In 2021, we put together some information to help prospective travellers learn about buying travel insurance during a global pandemic. That blog post is still a great place to start as you plan your 2022 vacations. In the face of new variants, like Omicron, there are additional factors that you should take into consideration when organizing travel and choosing the right insurance option. 

Government advisories 

From the moment you start planning your trip right through to when you return home, you need to be monitoring government advisories for Canada, your destination, and any other countries you are travelling through. These advisories provide essential information that could impact you.  For example, if an advisory is in place when you book your trip, your insurance may not cover costs incurred for activities that contravene the advisory. The same applies to advisories for the area you are travelling to. Aside from Covid-related issues, travel insurance can be nullified if there were advisories in place pertaining to local safety conditions, other health hazards and restrictions, as well as natural hazards. 

Another reason it is critical to stay updated on advisories is because they may contain important information that you need to enter different countries. For example, some places like Oman and Belize require visitors to purchase Covid-specific travel insurance. For Belize, visitors must buy Belize Travel Health Insurance to enter the country and satisfy other requirements including testing and specific accommodation criteria.  Countries like Oman require that visitors have a designated minimum amount of Covid-related travel insurance and the supporting documentation to be allowed entry. Bookmark all relevant government advisory websites and check them regularly before and during your trip.   

Access to testing

Testing will be a regular part of travel for the foreseeable future. At this time, travel insurance does not cover the cost of Covid tests required for travel. This is an additional cost that you need to factor into your budget and itinerary.  Before you leave for your trip, make sure you understand the testing requirements for entering and exiting Canada as well as the other destinations on your adventure. Whenever possible, book the required tests in advance so that you aren’t left scrambling.  If you miss a test or the results take too long and you miss a flight, you need to know if your travel insurance will cover additional costs incurred due to the missed flight. 

Covid-specific travel insurance

Depending on the travel insurance you choose, you may need to purchase an additional policy to cover unexpected Covid-related costs. Many insurance companies now offer a top-up pandemic plan rider. Separate from traditional travel insurance, this add-on covers things like trip cancellations or longer-term stays due to a positive test result.  It can also cover temporary living and medical expenses. 

Before booking a trip, make sure you review and understand the cancellation policy and how you might be affected.  For example, some vacation packages won’t refund cancelled trips unless you have proof of contracting Covid. You might not be reimbursed if you choose to cancel out of an abundance of caution in response to rising case rates. Most policies cover cancellation for extenuating events like natural disasters or unexpected medical emergencies. To cover a proactive cancellation without an extenuating circumstance, travellers should opt for insurance that allows them to cancel for any reason.   

Before booking your trip and finalizing your travel insurance policy, ask your insurance provider for a detailed breakdown of all the Covid-related expenses covered by a regular travel plan and an enhanced Covid-specific policy. Make sure you keep this list with you as you travel!

Lastly, check if your insurance policy has any vaccination requirements for Covid.  Some policies offer different coverage amounts based on vaccination status.  In some cases, fully vaccinated travellers may not be required to purchase an additional rider for Covid-related expenses. 

We are hopeful that 2022 will include some great vacation trips for you! We’ve said it before and we’re saying it again: even though things are different, travel can still be fun, safe, and covered by insurance. The best advice we can give is two-fold. First, be sure you understand your policy and exclusions before booking your next trip. Second, work with a qualified travel insurance broker, like us, to ensure you are purchasing the right policy for your circumstances.