Do I Need COVID-19 Insurance To Travel Overseas?

You’ve planned your first holiday abroad in two years and are excited to jet off to your destination.

Your bag is ready, and you’ve designed the perfect itinerary.

But have you thought about getting COVID-19 travel insurance?

The travel industry post-pandemic has changed and some countries now require travellers to hold a COVID-19 travel insurance to be able to visit.

To help you plan the perfect trip and enjoy a well-deserved stress-free holiday, we’ve detailed below the countries that require a COVID-19 insurance and discuss whether you should get cover regardless of your destination’s requirements.

Where Is COVID-19 Travel Insurance Mandatory?

Going on holiday during a pandemic can be challenging, especially given the number of documents you now have to present for check-in and often when landing. And to add to the paperwork mayhem, certain destinations require compulsory COVID-19 insurance cover.

So, to help you better plan your trip and ensure you get to your destination without any issues, here’s a list of some of the most popular countries that make COVID-19 travel insurance mandatory:

Please make sure to consult official sources when planning your trip to access fully updated information.

What Does COVID-19 Travel Insurance Usually Cover?

Depending on your insurance provider and the package you choose, you might be covered for:

COVID-related medical costs when overseas including ambulance transportation costs and medical treatment while overseas
Any trip cancellations and amendments related to COVID-19
Additional COVID-19 expenses before or during your travels

Note that most insurance policies state that you need to be diagnosed with COVID-19 by a qualified medical practitioner. They might also require proof of results of a PCR or registered Rapid Antigen Test. Be sure to check the terms of the policy you're considering buying for more information, as this is just a guide and may not apply to your policy.

Should I Get COVID-19 Travel Insurance If It's Not Mandatory?

Even if you’re visiting a country that doesn’t require you to hold travel insurance with COVID-19 cover, it might be in your best interests to still hold a policy. Sure, it’s an investment. But if your trip doesn’t go to plan because you catch COVID during your travels or if your flight is cancelled before leaving, it'll be way more costly.

And let’s be honest, with the emergence of new variants every few months, and health protocols constantly changing to adapt, your trip could very well be affected.

COVID-19 travel insurance will give you the peace of mind that you won’t be out of pocket if something happens.

Where To Get COVID-19 Travel Insurance?

At upcover, we constantly adapt our policies to our customers needs and that’s why we've decided to include COVID-19 BounceBack insurance to our range of products. This policy is designed to give you a $5,000 payout if you're hospitalised for more than 24 hours due to COVID-19. Check it out for yourself today!