How a Second Wave of COVID-19 Could Affect Travel Insurance

Travel insurance will likely become more of a staple during the pandemic and beyond.

 As we move into the fall, there is much speculation that we will see a considerable uptick in COVID-19 cases, a “second wave” as it has been called. Countries that have recently reopened their borders are already considering closing them down again. It is a very uncertain time for tourists yet it’s important for them to plan ahead.

 With that said, travelers should think about getting travel insurance if they still decide to visit another country but end up stranded there. This post will highlight the benefits of travel insurance abroad and how it can safeguard tourists if they encounter a COVID-related lockdown abroad.

COVID-19 (& Pandemic Coverage) May Become Part of Insurance Vocabulary

At the beginning of 2020, even when COVID-19 was still very mysterious and limited in terms of geographic spread, few of us would have thought that it would affect travel as we know it. The novel coronavirus spread rapidly, and before we knew it, we all were experiencing the worst pandemic in a century.

 This of course led to global travel restrictions, along with city-wide shutdowns in major metropolitan areas worldwide. But the virus has impacted almost every industry imaginable – the travel sector has been adversely affected – and the insurance industry hasn’t been spared. With that said, COVID-19 has likely changed the way tourists and frequent fliers look at travel insurance abroad.

Seeking Travel Insurance Abroad Seems More Important than Ever

When shutdowns and restrictions began taking place around the world, tens of thousands of passengers found themselves stranded on foreign soil. Hundreds of thousands faced a similar prospect. To be trapped in another country with limited funds, little or no access to medical care and no immediate way of returning home is a harrowing and frightening situation.

 Many of these individuals didn’t have any travel insurance, making a lockdown of sorts even more compromising. Whether people were directly affected by travel restrictions or not, it’s now recognized more so than ever before, that having travel insurance abroad can literally be a lifesaver.

 How so? Well, the best insurance for travel abroad can offer you a wide-range of protection if you are ever stranded abroad (more on this later). This rings true whether the cause is due to the pandemic or some other event.

“Pandemic Coverage” Will Gain Steam Even More

The COVID-19 pandemic is first of its kind in well over a century. We haven’t seen flights grounded and borders closed on such a global scale up until now (although the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak did impact travel in some regions).

 What will likely happen is that more insurance companies will begin to consider the impacts of COVID-19 (and any future pandemic) could pose for travelers. This could certainly be the case now that many countries are starting to experience “second waves”. which could affect travelers who recently travelled to countries with resurging cases.

 Companies that offer travel insurance abroad will likely offer coverage for the costs of being stranded or needing essential services due to the pandemic.

Visitor Guard’s Look at Travel Insurance Abroad

We’re proud to say that we’re among the first companies to offer travelers, travel insurance that offers support due to COVID-19-related travel hiccups. So far, our insurance plans that do offer COVID-19 support may provide coverage for illness, medical treatment/hospital stays or medical evacuations repatriation due to the virus. The level of coverage these policies offer will likely expand as time goes on, and as our understanding of COVID-19’s implications increase.

Travel Insurance Abroad During the Era of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic will likely persist for some time before travel and daily life is able to continue the way we once knew. Nevertheless, travel insurance plans will likely become more robust in their coverage as the pandemic continues to evolve. At the very least, travelers won’t be completely on their own if they are affected by the virus in the near future.

 Are you concerned about the impact that COVID-19 will have on your future travels? Get in touch with us for how a travel insurance plan abroad can help you.