COVID Travel Insurance for Hong Kong Residents

Most travel insurance providers do not offer coverage exclusively for COVID, but many travel medical insurance plans include coverage for coronavirus, among other diseases. Consider bundling your travel medical insurance with traditional travel insurance for comprehensive coverage during your trip.

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Whether you’re a Hong Kong resident planning a single trip abroad or you’re an expat preparing for a multi-trip vacation across several countries, you may wonder what kind of coverage you need for your trip and how best to protect yourself financially and physically from sickness and other mishaps.

In this Pacific Prime article, we will outline how to secure a travel medical insurance plan to cover you in case you get COVID abroad. We’ll also suggest additional benefits to consider within your travel insurance plans, compare top-rated providers in Hong Kong, and more.

If you’re preparing to move to Hong Kong, don’t miss our articles on how the healthcare system in Hong Kong works and international health insurance options there. To find the best Hong Kong providers who offer travel insurance, read our core article Travel Insurance Hong Kong Guide.

Now, let’s dive in!

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Coverage for COVID in Hong Kong Travel Insurance

Image of People Crossing Cheong Wan Road Footbridge In Hong Kong with text overlay of "Coverage for COVID in Hong Kong"

Cancel for any reason and travel delay coverage may cover reimbursement if you cancel or delay your trip because you get COVID before leaving. Many travel medical insurance plans cover pandemic illnesses, outpatient visits, and emergency hospitalization to cover costs if you get COVID in Hong Kong.

Let’s outline the three most common types of coverage for COVID offered by travel insurance providers:

General Cancellation Coverage for COVID

Most travel insurance plans include general cancellation coverage, but eligible cancellation reasons vary between providers. Many cancellation plans allow you to cancel if you or a travel companion contract COVID, though you’ll likely be expected to provide a doctor’s verification.

Most travel insurance providers have a fear of travel clause that excludes fear of becoming sick from coverage. That means that if you purchase a plane ticket and general cancellation but then want to cancel your trip because of fear of pandemic or sickness, you will not be able to.

If you want comprehensive, no-doubt cancellation coverage, consider cancel for any reason coverage instead.

Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Coverage for COVID

Cancel for any reason coverage is typically an add-on benefit that grants travelers a partial refund for their trip. It gives comprehensive coverage for cancellations with very few exclusions, allowing you to cancel for COVID even up to 48 hours before your trip.

Note that not all providers offer CFAR coverage and you must often enroll within a designated time before your trip.

Medical Coverage for COVID

Coronavirus may be covered by travel medical insurance under pandemic coverage, outpatient visits, or hospitalization. Each provider uses unique guidelines for these areas of coverage, so contact your chosen provider to find what is included in your plan.

Keep in mind that some countries require travelers to secure travel insurance or COVID coverage to enter, such as Thailand and Laos. Before leaving Hong Kong, ensure that your plan meets all requirements for your destination.

Top Travel Insurance Plans for Hong Kong COVID Coverage

Hong Kong residents should consider IMG Patriot plans, IMG iTravelInsured plans, VUMI travel insurance policies, and plans from Pacific Prime’s other partners in Hong Kong for comprehensive coverage for coronavirus-related issues that could affect their trip.

IMG Patriot Plans and iTravelInsured Plans

IMG offers both travel insurance and travel medical insurance with exceptional coverage for your trip, especially if COVID is a concern. Their Lite, Plus, and Platinum Patriot plans provide tiered medical coverage while their Lite, SE, and LX iTravelInsured plans cover traditional travel benefits.

All of IMG’s Patriot plans provide cover for:

Physician visits
Cancer treatment
X-rays and lab tests
Surgeries
Prescription drugs and medication
Return of mortal remains
Return travel costs

Note that the Patriot Plus plan only offers coverage within the United States while the Patriot Lite and Patriot Platinum plans offer coverage outside the U.S.

All of IMG’s iTravelInsured plans provide cover for:

24/7 emergency assistance support
Return transportation
Transportation of child/children
Accident & sickness expense

Under the iTravelInsured plans, COVID-19 is fully covered as any other sickness under the accident and sickness benefit.

VUMI Travel Insurance

VIP Universal Medical Insurance (VUMI) offers comprehensive medical coverage, including COVID coverage, for your time abroad, whether you’re taking a single short trip or a months-long excursion across several countries.

Beyond their general benefits, you can choose a nonmedical and cancellation rider to boost your coverage. All VUMI travel plans also come with one-of-a-kind service, such as:

Emergency assistance 24/7
Traveler’s choice of doctors and hospitals worldwide
Comprehensive travel medical coverage for minor injuries to repatriation
Compassionate emergency visit to an insured person
Emergency dental
Children under age 2 are eligible for free coverage
Coverage for travelers up to 79 years old
Return ticket home if your flight is missed due to illness

How to Get Travel Insurance in Hong Kong

Purchase a travel medical insurance plan with benefits for diseases to get top coverage for COVID while you’re abroad. Purchase traditional travel insurance with comprehensive cancellation coverage to cover trip delay or cancellation from getting COVID before your vacation.

To secure a plan, follow each of the steps below:

Consider your needs: Do you plan to travel briefly or extensively? How many people do you wish to cover? What does your budget look like? Do you want traditional travel insurance as well? How extensive does your medical coverage need to be?
Research plans: Keep reading this article, browse top Hong Kong travel insurance providers, or enlist the help of an insurance broker to find the best plan for your needs.
Compare quotes: Whether you research on your own or seek out professional help, compare quotes from each provider. For a simple solution, check out our free quote tool.
Apply for coverage: Applying for coverage quickly ensures better eligibility for extra benefits. Be prepared to offer the destination and length of your trip, health information like age or pre-existing conditions, and planned trip activities.

How A Broker Can Help You Find the Best Travel Insurance Plan for You

Consider using a broker if finding a plan that covers COVID sufficiently for your comfort feels overwhelming. Brokers can save you time by compiling plans that fit your needs and by helping you compare benefits, and they can save you money by using their unbiased expertise to find the best deals.

Brokers act as the intermediary between you and insurance providers, so they use their professional knowledge to scout out the best plans for your needs, not just lead you to whatever plan an insurer hopes you’ll purchase. Beyond helping you find a plan, they can also aid you in submitting claims.

Let Pacific Prime help you find the right Hong Kong insurance plan for your budget and needs. Contact us to learn more.

Travel Insurance Explained—and Why You Want It

Travel insurance comes in two types: traditional travel insurance and travel medical insurance. Traditional travel insurance covers the cost for travel-related issues like losing luggage or trip cancellation while travel medical insurance provides coverage for some medical treatment.

Purchasing travel insurance helps provide you with peace of mind that even during an emergency, you have the financial backing for a worry-free trip.

Keep in mind that most countries do not offer free healthcare to travelers, so those seeking relief for COVID or other medical issues while on their vacation abroad would have to pay out of pocket without insurance coverage.

Some of the common coverage benefits within travel insurance include:

Lost luggage and personal belongings
Cancellation (cancel for any reason or general cancellation)
Trip interruption
Travel delay
24/7 customer service

Some of the common benefits under travel medical insurance include:

Hospitalization
Outpatient treatment
Medical evacuation
Repatriation of remains

Common Exclusions for Travel Insurance

While travel insurance plans have a variety of coverage options depending on provider and budget, most providers do not cover civil unrest, dangerous activities, pre-existing conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are pandemics covered in travel insurance?

Travel insurance does not cover foreseen events like pandemics, but it can cover pandemic-related issues. For example, cancel for any reason coverage can be used if you get COVID and can no longer travel, or travel medical insurance may cover the cost of treatment if you get sick while abroad.

Does travel insurance cover me if I cancel because of illness?

Cancellation eligibility varies by plan and provider. For the highest likelihood of cancellation coverage, consider purchasing a cancel for any reason rider, which allows you to cancel for illness or other reason up to two days before your trip.

What doesn’t travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance does not cover foreseen events such as pandemics, civil unrest, and even some climate disruptions. Travel medical insurance also does not generally cover all health-related issues, especially pre-existing conditions.

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Conclusion

Whether you’re leaving Hong Kong briefly for a quick getaway or setting out to explore the world, you now know how to find the best COVID coverage in your travel insurance plans. The best coverage will include a combination of both traditional and medical travel insurance.

To begin comparing health insurance plans side by side, check out our completely free insurance quote generator or speak with one of our insurance brokers and get answers to all your questions. Our experts are ready to help you find the right plan for your needs and to help you get the best price.

If you’re an expat looking for more extensive coverage, read our guide on the top international insurance plans for Hong Kong residents, look through Pacific Prime’s partners, or visit our page on the best outpatient plans in Hong Kong.

Author
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Serena Fung

Head of Content at Pacific Prime

Serena Fung is the Head of Content at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 6+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.