COVID-19 Travel Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

If I contract COVID-19

The below questions relate to Freely’s COVID-19 benefit and how it applies to different scenarios that may occur either before or on your trip

Will Freely's Essentials Cover apply if I’m diagnosed with COVID-19 in Australia before my trip?

If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 before you leave Australia and have to amend or cancel your trip as a result, cover may be available.

Non-cruise travel:
• Yes, cover applies for this event.
• For domestic travel, up to $2,500 cover is provided per policy.
• For international travel, up to $5,000 cover is provided per policy.

Cruise travel:
• Yes, cover applies for this event.
• If your trip includes a multi-night cruise, up to $5,000 cover is provided per policy.

Cover conditions:
• You need to have purchased a policy more than 21 days before your scheduled departure date. If you have not purchased a policy at least 21 days before your departure, no cover is provided.

Will Freely's COVID-19 travel insurance benefit cover me if I am diagnosed with COVID-19 while travelling and need to self-isolate?

If you fall ill with COVID-19 on your journey and need to self-isolate, you may be able to claim the cost of additional accommodation and transport – even if you need to extend your stay.

Non-cruise travel:
• Yes, cover applies for this event and is available for additional accommodation and transport expenses, including the cost for you to “stay put” due to medical or public health advice.
• Our Essential Boost covers additional expenses for this up to $10,000 if traveling domestically, with no limit internationally.

Cruise travel:
• If your trip includes a multi-night cruise and your COVID-19 diagnosis is related directly or indirectly to travel on board the cruise, there is no cover for this event.

Cover conditions:
• For travel in Australia and New Zealand, you will be covered for this event regardless of any smarttraveller.com.au ‘Do not travel’ advice that exists.
• For travel in countries outside of Australia and New Zealand, cover applies for this event if the country or part of the country was not subject to ‘Do not travel’ advice on the smartraveller.gov.au website at the time you entered it.
• This cover is subject to evidence of your positive COVID-19 diagnosis – confirmed by a PCR test, a rapid antigen test (RAT) or a medical practitioner.
• This travel insurance benefit is designed to cover scenarios where you contract COVID-19 and the medical or public health authority advice wherever you are is to isolate. No costs or expenses are covered if a quarantine or isolation order is placed on you by a government or public health authority due to a COVID-19 outbreak in a specific area that you have been in or travelled through.

Will Freely's COVID-19 travel insurance benefit cover me if I’m diagnosed with COVID-19 while travelling and need medical treatment?

If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner and require medical treatment overseas, our Essentials Boost will provide overseas medical benefits.

Non-cruise travel:
• Yes, cover is available under our overseas emergency medical expenses benefit.
• While we do not have a dollar limit on our overseas emergency medical expenses benefit, cover is only available for 12 months from the onset of illness, and does not continue if you return home to Australia.
• This benefit is designed to meet the requirements of visa conditions to destinations such as Thailand.

Cruise travel:
• If your trip includes a multi-night cruise and your COVID-19 diagnosis is related directly or indirectly to travel on board the cruise, there is no cover for this event.

Cover conditions:
• This applies for international trips only: there is no medical coverage in Australia on our travel insurance policies
• For travel in New Zealand, you will be covered for this event regardless of any smarttraveller.com.au ‘Do not travel’ advice that exists.
• For travel in countries outside of Australia and New Zealand, cover applies for this event if the country or part of the country was not subject to ‘Do not travel’ advice on the smartraveller.gov.au website at the time you entered it.
• This cover is subject to evidence of your positive COVID-19 diagnosis by a medical practitioner.
• Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness.

Will Freely's COVID-19 travel insurance benefit cover me if I am diagnosed with COVID-19 overseas and need to be repatriated to Australia?

If you fall ill with COVID-19 overseas and need to be repatriated, you may be able to claim for these costs.

Non-cruise travel:
• Yes, cover is available as part of the Essentials Cover.

Cruise travel:
• If your trip includes a multi-night cruise and your COVID-19 diagnosis is related directly or indirectly to travel on board the cruise, there is no cover for this event

Cover conditions:
• For travel in New Zealand, you will be covered for this event regardless of any smarttraveller.com.au ‘Do not travel’ advice that exists.
• For travel in countries outside of Australia and New Zealand, cover applies for this event if the country or part of the country was not subject to ‘Do not travel’ advice on the smartraveller.gov.au website at the time you entered it.
• This cover is subject to evidence of your positive COVID-19 diagnosis by a medical practitioner.
• In all cases, the cost of evacuation or bringing you back to Australia will only be met if your claim is approved by us and it was arranged by and deemed necessary by our emergency assistance network.
• Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness.

Will Freely's Essentials Boost provide cover if I die because of COVID-19 during my trip?

If you die overseas from COVID-19, associated costs may be covered to repatriate your body back to Australia.

Non-cruise travel:
• Yes, cover applies for this event. We do not have a limit, so our benefit meets the minimum requirements for Schengen visas.

Cruise travel:
• If your trip includes a multi-night cruise and your COVID-19 diagnosis is related directly or indirectly to travel on board the cruise, there is no cover for this event.

Cover conditions:
• For travel in Australia and New Zealand, you will be covered for this event regardless of any smarttraveller.com.au ‘Do not travel’ advice that exists.
• For travel in countries outside of Australia and New Zealand, cover applies for this event if the country or part of the country was not subject to ‘Do not travel’ advice on the smartraveller.gov.au website at the time you entered it.

Is there a special excess for Covid-19 claims?

Yes. If you or your travel companion are diagnosed with Covid-19 on your trip and that causes a cancellation or amendment of your trip and/or additional expenses, the excess for these claims is $250.

if a non-travelling relative or business partner contracts COVID-19

The below questions relate to Freely’s COVID-19 benefit and how it applies to different scenarios that may occur either before or on your trip.

Will Freely’s COVID-19 travel insurance benefit cover me to amend or cancel my trip if a non-travelling relative or business partner contracts COVID-19 and their condition is deemed “life threatening” by a medical practitioner?

Yes, but only if the non-travelling relative or business partner resides in Australia or New Zealand.

Cover details:
• You can claim cancellation or amendment costs for your prepaid trip up to a benefit limit of $2,500 per policy on a domestic policy, or $5,000 per policy on an international policy.
• Your trip can be to/within any destination in the world.

Cover conditions:
• The non-travelling relative or business partner must reside in Australia or New Zealand.
• A medical practitioner must confirm that the infection is life threatening.
• Your policy must have been purchased prior to your relative or business partner being diagnosed with COVID-19.

Will Freely’s COVID-19 travel insurance benefit cover me if my trip is disrupted or needs to be cancelled because a non-travelling relative or business partner has died from COVID-19?

Yes, cover applies if your deceased non-travelling relative or business partner was residing in Australia or New Zealand at the time of their death.

Cover details:
• If the death occurs while you’re on your trip and your policy was purchased prior to your relative or business partner being diagnosed with COVID-19, you can claim cancellation or amendment costs for your trip.
• This on-trip cover has a limit of $2,500 per policy on a domestic policy, and $5,000 per policy on an international policy.

Cover conditions:
• The relative must have resided in Australia or New Zealand at the time of their death.

if I’m a close contact of a COVID-19 case

The below questions relate to Freely’s COVID-19 benefit and how it applies to different scenarios that may occur either before or on your trip.

Will Freely's COVID-19 travel insurance benefit cover me if I need to quarantine or self-isolate because I am deemed a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 by a local public health authority?

No cover is provided for close contacts prior to departure or while you’re on your trip.

Cover details:
• If you are deemed a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and required to self-isolate or enter quarantine before you depart, no cover is provided for any of the trip you either want to cancel or have to cancel.
• If you are deemed a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and required to self-isolate or enter quarantine while on your trip, no cover is provided for any of the trip you either want to cancel or have to cancel.

Cover conditions:
• The General Exclusions in the PDS state that we will not pay for any costs or expenses incurred if a government or public health authority mandatory quarantine or isolation order is imposed on you related to cross-area, -border, -region or -territory travel. For example, you will not be covered if your entire flight is quarantined due to a positive COVID-19 case being on board.

Other COVID-19 related FAQs

The below questions relate to Freely’s COVID-19 benefit and how it applies to different scenarios that may occur either before or on your trip.

Will Freely's COVID-19 travel insurance benefit apply if I’m an essential healthcare worker and my leave is revoked because of COVID-19 prior to departure?

If you’re an essential healthcare worker and your leave is revoked because of COVID-19 before your trip, and you have to amend or cancel your trip as a result, cover may be available.

Cover details:
• Non-cruise travel: Yes, cover applies for this event.

Cruise travel:
• Yes, cover applies for this event.
• For domestic travel, up to $2,500 cover is provided per policy; and for international travel, up to $5,000 cover is provided per policy.

Will Freely's COVID-19 travel insurance benefit cover me if I am subject to mandatory quarantine or self-isolation requirements upon entry to a country?

If you are required to complete mandatory quarantine or self-isolation because of the area you arrived from or passed through en route, no cover is provided.

Cover details:
• 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 – even if this occurs after you have already booked.

Cover conditions:
• The General Exclusions in the PDS state we will not pay for any costs or expenses incurred if a government or public health authority mandatory quarantine or isolation order is imposed on you related to cross-area, -border, -region or -territory travel. For example, you will not be covered if your entire flight is quarantined due to a positive COVID-19 case being on board.

Will Freely’s COVID-19 travel insurance benefit cover me if I want to cancel or amend a trip to a country with ‘Do not travel’ advice on smarttraveller.gov.au related to COVID-19, or new restrictions or border closures imposed by any government due to COVID-19?

No, there is no cover, even if the smarttraveller.gov.au advice or border status of the destination changes after you have already booked.

Cover details:
• Our Cancellation and Amendment COVID-19 benefit lists certain scenarios in which coverage will be provided. Introduction of COVID-19-related travel restrictions, smarttraveller.com.au ‘Do not travel advice’ and border closures are not included in these reasons – even if they did not exist at the time you purchased your Freely travel insurance policy.
• To understand the current overall advice levels for any destination, visit Smartraveller’s destinations page.

Will Freely's COVID-19 travel insurance benefit cover me if my prepaid holiday activity is cancelled or shut down because of an outbreak of COVID-19 on the premises?

Yes, can claim unused prepaid, non-refundable tickets if the closure is because of a COVID-19 infection being detected on the premises, but only for trips in Australia and New Zealand.

Cover details:
• You can claim costs for your prepaid trip up to a benefit limit of $2,500 per policy on a domestic policy, or $5,000 per policy on an international policy.

Cover conditions:
• You must be travelling in Australia or to New Zealand. Other international destinations are not covered.

Will Freely's Essentials Cover apply if my prepaid accommodation is shut down because of a COVID-19 outbreak on the premises and hygiene measures are required?

Yes, but only for trips in Australia and New Zealand.

Cover details:
• You can claim costs for your prepaid trip up to a benefit limit of $2,500 per policy on a domestic policy, or $5,000 per policy on an international policy.

Cover conditions:
• A letter or email from the accommodation provider is required to support a claim.
• You must be travelling in Australia or New Zealand. Other international destinations are not covered.

Will Freely's Essentials Cover apply if the person I was due to stay has COVID-19 and I can no longer stay with them?

Yes, but only for trips in Australia and New Zealand.

Cover details:
• If the person you were planning to stay with in Australia or New Zealand must self-isolate because of a COVID-19 diagnosis and you now have nowhere to stay, we will pay up to $150 per night for alternative accommodation expenses that you incur. Check your plan for the maximum overall limit.

Cover conditions:
• You must be travelling in Australia or to New Zealand. Other international destinations are not covered.

Will Freely's Flight Inconvenience Bundle apply if COVID-19 causes temporary delays to my transport?

Yes, but only for trips in Australia and New Zealand, and you must have purchased the optional Flight Inconvenience Bundle

Cover details:
• Non-cruise travel: Yes, but only for trips in Australia and New Zealand. You can claim costs for your prepaid trip up to a benefit limit of $2,000 per policy

Cruise travel:
• If your trip includes a multi-night cruise and the COVID-19 is related directly or indirectly to travel on board the cruise, there is no cover if your cruise is affected by COVID-19.

Cover conditions:
• You must be travelling in Australia or New Zealand. Other international destinations are not covered.

Will Freely's Flight Inconvenience Bundle apply if COVID-19 causes the delay, cancellation or rerouting of my prepaid scheduled transport and I need to catch up with a prepaid transport connection?

Yes, but only for trips in Australia and New Zealand, and you must have purchased the optional Flight Inconvenience Bundle

Cover details:
• Non-cruise travel: Yes, but only for trips in Australia and New Zealand.
• You can claim costs for your prepaid trip up to a benefit limit of $2,000 per policy

Cruise travel:
• If your trip includes a multi-night cruise and the COVID-19 is related directly or indirectly to travel on board the cruise, there is no cover if your cruise is affected by COVID-19.

Cover conditions:
• You must be travelling in Australia or New Zealand. Other international destinations are not covered.

What kind of COVID-19 coverage do you get with Freely?

Freely COVID-19 Cover

Pre-departure cancellation

Illness or hospitalisation

Quarantine while travelling

Need to return home

What we don't cover

Border closures

Places we're not allowed

Mandatory quarantine

Multi-night cruises

Get COVID-19 cover for your next trip

We've bundled up the Essentials

Why choose Freely

Does your destination require a COVID-19 Insurance Confirmation certificate?

Frequently Asked Questions

If I contract COVID-19

if a non-travelling relative or business partner contracts COVID-19

if I’m a close contact of a COVID-19 case

Other COVID-19 related FAQs