We know what a bummer it is when you or a loved one gets COVID-19 just as you're about to travel, or when you're already on your trip – especially if it's a severe case. That's why we've included COVID-19 coverage as standard in our Explorer Plan.
Though COVID-19 as a global health emergency is over, the virus is continuing to disrupt travel plans. Coverage for the virus and its impacts is provided in our Explorer Plan, and here are some of the benefits.
If you or your travel companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 prior to departure, we will provide coverage up to $5,000 for our Overseas Explorer Plan and up to $2,500 for our Domestic Explorer Plan.
If you fall ill with COVID-19 overseas and require medical assistance and treatment, we can provide coverage.
If you fall ill with COVID-19 overseas and a doctor confirms in writing that you are unfit to travel or you are individually contacted by a local public health authority and directed into a period of quarantine, you can claim cancellation and amendment costs incurred (limits apply).
If you are hospitalised with COVID-19 overseas and need to be repatriated, we may be able to help pay your costs.
If you die during the period of insurance, we may pay the reasonable overseas funeral or cremation expenses, or the cost of returning your remains to Australia.
If a relative or your business partner back in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand gets COVID-19 and you need to amend or cancel your journey because their level of infection is life threatening, we can help you cover some of your costs.
When you incur expenses as a result of a government authority imposing closure orders on cross-area, -border, -region or -territory travel, you will not be covered.
If a country has 'Do not travel' advice on the Australian Government's Smart Traveller website and one of the reasons for the advice is COVID-19, you will not be covered for COVID-19-related claims made there.
When you incur expenses as a result of a government authority imposing quarantine or isolation orders on cross-area, -border, -region or -territory travel, you will not be covered.
Yes, Freely offers COVID-19 cover as part of our travel insurance policies. The COVID-19 cover includes various benefits related to COVID-19 scenarios that may occur before or during your trip. Here are some of the COVID-19 cover benefits mentioned:
Pre-departure cancellation: If you or your travel companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 prior to departure, and a qualified medical practitioner confirms in writing that you cannot travel, Freely provides coverage for cancellation up to a certain amount depending on the policy type (e.g. up to $5,000 for our Overseas Explorer Plan and up to $2,500 for our Domestic Explorer Plan).
Illness or hospitalisation: If you are hospitalised with COVID-19 overseas and require medical assistance and treatment, Freely provides coverage for medical expenses.
Quarantine while travelling: If you fall ill with COVID-19 overseas and a doctor confirms in writing that you are unfit to travel or you are individually contacted by a local public health authority and directed into a period of quarantine, you can claim cancellation and amendment costs incurred (limits apply).
Repatriation: If you catch COVID-19 overseas and need to be repatriated (brought back) to Australia, Freely can help pay your costs.
It's important to note that the specific coverage and conditions may vary depending on the policy type and other factors. To get detailed information about the COVID-19 cover provided by Freely, we strongly recommend you read over our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or contact our support team.
We provide medical cover if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a qualified medical practitioner. This cover applies for international trips only. You will not be covered where the county or part of the country you travelled to was subject to 'Do not travel' advice on the Australian Government's Smart Traveller website, and one of the reasons for the 'Do Not Travel' advice was COVID-19, at the time you entered the country or part of the country. For more information, see our PDS.
You will be covered if you need to amend or cancel your journey because you or your travel companion are diagnosed in Australia with COVID-19 and certified by a qualified medical practitioner as unfit to travel prior to departure.
You will be covered if you need to amend or cancel your journey because your non-travelling relative or business partner who resides in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand is diagnosed by a qualified medical practitioner with COVID-19 and the treating doctor confirms in writing the level of infection is life threatening.
If you are a pharmacist, nurse, doctor, paramedic or other health care professional and your leave is revoked by your employer due to COVID-19 related reasons and that means you can't go on your trip, a letter from your employer is required to support a claim.
You will be covered if you cannot continue your trip because you or your travel companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 and certified by a qualified medical practitioner as unfit to travel or are individually contacted by a local public health authority and are directed into a period of quarantine during the period of insurance.
We will not pay for claims arising from COVID-19 if you travelled to a country or part of a country that was subject to 'Do not travel' advice on the Australian Government's Smart Traveller website. This exclusion doesn't apply if your trip destination is Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information, see our PDS.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a qualified medical practitioner during the period of insurance and are hospitalised as a result, we will provide cover for reasonable additional accommodation expenses (room rate only) and additional transport expenses at the same accommodation standard and fare class as originally booked.
Other expenses you may incur such as food, drinks, groceries, laundry etc. are not included.
We will not pay for claims arising from COVID-19 if you travelled to a country or part of a country that was subject to 'Do not travel' advice on the Australian Government's Smart Traveller website. This exclusion doesn't apply if your trip destination is Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information, see our PDS.
COVID-19 benefits on cruises only apply if the Cruise Boost has been selected for the entire duration of the cruise and the additional premium for participation in multi-night cruising has been paid.
We will pay the usual and customary cost of medical treatment that is provided onboard while a cruise ship is outside Australian Coastal Waters by or on the advice of a qualified medical practitioner.
We will not pay for claims arising from Cabin Confinement whether or not you are diagnosed with COVID-19. For more information, see our PDS.