What a trip abroad looks like when you get sick or suspect COVID-19

Where is the traveler isolated for suspected COVID-19?

Tour operators said so far no passengers have been exposed to the virus on their flights. According to Dovilė Zapkutė, Communications Manager of Novaturas, the tourism infrastructure is adapted to the new health security requirements, and the countries themselves are usually willing to cover the costs of treatment and self-isolation in the case of COVID-19 and use other necessary measures virus control.

“When a traveler suspects a virus while on vacation, they are isolated in a hotel room and a doctor is called. If a guest is confirmed with a COVID-19 case, they are transferred to a dedicated quarantine hotel and, if it is necessary, taken to the nearest medical center adapted for cases of COVID-19 ”, says the isolation abroad.

Furthermore, to ensure people’s safety, randomly selected travelers are typically tested at airports, and the same procedure applies to people traveling with tour operators.

“So far, no cases have been recorded on our flights. If a traveler happens to be in a quarantine situation during the trip, we will take care of our customers and ensure that people do not incur additional costs as a result.” assures the Novaturo representative.

What a holiday abroad looks like in the event of a sudden increase in morbidity

Naturally, when tourist countries open their borders to citizens of other countries, the number of diseases increases. According to the interlocutor, the countries themselves monitor the situation very closely and make the appropriate decisions, rapid COVID-19 tests are carried out on passengers at airports, and some countries require travelers to carry out the test in advance in their own country .

“There are increasing opportunities to test airports on their own, and travelers fill out special questionnaires so that host countries can manage the information more efficiently.

Restrictions on the flow of people in places of interest, mandatory masks where a safe distance between people cannot be guaranteed, and the cancellation of festivals or other more important public events. All decisions are aimed at managing potential risks and, at the same time, ensuring opportunities for people to travel, ”says Zapkutė, according to the resorts, in the event of a sudden increase in morbidity in the country.

Inga Aukštuolytė, representative of Tez Tour, assures that morbidity rates do not change rapidly, they can be predicted. Travelers tend to fly to safe resorts with low morbidity rates, and rates from resorts are often significantly lower than the national average.

“Often countries themselves, seeing an increase in morbidity rates, make difficult decisions, such as closing their borders when travelers are not accepted,” he says.

However, the interlocutor points out that even if the host countries adhere to extremely strict security protocols, the situation can change quickly, it may be necessary to return home earlier than planned or postpone the trip.

A spokeswoman for Tez Tour says treatment and first aid for patients depends on the country. Some countries, like Greece and Egypt, cover the full cost of COVID-19 treatment. The European Health Card also provides essential medical care in all EU countries.

“There are also private insurance companies in Lithuania that reimburse the costs of emergency medical care in case of COVID-19 in a foreign country, as long as the country is not on the list of non-recommended countries published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” he points out.

What are the costs of COVID?19 covered by insurance

Delphi He asked about the costs of travel insurance covered by COVID-19 abroad.

Andrius Romanovskis, director of the Lithuanian Insurers Association, points out that on March 11 the World Health Organization declared a new coronavirus pandemic, which has not yet been canceled. Typically, in global insurance practice, pandemic risk is classified as force majeure and uninsured events.

According to him, the absolute majority of insurance companies both in the world and in Lithuania do not run this risk.

“This is mainly due to the inability of insurance companies to adequately assess the potential extent of damage due to the particularly rapid spread of the disease and its particularly wide geography. In the event of a pandemic, the spread of the disease is difficult. to calculate, so it is impossible to predict the extent of the risk, ”says A. Romanovskis.

However, seeing the interest of customers, Lithuanian insurance companies are trying to assess the risk of pandemic and offer one or another travel insurance solution.

“So far these are more pilot projects with a limited duration or scope, as the risk of coronavirus is completely new and today it is very difficult or impossible to accurately assess,” says the head of the Lithuanian Insurers Association.

For this reason, according to him, currently three insurance companies in Lithuania have included the risk of coronavirus in the service of medical expenses insurance (as a component of travel insurance). This means that when a person is diagnosed with a coronavirus in a foreign country, necessary medical expenses and, if necessary, repatriation expenses are reimbursed.

In the case of the coronavirus, this prohibition is valid only when visiting foreign countries that are not on the list of non-recommended countries published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If a country were included in this list when it was already public, the insurance coverage would not be canceled immediately, but would be valid for the period defined by the insurance company, during which the customer is recommended to return to Lithuania. Depending on the insurance company, this period is 7-14 days.

Offers travel insurance service

According to A. Romanovskis, today an insurance company in Lithuania has included the risk of coronavirus in the travel expense insurance service. It is an additional insurance coverage that, together with travel insurance, would cover the costs of air tickets, hotels and other trips in the event that a trip is canceled on the recommendation issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to travel to the country selected.

“The insurance coverage would also apply if a trip by plane, train or boat, public cultural, sporting or other event is canceled due to a pandemic. The rental costs, if you have to isolate yourself when you go to a foreign country, are not covered by this insurance coverage ”, assures the representative of the insurer.

The interviewee points out that it is difficult for insurance companies that choose to include the risk of coronavirus in the insurance of medical expenses (as part of their travel insurance) to identify the proportion of clients who chose the service during this period precisely to protect themselves against the coronavirus.

“This is because medical insurance, and with it the risk of coronavirus, is automatically included in travel insurance for all customers who purchase it,” explains Romanovskis.

At that time, the aforementioned travel insurance service is a service of the customer’s choice. Interest in this service, according to the representative of the insurers, was high in summer, and Greece, Spain and Malta predominated. At present, due to the increasing incidence of illness and cancellations of trips and flights, there is a general decrease in travel insurance.

Compensable damages can amount to several tens of thousands of euros

The amount of damages in the case of the insurance services in question depends on the costs incurred by the client in relation to necessary medical care, repatriation services or losses incurred in the event of cancellation of the trip.

“The reimbursement of medical expenses varies from state to state, but can often amount to tens of thousands of euros and repatriation costs can be even higher. The maximum possible amount of compensable damages is always equal to the specified sum insured. in the insurance contract, which can also vary depending on the needs of the insurance company and the client ”, says A. Romanovskis.

The interlocutor points out that, to the greatest extent unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic, travel insurance coverage is normally valid under the rules of a particular insurance company. However, before planning a trip during this period, it is recommended to act responsibly and follow and follow the travel-related recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.