Benefit 28: COVID-19 Trip Cancellation and Disruption
This benefit provides cover for Trip cancellation and disruption related to You contracting COVID-19 and other circumstances as explained below.
Cover under this benefit is subject to the following conditions:
- The benefit limits set out in the Benefit Summary above apply to all claims combined. On a Single Policy, the limit applies to the combined claims by all travellers listed on the Certificate of insurance. On a Duo Policy each traveller has their own limit, and the limit applies to that person’s combined claims. On a Family Policy the benefit limit is doubled and applies to all claims combined for all travellers.
- Any COVID-19 diagnosis must be confirmed by a Medical practitioner in writing or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
- The relevant COVID-19 diagnosis must be made 72 hours or more after Policy purchase.
- There is no cover for the cost of any COVID-19 testing unless undertaken as part of Your hospitalisation.
- Refunds or credits You are eligible to receive will be deducted from the amount payable on Your claim.
- If You need to return to Your Home and do not hold a return ticket, We will reduce the amount of Your claim by the price of the new fare. The fare will be at the same fare class as the one You left for Your Trip on.
- Wherever claims are made by You under this benefit for cancellation and alternative travel arrangements for the same or similar expense, We will pay for the greater of the two amounts, but not both. For example, if You have to cancel and rebook, We will pay for the cancellation cost or the cost of the replacement accommodation, whichever is greater, but not for both.
1. Trip cancellation and rearrangement expenses
If Your pre-booked and pre-paid Trip bookings (such as flights, accommodation, and tours) are cancelled or shortened at any time during Your Period of insurance (but at least 72 hours or more after Policy purchase) because:
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You unexpectedly test positive for COVID-19 and because of the test result You fail to meet a cross-border entry requirement; or
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You are unexpectedly prevented from boarding an airline, bus line, shipping line or rail authority because You have tested positive for COVID-19 or failed a screening procedure administered by the airline, bus line, shipping line or rail authority; or
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a Medical practitioner certifies that You are medically unfit to travel due to Your COVID-19 diagnosis; or
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You have a Close relative in Australia who is unexpectedly hospitalised in a critical condition with COVID-19 or unexpectedly dies due to COVID-19.
We will pay:
Up to the limits set out in the Benefit Summary above, for the cost of Your cancellation, rescheduling fees and lost deposits for travel and accommodation arrangements that You have paid in advance and cannot recover in any other way (such as a travel credit). We will pay the lesser of cancellation or rescheduling.
2. Alternative travel expenses
If during Your Trip You incur additional accommodation and travel expenses because:
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You are personally directed by a government health authority to isolate or quarantine because You have tested positive for COVID-19; or
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You are personally directed by a government health authority to isolate or quarantine because You are a close contact of someone named on Your Certificate of insurance who has tested positive for COVID-19; or
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You are prevented from boarding an airline, bus line, shipping line or rail authority because You have tested positive for COVID-19 or failed a screening procedure administered by the airline, bus line, shipping line or rail authority,
We will pay:
Up to the limits set out in the Benefit Summary for reasonable additional accommodation and travel expenses You incur until You are able to continue Your Trip at the earliest possible time. This includes the reasonable additional accommodation costs related to Your isolation or quarantine.
3. Cost of caring for Dependants travelling with You
If during Your Trip, You are unable to take care of Your Dependants who are travelling with You in Your full-time care because You have been diagnosed with COVID-19,
We will pay:
Your reasonable additional costs for a registered or appropriately qualified childcare worker to take care of Your Dependants travelling with You in Your fulltime care.
For any claims, costs, or losses Arising from or related to:
- Any Travel restriction related to a Relevant area prior to or during Your Trip including but not limited to border closures, lockdowns, lockouts or other Travel restrictions imposed within Australia or Overseas.
- Any claim for additional accommodation or travel expenses, occurring before Your first pre-paid scheduled transport, where it is reasonable for You to return to Your usual place of residence.
- Any claim if You travel Overseas to any country other than listed on Your Certificate of insurance.
- Any claim where You or Your Close relative is diagnosed with COVID-19 or tested positive to COVID-19 within 72 hours of the Policy being purchased.
- Any claim Arising from someone not named on Your Certificate of insurance being diagnosed with COVID-19 or being classified as a close contact, other than a Close relative in Australia who is unexpectedly hospitalised in a critical condition with COVID-19 or unexpectedly dies due to COVID-19.
- Any claim if You have already left Your Home if You are travelling domestically (including any domestic portion of an Overseas Trip).
- Any costs without proof of the amount, and if We are reimbursing You directly, proof that You have paid it.
- You or Your Travelling companion changing plans or deciding not to continue with the intended Trip after the imposition of any Travel restriction, change in government advice or status of the number of COVID-19 cases in a Relevant area.
- Any Sickness, Injury or Medical condition, other than COVID-19. Refer to Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses and Benefit 6: Trip Disruption Expenses for cover in this situation.
- Any tour operator or wholesaler, travel agent, airline or other Carrier or accommodation provider cancelling any part of the Trip due to any reason Arising from COVID-19.
Please also read General Exclusions that apply to all benefits.