Why ‘war cover’ isn’t the best travel insurance option to save your holiday this year

Frustrated UK travellers have been trying to navigate the ever-changing advice from the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) during this summer season. As the air bridges to
France, Croatia and various popular resorts collapse, consumers are desperate to buy travel insurance that will offer some security from the COVID-19 disruption.

However certain products have entered the domestic market which are not entirely
appropriate for a family holiday. These policies are called ‘war policies’, and have been
designed to cover people who still need to travel to countries which the FCO have
designated dangerous. UK nationals have been advised not to travel to these countries
unless the travel is essential, as countries with high ‘R rates’ may refuse to see foreign
nationals who fall ill abroad, if their hospitals are at full capacity.

Fiona Macrae, head of consumer awareness initiative travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk
explains what these war policies cover, the potential consequences of travelling against FCO advice and the restrictions war policies have which make them unsuitable for holidaymakers looking to salvage their summer holiday plans:

What is a ‘war cover’ insurance policy?

A war insurance policy can mean various things. It can apply to business insurance, for
example a war risk insurance cover. It is an insurance policy which covers losses resulting
from events such as invasions, insurrections, terrorism, piracy, hijacking, riots, revolutions
and military coups. This policy is most commonly applied to aviation and shipping risks.

When it comes to personal insurance, a war zone travel insurance policy protects frontline
workers, including journalists, filmmakers, medical staff, engineers, charity and aid workers, etc., who need to travel to high risk areas for professional reasons. These policies focus on healthcare and, if needed, repatriation. The important factor in these policies is that if the FCO advises that all but essential travel only is permitted, then travelling against this advice does not invalidate this travel insurance policy. It is important to note, holidays are not deemed essential travel.

What does it cover in relation to COVID-19?

The ‘war zone’ travel insurance policy which is being offered as an alternative to more
traditional travel insurance in recent weeks, offers cover for medical costs if you fall ill and
contract COVID-19 while abroad – although there is no cover if you need to cancel your
policy as a result of catching COVID-19 before you travel. There are also some other
significant limitations to these types of policies, generally:

• No cover at all for people over 75 years old.
•  Claims as a result of getting COVID-19 only apply for people up to 59 years old
• No pre-existing medical coverage is available
•  There is no cover for any claims as a result of mental health issues

The above examples are just a few of the limitations to these types of policies, there are
others, therefore we would strongly urge anyone buying this type of policy to read the
wordings very carefully to ensure it meets your personal requirements and be sure that
you’re happy with any potential risks associated with going against the FCO’s advice.

Does it cover for cancellations?
It is crucial to remember that this policy is strictly limited to healthcare. In other words, it does not apply to – and will not cover claims for – cancellation due to COVID-19.

Similarly, the policy does not provide cover for a change of advice from the FCO while you
are on holiday. It will not cover claims for denial of boarding should it be suspected you have COVID-19 when your temperature is checked at the airport, and it won’t pay claims as a result of quarantine/isolation while on holiday.

What might happen if I purchase this policy and travel to a country against FCO
advice?

If you were to have a medical emergency while abroad in a country not listed in the FCO’s
quarantine-exempt list, this type of policy should cover your health costs. It should also
protect you if you fall ill during your stay – as long as the hospital you arrive at isn’t
overwhelmed with the country’s own nationals and there’s room for you.

However, there are some key factors you must keep in mind. When the FCO removes a
country from the quarantine exempt list, one of the reasons is because the Government
does not have enough resources in that particular country to support a large number of UK
nationals should something go wrong. For example, a full lockdown; closure of hotels and
various other facilities; and all return flights cancelled. In fact, the FCO has made it clear it
will not offer support of alternative transport or accommodation in countries it has advised
people to avoid. So, you could end up stranded in a country without any means (or help) of
getting home.

Also, if you need medical treatment in a country that is already suffering pressures on its
health care system, non-nationals will not be seen as a priority and this could have
detrimental consequences to your health should you require emergency medical treatment.

Are there any suitable travel insurance alternatives that may offer some protection in relation to COVID-19?

There are a growing number of travel insurance policies that offer travel insurance cover in
relation to COVID-19. Some will provide cover if you are taken ill with COVID-19 before your holiday and need to cancel; if you are denied boarding if your temperature is too high when taken at the airport; and also cover should you catch COVID-19 while abroad. However, none of these policies will cover you if you travel against FCO advice as it simply isn’t safe.

Travel Insurance Explained has a comprehensive guide to everything coronavirus related at: https://www.travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk/news/medical/everything-travellers-need-to-knowabout-coronavirus#foreign-office