureMyTrip.com.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
