Travel Insurance Companies Now Include COVID-19 Coverage

Updated April 2025

Most travel insurance plans found on TravelInsurance.com will provide trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical, medical evacuation, travel delay coverage and potentially other benefits due to a COVID-19 diagnosis. When quoting and buying on TravelInsurance.com, click on the “COVID-19 FAQs” link next to each plan to read COVID-19 related coverage details. As a response to the global pandemic, many travel insurance companies have updated their policies to treat COVID-19 like any other illness in order help cover American travelers if they contract COVID-19 before or during their trip.

Coronavirus 2019-nCoV (aka COVID-19), which originated in China at the end of 2019, was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March, 11, 2020. While coronaviruses are common and frequently cause only minor illnesses, this new coronavirus has already killed millions of people worldwide. The ongoing pandemic can affect your trip in a variety of ways. Read on to learn how travel insurance can cover COVID-19 related events. 

Is Emergency Medical Coverage Available If I Get COVID-19 While Traveling?

If a policyholder contracts COVID-19 while on their trip, the insurance providers that we work with at TravelInsurance.com offer emergency medical coverage up to the specified plan limits. Most travel insurance providers treat COVID-19 like any other covered sickness or illness. When quoting and buying on TravelInsurance.com, click on the “COVID-19 FAQs” link next to each plan to read COVID-19 related coverage details.

Is Trip Interruption Coverage Available If I Get COVID-19 While Traveling?

If a policyholder contracts an unforeseen sickness while traveling and trip interruption coverage is included in the insurance policy, then the policyholder will generally be covered if they return home early due to the sickness. Most travel insurance providers treat COVID-19 like any other covered sickness or illness. When quoting and buying on TravelInsurance.com, click on the “COVID-19 FAQs” link next to each plan to read COVID-19 coverage details.

Sickness or injury to either the policyholder, a family member, or other travel companion is the most common covered reason for trip interruption, and in such cases as much as 150% of unused prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses can be reimbursed, including accommodation, flights, excursions and tours. This benefit covers more than 100% of the trip cost because travelers typically accrue additional expenses for their last-minute bookings to return home. 

Those looking to take advantage of trip interruption coverage will need to provide medical records obtained from a legally licensed physician, along with receipts that prove any losses.

Is Trip Cancellation Coverage Available If I Get COVID-19 Before Traveling?

For policies that include trip cancellation coverage, policyholders can claim for cancellation of their trip if they cancel because the insured, a family member, or a travel companion becomes seriously ill prior to leaving for their trip. Most travel insurance providers treat COVID-19 like any other covered sickness or illness. When quoting and buying on TravelInsurance.com, click on the “COVID-19 FAQs” link next to each plan to read COVID-19 related coverage details.

Like trip interruption coverage, sickness or injury to a traveler, a family member, or their travel companion is the most common reason for trip cancellation coverage. For most policies, as much as 100% of the prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses can be reimbursed, including accommodation, flights, excursions and tours, and again, medical records and receipts will also have to be supplied during the claims process. Most travel insurance providers now treat COVID-19 like any other covered sickness or illness.

Can I Cancel My Trip If I Am Afraid to Travel Because of COVID-19?

A standard trip cancellation policy will not provide reimbursement for travelers who have booked a trip and simply no longer wish to travel due to fears about the outbreak. Being worried about traveling to a destination is not a covered reason under standard trip cancellation insurance, although most plans will offer trip cancellation coverage if an insured or family member contracts COVID-19 prior to the covered trip.  A policy with an added optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade does provide up to 75% reimbursement coverage (depending on the plan) if you cancel your trip due to fears or worries of travel because it allows you to cancel for any reason at all. Keep in mind that an optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade isn’t available in all policies and it usually increases the base premium by approximately 40%.

If you wish to purchase Cancel For Any Reason coverage, the insurance policy must be purchased within a set amount of days (usually 21 days or less, depending on the plan) after making the first payment for the trip, and the entire pre-paid and non-refundable cost of the trip must be insured. The trip must also be cancelled more than 48 hours prior to the departure date, and as much as 50-75% of the trip can be reimbursed with this benefit, depending on the plan. Buying a plan with an optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is the best way to cover against cancelling your trip due to worries, fears and anything else not covered under standard trip cancellation coverage.

Many plans found on TravelInsurance.com offer an optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements set forth above. Click here to quote, compare and buy travel insurance in under five minutes.

Are Unforeseen Global Events Covered by Travel Insurance Policies?

It is possible for an insurance policy to cover trip cancellation in the event of extreme weather, natural disasters, terrorism or other such events, including a strike with a travel supplier. The covered reasons for trip cancellation vary by plan, so it is important to read those details prior to purchase.*

Can I Cancel My Trip Due to a CDC Alert or State Department Travel Restriction?

Typically, travel insurance policies do not cover CDC alerts or State Department travel restrictions as a covered reason for trip cancellation. One way to cover these events is to purchase an optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade for your travel insurance policy. 

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*Please note, terms and conditions can differ between providers and plans. If you purchase a plan with a Cancel For Any Reason upgrade, you will be able to cancel your trip for any reason at all. Please refer to your policy’s Description of Coverage.