With effect from 6pm on Monday 16th March 2020, our underwriter Mapfre Ireland have advised that a general exclusion for Covid-19 (Coronavirus) will apply to all new travel insurance policies. This general exclusion will apply to all sections of the policy document.
Please also note that Mapfre Ireland are temporarily withdrawing cover for Schedule Airline Failure and Third Party Supplier Insolvency cover for all new policies with effect from 6pm on Monday 16th March 2020.
if you are travelling to an effected area we will not be able to offer you travel insurance of any kind.
Area’s not Covered
China (Hubei Province, )
AVOID NON ESSENTIAL TRAVEL
Italy
DO NOT TRAVEL
On the 9th of March, the Italian government declared the whole of Italy to be in isolation as a result of the increased spread of Coronavirus in the country. Until further notice, and while the isolation measures are in effect, we are advising that citizens do not travel to Italy. On the 12th of March, the Italian government declared further restrictions. Arising from these and previous decrees, the following restrictions are in place:
Spain
AVOID NON ESSENTIAL TRAVEL
For the moment, we recommend against non-essential travel to Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands). A significant number of cases of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) have been confirmed in Spain. The highest incidences are in Madrid, Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque Country, Catalonia and the Rioja region.
Cancellation/Curtailment Cover
Our Travel Insurance is offered through Blue Insurance.
Blue Insurance Broker Scheme has the “Government Travel Advice” benefit on and will offer cancellation cover as standard if the government travel advice changes to All but Essential travel within 14 days of your travel date.
In the event that the Department of Foreign Affairs advises All but Essential travel to a country or specific area you are travelling to and you have purchased the additional cover Travel Disruption, there would be cover in place under extended cancellation cover should you need to cancel or cut your trip short. Travel Disruption is an additional cover and must be purchased in advance of any public announcement prohibiting travel to the area you are travelling to. There is also a 7 day moratorium period on this additional cover from the date you add it to your policy.
Providing the customer is not travelling to an area where the FCO/DFA have advised against “All but Essential travel” to, then the customer would have cover for medical expenses if they were to travel and contract coronavirus while abroad. If the customer decides to travel against the advice of the FCO/DFA – There will be no cover in place as the policy would exclude any travel to an area where the DFA have advised against all but essential travel.
In all instances, customers should contact their airline and/or booking agent if they have any concerns around the area they are travelling to as if the travel advice changes then it is likely that the airline or agent will offer to reschedule/refund their trip. All customers would need to go down this route before a claim will be considered.
