How can Covid-19 travel insurance be beneficial while travelling overseas?

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The Coronavirus, which made headlines in the early 2020s, completely turned the travel industry upside down, emptying bustling airports overnight and obliterating both domestic and international travel. However, as lockdowns were lifted, countries' entry and stay conditions were revised, and more borders across the globe were opened, commercial airlines resumed operations, and travel in areas deemed non-essential for travel during the pandemic's peak enjoyed a resurgence. Travellers' safety was always a concern even before the pandemic. The Covid-19 outbreak, on the other hand, has introduced a number of new travel risks, the most obvious of which is health-related. As a result, insurance companies, also, have added new clauses to their contracts.

Travelling during the pandemic

Travelling outside of the country during the pandemic may necessitate a more thorough and cautious approach. Those who have been immunized face fewer health risks because vaccines have been shown to be 94% effective against the original Covid-19 pathogen. However, beginning in September 2020, several more dangerous Coronavirus variants emerged, and the vaccines are no longer as effective against them.

As a result, in addition to becoming aware of these variants, their effects, and where they are dominating around the world, travellers should also inquire about aeromedical repatriation and evacuation services in the event of a medical emergency abroad. Indeed, being hospitalized in a foreign country with unknown pandemic standards, away from advanced medical treatment and from one’s loved ones, whether due to an infectious disease or otherwise, is stressful.

Medical Repatriation UK can get you to the level of care in your country of origin through medical repatriation!

The new health risks resulting from Covid-19

Travelling increases one's chances of contracting and spreading the virus. And anyone who becomes infected with it, regardless of age, can become very sick. However, older adults and people with certain pre-existing or chronic health conditions (diabetes, obesity) are at a higher risk of developing a severe illness, resulting in an admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) with mechanical ventilation or intubation. This category also includes people who have cancer, serious heart problems, or a weakened immune system.

Air travel

Because of the high air flow and air filter efficiency, most viruses, including the Covid-19 virus, do not spread easily on planes. Wearing masks on planes also reduces the risk of contracting the virus while flying. Air travel, on the other hand, necessitates spending time in security lines and crowded airport terminals, where you will come into contact with other people. Because of these factors, the virus can easily spread from person to person.

Public transportation

Even if you fly, you may need transportation once you arrive at your destination. However, if precautions are not taken when travelling by bus, train, or taxi, be aware that sitting or standing in close quarters with others for an extended period of time can increase your risk of contracting or spreading the disease. The same can be said about hotels and other types of lodging. If cleaning and disinfection protocols are not properly followed, the virus has a high chance of circulating in the air.

Travel health insurance during the Covid-19 pandemic

You have packed your belongings and purchased your plane ticket, but are you sure you are not missing anything? What about the cost of returning back home if you are stranded away in a foreign country due to illness or injury?

Many travellers, whether they are traveling a few hundred or thousands of miles, do not consider purchasing travel insurance. Nobody wants to consider the worst-case scenario, but medical emergencies are real, and proper medical care away from home and without adequate insurance can be costly.

Indeed, it is not uncommon for travellers to discover that they must spend months recuperating in a foreign country because they simply cannot afford to return home, especially if they are unable to fly commercially, did not purchase travel insurance, or were not careful enough when reading the fine print of their policy.

How can travel insurance help protect travelers during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Patients frequently prefer to be treated by doctors with whom they have a relationship, in a country they are familiar with, and near family and friends who can offer needed support. As a result, whether you are travelling locally or internationally, purchasing travel insurance is a good idea. It will give you peace of mind knowing that if you have a medical emergency while on vacation, you can be airlifted back to the UK for treatment.

Travel insurers now routinely provide Covid-19 coverage, with the amount available varying greatly. As a result, some plans treat Covid-19 as if it were any other new illness, while others may be more specific. Similarly, some policies only cover medical and repatriation costs if you become infected with the Covid-19 while travelling abroad, whereas others cover cancellation costs as well. Make sure to read your policy thoroughly before purchasing a plan.

Be cautious: Some policies do not always cover the costs of medical repatriation. As a result, policy language such as "if medically necessary" or "as determined by the treating physician" should not be overlooked. Also, ask if you will be able to choose where you are treated or if your insurance plan will pay for your return to a facility in your hometown to ensure that your Covid-19-related medical emergency is covered.

More broadly, travel medical insurance policies can help to cover the costs associated with the following scenarios:

• Medical treatment, care and hospitalization due to Covid-19;
• Ongoing testing and medical supplies;
• Medical evacuation and repatriation.

Whether you are insured or not, contact Medical Repatriation UK for your repatriation needs. We can frequently arrange for an air ambulance to arrive within two days of the booking, depending on your case.

Medical repatriation – How to get travellers back to their country of origin?

Medical repatriation can be accomplished in one of three ways:

1. Aboard a commercial airline on a stretcher or
2. In first class or business class seats with a nurse escort or
3. By a private air ambulance.

Which one of these options is best for the patient depends on their level of medical care and how quickly they need to be transported.

If the patient's health is critical, he is on a ventilator, or he requires immediate care, our air ambulances are the best option for medical repatriation. They are capable of transporting the most critical patients completely safely around the world, providing them with the same high level of medical care in the air as they would in an ICU. If he is in good health but unable to fly conventionally, we would recommend a private jet.

Be cautious: It should be noted that if you are infected with the Coronavirus, no commercial airline will allow you to board a flight. In this situation, only a private ambulance can be used for your repatriation.

Please contact us today to determine which of these three medical evacuation services best meets your needs. We will handle all logistics for your international medical transport and, if necessary, provide interpreters. The patient must be accepted into the destination medical facility prior to transport. That is usually not a difficult task.

Do you have any additional questions?

Many of the most frequently asked questions about long-distance patient transfer to the UK are addressed in our FAQ.

Contact us right away for medical repatriation!

Please contact our 24-hour service at any time if you require additional information or a free non-binding quote. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can be reached at:

• By telephone: +44 020 8038 4564
• By email: info@medical-repatriation.uk
• Via our contact form