More woes for travel insurers and customers as Covid corridor to France shuts

Travel insurers have been digesting the implications of further quarantines imposed by the UK government of people returning from several countries, including France.

Travellers from France, The Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks and Caicos and Aruba join those returning from Spain in having to quarantine for 14 days upon their return to the UK from Saturday as a response to rising rates of Covid-19 infections.

The government previous announced a series of travel corridors, which included many of the major tourist hotspots.

Those who booked holidays before restrictions were originally by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in March shouldn’t have a problem claiming on their policies, but insurers introduced exclusions to cover for those travelling after.

Antony Martin, managing director at travel insurance provider Insurefor said the restrictions would “once again knock consumer confidence”, and the firm was looking to change its travel products in the event that the government imposes further quarantine requirements for UK travellers visiting other destinations”.

”For customers who haven’t yet travelled to France, The Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks and Caicos and Aruba, visiting a country after the FCO has advised against non-essential travel would make their travel insurance invalid,” he added.

But if a customer travelled before the corridor was removed, then the policy remains in force, Martin said.

Corridor renders 

Tommy Lloyd, managing director at Medical Travel Compared, a travel insurance comparison site for those with medical conditions, said the announcement ”is understandably going to make a lot of people very worried”.

The removal of the corridor renders the majority of travel policies to those countries invalid, he added.

”The main piece of advice I would give people travelling to any destination is to firstly make sure they have travel insurance and then secondly check that their travel insurance covers them for coronavirus related incidents.

“I have always said how important it is to buy travel insurance at the time of booking and this horrendous situation is a good example of why this is an absolute necessity.

”Generally, if you booked travel insurance right now for an imminent holiday to France, The Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks and Caicos and Aruba, as the FCO advisory is now a ‘known event’, it is likely you would not be able to claim for a cancellation.

”However, your holiday provider and/or airline should provide you with a refund as FCO advice is now in place and claims should be pursued through them in the first instance,” Lloyd said.

“It is important to have a conversation with your insurer if you have any concerns, particularly because if they advise you of something, they are bound by that, so it is worth taking note of all conversations you have to clarify elements of your policy.

”Travel insurance is a hugely important part of a holiday and is often overlooked or an afterthought. When people buy a car, they immediately buy insurance – the same should go for a holiday.”

A spokesperson from travel insurer tifgroup said: “Anyone on an extended trip to one of the countries affected by the new guidance will most likely be expected to make every effort to return home as soon as they possibly can, or potentially face voiding their travel insurance.

“Those on an extended holiday (a trip that lasts longer than 28 days) should contact their travel insurance provider in the first instance to discuss their options.”