The Covid-19 pandemic is likely to profoundly change the way we travel: vaccination pass, antigen test or PCR before boarding a plane, wearing a mask, vaccination pass, risk of quarantine... All of this is now part of the getaway abroad, in the same way as a passport or a visa.
Solid coverage for cancellations, health costs or repatriation will be more often necessary or even mandatory since 40 countries impose it in 2022, and not the least (Thailand, Cuba, Oman, Kenya...), now impose it.
In this context, it becomes imperative to know to what extent your insurance covers you before packing your suitcase, and to ask yourself about the advisability of taking out specific travel insurance which, at this stage, remains optional for a French traveler.
Read alsoTravel: in 2022, Covid-19 insurance will become compulsory in 40 countries
Do I need to take out additional travel insurance?
Often considered a "
nice to have
", a gadget that we can afford not to take, travel insurance, especially in its health costs part, actually covers health and social guarantees that would be difficult to be taken care of alone.
“The French are well covered by Social Security and their complementary health insurance in France.
And they often think it will be the same abroad.
However, as soon as they cross the border, the probability of spending €50,000 on medical expenses is not zero.
This is true in
Europe
and even more so in the rest of the world”,
explains Quentin Poizat, Leisure and Tourism Sales Director at the insurer Allianz Partners France.
The prices charged by American, Australian or Japanese hospitals are particularly known to be exorbitant.
“The health crisis we are experiencing has heightened travelers' awareness of the risks they incur when traveling abroad without insurance.
This is evidenced by the significant increase in subscription rates since the start of the pandemic”,
adds the professional.
As a reminder, travel insurance generally costs 3 to 6% of the price of the getaway.
And on a hospitalization at €20,000 in Spain, Social Security will only reimburse €1,250 on its scale.
Read alsoTravel and Covid-19: how to choose the right insurance?
Our comparison table
What travel insurance covers the consequences of Covid-19?
The Covid pandemic which has been hitting the whole world for two years has upset the world of travel insurance, which has adapted and continues to do so day after day.
In fact, the consequences of epidemics and pandemics were not originally covered by any market insurer.
They were part of the long-standing general exclusions, professionals being unable to insure a so-called “systemic” event, likely to affect all their policyholders at the same time and in all countries.
Despite this exclusion, in fact, insurers showed flexibility from the first weeks of the epidemic by granting guarantees anyway.
Read alsoTravel insurance: why it is crucial to take the time to compare
They have since adapted to the epidemic situation to enrich their insurance guarantees, either directly in the contract, or in the form of a “Covid extension” invoiced for a few additional euros.
“Today, it's complicated for people to embark on a trip, the probability of not leaving or of being 'stuck' on the spot is high.
As a travel insurance broker, we try to allow them to travel with peace of mind,”
emphasizes Geoffroy Bonnet-Eymard, Director of Chapka Assurances (AON).
Thus, most travel insurers now cover “financial contingencies linked to a pandemic” (current and future). In other words: on-site health costs if he contracts the disease during his stay and accommodation/extension of stay in the event of quarantine, cancellation costs if the insured or a member of his immediate family is diagnosed positive for Covid or contact case before a return flight, for example.
“Finally, we consider Covid-19 as a “normal” disease so that the guarantees can play. And other advances could still see the light of day, such as travel reimbursement in the event of non-obtaining the results of an anti-Covid test in time (document that has become essential for many destinations)”
announces Chapka Assurances.
Read alsoCovid-19: "Tested positive before flying, can I be reimbursed?"
"We have added many guarantees to our contracts that did not exist until then, for example the possibility of canceling your trip in the event of quarantine",
specifies Allianz Partners.
On the other hand, the consequences of pandemics such as confinement, the closing of a border or quite simply the renunciation of travel due to the “fear of travelling” remain excluded.
Similarly,
“a non-vaccinated traveler who decides to go to a
country advised against by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (red country)
will not be covered for health costs related to this disease or in the event of quarantine.
On the other hand, it will remain covered in the event of a diving accident or in the event of another illness”,
adds Chapka Assurances.
Read alsoWhere can we travel?
Our map of open countries and restrictions for French tourists
What exactly does my Visa or Mastercard credit card travel insurance cover?
To begin with, you must actually have paid for your trip with your Visa or MasterCard credit card to be able to benefit from the insurance guarantees included.
Travel insurance included in "classic" bank cards is light.
They do not include the cancellation guarantee and are limited to repatriation, cancellation for very specific causes (illness, death of a member of your family, serious damage to your home or redundancy, etc.) and the costs of health (with ceilings and restrictive deductibles).
As for luggage, it is insured only when it is on the plane, but not during the stay, and for relatively small amounts.
These cards are sufficient for trips to Europe in major capitals without risky activities.
High-end bank cards such as Visa Premier or MasterCard Gold offer guarantees almost equivalent to market insurers for health costs, with however slightly lower ceilings: €30,000 compared to €100,000 in Europe, €150,000 compared to €1,000. .000€ in the United States.
In any case, the guarantees present in the credit cards do not apply to trips of more than 90 days.
But the big difference is based on the cancellation guarantee.
Read alsoTravel cancellation insurance, instructions for use
This is triggered for "all causes" with the main insurers (even for example if your pet is sick or in the event of a sprain resulting in an inability to travel), while it remains quite restrictive on high bank cards of range.
“Bank card insurance has followed the post-Covid movement to extend coverage, but in a more limited way, especially for cancellation cover.
For example, they do not cover accommodation costs in the event of quarantine upon return, nor last-minute cancellations due to a fever at the airport.
In general, they are less reactive and will take longer to repay, because travel insurance is not their primary business,”
analyzes Geoffroy Bonnet-Eymard (Chapka Assurances).
Read alsoCovid-19: “What happens if I test positive while on vacation abroad?”
How to choose the right travel insurance?
Many travelers think that the risk when buying a trip is limited to cancellation fees and the cost of the stay.
To choose well, you must therefore first know what can be insured: cancellation of course, but also health costs, repatriation, loss of luggage, interruption of stay... Most of the Insurers today offer packages or "multi-risk insurance" which combine all these guarantees at the same time and reinforce those already acquired in bank cards or complementary health insurance.
To make a good comparison, it is important not to stop at the list of guarantees but also to look at the coverage ceilings and the associated services (doctor accessible by telephone 24 hours a day, local translator, etc.).
Should I take out insurance at the same time as buying my trip?
For cancellation insurance, the question does not arise, because it must legally be subscribed at the time of the purchase of a trip (or within the following 48 hours) in order to be valid.
On the other hand, the cost of treatment, loss of luggage, repatriation and interruption of stay can be purchased after, or even up to the day before departure.
The advantage of being insured at the time of the purchase of the trip is above all a form of peace of mind, and makes it possible to be sure not to forget afterwards.
On the other hand, this does not leave time for reflection and/or comparison.
Read alsoCovid-19: “Positive abroad, how to have this test recognized in France?”
How to use travel insurance?
Like all insurance, we hope never to need it.
However, if you have to use your travel insurer, and in order not to waste too much time looking for useful information, know that you must have two essential elements with you: the number of the telephone platform to contact from the France or abroad, and your insurance membership number.
With these two keys, the insurer will confirm (or not) the proper management of your problem (cancellation, accident, loss of luggage, illness, etc.) and will take care of opening your file.
He will then communicate to you the list of supporting documents to be provided to trigger
the implementation of the guarantees, such as the medical certificate or the invoice for cancellation costs...
.
Be careful, in the event of a claim, the family name will not be enough to identify you, the insurers will need the membership number.
Then, the claims department will take care of everything quickly,”
confirms Chapka Assurances.
