Does travel insurance still cover coronavirus?
Travel rules have changed a lot since the pandemic. But COVID-19 is still out there, and testing positive could cost you your trip and your deposit.
If you test positive before you fly, your trip could be called off before it’s begun. Pick it up while you’re away and you could find yourself stuck in your room (or cruise cabin) while the holiday fun carries on without you. In some destinations outside of Europe, a positive test can still mean being turned away at the gate altogether – whether you’re coming or going.
With Avanti, there’s no separate COVID policy to buy and nothing extra to pay. COVID-19 is treated like any other covered unforeseen illness – so if it affects your trip, your standard cancellation, curtailment and emergency medical cover applies in the usual way.
Get your quote
Top tip: do you need to be vaccinated for COVID-19 travel insurance?
You don’t need to have had the COVID-19 vaccine to take out a policy with Avanti, and it won’t stop you from getting cover.
What might matter is what happens if you have to make a claim. As with any illness, we expect you to have followed medical advice that applies to you. So if you were specifically recommended to have a COVID-19 vaccination and chose not to, a claim relating to COVID might not be paid out.
Medically exempt from any dose? You can still be covered – just make sure your exemption is documented.
What does travel insurance with COVID cover include?
Here’s a quick look at when your policy will and won’t apply. If you’re not sure how any of these points might affect you, our friendly team can talk them through over the phone and help you understand what your cover includes.
We can usually help if you…
- have to cancel your trip or come home early
If illness (including COVID), injury or bereavement means you can’t travel or need to cut your holiday short, we’ll help with the costs you can’t get back.
- need emergency medical treatment abroad
If you fall ill (including with COVID) or get injured overseas, we’ll cover hospital treatment, ambulance transport and – if needed – medical repatriation, with help from our 24-hour assistance team.
- lose your bags or passport
If your baggage, valuables or travel documents are lost or stolen, we’ll help you replace essentials so you can carry on with your trip.
- are disrupted by bad weather or strikes
If your flight or connection is delayed because of unexpected bad weather, strike action or a vehicle breakdown, we’ll help cover reasonable travel or accommodation costs to get you where you need to be. (This doesn’t apply if the strike or disruption was already public knowledge when you booked your trip).
- are delayed on your journey (Classic and Deluxe)
If your flight or ferry is delayed for 12 hours or more, you’ll get a fixed payment to help with the inconvenience.
- can’t stay in your accommodation (Classic and Deluxe)
If a fire, flood or major power cut means you can’t stay in your hotel or apartment, we’ll help arrange and pay for somewhere else.
- are admitted to hospital while abroad (Classic and Deluxe)
If you’re kept in hospital overnight (including due to COVID), we’ll pay a daily benefit to help with small personal costs while you recover. (If you’re injured in a mugging, an extra payment may also apply).
- are delayed by volcanic ash (Deluxe only)
If a volcanic ash cloud grounds your flight for more than 12 hours, you’ll receive a fixed payment to help with the delay.
- accidentally cause injury or damage
If you unintentionally injure someone or damage their belongings, your policy includes personal liability protection.
- are injured in an accident abroad
If you need legal help after being injured overseas, we’ll cover your legal costs, so you’re not left to manage it alone.
Cover won’t apply if you…
- haven’t told us about a medical condition
If you don’t declare a pre-existing condition, or if your health changes before you travel and you don’t update your policy, we won’t be able to cover related claims.
- travel against UK Government or medical advice
There’s no cover if you travel somewhere the UK Foreign Office has advised against, or if your doctor says you shouldn’t travel for medical reasons.
- have an accident because of alcohol or drugs
We can’t cover claims if alcohol or drugs directly or indirectly contribute to an accident, injury or loss.
- miss a flight because of personal delays
If you don’t leave enough time to reach the airport or check-in, we can’t pay for missed flights or connections.
- leave belongings unattended
There’s no cover if something is lost or stolen after being left unattended – for example, on a sunbed, in an unlocked car or in a public place.
- are travelling for arranged medical treatment abroad
Travel insurance is designed for unexpected illness or injury, not for medical procedures, tests or check-ups arranged before you go.
- booked during a known strike or disruption
If strike action or travel problems were already public knowledge when you booked, your policy won’t apply to those delays or cancellations.
- take part in an activity that isn’t covered
Some higher-risk activities – such as certain winter sports – aren’t automatically included unless you’ve added the right optional cover.
- are waiting for a medical procedure
If you’re awaiting an operation or follow-up test, cancellation and curtailment claims won’t be covered unless it’s an accepted procedure shown on your validation certificate.
Travelling with a medical condition?
97% of customers who declare a condition are offered cover with us. In fact, since 2014, we’ve helped more than 1.3 million travellers arrange cover for over 1,300 medical conditions (subject to screening) – from high blood pressure and diabetes to cancer and heart disease.
In the rare event we can’t offer you travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, we’ll always try to point you in the right direction. We’re proud to be listed in the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) directory – a trusted source for specialist insurers who understand complex health needs. You can also contact them directly on 0370 950 1790 or visit biba.org.uk for free, independent guidance.
Get your quote
Medical conditions we regularly cover
Heart and circulatory conditions
Travelling with a circulatory or heart condition like heart disease, high blood pressure or atrial fibrillation? You’re not alone.
Cancer
Our travel insurance policies can include cover for a wide range of cancers – including some of the most common, such as breast, prostate, bowel, lung and skin cancer.
Breathing and lung conditions
We regularly help travellers with a wide range of breathing conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, COPD and lung fibrosis.
Digestive conditions
Many Avanti travellers live with stomach and bowel conditions such as IBS, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and acid reflux.
Neurodegenerative diseases
Our policies can include protection for neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease, as well as rarer conditions such as Huntington’s disease, Batten’s disease, spinocerebellar ataxia and spinal muscular atrophy.
Mental health conditions
Travel can do wonders for mental wellbeing. If you’re managing a condition like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we’d love to help you see the world.
Autoimmune conditions
The Avanti team regularly arrange cover for travellers with autoimmune conditions such as arthritis, lupus, Addison’s disease and multiple sclerosis. This can include conditions managed with long-term medication or those that cause occasional flare-ups.
Kidney conditions
We often help kidney patients with conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney stones, renal failure, nephritis and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Back and chronic pain
Chronic pain can have many causes – including autoimmune, neurological and digestive disorders – and we understand how differently it can affect each person day to day. We often cover those with conditions such as chronic back pain, slipped discs, sciatica, fibromyalgia and other long-term pain conditions.
Allergies
Allergies shouldn’t stop travel in its tracks. Whether it’s a common sensitivity or something more specific like allergic rhinitis or aspergillosis, we’ll do our best to find the right protection for your trip.
Holiday insurance for long COVID
Around 1.8 million people in the UK are living with long COVID. Planning a holiday when you’re dealing with symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness and difficulty concentrating takes a bit of extra thought, and a particular kind of cover.
We often cover long COVID, and would love to help you get away. It’s listed as an option in our drop-down quote form, so declaring online should be straightforward. Or if you’d rather talk it over, our friendly team are just a call away.
What destinations can I get COVID travel insurance for?
Wherever your passport takes you, Avanti’s COVID travel insurance can come along – provided the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) isn’t advising against non-essential travel to your destination.
Europe
Europe remains within easy reach as long as local entry rules allow. Our travel insurance cover can help with unexpected quarantine costs, unused accommodation if you test positive before you fly home, and emergency medical treatment should Covid-19 land you in a European hospital.
Worldwide
Choose worldwide cover and enjoy the same reassurance on every continent. If pre-departure tests change at the last minute, your policy can pick up the bill for rearranged flights; if a positive result abroad means extra nights in a hotel, daily quarantine benefit steps in. Most importantly, emergency medical expenses are covered up to the limits of your policy, so you can focus on getting well, not on treatment costs.
How to buy travel insurance covering COVID-19
Step 1
You can get a quote online or over the phone. We’ll start by asking a few quick questions – like whether it’s single trip or annual cover, your travel dates, destination and if you’re going on a cruise.
It’s easy to cover an individual, couple, family or group of up to nine travellers online (or up to 30 by phone).
Step 2
Next, we’ll go through a few details about your health over the past two years – including any diagnoses, symptoms, tests or treatment.
Step 3
Once you’ve shared your details, we’ll talk you through your quote, whether online or over the phone. You can choose your level of cover, add any extras and confirm your policy there and then.
You’ll get instant access to your policy documents in My Avanti, where you can view, download or update your details any time.
Get your quote
When to buy COVID-19 travel insurance
MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis is clear: buy your policy ASAB – as soon as you book. The reason is simple. Your cancellation cover starts the moment you take out your policy, so if a positive COVID test or jury duty crops up before you travel, you’re already protected.
Leave it until the week you fly, and any costs you’ve paid up to that point sit squarely on your shoulders. Buying early isn’t about hunting for a cheaper deal, it’s about giving yourself more days of protection. Many Avanti travellers secure their cover on the day they pay their deposit, locking in up to £7,500 of cancellation cover on Deluxe policies straight away. Ready to get organised? Get a quote online in minutes or call our friendly team.
How much is travel insurance with coronavirus cover?
With Avanti, coronavirus cover costs nothing extra. It comes as standard on every policy.
What will affect your price is where you’re going, how long you’ll be going for, your age and any pre-existing medical conditions you declare.
Your chosen cover level can make a difference. Essentials is our most cost-effective option – ideal if you’d rather keep a bit more in your back pocket for the holiday itself. Deluxe tops the table with up to £7,500 cancellation and unlimited medical cover, but is usually the priciest option.
Taking more than one trip this year? An annual multi-trip policy could be better value. And if your quote comes in at £80 or more, you can spread the cost monthly too.* Avanti is a credit broker and not a lender.
Get your quote
Avanti pays when it matters most
We know how important it is to feel confident that your claim will be handled quickly and fairly.
Between February 2024 and July 2025, our customers received more than £31 million, with over 18,000 claims settled.
You can expect to hear from our claims team within five working days of submitting your claim, and in most cases, Avanti strives to make a decision within five days of receiving your documents.
That’s one of the reasons Avanti has been awarded Best Insurance Customer Service by the Personal Finance Awards (2025).
Winner 7 years running: Best Travel Insurance
Our Best Travel Insurance award (Personal Finance Awards, 2018-2025) is based on the experiences of real people who travel with us. They’ve trusted us to help when plans change, flights are cancelled or medical emergencies happen abroad.
From updating policies to arranging hospital care or getting someone home safely, we do what good travel insurance should do – put things right.
Does travel insurance cover COVID outbreaks on cruises (e.g., cabin confinement)?
It’s good to know that COVID protection is included in all our cruise policies. If you test positive on a shipboard outbreak and must isolate in your cabin, we can pay a daily cabin-confinement benefit up to your policy limits (see our policy documents for the exact amount) to help cover the costs of missed shore excursions and extra room-service bills.
Should our 24-hour medical team decide you need treatment ashore, our emergency medical benefits can step in for ambulance or air transfers to hospital. If UK specialists agree you’re fit to travel, we can also arrange and fund repatriation home.
Protection starts before you sail. If you, a travelling companion or someone you live with catches COVID in the run-up to departure, our cancellation cover can refund non-refundable cruise fare and prepaid excursions.
Does travel insurance cover children for COVID-19?
Every child listed on an Avanti family or group policy enjoys the same COVID protection as the adults. That includes emergency medical expenses if they test positive abroad, cancellation cover if they catch the virus before departure, and extra hotel nights or new flights if isolation rules keep the family overseas longer than planned.
What counts as being “up to date” with COVID vaccinations for insurance purposes?
For Avanti, “up to date” mirrors the current NHS vaccination programme. You’re considered fully vaccinated if you’ve accepted every dose you’ve been invited to have. That includes a primary course, a booster, or the latest spring/autumn top-up aimed at people aged 75+, care-home residents and anyone with a weakened immune system.
If you’re healthy and under 50, and the NHS hasn’t invited you to get another booster shot, you’re still considered up to date, as long as you had your last required dose. Declining a jab you were offered without a valid medical reason means we won’t be able to cover you for any COVID-related claims (cancellation, curtailment and accommodation costs).
Hear it from our happy travellers…
“We have had our travel insurance with Avanti for a number of years and have always received good and prompt service, whether by phone or email.
For the first time in many years, we needed to make a claim. Quite simply, we caught COVID 48 hours before we were due to travel and were too sick to walk across a road, let alone travel any distance.
Our claim was dealt with kindly and efficiently. It was explained that there might be a delay due to a heavy case load however, the claim was met in full without undue delay.
We have just renewed our annual policy again.”
Peter, 8 November 2023
“I unfortunately had COVID and was unable to go on a coach holiday. I made a claim and it was settled immediately without any problems. This was much appreciated.”
Cristi, 30 November 2024
“We took out insurance on the 28th of November for our visit to Australia.
The following day, the new COVID variant was disclosed with the WHO advising the sixties need to cancel their journeys until more is known.
I phoned Avanti on the 1st December and explained the situation and they cancelled the policy forthwith and advised the money would be in our account within five working days.
An excellent outcome with little fuss whilst the adviser was polite, friendly and reassuring. Will book again when the situation sorts itself out.”
Brian, 6 December 2021
