The Novel Coronavirus probably put a kink in your travel plans and you’re wondering if travel insurance even covers this epidemic. We’re going to find out!
From the needless hoarding of supplies to the cancellation of travel plans, this novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has surely rattled the realities of many Singaporeans.
COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus Cancellation & Refunds Guide:
#1: Does Travel Insurance Cover Novel Coronavirus COVID-19?
#2: Do Airlines Refund Flight Cancellations for Coronavirus COVID-19?
#3: COVID-19 Hotel Refunds & Cancellations Guide
If your reality was to travel during this period, you have two choices – continue or cancel – both of which are at the mercy of your travel insurance providers to approve or reject.
Don’t you just wish your insurance policies were a little clearer on this whole novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation? I know I do, and that’s why I’ve taken it upon myself to lay it out clearly for you.
Will My Travel Insurance Cover Me for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Epidemic if I Cancel My Trip?
It mainly depends on two factors:
- Your specific destination 🌎
- Date of travel insurance policy purchase 📆
If you’re looking to cancel your trip due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), here’s a summary of popular travel insurance providers’ coverage:
| Insurance Provider | To Wuhan, Mainland China & South Korea | To Rest of the World |
| AIA | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 22 Jan (Wuhan), 27 Jan (Mainland China), 23 Feb (South Korea, Daegu city and Cheongdo county only) | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 12 Mar |
| AIG | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 22 Jan (Wuhan) & 27 Jan (Mainland China) | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 30 Jan |
| Allianz | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 22 Jan | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 22 Jan |
| Aviva | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 20 Jan | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 20 Jan |
| AXA | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 11 Jan (Wuhan), 27 Jan (Mainland China), 23 Feb (South Korea, Daegu city and Cheongdo county only) | ⛔️ Unspecified |
| Chubb | ⛔️ No | ⛔️ No |
| Etiqa | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 22 Jan (Wuhan) & 27 Jan (Mainland China) | ⛔️ No |
| FWD | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 23 Jan | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 31 Jan + MFA issued travel advisory against your destination |
| Great Eastern | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 24 Jan, 9.30am (Wuhan & Hubei) & 28 Jan, 11.59pm (Mainland China) | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 24 Jan, 9.30am |
| Hong Leong Assurance | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 23 Jan (Wuhan & Mainland China) | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 12 Mar |
| MSIG | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 22 Jan (Wuhan), 23 Jan (Hubei), 27 Jan (Mainland China), 23 Feb (South Korea, Daegu city and Cheongdo county only) | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 27 Jan |
| NTUC | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 20 Jan, 8pm (Wuhan) & 27 Jan, 7pm (Mainland China), 23 Feb, 6pm (South Korea, Daegu city and Cheongdo county only), 4 Mar, 9am (Rest of South Korea, Iran, Northern Italy & Japan) | ⛔️ Unspecified |
| Sompo | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 22 Jan, 8pm (Wuhan & Hubei) & 27 Jan, 7pm (Mainland China) | ⛔️ No (Unless you contract COVID-19 and unable to travel) |
| Tokio Marine | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 11 Jan | ✅ Yes Policies bought before 11 Jan |
Note: Travel insurance providers are constantly updating their policy wordings and notices as the situation continues to develop. If you spot any outdated information, kindly reach us at editorial@you.co.
Okay, that seems simple enough to understand, right? Absolutely not! Some travel insurance providers have strict terms & conditions for their “✅ Yes” claims and there are certain requirements you have to meet.
I’ve also noticed that the same travel insurance provider may have a different policy wording if you purchase it through a different place. For example, according to Chubb’s notice on its homepage, it says that your trip cancellation will not be covered. However, if you have bought a travel insurance with AMEX (underwritten by Chubb), your trip cancellation will be covered.
Potentially confusing, I know! For the sake of simplicity, all information here will be according to the notices from each travel insurance provider’s homepage. Now, here’s the individual breakdown of the coverage if you’re planning to cancel your trip:
1. If you’re on AIA…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 22 January 2020
🇨🇳 Wuhan travel
If you bought your policy before 22 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🇨🇳 Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 27 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🇰🇷 South Korea (Daegu city & Cheongdo county) travel
If you bought your policy before 23 February 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 12 March 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
Read AIA’s full statement about the novel coronavirus here.
2. If you’re on AIG…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 30 January 2020
🇨🇳 Wuhan & Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 22 January 2020 for Wuhan or 27 January 2020 for Mainland China: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 30 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
Read AIG’s full statement about the novel coronavirus here.
3. If you’re on Allianz…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 22 January 2020
🇨🇳 Wuhan & Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 22 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 22 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
Read Allianz’s full statement about the novel coronavirus here.
4. If you’re on Aviva…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 20 January 2020
🇨🇳 Wuhan & Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 20 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 20 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
Note: All other claims unrelated to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) event will continue to be eligible. That means if you experience travel delay due to an airplane fault or lost baggage because it ended up in some other country or whatever, you’ll still be covered by Aviva.
Read Aviva’s full statement about the novel coronavirus here.
5. If you’re on AXA…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: Unspecified
🇨🇳 Wuhan travel
If you bought your policy before 11 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation ONLY IF
- You departed before 11 January 2020.
🇨🇳 Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 27 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation ONLY IF
- You departed before 27 January 2020.
🇰🇷 South Korea (Daegu city & Cheongdo county) travel
If you bought your policy before 23 February 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 11 March 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
Read the AXA’s full statement about the novel coronavirus here.
6. If you’re on Chubb…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 27 January 2020
🇨🇳 Wuhan & Mainland China + 🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy regardless of dates: ⛔️ No, you’ll not be covered for trip cancellation.
Note: For policies bought before 27 January 2020, only injuries or medical evacuation due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) event will be eligible.
Read Chubb’s full on the novel coronavirus statement here.
7. If you’re on Etiqa…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 31 January 2020
🇨🇳 Wuhan travel
If you bought your policy before 22 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation ONLY IF
- You departed before 22 January 2020.
🇨🇳 Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 27 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation ONLY IF
- You departed before 27 January 2020.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 20 January 2020: ⛔️ No, you’ll not be covered, except for medical expenses incurred overseas or in Singapore because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) only.
Read Etiqa’s full statement about the novel coronavirus here.
8. If you’re on FWD…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 31 January 2020
🇨🇳 Wuhan & Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 23 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 31 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation, ONLY IF
- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a travel advisory against the destination you’re going to.
Note: For any policies bought after 31 January 2020, only medical expenses claims will remain eligible.
Read FWD’s full statement about the novel coronavirus here.
9. If you’re on Great Eastern…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 24 January 2020, 9:30am
🇨🇳 Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 28 January 2020, 11.59pm: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🇨🇳 Wuhan travel
If you bought your policy before 24 January 2020, 9.30am: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🇰🇷 South Korea travel
If you bought your policy before 25 February 2020, 11.59pm: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 3 March 2020, 11.59pm: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
Read Great Eastern’s full statement about the novel coronavirus here.
10. Hong Leong Assurance
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 23 January 2020
🇨🇳 Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 23 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🇰🇷 South Korea (Daegu and Cheongdo) travel
If you bought your policy before 23 February 2020, 11.59pm: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🇰🇷 South Korea + 🇯🇵 Japan + 🇮🇹 Northern Italy travel
If you bought your policy before 3 March 2020, 9am: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 12 March 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
Read Hong Leong Assurance’s full statement about the novel coronavirus here.
11. If you’re on MSIG…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: Unspecified
🇨🇳 Wuhan travel
If you bought your policy before 22 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🇨🇳 Hubei Province travel
If you bought your policy before 23 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🇨🇳 Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 27 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🇰🇷 South Korea (Daegu city & Cheongdo county) travel
If you bought your policy before 23 February 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 27 February 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
Note: You can also ask for a policy refund if your policy period hasn’t started, was bought before 30 January 2020, and you haven’t made any claims.
Read MSIG’s full statement on the novel coronavirus here.
12. If you’re on NTUC Income…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: Unspecified
🇨🇳 Wuhan travel
If you bought your policy before 20 January 2020, 8pm: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip disruption, cancellation, postponement or shortening only.
Note: It’s unclear if you’ll be covered for medical expenses or not.
🇨🇳 Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 27 January 2020, 7pm: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip disruption, cancellation, postponement or shortening only.
Note: It’s unclear if you’ll be covered for medical expenses or not.
🇰🇷 South Korea (Daegu city & Cheongdo county) travel
If you bought your policy before 23 February 2020, 6pm: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🇰🇷 South Korea + 🇮🇷 Iran + 🇯🇵 Japan + 🇮🇹 Italy travel
If you bought your policy before 4 March 2020, 9am: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy regardless of dates: ⛔️ Unspecified
Read NTUC Income’s full statement about the novel coronavirus here.
13. If you’re on Sompo…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 22 January 2020
🇨🇳 Wuhan travel
If you bought your policy before 22 January 2020, 8pm: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation or postponement, ONLY IF
- You’re travelling to Mainland China from 1 February to 31 March 2020
- OR you contract COVID-19 and unable to travel.
Note: If you’ve departed before 22 January 2020, 8pm, medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation will remain eligible ONLY IF you contract COVID-19.
🇨🇳 Mainland China travel
If you bought your policy before 27 January 2020, 7pm: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation or postponement, ONLY IF
- You’re travelling to Mainland China from 1 February to 31 March 2020
- OR you contract COVID-19 and unable to travel.
Note: If you’ve departed before 27 January 2020, 7pm, medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation will remain eligible ONLY IF you contract COVID-19.
🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you’ve departed on or after 22 January 2020, 8pm: ⛔️ No, you’ll not be covered for trip cancellation or postponement due to COVID-19 outbreak.
Note: If you haven’t departed, trip cancellation or postponement will remain eligible ONLY IF you contract COVID-19 in Singapore. If you have departed, medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation will remain eligible ONLY IF you contract COVID-19.
For all travels regardless of destination, you can also get a full policy refund by informing Sompo to cancel your policy by 29 February 2020, if you haven’t made any claims.
Read Sompo’s full statement on the novel coronavirus here.
14. If you’re on Tokio Marine…
📆 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a known event: 11 January 2020
🇨🇳 Wuhan & Mainland China + 🌎 Rest of the world travel
If you bought your policy before 11 January 2020: ✅ Yes, you’ll be covered for trip cancellation.
Read Tokio Marine’s full statement about the coronavirus here.
Conclusion
Phew! That’s a lot of information to sift through if you had to go through each and every one of these travel insurance providers’ small print. However, just because we’ve condensed it here doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t read the small print!
As you can see, some of these travel insurance providers have very specific requirements as to what you can claim, or whether you can cancel or not.
You’d do yourself a big favour by studying the policy wording, including the terms and conditions, so that you can make an informed decision before buying travel insurance.
From this list, you can also gather which travel insurance providers give you the most comprehensive coverage amidst this novel coronavirus outbreak. Perhaps, in the future or better times, you could consider insuring your travel plans with them again?
Remember, if you do go ahead with your trip, stay safe and use your YouTrip card to utilise YouTrip’s Wholesale Exchange Rates!
All travel insurance information is accurate to date and time of publishing. For any corrections, kindly reach us at editorial@you.co.
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