Travel insurance in case COVID test positive.

I like allianz because they clearly state their covid coverage on their website. That’s who I get, but I have not had to file a claim. So, I can’t speak to their handling of processing claims.

I just need any potential quarantine costs covered. So, I put in $0 for the trip cost. For my trip to Switzerland, the cost is $46.

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/

I usually count on my credit card travel insurance, but reports of extended stays due to positive covid tests caused me to buy additional insurance for my trip next fall.

I also went with Allianz. I know others have used different providers such as travel guard, etc.

I chose Allianz because I felt it was a more reasonable price and they did clearly state their policy for extra costs associated with trip delay/interruption due to a positive covid test. In addition, it was clear that an official covid test was enough to file a claim. A diagnosis from a doctor was not also required. I felt that this was a positive. When you first look at their policies, it shows something like $250 day for 5 days ($1250). You could pick higher. They later clarify that the 5 day limit is waived under the current rules and they would cover past 5 days but not past the total amount of coverage offered. So, if your expense ran $150 a day, you would be covered for 8.3 days. to reach the $1250 liimt.

With all insurance, it pays to look at the policy closely. I am hoping that I won't have to report how this policy worked for me :)

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/travel/insurance-101/the-epidemic-coverage-endorsement-explained.htm

I'm just curious--in the past, you usually had to purchase travel insurance within 30 days of booking (this varied). Is this usually still the case?

valadelphia, As far as I know, you can purchase whenever you want. Last year, I purchased a few days before my trip. And I have yet to purchase for my upcoming trip. I leave June 4th. I’ll wait until after the 1st to buy, just in case any CDC travel rules are changed. For me, there would be no difference in price if I purchased months earlier.

I hope it does not have to be purchased within 30 days of booking because we booked it weeks ago. I just realized I should be covered through work, I am going to a conference and work is paying for my air travel and a week of hotel, taking vacation before and after so I am thinking we only need to cover my wife should she test positive. That should reduce the cost, and I may make the trip cost $0 also because my only coverage concern is an extended stay if she tests positive.

Most policies have an option which provides pre-existing illness coverage. In order to get that option you usually must purchase the policy 10-14 days (varies by policy) from the time you make your first payment towards your trip. If you fail to do that you can get insurance at anytime up to departure, but it may not cover any claim due to a pre-existing condition.

Valadelphia, in my experience the time frame for purchase was related to having pre-existing conditions covered. I’ve bought trip insurance up to a week before I left.

I debated about getting coverage for the possibility of Covid hotel stays. I figured I could cover the possibility of 11 or 12 extra nights assuming no symptoms so I just kept my credit cards paid down.

The people who are having difficulty finding a place to stay and “can’t return” hopefully have now figured out how to get a Drs statement of recovery. Sorry they are having difficulty with lodging though.

I think you are fine. You are not wanting coverage for a pre-existing condition. In fact, it is entirely opposite. You want coverage for a condition that may show up during your trip. You can purchase up to the day of travel.

Thanks everyone--I'm waffling but I had thus far decided to just risk it and pay for extra lodging if I test positive. The kicker will be if we can extend the car rental!

hert5201, I think it's one or the other.

The Epidemic Coverage Endorsement specifically includes an epidemic disease, such as COVID-19, as a covered illness. The standard conditions apply. A positive COVID-19 test or diagnosis by a physician is considered verification of illness, even if the traveler is asymptomatic.

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/travel/insurance-101/the-epidemic-coverage-endorsement-explained.htm

Very, this is the Allianz policy. They sent out an email clarifying this. Official positive test is enough to start claim

hert5201, click on the link provided by roubrat and scroll down until you see this. Look at the last sentence.

Trip Cancellation When You’re Diagnosed With COVID-19 Scenario: You’ve
booked an adorable cottage for your family vacation to Sanibel Island,
Florida. Three days before you’re supposed to leave, your spouse
begins to feel unwell. You anxiously await his test results, then
learn he has COVID-19. Your first concern is for his health; your
second concern is all the money you’re going to lose on this vacation.
It’s too late to get a refund. Can your travel insurance with the
Epidemic Coverage Endorsement help? Yes, if your plan also includes
Trip Cancellation benefits. A serious illness suffered by the insured
person, a traveling companion or a family member is a covered reason
for trip cancellation. The Trip Cancellation benefit can reimburse you
for nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs, up to the maximum benefit in
your plan, if you must cancel your trip for a covered reason. The
Epidemic Coverage Endorsement specifically includes an epidemic
disease, such as COVID-19, as a covered illness. The standard
conditions apply. A positive COVID-19 test or diagnosis by a physician
is considered verification of illness, even if the traveler is
asymptomatic.

Edited to add link not specific to Cancellation:

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/coverage-alerts/2019-novel-coronavirus.htm

hert5201, I like to get my info. directly from the source. So, if you have concerns or questions, I suggest reaching out directly to Allianz. That way you can be assured you are getting correct info.

One person who was quarantined in Italy said very good things about the help she received from Travel Guard.

Be very careful here. You have to read everything, and not bootstrap language from one section of an insurance policy into another, separate section.

The Epidemic Coverage Endorsement cited above by roubrat says that it includes coverage for covid-19. Okay so far. But the later section quoted by Carrie, which says a positive test is considered sufficient proof of illness, comes under the “Cancellation” provisions—-applicable to a trip you have to cancel because you are ill on the day you are set to travel.

That provision headed “Cancellation” applies only to cancellation due to covid infection. It does not apply to trip “extension” necessitated by a positive diagnosis at the end of the trip. You need to look through the policy to find something specific to that. Do not assume it is there.

Hert. Believe what you want to believe. I will stick with what I have in writing from the company. I wish you well.

Allianz requires the same proof for cancellation or delay/interruption:

Please note, to confirm COVID-19 illness, we require a physician’s
diagnosis or confirmation, or the verified record of a positive
molecular (e.g. PCR) or antigen COVID-19 test performed by a third
party testing service provider.

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/coverage-alerts/2019-novel-coronavirus.htm

As I mentioned above, I encourage anyone with concerns or questions to reach out directly to the insurance provider. That way you can be assured you are getting correct info.

hert5201, can you please let us know what they said?

So is it safe to say that the same test required to get on an airplane and fly back to the US is good enough for them?

I just sent allianz this question and will let you know what i hear back. But you may want to send them your own question so you have a written copy of their response.

Hello--
Does the "the verified record of a positive molecular (e.g. PCR) or antigen COVID-19 test performed by a third party testing service provider" include a self-proctored test that the US accepts for entry into the country, like the Abbott BinaxNOW with telehealth?
Thanks,
Carrie

Just following up that I did get a “response” from allianz to my question above. Unfortunately, it was a canned response that did not answer my question. I sent a follow-up and will report back if the question gets answered. I did try calling, but with higher than normal wait times, I didn’t want to sit on hold.

Dear valued customer
Thank you for contacting Allianz Global Assistance. And, thank you for your interest in our insurance; it is my pleasure to assist you
today. We appreciate your interest in our Travel Insurance plans.
If you have not already done so, please visit our website at
www.allianztravelinsurance.com You will be able to view and compare
our plans to determine which best fits your travel needs. You can also
view the terms and conditions of our plans. If you would like to be
assisted over the phone to purchase a policy, you can do so by calling
us at the phone number listed below and selecting option 2 – Purchase
a policy. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please
feel free to contact us at customerservice@allianzassistance.com or
800-284-8300. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Thank
you for your interest in our insurance.

Thanks for taking the time to do that, Carrie.

We bought the AIG/Travelguard insurance and we’re glad we did. We just returned from the Best of Europe in 15 days and we never left Italy as we both contracted Covid on our trip, on our 5th day, in Venice. I tested positive and 3 days later, my husband tested positive. (Italy’s laws surrounding Covid are the strictest in Europe, we were told.) We spent 13 days in quarantine in an old hotel in mainland Venice. It was not fun. We have not turned in our receipts to the insurance company, so it’s too early to say if it was a good deal. The government of Italy pays for the testing, room and provides lunch and dinner (we opted to order restaurant food through delivery apps, which is not covered by the government.)

After another nonresponsive email from Allianz, I decided to call them. A proctored self-test is not sufficient proof for the trip delay coverage. So, one would have to go to a doctor or pharmacy or testing center to be tested.

It's really concerning that Carol now retired was told by Allianz that a test is enough, and Carrie was told the opposite.

I think carol might have asked about tests in general. A test is acceptable, but it has to be the right kind of test. So, a test as long as it is not a proctored self-test is ok. That's my understanding anyway.

So a proctored self test is not sufficient for Allianz, but a test at a pharmacy would be?

Sounds like it, isn't that awesome. The test is good enough to prevent you from being able to return to the US but not good enough to get your trip insurance to pay the costs associated with not being able to go home......

Yeah, it's frustrating, that's for sure.

Just to stir the pot, I called Allianz and asked if a "telemedicine" or "proctored" test that was accepted by the airlines would also be accepted by Allianz to file a claim for covid coverage. I was assured that it would be. I think the exact words that you use and also which customer service agent that you get makes a difference.

If they hear "home test" they may not hear "proctored." If they hear "telemedicine" and "airline approved" it seems to bring a different result. The lab report that you get from emed is an official lab report.

In summary, there still remains a bit of a question on this one..........

Oh geez!

Carol, I think you hit the nail on the head with depends "which customer service agent that you get makes a difference"

Carol, wow!!! I specifically mentioned proctored test that is accepted by the US to enter the country. Sounds like if someone has to file a claim, it is best to include all the buzz words—proctored, telemed, US approved, airline approved, etc.

And roubrat is right too—might be a matter of who is answering the calls and who is processing the claims. Keep in mind everyone that if insurance claims are denied, they can be appealed. Never take the first "no" as the final answer.

I just bought my policy from Allianz. $46 for $1000 of trip delay coverage. The fact that I bought it probably means I won’t need it and will be testing negative. 😊

In case it's helpful to anyone, we purchased an annual, multi-trip plan through a USAA provider, Travel Insured. The application process is started via the USAA website but you're pushed to the Travel Insured site for the booking. We have two international trips this year (at least) so opted for the annual plan which was about $85 per person. You just update via their website for each trip you need covered. We don't typically purchase insurance but figured for this cost, we'd be covered for anything catastrophic and maybe even for relatively minor inconveniences if needed.

I am in Canada and have two trips planned. First one tomorrow, to Switzerland and Italy, hurray! I have an annual health plan through BCAA (AAA in the US) that will cover any costs (hospital etc) related to being very sick with Covid. I always travel with trip interruption/cancellation insurance and on our last trip to Europe we had a medical emergency with 3 1/2 weeks left on our trip and I received $14,000 back! I have bought two policies with Allianz. One to cover trip cancellation/interruption including Covid and a separate Covid policy that will cover quarantine accommodation/meals for up to 14 days at $150/day. Not a lot but could be very helpful.