NEW! COVID-19 PROTECT TRAVEL ADD ON. Offering real peace of mind for your holidays in Europe. Find out more.
Here at Switched On we understand your concerns about how COVID-19 could impact your travel plans.
While we’ve already updated the cover provided by our standard policies to offer protection for specific issues relating to COVID-19, including cancellation, curtailment, medical and repatriation expenses, we’ve now gone one step further with our enhanced COVID-19 PROTECT add on, which offers even greater levels of cover for even greater peace of mind for those travelling to Europe (take a look at our FAQ’s to see which countries this applies to).
What Does COVID-19 PROTECT Cover?
We strive to provide the flexibility to allow you to tailor your policy perfectly to your needs. That way you can travel confidently knowing your policy will be there for you when you need it most.
In line with this you now have the option to add COVID-19 PROTECT cover which specifically insures you and your travels in Europe against a wider range of issues that could arise in relation to COVID-19.
For example by taking out the added cover you’ll be protected should you choose to travel against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as long as the advice is against all but essential travel solely as a result of COVID-19.
And should you be contacted by the UK Government’s Test and Trace service and have to self-isolate meaning you miss your pre-booked outward journey, you will be able to a make claim for cancellation.
And that’s not all that COVID-19 PROTECT covers. Take a look at our special summary here for all the details. Plus we offer a summary of what is included in our standard cover regarding COVID-19, which you can read here.
You’ll also find below our dedicated COVID-19 FAQs which aim to clarify the key questions about what our policies do and don’t cover in relation to COVID-19.
But as always if you need any help our team is available either by calling 0330 041 2880 or emailing travel.sales@switchedoninsurance.com.
You may be concerned that including COVID-19 PROTECT will add a lot to the price of your cover. However, this add on costs just £21 for Annual cover and only £16 extra on Single Trips. Why not get a quote today.
FAQs
As we offer enhanced cover in the form of our COVID-19 PROTECT add on, the cover offered by our standard cover does differ and it’s important to be aware of these differences when buying your policy to ensure you get the right cover for your needs.
We’ve laid out some frequently asked questions relating to COVID-19 below but if you have any questions our team is available to help Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.
Q. IF THE FCDO ADVISES AGAINST TRAVEL WHAT COVER DOES YOUR POLICY PROVIDE?
Standard Cover:
Our standard cover does not provide cover for any issue that may arise, and any subsequent claim will be rejected, where the FCDO has advised against all travel or non-essential travel to a particular country, island(s) or region, and you decide to travel anyway. If you believe your travel is essential, please email us a travel.sales@switchedoninsurance.com so we can determine if your policy can cover you. If you do not contact us and travel anyway your policy will not cover you for any issue that may arise, and any subsequent claim under any section of the cover in the policy will be rejected.
COVID-19 PROTECT:
If you take out our COVID-19 PROTECT add on at the time you purchase your policy, and should you choose to travel to a European destination against the advice of the FCDO, your cover will be unaffected as long as the FCDO advice is against all but essential travel solely as a result of COVID-19.
Q. WHAT EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WILL COVID-19 PROTECT COVER ME FOR?
Unfortunately we are unable to provide COVID-19 PROTECT cover for destinations outside of Europe. If you purchase a Single Trip policy for a country outside of Europe you will not be offered this cover. If you purchase an Annual Multi Trip policy and you purchase our COVID-19 PROTECT add on you will be covered in the following countries only:
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, the Azores, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Channel Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland (including Lapland), France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece (including the Greek Islands), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Republic), the Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands), Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the Vatican City.
Q. AM I COVERED IF I’M CONTACTED BY THE GOVERNMENT’S TEST AND TRACE AND THIS MEANS I CAN’T TRAVEL AS PLANNED?
Under our standard cover this wouldn’t be covered. However with our COVID-19 PROTECT add on should you be contacted due to the probability of you having contracted COVID-19 and are required to self-isolate for a period of time that prevents you from travelling as planned to a European destination you will be able to make a claim for cancellation.
Q. WHAT COVER IS AVAILABLE IF I SUFFER AN ADVERSE REACTION TO A COVID-19 VACCINE PRIOR TO TRAVEL?
With our COVID-19 PROTECT add on should you experience an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine in the 14 days before your scheduled departure date and are advised that you are no longer fit to travel by a medical practitioner you will be able to make a claim for cancellation should your destination be in Europe. However this is not the case under the standard cover provided by our policy.
Q. I’M UNABLE TO COMPLETE MY COVID-19 VACCINATION COURSE AND THIS MEANS I CAN’T TRAVEL. AM I COVERED?
Under the COVID-19 PROTECT add on only, if you or your travelling companion are unable to complete your COVID-19 vaccination course before your scheduled departure date due to suffering an unforeseen illness you may make a claim for cancellation. This only applies if you have taken out the additional cover at the time of buying your Switched On policy and it isn’t covered as standard.
Q. AM I COVERED IF SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AND I HAVE TO CANCEL MY TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS DUE TO HAVING TO ISOLATE?
If you, a relative, a member of your household or travelling companion or friend with whom you had arranged to stay with has a positive diagnosis of COVID-19, certified by a medical practitioner, within 14 days of your booked departure, each insured person will be covered for cancellation costs up to the sum shown in the table of benefits. This is included as part of our standard policy cover.
Q. WHAT COVER IS THERE IF I TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 WHILE I'M ON HOLIDAY?
If you test positive whilst on holiday you will be covered for emergency medical treatment and repatriation if necessary. You will also be covered for additional travel and accommodation (room only) if you need to extend your stay until you are fit to return to the UK. This is included as part of our standard cover.
Q. WILL MY MEDICAL EXPENSES BE COVERED IF I FALL ILL WITH COVID-19 WHILE I'M ON HOLIDAY AND NEED TO SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE?
You will be covered for emergency medical treatment and repatriation if you contract COVID-19 while abroad. This is included as part of our standard cover.
Q. AM I COVERED IF I'M TRAVELLING FOR BUSINESS?
Your policy may cover you for permitted business travel (see government advice on permitted travel as this is subject to ongoing review and may be different depending on where you live). A business trip can be defined as a journey specifically taken for work purposes and doesn’t include daily commutes, leisure trips or holidays. Please email us at travel.sales@SwitchedOnInsurance.com to confirm that your cover is still valid.
Q. AM I COVERED IF MY TRAVEL IS DEEMED ESSENTIAL?
Advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) with respect to specific countries and regions refers to “advice against all but essential travel”. The FCDO however does not define what is Essential travel. If the FCDO advises against all travel or non-essential travel to a particular country, island(s) or region, and you decide to travel anyway, this policy will not cover you for any issue that may arise, and any subsequent claim will be rejected. If you believe you travel is essential please email us at travel.sales@SwitchedOnInsurance.com so we can determine if your policy can cover you. If you do not contact us and travel anyway your policy will not cover you for any issue that may arise, and any subsequent claim under any section of cover in the policy will be rejected.
If you have purchased our Enhanced COVID-19 PROTECT add on you will be covered if you travel against the advice of the FCDO provided that advice is against all but essential travel as a result of COVID-19. If however the FCDO advice is in respect of any other reason other than COVID-19 then this policy will not cover you for any issue that may arise.
Q. AM I COVERED IF I HAVE TO CANCEL MY TRAVEL PLANS BECAUSE NATIONAL LOCKDOWN/TIER RESTRICTIONS MEAN I CAN NO LONGER TAKE MY TRIP?
You are not covered under your insurance policy, or the COVID-19 Protect add on, if national lockdowns or tier restrictions cause you to cancel your trip. If you are due to travel during the period of lockdown then you should seek a refund from the airline, tour operator, travel agency or carrier you booked with.
Q. I’VE CHOSEN NOT TO HAVE A COVID-19 VACCINATION. DOES THIS EFFECT MY COVER IN ANY WAY?
If you have been offered a recommended vaccination and you have chosen not to have it, you may not be covered by either our standard policy or the COVID-19 PROTECT add on in relation to COVID-19 and this may impact your ability to make a claim (consideration will be given where you were medically unable to have the vaccination, and this is shown in your medical records).
Q. I NEED A TRAVEL TESTING KIT – HOW DO I SOURCE THIS?
To help provide access to affordable private COVID-19 testing we’ve partnered with www.myhealthchecked.com to offer you a special discounted rate.
www.myhealthchecked.com is a government approved provider that offers testing kits which are over 99.9% accurate at great prices:
- Fit-to-Fly / General Testing – Normal Price £80 / Switched On Discount £72
- Test to Release – Normal Price £85 / Switched On Discount £76.50
- Day 2 and Day 8 Tests – Normal Price £170 / Switched On Discount £153
To claim your special discounted rate just use the code SOI2021 when buying your kit from www.myhealthchecked.com.
To find out more about this offer please click here.
You can also take a look at the government’s list of private test providers by clicking here.
Q. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TRAVEL AND THE CORONAVIRUS?
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2018/9780111168479/contents
www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/travel-advice
travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/499/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-general-advice-for-travellers