Latest News
Update 19 March 1600
Important notice if you are abroad and yet to return home
Please note as well that if you have been affected by the closure of borders or withdrawal of public transport facilities then your cover will automatically extend until such time as you can get the first available mode of transport home. Please review the terms and conditions of your policy for further details or if you have any specific questions then please email us at support@online-travelcover.com or use the live chat facility on our website, www.onlinetravelcover.com
Update 18 March 1530
COVID-19 Exceptional Travel Advisory Notice
As countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel and border restrictions, the FCO advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Any country or area may restrict travel without notice.
Update 17 March 1600
Please note, that all our policies do not provide cover for cancellation, abandonment or curtailment claims if the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all or “all but essential” travel. We also can not cover any claims relating to any fear or threat concerning these viruses.
The Bronze, Silver, Gold, Leisure, Active, Action and Extreme Policies have had their terms and conditions amended to no longer cover any claims caused by or relating to Coronavirus, COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-COV-2), any mutation of Coronavirus, COVID-19 or SARs-COV-2 or any pandemic or fear or threat of any the above. This general exclusion applies to all sections of cover except for the Emergency Medical Expenses section
Update. 15 March 1200.
Due to Spain declaring a State of Emergency on 14 March, which imposes significant restrictions on movement throughout the country in response to the coronavirus outbreak, we are now advising against all but essential travel to Spain.
Update. 13 March 1930.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) against all but essential travel to the regions that the Spanish Ministry of Health have designated as areas of community transmission of coronavirus, as follows: Madrid and La Rioja, and the municipalities of La Bastida and Vitoria (both in the Basque Country) and Miranda de Ebro (in Castilla y León)
Update. 12 March 1700.
Slovakia re-introduces border checks, closes its borders to non-residents and shuts down international airports to prevent travel to and from the country, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini has announced the new regulations on Wednesday
Update 11 March 1725.
WHO upgrade the outbreak to a Pandemic. The FCO advise remains as follows
The FCO is currently advising:
- against all travel to Hubei Province, in China
- against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China. If you’re in China and able to leave, you should do so.
- against all travel to the cities of Daegu, Cheongdo and Gyeongsan in South Korea.
- against all but essential travel to Italy.
We are not advising against travel to any other country/territory as a result of coronavirus risks.
Update. 11 March 0920.
Following the lockdown in Italy we can no longer provide travel insurance cover for Italian residents travelling outside of Italy under our EEA policies until a change in the FCO status advising against all but essential travel is lifted.
Update. 10 March 0845
Following an update from the FCO we can no longer provide cover for clients travelling to Italy if they have purchased cover after this change in status.
Advice on Coronavirus and how it affects your cover
Where there is no Foreign Office advice against travel to a country or a specific resort or area of a country the following applies:
If there is no Government advice against travel to your destination, you’re free to make the choice not to go, but there is no obligation for your holiday company to give you a refund. Normal cancellation charges will apply and you cannot claim any cancellation charge on your insurance as there is no cover for disinclination to travel.
Where the Foreign Office advises against travel to a country or a specific resort or area of a country the following applies:
Does my tour operator have to refund the full package or only the parts of my holiday that are cancelled?
Tour operators can offer alternative holidays if they are able to. If these mean a significant change to the original arrangements, for example spending the whole or part of the holiday in a different country, you aren’t obliged to accept the alternative and will be entitled to a full refund of the package price.
When am I not entitled to a full refund?
If you have booked a package and are not due to travel imminently, tour operators will decide on an ongoing basis how far in advance they’ll begin offering alternative arrangements or providing refunds. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice is in relation to imminent departures and it is too early to say that your holiday can’t go ahead as planned. Therefore, customers with future departure dates will be required to wait to find out whether the advice changes and their holiday can continue as planned. If you cancel early you may have to pay cancellation charges.
If I cannot follow my initial travel plans due to the Coronavirus outbreak, am I entitled to compensation?
You won’t be entitled to any compensation, as the reason for the holiday not continuing is outside the control of the tour operator
What happens if I become sick or quarantined abroad:
Will my policy cover medical treatment for the Coronavirus? And will repatriation be covered?
If you catch Coronavirus or require medical treatment, then yes cover will be in place for emergency and necessary treatment. Customers should be aware that our policies are travel insurance policies and not private medical insurance meaning that there is no cover for any medical expenses incurred in private medical facilities if we have confirmed that medically capable public facilities are available.
If I am quarantined due to the Coronavirus, what cover is in place?
If you are admitted to hospital your policy will usually provide assistance with returning home when you have been discharged.
Do you have policies that provide comprehensive cover for epidemics such as this?
We do have policies that can provide cover pre travel and provide extended journey disruption however due to the highly fluid nature of the outbreak, these can only be bought over the phone on 0330 880 5097 where our staff can ensure that travel to your intended destination has not been changed by the FCO.
Please click on the following link to see the latest travel advice from the FCO: FCO Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)