31 major insurers pull travel policies during coronavirus crisis

A study has found that 31 of the UK’s 75 major insurers have pulled out of the travel insurance market since the coronavirus pandemic sparked travel chaos around the world.

Consumer champion Which? contacted major insurance providers to establish if and how they were amending their provision of travel insurance following the global outbreak of coronavirus.

Researchers found that another 13 companies have changed their terms.

Existing customers who booked their trips and purchased their insurance before the outbreak, or before insurers amended their terms to exclude claims related to coronavirus, should still be able to claim for any non-refundable costs of cancelled holidays or travel plans as a result of the virus.

However, for people looking to buy new cover for future holidays, there is now a shrinking pool of providers offering cover for travel.

Which? is also concerned that some insurers are potentially treating customers who have been affected by coronavirus disruption unfairly, using little known exclusions to reject claims, such as not covering claims where the holiday has been cancelled because of a change in advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Which? said it recognises the huge strain the travel insurance industry is under, but claims the sheer number of sudden changes to policies and inconsistent responses to the crisis from different providers could create confusion for consumers – leaving them at risk of travelling without cover or abandoning their travel plans entirely.

The consumer champion is urging insurers to work closely with the government and wider travel industry to ensure that travellers are not left struggling to find adequate cover, as the travel industry depends on people having the confidence to know they will be covered in an emergency.

Which? is also advising anyone purchasing travel cover during this period to carefully check policy details and exclusions prior to buying, or book new trips with an existing annual multi-trip policy where possible.

Gareth Shaw, head of money at Which?, said: "Coronavirus has had a huge impact on the travel insurance market, with dozens of providers amending policies or pulling them altogether. This is creating confusion and uncertainty for consumers, who may feel they simply can not make plans for future trips in the circumstances. 

"The government, insurers and the travel industry must work together to tackle the huge challenge posed by coronavirus, to ensure people feel confident enough to travel in the knowledge that they will be covered."

Insurers no longer selling cover: 

AA 
Admiral 
Alpha Insurance
Asda 
Aviva 
Boots 
Churchill
Clydesdale Bank 
The Co-op 
CoverMore 
Direct Line 
Ergo Travel 
Esure 
ETA 
First Direct 
Flexicover 
Fogg Travel 
HSBC 
Holidaysafe 
LV 
More Than 
M&S Bank 
NFU Mutual 
Now I Can Travel 
Post Office 
Puffin Insurance 
Sainsbury’s Bank 
Santander 
Sheilas’ Wheels 
Spectrum 
TopDog 
Virgin Money 
Yorkshire Bank 
Zurich

Insurers changing cover details:
AllClear – no new cover for coronavirus-related claims

Axa – no new cover for coronavirus-related cancellation 

Allianz Assistance UK – from 12 March, no new cover for coronavirus-related claims 

Columbus Direct – from 13 March, no new cover for coronavirus-related claims 

Debenhams – from 16 March no new cover for coronavirus-related claims 

Direct Travel – from 17 March, no new cover from coronavirus-related claims 

Ergo is still selling annual policies, but with exclusions regarding any epidemic or pandemic as declared by WHO

Holidaysafe is still selling travel insurance, but policies now include a Covid-19 specific exclusion

InsureandGo – no new cover for coronavirus-related incidents 

Nationwide – from 18 March, new policies won’t cover coronavirus 

NFU is still selling annual policies to existing home insurance customers but has stopped the sale of single-trip policies

Saga – from 13 March, no new cover for coronavirus-related claims 

Staysure – no travel disruption extension for new customers