Travel and Covid-19: specific insurance becomes compulsory in 34 countries

This is a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic: in principle optional, travel insurance covering any costs related to illness on the spot is becoming compulsory to visit certain countries, while the borders are growing. are opening again beyond Europe. And month after month, the list just keeps growing. If, before the health crisis, only six states required tourists to provide a certificate of health insurance (China, Russia, Cuba, Algeria, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia, see our article), this figure is increased to 23 in September 2020 and now reached 34 at the dawn of the 2021 summer period (

see the full list at the end of the article

), including many very touristy destinations (Thailand, Seychelles, Cuba,Costa Rica...).

Read also: Travel and Covid-19: how to choose the right insurance?

Our comparative table

Concretely, the authorities of the states concerned require an insurance certificate with the mention "Covid" guaranteeing the coverage of any on-site costs related to the disease: quarantine in a hotel, medical repatriation ... The document will be checked on more often when getting on the plane, more rarely when getting off, and sometimes conditions the obtaining of the visa.

Read also: Covid-19 and travel: possible destinations for the French, health pass ... Our map, country by country

Obligations differ from country to country

If a few of these 34 countries simply impose

"health insurance"

without further details, most therefore claim that the costs of health, hospitalization or repatriation be covered if you contract the coronavirus on the spot.

The insurance certificate must mention this coverage in black and white.

It must therefore be expressly requested from your insurer or the insurer of your bank card (Visa, MasterCard, etc.).

Read also: Travel insurance: Covid-19, Visa and MasterCard cards… Answers to your main questions

Small problem: many elderly people, vaccinated and wanting to travel again, have trouble getting insurance.

“Many contracts end at 65, 72 or 75 years. Beyond that, it is sometimes difficult to find an insurance contract, which is why we indicate on our comparator the appropriate contracts according to age ”

alert David Dumont.

Another constraint to be aware of, now, a minimum amount of support is often required.

Thailand, for example, requires health costs to be covered up to ... more than $ 100,000, while Cambodia is satisfied with $ 50,000).

For its part, Costa Rica is asking that accommodation costs in the event of a fortnight be covered up to $ 2,000 and medical costs up to $ 50,000.

And this even for vaccinated people!

From France, currently only Assur-Travel covers this expense, but it is also possible to take out local insurance (unfortunately often quite expensive) when arriving there.

Read also: The Covid-19 insurance certificate, the new sesame for travel

“It is important for travelers to find out if insurance is compulsory in their destination country.

In general, it is often possible to subscribe until the day before departure, ”

explains David Dumont, president of Insurly, a travel insurance comparator.

• To know

Most bank card travel insurance covers medical costs in the event of an epidemic, but not always costs in the event of imposed confinement.

They can therefore be used to travel to countries that do not require a special Covid certificate.

"For the 34 countries concerned by the obligation of certification,

it is recommended to make a request before the trip, directly with the insurance company of your bank card",

recommends David Dumont.

The list of 34 countries requiring a certificate of travel insurance with the mention "Covid"

Africa:

• Algeria

• Benign

• Djibouti

• Mozambique

• Namibia

• Seychelles

• Togo

Asia / Eastern Europe:

• Ukraine

• Russia

Americas

:

• Aruba (West Indies)

• Bahamas

• Bolivia

• Brazil

• Chile

• Costa Rica

• Cuba

• Ecuador

• Guatemala

• Salvador

• Paraguay

• Saint Martin (Dutch)

• Turks and Caicos Islands

Asia

:

• Saudi Arabia

• Cambodia

• China

• Jordan

• Lebanon

• Maldives

• Mongolia

• Nepal

• Oman

• Pakistan

• Philippines

• Thailand