Does travel insurance cover pandemics?
Some providers have restricted cancellation and travel disruption cover in policies bought after coronavirus was declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020.

At Compare the Market, the travel insurance policies we show you may cover claims related to COVID-19 for emergency medical and repatriation costs in line with your chosen policy. However, other types of claims related to COVID-19, such as cancellation, vary by provider, so we encourage you to check your policy before purchasing. When you compare with Compare the Market, you’ll see policies labelled as providing additional protection due to COVID-19 in the list of quotes. For a summary of what that includes, click on "More details"
 Can I get a travel insurance policy that covers COVID-19?
Yes, you can now get the insurance that offers cover for disruption related to COVID-19, whether you’re holidaying in the UK or abroad. Such policies could include cover for:

cancellation if you or anyone covered by the policy gets a positive coronavirus test in the two weeks before you travel
medical costs if you get coronavirus while you are away
additional transport and/or accommodation expenses if you fall ill with coronavirus while you are away
Packing suitcase with medical face masks and hand sanitizer at the ready
Not all policies offer this kind of cover – not necessarily even from the same provider. So, if you’re looking for a COVID-19 cover, you should:

select the “More details” option within the yellow covid-19 information box on the quote results page
read the policy document carefully before you buy, so you can see exactly what is and isn’t covered.
Once you have your comparison results, you can check the policy documents to see what COVID-19 cover is offered. Just select the “More Details” button and then scroll down for “Full Policy Details” and select “Full Policy Wording”. Take a close look at the policy to make sure it offers you the cover you want, not just for coronavirus but for the usual things like baggage cover, flight delays or other issues.

Please be aware that some policies now state that if you’ve chosen not to have the recommended vaccinations, then you won’t be covered for any COVID-19 related claims. This includes cancellation, curtailment, or emergency medical and repatriation expenses.

The policy will also set out what evidence you’ll need to support any COVID-19 claim, to make sure your claim will be dealt with as quickly as possible.
  Will my travel insurance cover me if I go to an affected region?
If you buy your insurance policy to cover a trip to a destination where the FCDO is advising against travel for your planned dates, then it’s likely that you won’t be covered. If you’ve already bought insurance and the FCDO subsequently changes its advice for your destination, then you might have some cover, but you’ll need to check with your insurance provider and possibly make a claim if you have to cancel.

For those living in the UK, you must follow the FCDO advice for your destination, as well as any restrictions imposed by your local authority.

It’s also unlikely that even policies including additional COVID-19 cover will cover you for the costs of a 10-day stay in a Government-mandated hotel if you have to quarantine on your return to the UK. Check with your insurance provider.
 If I cancel my trip, will a travel insurance claim cover my costs?
If you bought travel insurance with additional cover for COVID-19, and there are no Government or other regulatory authority restrictions on travel in place to your chosen destination, you may have some coverage for some costs if your trip has been affected due to the outbreak. For example, if you subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 and could no longer travel.

It would be a different matter if the FCDO later changes it stance and no longer advises against travel to your destination on the date of your departure. In that situation, if you decided not to go, your decision would likely be classed as “disinclination to travel”. Then, it’s likely that you wouldn’t be covered by your travel insurance provider.

Similarly, if you decided not to travel because of the risk of self-isolation rules coming into effect, it may also be regarded as “disinclination to travel”. If you have any concerns, then you should contact your insurance provider to understand your cover.