Corona and travel: what is insured and how?

Carola Felchner is a freelance writer in the medical department and a certified training and nutrition advisor. She worked for various specialist magazines and online portals before becoming a freelance journalist in 2015. Before starting her internship, she studied translation and interpreting in Kempten and Munich.

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When trips abroad are possible again, travelers face special challenges and risks during Corona times. Do insurance companies protect?

The Federal Foreign Office is lifting its travel warnings for many European countries and replacing them with travel advice with recommendations on what to do. For around 160 other countries, including many popular travel destinations, the travel warning was extended until the end of August. The warning does not prohibit travel to these countries, but it does involve additional risks, for example with travel insurance. What should tourists know about this?

Treatment costs abroad

If there is a travel warning for the country in question at the start of the journey, the tariffs of the foreign health insurance companies usually exclude the assumption of treatment costs, explains the Association of Insureds (BdV). If there is no travel warning, as is now the case in many European countries, it is worth taking a look at the respective contract. If pandemics are excluded, then there is no insurance cover in the event of Covid 19 disease.

After all: According to the BdV, a "medically necessary return transport" is often insured. If you have concluded a better tariff, an unnecessary, but at least "medically sensible return transport" can be covered. According to the information, a foreign health insurance company will also cover the costs of a corona test if the authorities or doctors order it.

Under certain circumstances, it can also be worthwhile for those with statutory health insurance to ask the health insurance company. This can also cover treatment costs abroad: The Federation of Insureds speaks of the fact that partial benefits could be paid in other EU countries if necessary.

Cancellation of travel if the number of cases in a travel destination increases again

In the event that the number of corona cases in the selected holiday country should increase sharply again before the start of the trip without a new travel warning being issued, insured persons have poor cards in the event of a voluntary cancellation of the trip. Because the travel cancellation insurance only pays cancellation fees if the insured person falls ill unexpectedly or is prevented by events such as the death of relatives, unemployment or short-time work, explains the Hamburg consumer center.

According to information provided by the insured federal government, however, none of the travel cancellation tariffs offered on the market will assume cancellation costs if vacationers terminate a travel contract purely out of fear.

Return travel costs in the event of a new travel warning

The travel warning has now been lifted for some countries. However, should it come to this in the near future that these warnings are issued again, the travel cancellation insurance does not protect you. Travel warnings are generally not insured, according to the federal government of the insured. This also applies if you have to break off a trip without any health impairment on the part of the traveler that justifies his return transport.

The foreign health insurance for travelers does not apply if you want to return home early in the event of a new travel warning. Exceptions only apply if the return trip is related to one's own illness. (caf / dpa)

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