Covid-19 (Coronavirus) - Travel Insurance FAQs

To help you holiday safely over the coming weeks, the team here at Multitrip.com, Ireland’s Favourite Travel Insurance Provider, have put together some essential advice below for travel insurance customers.

Important information for Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and your Travel Insurance

Please check the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website (https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/) to ensure you are up to date on the latest travel advice to the area/country you are travelling to.

We understand that if you are due to travel soon, or if you are abroad already, you may have some concerns around your Travel arrangements.

If you need to make a claim or discuss a claim, then please contact the claims administrators directly on the details below.

Mapfre Ireland
Mapfre Assistance Travel Claims
Telephone: 091 560 619 or
Email: traveldept@mapfre.com

• Q1. Is it too late to purchase a policy for a place which the DFA has banned travel?

  Yes, it is too late to purchase a policy now if the DFA have advised against travel to that area or country.

• Q2. If the DFA has advised against travel to an area as a result of a Covid-19 outbreak, will travel insurance cover cancellation claims where a Policyholder had a holiday?

  Policyholders who have purchased the optional Travel Disruption cover, will be able to claim for cancellation provided that the DFA states that they advise against 'All But Essential Travel' to the specific place or area. A 7-day moratorium applies to cover added to a policy.

  All cover is subject to individual policy limits.

  We will only consider non-refundable expenses on your travel insurance policy, so in the first instance you should approach the airline, your tour operator or your travel company for a possible refund/to see if they will amend your itinerary.

  Important: If the policy or trip was booked after the DFA advice changed to 'All But Essential Travel', the Policyholder will not be able to claim.

• Q3. If the DFA has advised against travel to a particular area as a result of a Covid-19 outbreak and a Policyholder has already booked and paid for flights to that area before the travel advisory was issued, will travel insurance cover the cost of those flights if the Policyholder cancels them and doesn’t fly – even if the Airline operate the flights as normal and fly into the affected areas?

  Policyholders who have purchased the optional Travel Disruption cover, will be able to claim for the cost of the non-refundable flight, provided that the DFA states that they advise against 'All But Essential Travel' to the specific place or area. A 7-day moratorium applies to cover added to a policy.

  All cover is subject to individual policy limits.

  In the first Instance the Policyholder should seek compensation from the airline. In some cases, if the DFA advises against travel to an area it is likely the airline will stop flying to the area and will offer a refund or change of flight. If the policy or trip was booked after the DFA advice changed to 'All But Essential Travel', the policyholder will not be able to claim.

• Q4. If a Policyholder is on holiday and there is an outbreak of Covid-19 at their holiday destination, and the Policyholder then makes arrangements to cut their holiday short and return home as a result of the Covid-19, will travel insurance cover the cost incurred on foot of those arrangements to cut their holiday short and return home?

  A Policyholder who has optional Travel Disruption cover will be covered for irrecoverable unused Travel and Accommodation costs and other unused pre-paid charges (including sports, concert and entertainment tickets) only if the DFA advise against travel to area or if they advise them to leave the country or area.

  If the policy or trip was booked after the DFA advice changed to 'All But Essential Travel', the policyholder will not be able to claim.

• Q5. In the event that an insured person suffers (a) a loss of earnings and (b) additional costs (such as food, personal hygiene products etc.) due to being in quarantine abroad as a result of the Covid-19 virus, will travel insurance cover any such loss of earnings?

  There is no cover under the policy for Consequential Loss (such as food, personal hygiene products etc.) or loss of earnings.

• Q6. Will travel insurance cover any additional Travel and Accommodation costs incurred in the situation where a Policyholder has to go into quarantine abroad?

  We would assume that additional accommodation costs arising from forced quarantine at your pre-booked accommodation or elsewhere, would be met by local authorities.

  Under the Cancellation or Curtailment cover, the Policyholder will be able to claim for any irrecoverable, unused accommodation and other unused prepaid charges, and reasonable additional travel costs to return home once the period of quarantine has ended.

  The quarantine must be in place for a minimum of 48 hours.

  If an insured person cannot return home as scheduled due to being quarantined, the policy will automatically be extended until such time as they are able to return to Ireland.

• Q7. Does standard travel insurance cover the cost of medical expenses which arise as a result of a Policyholder individual falling ill with the Covid-19 while on holiday abroad?

  Yes, Medical Expenses Cover will cover the cost of medical expenses which arise as a result of a Policyholder falling ill with the Covid-19 while on holiday.

  If the policyholder travels against the advice of the DFA then no cover will apply.