Want cancellation insurance in case the coronavirus flares up where you’re going?
1. Book trip
2. Buy trip cancellation within 20 days of first trip booking
3. Make sure to add cancel for any reason (CFAR) or buy the RoundTrip Elite with CFAR
As the Coronavirus begins to appear in more and more countries around the world, many students and schools have started thinking about the best way to protect the cost of their upcoming trip. Whether it’s a study abroad group program for two weeks or your two-month European vacation, we want to make sure your trip and investment are protected.
Trip cancellation insurance is commonly referred to as true “travel insurance”. These types of plans provide protection for your trip costs, plus they also include many additional benefits such as travel delay, missed connection, travel assistance services and more. So how does it work and how can you buy a trip cancellation plan in the midst of the Coronavirus? Let’s take a look at our RoundTrip Elite Trip Cancellation Insurance plan, and benefits to note specifically, when dealing with a pandemic threat.
Protection from the Coronavirus – The Option to Cancel For Any Reason
While traditional travel health insurance plans may include coverage if your trip is delayed due to weather or political uprising, they generally won’t cover your trip costs in case you need to cancel due to unforeseen events, like an unwieldy virus strain.
Trip cancellation plans, however, will allow you to cancel your plan and be reimbursed a certain amount. These policies typically have a list of reasons you can cancel your plan, however the outbreak of the Coronavirus is typically not one of those reasons.
If you are looking to protect your trip cost in case you have to cancel due to the Coronavirus, you will typically need to add the option to cancel for any reason. This benefit allows you to cancel your plan and be refunded your trip costs for a reason outside what is covered on the plan.
One such plan is the RoundTrip Elite where you would need to add the option to Cancel For Any Reason. To be eligible, the purchaser of the plan would need to enroll in the policy within 20 days of the initial deposit. This benefit will reimburse 75% of your non-refundable trip costs as long as you cancel at least 2 days prior to your trip. That means that if you enrolled in the RoundTrip Elite with the Cancel For Any Reason option, if you had to cancel your trip due to the coronavirus, you would be reimbursed 75% of your non-refundable costs.
What if I am traveling and get the Coronavirus, am I covered?
Yes, the RoundTrip Elite plan will cover you in case you do contract the Coronavirus while abroad or in the event that you are quarantined. This includes the medical expenses, as well as if you need medical evacuation. This applies only if the Department of State has not issued a level 4 or higher travel warning.
How do I enroll?
To purchase the plan, you will be asked to include the total cost for your trip of non-refundable expenses. That amount is used to calculate the cost of the policy. Be sure to include only the non-refundable costs. For example, if you took a trip to Paris and your expenses were:
- Airfare from the US to France: $1,500 USD non-refundable
- Hotel: $500 USD ($250 of the stay is refundable)
- Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum tour: $100 USD non-refundable
The total amount that I would insure for my trip would be $1,850 USD which is the non-refundable part of the trip.
If you need information about our individual Trip Cancellation plan or would like to purchase coverage, please contact us and we would be happy to help. You may reach out to us via phone at 877.758.4391 or +1.904.758.4391 or via email at info@internationalstudentinsurance.com.
Category: Health & Safety Abroad, Student Insurance, Student Travel, Travel Warnings
Tags: coronavirus, disease outbreak, travel warnings, trip cancellation insurance
