The Pandemic Slows Down – What‘s Next? Travel Insurance for Worry-free Trips

With the pandemic (COVID-19) easing globally, many countries around the world are beginning to relax their border restrictions. Meanwhile, the government in Hong Kong has responded to public demand by reviewing cross-border quarantine policies and adjusting the quarantine period from "3+4" to "0+3". Visitors returning to Hong Kong will only undergo three days of medical surveillance at home. The news came as a city-wide celebration for travellers who are hastening to pack their suitcases for their next trip. Overseas travel is back on the radar – and so is travel safety. 

Regardless of the pandemic, having suitable travel insurance is a must for travelling abroad. It protects you financially from lost or delayed baggage and medical expenses involved accidents. Some plans cover follow-up medical expenses within 90 days after you return to Hong Kong. These follow-up medical expenses can even include registered Chinese medicine practitioners for bone-setting and acupuncture treatment.

In the unfortunate event of flight delays and trip rearrangement, disappointment is just one of the many things to add to a list of unanticipated expenses. This is where travel insurance comes in handy as it usually covers additional or non-refundable transportation and accommodation expenses. These include overseas local tour packages or admission tickets to major sporting events, concerts, museums, theme park and more. Being insured means being protected from minor accidents that are common and yet often inevitable.
 

Although the pandemic is waning, we still have a long battle ahead. We are still working to cope with new variants and tourists may still be exposed to the virus. For this reason, planning a trip overseas is not easy and some insurance companies still offer additional protection against COVID-19. This can include daily cash benefits if you are quarantined or hospitalised when overseas due to the virus, as well as expenses associated with treatment. Travel insurance also covers expenses for trip cancellation or travel delay due to a COVID-19 diagnosis prior to or during the trip, both for you and your companions.

Comparing your options before committing is always recommended because everyone’s needs, itineraries, destination of choice, holiday period and health requirements are different. For example, if you are travelling to high-risk areas, you should pay attention to whether the insurance plan provides additional Black Alert and Red Alert protection under the Outbound Travel Alert System, or even terrorist attacks. If your itinerary involves amateur dangerous sports and activities, you should study whether your insurance plan requires additional charges.

Hong Kong people live by the motto “work hard, play hard”, and travelling is a celebrated ritual as a reward for hard work. A survey conducted by the World Tourism Organization found that Hong Kong proudly comes first in terms of the outbound travel spending per capita. As travel gurus, Hong Kong people should understand the importance of traveling with peace of mind. After all, we deserve it. So to make the most of your next, highly anticipated trip, make sure you choose the right travel insurance beforehand to ensure a smooth journey.

If you have any queries regarding different travel insurance plans, please feel free to contact us or find out more about our insurance plans:

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Read more: Take out Travel Insurance with coverage for COVID-19 to ensure travel safely and worry-free

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