Allianz Insurance has published some much-needed COVID Travel Insurance Advice during this pandemic.
The outbreak of Coronavirus (2019-nCov) is spreading quickly throughout China and as a result, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is now advising against any travel to the Hubei Province and only essential travel to the rest of mainland China (not including Hong Kong and Macao).
With British Airways confirming flights to and from mainland China are suspended and other airlines likely to follow, travel insurance expert Allianz Assistance is reassuring consumers that help is at hand.
Amy Walker, Communications and Insight Manager for Allianz Assistance UK offering some COVID Travel Insurance Advice explains: “In the first instance, people who have planned a trip to China should contact their travel provider or airline about transport services being suspended or cancelled to obtain a refund. Those people who purchased an ABTA protected trip or have used a credit card will benefit from additional peace of mind.
“People who are not covered by their airline or travel provider for suspended or cancelled transport should check the terms and conditions of their travel insurance policy. Allianz Assistance, along with other insurance providers, does provide a level of airline or travel provider cancellation cover, but it’s not standard in every policy offered.
“Cancelling or changing your travel insurance should be straightforward as it is common practice across the industry to support advice given by the FCO. Most single trip travel insurance policies that aren’t claimed on, including those sold by Allianz Assistance, will be fully refunded by the insurer, but again, it’s important to check the terms and conditions of the policy bought.
“Alternatively, the majority of insurance providers, as is the case with Allianz Assistance, will make appropriate changes to a single trip policy if a customer would like to travel to another destination on another date.”
COVID Travel Insurance Advice for China
Where travel to China is essential, travellers are being urged to follow health advice offered by Public Health England http://www.gov.uk/government/news/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-and-avian-flu-advice-for-travel-to-china as well as comply with any additional screening measures put in place by the local authorities. More information and advice can be found by visiting the TravelHealthPro website.
Amy Walker concludes: “As part of the global Allianz Partners group of companies – which is a world leader of travel insurance and assistance – we are able to closely monitor the spread of the Coronavirus. It is vital that we continue to work with our medical partners and Health Authorities in China and other regions to ensure we are able to respond immediately if or when any of our customers from the UK are affected by the virus.”
Image (C) BMJ
