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Covid Insurance for Trekking and Mountaineering

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This article covers Covid insurance for trekking and mountaineering expeditions. For more information on insurance for trekking and mountaineering, see our other posts

Disclaimer: This is general information based on our research. Insurers have made frequent changes to their policies over the last few years as they keep re-assessing the risks posed by Covid. As always, you should read the latest policy fine print and consider your own personal requirements.

Travel Insurance for Covid

Travel insurance that includes Covid cover costs more and is limited. Some insurers don’t cover anything Covid-related at all. Of those that do, in general:

✓ Insurers are likely to provide cover if you or your travel companion test positive for Covid

  • E.g. if you test positive to Covid during your trip. NOTE: while some policies used to cover you if you’re identified as a close contact of anyone else, many have since removed this. Some insurers may also cover you if you test positive before your trip and need to amend or cancel. But also check any wording that excludes cover for Covid within, say, the first 72 hours after purchase.
  • Cover generally includes overseas medical costs and evacuation. Some insurers also cover quarantine and cancellation costs, with limits on the amount of cover.
  • Covid cover is typically included in most plans now, rather than just the higher level plans

Companies that specialise in remote rescue (Global Rescue and Ripcord) say that they treat Covid like any other illness, although the policy wording is unclear because they also exclude contagious diseases. Ultimately it’s at their sole discretion.

But check the rules as they can be unreasonable e.g. in 2023 we heard of a travel insurer who required a trekker to have a Covid PCR test before helicopter evacuation could be arranged. But of course it’s impossible to get a PCR test when you’re in a remote area!

✗ Insurers are unlikely to cover you for Covid-related changes which apply to everyone and which impact your travel – in your home or destination country

Insurers say it’s impossible to price these risks e.g.

  • government rule changes such as lockdowns, border closures, travel bans, entry/quarantine requirements
  • airline changes such as boarding eligibility due to Covid
  • expedition rule changes or cancellation due to Covid

What’s the risk if you travel without Covid insurance?

Whether you have Covid insurance or not, you always have the risk of your trip being cancelled or curtailed due to an external factor such as government, airline or expedition company changes as a result of Covid. If you’re identified as a close contact, most insurers will exclude this too.

But if you catch Covid or are a close contact you’d still risk:

  • the cost of your expedition if you can’t go
  • and having to pay overseas medical and quarantine expenses if it’s during your trip
  • if you’re an essential healthcare worker, including a pharmacist, nurse, doctor or paramedic, make sure you’re covered if your leave gets cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

How to minimise the risk of Covid disrupting your expedition

1. Be smart with bookings

  • Buy flexible airline tickets with minimal cancellation and amendment costs
  • Fly straight through (without stopovers in transit countries), while different entry and quarantine rules still apply and could easily change
  • Try and fly all the way on the same airline to keep things simple
  • Travel with a reputable expedition company
  • Ensure insurance policy can be cancelled if not needed ie your trip doesn’t proceed

2. Be healthy

  • Be fully vaccinated if you can otherwise ensure you understand the rules for unvaccinated travellers (on the flight, in your transit and destination countries, on your expedition)
  • Practice good hygiene
  • Limit too many social activities before you leave home
  • Limit contact with people once on the trip, especially in crowded places
  • Take with you:
    • medications for headaches, sore throats and cold/flu
    • rapid antigen tests
    • a selection of facemasks (e.g. N95, disposable, reusable etc)
    • hand sanitiser
    • consider taking wetwipes to clean surfaces en route eg your tray table on the plane, or at destination/hotel

3. Be across the rules

e.g. proof of vaccinations, PCR tests, proof of Covid insurance for medical expenses etc

  • check travel restrictions and rules for transit and destination countries
  • Check your own government’s travel advisory e.g. SmartTraveller (Australia) which may also include requirements you must meet before you travel home e.g. an online travel declaration
  • Check airline requirements
    • Note that some airlines have offered free insurance for Covid but check the fineprint as to what exactly is covered
  • Check your expedition requirements relating to Covid

Useful Covid resources

What to know before you go

An interesting perspective on travel security risks of Covid 

For the really serious:

Australian-based resources

Covid Travel planning

Covid and Travel insurance

For more information

For more information on insurance for trekking and mountaineering, see our other posts

Helicopter rescue - Covid Insurance for Trekking and Mountaineering

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