ResearchMed wrote: ↑Tue Aug 03, 2021 6:20 pm
I've just had a very long call with Steve, owner of TripInsuranceStore, and I'll report back as soon as I can put some of the info in a coherent summary form, given that I'm NOT an expert.
Better yet, it turns out that he happens to be in the process of writing something new to post on his website about just this issue,
(I think it was triggered by a call from a currently traveling client who tested postive towards the end of a cruise, and is going to be quarantined... delaying the trip home.)
And I'll post a link to his piece when he's posted it (perhaps in the morning?).
RM
Here is a general summary of the quarantine situation and covid/quarantine,
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as *I* currently understand it, and about coverage for those in the USA.
Please check with a travel insurance professional about any information that I post here, before taking any action based upon it. Thank you.
In general, some of this would indeed be covered under an "extension of coverage. (I guess I hadn't noticed that terminology before, but it's already in the policies that we get). That could apply for other reasons, too, of course,
The FIRST thing to remember is that this would be medical, and that REQUIRES a note from a licensed physician (licensed in whichever location/country you are in, etc.).
So if you test positive and cannot travel, this would be because you tested positive for a medical reason and thus you cannot travel at this time. It becomes a medical requirement.
If it's based upon some government official, for quarantine, then you still need a note from a physician.
This part is VERY important.
(We found out about that firsthand when I was suddenly hospitalized overseas. The physician called in by the hotel wrote the note for me, including after discharge when I was still too sick to continue for a few more days. We had emailed Steve for assistance about handling this, so we were able to get all of the necessary documentation before we left that city.)
We still would rather *not* be quarantined, obviously, but it would certainly take some of the sting away if the costs were covered.
That reminds me of that hospital stay I mentioned above. We had been staying at a 5* hotel, as it was a special anniversary trip. So instead of continuing our travels to the "next town" to visit dear friends for several days, I could not go anywhere. The insurance paid for DH to remain at our hotel, including all of his meals. When I was finally able to be back there, because it was medically necessary that I *not* travel for a few more days, they continued to pay for all of our costs at that hotel. They also paid for some alternative transportation due to some restrictions in my activities for a while. There were no challenges to the claim.
Again, this was with physician directives, or it would not have been covered.
(I also sent the hospital records, all in a foreign language, to the insurer and let them deal with any translations.
However, there were no hospital costs, due to the policy where we were, even though we tried to insist upon paying. After all, we didn't pay taxes there, etc.)
One point I'd like to emphasize about medical claims relates to complaints about travel insurance that i've read about elsewhere.
Some people refuse to supply medical records, citing privacy or HIPAA, or even "it's none of their business!!" It IS "their business" if you are making a claim; otherwise, obviously not. The insurer does have the right to determine that the claim is valid, and "self-declaring a disabling illness" is not satisfactory. Nor is a note from a physician who is a fanily member, etc.
This "extension of benefits" apparently varies in number of days by policy, from something like 7-10 days. IF you actually get sick and then need to stay, then that is a different claim and remains covered. (Policies may vary about this, and length of coverage, etc.)
The pandemic is obviously raising a lot of new issues/questions. At least, by now, most companies have figured out their policies. At first, back in early 2020, things got a bit tricky, and some people just didn't notice the Covid restrictions. (And AfAIK, there was a very short time where some people purchased policies without such restrictions, Covid was recognized, and the restriction back dated very sightly. If that's true, I have a LOT of trouble with that!)
For now, the bottom line seems to be that some (most? all??) insurers DO cover the quarantine situation as long as it is handled properly.
Also, last I checked, MedJetAssist no longer excludes Covid for medevac home at patient's request. (That took a while.)
So if you are hospitalized as an inpatient, and have MJA, at your request, they'll get you home, assuming you are stable enough for a regular air ambulance with medical staffing.
Also see the "travel insurance" section of
www.CruiseCritic.com
RM
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