Does my travel insurance also cover cancellations due to Covid-19?
January 1, 2023 | 45,00 EUR | answered by Ingo Gallenberg
Dear Insurance Law Attorney,
My name is Ammelie Ackermann and I am facing a problem with my travel insurance. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, I had to cancel my planned vacation trip. Now I am wondering if my travel insurance also covers this situation and can reimburse me for the costs.
The situation is as follows: I had booked a trip to Spain for early April, but it was canceled due to travel restrictions and increased risks associated with the Coronavirus. As a result, I incurred costs for flight tickets, accommodation, and activities that I can no longer use.
My concern is that my travel insurance may not provide coverage for cancellation due to Covid-19. I am unsure if the insurance policy covers such a situation or if it is considered a special case that is not insured.
Therefore, I would like to seek your advice: Does my travel insurance apply to cancellations due to Covid-19? If not, are there any ways I can still receive a refund of the costs? I would greatly appreciate it if you could assist me in this matter.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Ammelie Ackermann
Dear Mrs. Ackermann,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding your travel insurance and the cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is certainly a challenging situation that affects many travelers. I understand that you are concerned about the costs incurred by cancelling your planned trip and whether your insurance can cover this.
Regarding the question of whether your travel insurance also covers cancellations due to Covid-19, I can inform you that it depends on the type of travel insurance you have taken out. Usually, travel insurance covers cancellation costs arising from unforeseen events such as illness, accidents, or natural disasters. Whether the Covid-19 pandemic is considered such an event depends on the terms of your insurance.
Therefore, it is important that you carefully read the insurance policy and check if Covid-19 is listed as a covered risk. Some insurances have introduced special clauses that provide protection in case of travel disruptions due to epidemics or pandemics. Others explicitly exclude such cases. It is crucial to know what conditions are stated in your contract.
If your travel insurance does not provide coverage for cancellation due to Covid-19, there may be other options to get the costs refunded. Some airlines and travel companies have introduced generous cancellation and rebooking policies due to the exceptional circumstances. Therefore, it is worth contacting these providers directly and looking for a solution.
In any case, I recommend contacting your travel insurance as well and explaining your situation. There may be room for goodwill gestures or alternative benefits that you can take advantage of.
I hope this information helps you and wish you success in resolving your insurance matter. If you have any further questions, I am at your disposal.
Best regards,
Ingo Gallenberg
Insurance Lawyer
