Travel Insurance Update – Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Please be aware that all students who have enrolled on one of our outbound programs AFTER the 1st March 2020 will not be covered for AIG cancellation insurance but they will be covered for medical insurance when they travel.

All students who have enrolled prior to the 2nd March will under normal circumstances be refunded if they cannot travel due to DFAT recommendations.

Please see an update below provided from AIG Australia:

10^th March 2020

Background

As per AIG Australia’s previous alerts, there is an ongoing active outbreak of a Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) originating from Wuhan City in Hubei Province in China. There are also a large number of confirmed cases of individuals with COVID-19 outside China.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) have confirmed an active outbreak of COVID-19 and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on the 30^th January.

The latest information of the outbreak can be found at the following WHO web link: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

We encourage all travelers to visit the DFAT Smartraveller website for information on any country or destination you are planning on travelling to: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

AIG Australia is monitoring the situation closely and will continue to update this alert should there be any further changes.

What does this mean for your travel insurance cover?

Whilst there is no general exclusion for Epidemic or Pandemic in the travel insurance policies underwritten by AIG Australia, there are limitations in coverage where any situation is no longer unforeseen.

However, subject to the terms and conditions of your policy wording, cover may be restricted or excluded if at the time you purchased or activated the travel insurance policy* you were aware of or could be expected to be aware of an event which may give rise to a claim under the policy; or you did not take precautions to avoid a claim after a warning about such event has become publicly known.

• For complimentary and Corporate Travel insurances, your travel insurance policy is generally deemed to be activated on the date you purchased your travel arrangements

Given the COVID-19 outbreak event has been widely reported in the media and was subject to a number of public directives and pronouncements by global health organisation and governments,   AIG Australia is treating this event, with effect from either the 24^th January  2020 in respect of travel to and from mainland China or 2^nd March in respect of travel to and from other destinations excluding mainland China as known and foreseen and therefore something which you were aware of or could be expected to be aware of.

Therefore no coverage may be provided for losses or damages in connection with the COVID-19 outbreak unless, depending on the applicable cover, your policy was purchased or activated* prior to either the 24^th January 2020 for travel to and from mainland China or 2^nd March 2020 for travel to and from other destinations excluding mainland China.

Travellers who purchased or activated* travel insurance cover on or after such dates may not be covered as the COVID-19 outbreak would not be considered ‘unforeseeable’. 

As always, each claim will be considered on its merits taking into account the individual circumstances of the claim and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy. 

You should also check your particular policy wording for eligibility of coverage, cover entitlements and the type of expenses that can be claimed. These can vary depending on which policy you have purchased. 

Travel To And/or From Mainland China

Given that the COVID-19 outbreak in China was widely reported in the media including alerts issued by the World Health Organisation and DFAT / Smartraveller, AIG Australia is treating the COVID-19 outbreak event in relation to travel to and/or from mainland China as known and foreseen effective 24 January 2020.

Accordingly, no cover may be provided for any travel claim in connection with such outbreak where such claim arises from travel to and/or from mainland China, unless your policy was purchased or activated* prior to 24 January 2020.

Travellers who purchased or activated travel insurance cover on or after 24 January 2020 may therefore not be covered for any travel claim in connection with such outbreak where such claim arises from travel to and/or from mainland China as the COVID-19 outbreak would not be considered ‘unforeseeable’.

Travel To And/or From All Other Destinations

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), following the advice of the Emergency Committee convened under the International Health Regulations (2005), declared the current outbreak of COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern.

Since the declaration by WHO the spread of Coronavirus is a rapidly developing situation, AIG Australia is treating the COVID-19 outbreak event in relation to travel to and/or from all other destinations (not including mainland China) as known and foreseen effective 2^nd March 2020.

Accordingly, no cover may be provided for any travel claim in connection with such outbreak where such claim arises from travel to and/or from all other destinations (not including mainland China) unless your policy was purchased or activated* prior to 2^nd March 2020.

Travellers who purchased or activated* travel insurance cover on or after 2^nd March 2020 may therefore not be covered for any travel claim in connection with such outbreak where such claim arises from travel to and/or from all other destinations (not including mainland China) as the COVID-19 outbreak would not be considered ‘unforeseeable’.

If a loss is sustained by an insured person or persons  where your policy was purchased or activated* prior to Monday 2^nd March, 2020 (AEST), the insured person/s should, in the first instance, contact their travel agent, airline and accommodation providers to seek a refund or to make alternate arrangements, prior to submitting a claim to AIG. Claims made for such losses will be in assessed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Policy.

Clarification of Medical Expenses coverage

All AIG Corporate Passport Travel Insurance policies provide cover for medical and additional expenses in association with the management and treatment of the Coronavirus provided the travel is undertaken in accordance with the Australian Governments Travel Advisory updates.

Further Information

If you have upcoming travel plans and they are impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, please ensure you do the following:

• Contact your airline, cruise or tour operator to check if your travel plans are impacted. If you need to change your travel plans they should also be your first point of call.
• Refer to your policy wording for eligibility, cover entitlement and the type of expenses that can be claimed as these can vary depending on which policy you have purchased.
• As always, each claim will be considered on its merits taking into account the individual circumstances of the claim and the terms and conditions of the policy.
• We are closely monitoring the present situation and will provide further update(s), should the position change.
• This position statement only remains applicable as long as the present circumstances prevail.
• If you need Emergency Assistance please call our team on +60 3 2772 5592 at any time or email auassistance@aig.com
• Monitor Smartraveller for any updates in relation to the Coronavirus Outbreak https://www.smartraveller.gov.au

Who should our client contact if they have an insurance enquiry?